Located in Patrick County, Stuart, Virginia is a tiny town nestled in the Blue Ridge mountains. Located more than 30 miles away from the nearest interstate, it lies at the intersection of Virginia State Route 8 and U.S. Highway 58. Since use of U.S. 58 coming from the nearest interstate is prohibited for commercial motor vehicles, one must brave Virginia 8. Virginia State Route 8 is a two-lane road stretching through a number of small towns. The majority of the road has a speed limit of 55 miles per hour, which was determined (Im certain) by a highway advisory board full of sadists. There is rarely a stretch of this route - which, by the way, is named The Crooked Road - that does not have a warning sign about a recommended speed for an upcoming curve. In fact, about halfway between Christiansburg (where I got onto Virginia 8) and Stuart, there are a series of incredibly tight curves, which have recommended speeds between 15 and 25 miles per hour. I dont know if you, gentle reader, are able to envision a 15 mph curve. Imagine doing a curve that in normal circumstances would be equivalent to an immediate turn. Now imagine you are on a two-lane road, in a semi, pulling a 53-foot trailer. I was exceptionally lucky today, since there was no traffic in the opposite direction (particularly during the right turns) as had there been any, either I would have pegged a guardrail or I would have had a Chevy as a hood ornament. This section of road is near Lovers Leap, which I find appropriate as lovers tend to exchange bodily fluids and that bunch of curves made me expel some of mine. After that drive, I need a cigarette and a massage. So, having dropped off the cargo at its destination (and not, thankfully, off of a cliff), I made my way to my current location; its an Exxon in Ridgeway, Virginia not far from the Millis terminal. Ill be here until morning, when I head towards my next pick up about 100 miles north of here. By the way, Stuart really is in Patrick county; a fact that is a lot more amusing when you are nerd and you ignore the spelling.
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 21:43:18 +0000
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