Pothole Research

I was starting to think that I didn't have much time for blogging anymore, but then I found myself on the side of the road having my husband videotape vehicles going over potholes. I guess this is a sure sign that I have plenty of time to do meaningless things and yes, I still get excited over the mundane.

For those of you that have driven Rt. 86 between Lake Placid and Jay, you may have noticed a massive bump every winter at the entrance of Whiteface and you might have become relaxed about traffic rules. Don't tell me you don't know what I'm talking about. Every local knows to cross the double line to save the bottom of your car, out-of-towners... not so much.

Avoiding potholes has become part of my daily commute and laughing at fellow travelers makes the drive to work more entertaining. I could probably navigate the potholes with my eyes closed. I don't even need a sign to warn me. However, I should mention that the bump warning signs have forced a chuckle or two out of me when I noticed they have been affected also.

It makes me wonder if someone hit a bump so hard, that they caught air and hit the sign. There are definitely dangerous potholes out there and they should be taken seriously. Plenty of people have lost hubcaps because of the frost heaves.

If this hubcap looks familiar, you can find it on the bridge at the end of River Road. This stretch of the road is really rough and preference for driving over it is different for everyone. In my scientific research of this area, I have noticed that there is a tendency for drivers to veer right more so than going to the left.

I prefer driving to the right and avoiding oncoming traffic, but that's just me. I haven't heard if there will be any construction or maintenance done to Rt. 86 this summer, but if there is not, that can only mean next winter's frost heaves will create bigger and better potholes.