Gribblenation

It's a beauty no doubt, a cutout Oregon Highway 58 shield complete with Button Copy or Cats-Eyes numerals. It's embossed and was on a recent auction on ebay. Ok so maybe $100 or $200 even $250. But it went for $2600.50!!!! Yes, Two thousand, six hundred dollars and fifty cents! You can re-read that now............... Ok, I own a few signs, and sign collecting is a part of this hobby. But I've yet to pay over $65 for one, and even then I had buyer's remorse. But $2600.50! Heck, I'm saving to buy new living room furniture next year, and this sign alone is greater than I am planning on spending. Maybe putting a sign or two on ebay will help pay for it. Yeah for some you could say it's an investment, but who is gonna pretty much pay even more than $2600.50 for it when the poor guy passes away or decides to sell. That's just a little too much for me. What do you think? Would you pay that much for a sign? And what do you think the fair market value is fo

Found this gem at lunch today off of Saratoga 52.

The family of one of the drivers killed when a section of I-88 collapsed during the late June floods has filed a wrongful death suit against the state. The family of David Swingle has recently filed a suit for wrongful death and survival damages against the state with the New York State of Claims. The family of Patrick O'Connell of Lisbon, ME, the other driver to perish in the collapse, also intend to pursue a similar suit. For more: New York Newsday

I try to talke a walk a few times the week around the neighborhood. Sometimes, I'm pretty good other times I'm plain slack. But here's some photos from a recent walk around the block last Thursday. Looking down Winthrop Ave. More experimentation this time with leaves. Just down a block and aways at Melrose and Homestead. Took two shots to time it right. I always walk at least one block of US 20. Western Ave. @ Manning Blvd. Last shot of the walk...along Manning Blvd.

On Tuesday the 10th, I headed out along the Mohawk Trail. For the first time in a long time, I headed east via NY 2. Two reasons, I hadn't done that in a month of Sundays and also because of the views at Petersburg Pass on Mount Raimer. They surely didn't disappoint. That's looking towards Massachusetts with the NY/MA state line is just around that corner. At the summit of the pass, there is a large parking area for access to the Taconic Crest Trail. An elderly couple mentioned to me that there used to be a hotel and nightclub at the summit at one time. Below, looking into New York towards Petersburg.  There was also an old ski area here . For some reason, I like to use vertical shots with a curving road that have a mountain backdrop. A personal preference nothing more. Your thoughts? Now in Mass on Highway 2. I headed through the towns of Willamstown, home of Willams College, and North Adams. From North Adams the Mohawk Trail really begins and just east of

Sunday, I headed out towards and through Southern Vermont and New Hampshire. I really had no set plan but to get at least as far east as Strafford County. Which I did. It was one of those trips where you don't rush to see everything or as much as you can, you enjoy what you actually do see. Most of my trips, I try to take that approach. The main route through Southern Vermont is Highway 9, and there were plenty of good photo spots along the way. There were plenty of other photographers out, and one thing came to mind, a tripod. I spoke briefly with a couple that was taking photos, and the man said he always has it with him because it's a lot steadier than handheld. So when I got home Sunday night, the first thing I did was put my tripod in the back of the SUV. There are a few old alignments of Vermont 9 and this one near Wilmington ran against Harriman Reservoir. One thing about uploading photos to this blog is that when you click on the photo to go to the larger image.

This past Saturday (10/6), I started my vacation by going hiking at Vroman's Nose in Middleburgh, NY and also exploring some backroads I haven't been down. I started the trip on I-90 to I-88 and got off at the NY 30A interchange (exit 23) . I backtracked up NY 7 a little bit and headed south on NY 30 to take some shots of I-88 from the NY 30 overpass. (I commented on this view in one of my first entries ). The views didn't disappoint this nearly perfect autumn day! I took a few photos along NY 30 and the Schoharie Covered Bridge. There was a History Fair at the old fort, and the ticket gate was at the end of the bridge. I would have loved to stopped but I really wanted to hike the nose. Speaking of the nose, here it is... Vroman's Nose is just outside of Middleburgh and less than a mile south of the NY 30/145 crossroads. The nose was formed by the Wisconsin Glaciers over 25,000 years ago. Signs along NY 30 easily point you down a side road to the trail access.

Last weekend, my parents were in town so on Saturday we went into Western Mass. Mom loves candles and the first stop I planned was the Yankee Candle Flagship Store in South Deerfield. We spent about an hour and a half there. The place is enourmous. Thre's a Christmas World or at least four different styles of Christmas World, a large toy store for kids, a general store, a cafe and coffee shop, and of course a bunch of candles. Guys, if you live in New England or traveling through on vacation and want to take your girlfriend or wife or parents on a nice day trip. This is actually a great destination. It's right off of I-91 at Exit 24. Head North on US 5 for about a mile and it is on your left. Mom very much enjoyed it. Next, we headed to Deerfield to find a place for lunch. Little did we know that Historic Deerfield is a New England version of Williamsburg with a lot of small town charm. Deerfield is a traditional New England town it's the home of the prestige

Earlier this week, I received an e-mail that included SCDOT's RFP (Request for Proposal) for Interstate 73. The key words in the document are: SCDOT and the Federal Highway Administration intend to utilize the Public-Private Partnership, Design-Build method of contracting this project. The document does not give a deadline for submissions although guidelines of 15 printed copies and one electronic (CD) copy to be submitted to SCDOT.

Well, the signs won't hold back up the opening of I-485 to NC 27 (Mount Holly Road) much longer. The next leg of the I-485 Outerbelt is scheduled to open near the end of November. All that needs to be done is lane striping and putting up a few more signs. If you recall, a few months ago the opening of this segment of I-485 was delayed because there weren't any signs. A dispute on who was responsible signing off on for the specifications of metal sign supports. Then a dispute on who is responsible for footing the bill. Well, it appears that tussle may last awhile but at least the supports are on the way and the signs will be put up. In addition to the NC 27 interchange, the nearly opened highway will have an interchange with Moore's Chapel Road. It appears that opening the highway to NC 16 will be early next year, and then onto I-77 and NC 115 next fall. That will then be it for awhile on I-485 because construction of the last northern piece from I-77 to I-85 near Un

As a former resident of Gaston County, NC...I hope to follow this closely. From an article in last week's Charlotte Observer , the projected cost for the Garden Parkway has more than doubled to $1.25 billion when compared to a $600 million projected cost that was given this past February! The reason after working with consulting firms on everything from construction to tolls they had to update their preliminary findings. There were some more details. The road would like be built in three stages. Stage one: I-485 to NC 279 (New Hope Road) near Gastonia. This would be about six miles in length and cost about $410 million. The second stage would runs from New Hope Road to US 321 about two or three miles north of the South Carolina state line. The third state would be from 321 curving to the north until reaching I-85 near Bessemer City. Nothing is said about the highway continuing north to US 321 near High Shoals. It appears that a route for the highway won't be determined u