Maryland seeks grant to widen I-81

The Hagerstown Herald-Mail ^ | March 6, 2019 | Mike Lewis

[Salamander]

Holy hell.

The Stone Wall Of Death is probably gone, too, then.

[Viking2002]

You must have traveled those old byways more recently than I have, because I'm befuzzled as to where the rock wall was. Old National Highway has one way in, and one way out. The other took you through The Narrows. In that area, you had the train trestle that's still in use by the scenic railroad (that little trip to Frostburg and back isn't cheap, but it's a fun haul when you have an old steam locomotive pulling you), the rock cut and Lover's Leap, and Motor City. It also used to have JJ's Pizza, who made the best friggin' Stromboli you ever wrapped your jaws around. If you want to have a little thrill, try Wellersburg Mountain in December or January. It could be 45 and sunny in Cumberland, then you hit that mountain heading up towards Somerset, and the weather changes on you in a flash. It'll drop to 30 degrees and snow squalls that quick. That mountain has it's own sub-climate. The last time I was there, they were still constructing the Flight 93 memorial. I remember that day. I called my mom and asked her what the hell was going on up there. She said she didn't have time to talk because they issued an All Hands to anyone who worked at the hospital, and was in the process of changing into her medical garb. They had cleared the whole area and set up MediVac landing pads areas and triage stations everywhere.

There were no patients to treat, as we now know. It kinda digs especially deep, given what happened, how close it came to hitting home, and the Pentagon hit was like seeing an old part of my life take a whack. I worked at the Puzzle Palace for three years and was only another three years removed from it when the other plane hit. Looking back, it seems surreal.

[Salamander]

The wall was back when I was kid and we went on joy rides up to CLand.

Long before 68 was even a thought.

Worst thing I’d ever done, since then, was work for the Census in 1980.

We took the back roads in the dead of W.MD winter, no matter the weather, either in my Gremlin or my boss’s Buick, to test potential employees.

Neither of those cars are known for their 4wd abilities.

So. Much. Fun.

Of course, now, trying to find that wall is gonna be my Summer Quest.

I can just feel it.

/hates unresolved issues

:D