Gribblenation

On Saturday, February 23, 2008, I took a roadtrip from the Capital Region of Albany, New York into the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson Valley of New York State with John Krakoff.  A recent snowstorm accented the scenery, draping the landscape with a fresh blanket of snow along the trip.   Nicknamed the Winternationals, which for these purposes, a roadtrip made soon after a snowstorm, it was a fun day to take a roadtrip. Routes traveled along the trip included (more or less in succession): NY 155, Albany CR 306, NY 85A, NY 85, Albany CR 1, Albany CR 401, Albany CR 403, Albany CR 409, Greene CR 50, NY 81, NY 145, NY 23, NY 296, NY 23A, NY 42, NY 28, NY 30, Delaware CR 1, NY 28, old NY 28,  NY 212, Ulster CR 32, NY 32, Ulster CR 34, Greene CR 47, NY 23, NY 32, NY 143,  Albany CR 312, NY 443, NY 85, NY 85A, NY 155 Here are some photo highlights of the trip... NY Route 81 westbound just before its western end at NY Route 145.  NY Route 81 goes through some of the smaller towns in northern

Recently, there was an article in the Albany (NY) Times Union regarding the future of the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge that crosses the Hudson River between Poughkeepsie, NY and Highland, NY. The article can be read here . The basis of the article is that, after sitting dormant since 1974, this one vital transportation link between New England and the rest of the country, is slated to become a pedestrian bridge that will help link rail trails in Dutchess and Ulster Counties. The bridge, which is over a mile long, is expected to reopen in the fall of 2009. Expansive views of the Hudson and its surrounding environs will be offered as a result. Here are a few photos of the bridge as seen from Highland's Mariner's Harbor.

Today, I along with Bob Malme and Scott Kozel took a drive out to Greensboro and checked out the recently opened piece of the Greensboro Outer Loop. We also checked out the new Ellerbee section of I-73/74 and US 220. However, I didn't take any photos of that new highway on this route. So here are some photos of the new bypass: This is where I-85 South and now I-40 West move onto the Greensboro Outer Loop. Take a look at the difference in the I-40 and I-85 Business Loop shields. The 40 shield actually has the word 'Loop'. Yes indeed, it's an I-73 shield on the overhead on the bypass at US 220. I-73 is signed on the newly opened southwestern corner of the loop. Can you hear the motorists just say...where did I-73 come from since no one has any clue on when I-73 South will appear with the US 220 South sign. Here's where I-85 splits off to head to Charlotte. Even more of that phantom I-73 freeloading onto I-40. Just because we are nice folks here at the blog.

Recently, I have been focusing a bit more on the little known Oregon section of Gribblenation, which is known as " Absolutely Oregon! " I recently added two pages to that part of the site, one for the Stayton Jordan Covered Bridge and the other for Silver Falls State Park . And while the establishment may point out that a covered footbridge and a waterfall that is quite reminiscent of Taughannock Falls near Ithaca, NY may have nothing to do with roads, keep in mind that you do have to take roads to get there. There is also some personal significance to this, as my mother's side of the family, and more specifically, my maternal grandmother, can trace their roots back to the little town of Sublimity, OR. This is a stone's throw away from Stayton and Silver Falls, and not that far away from the state capital of Salem. I took these photos in July 2006, during a vacation to Oregon and Washington State that I tied in with a family reunion. I am planning future visits