Since the hurricanes in the Caribbean were such an unknown quantity when we were leaving the Boston area, I decided to fill up the coach even though we wouldn’t actually need fuel till the Washington, DC, vicinity. Better to be able to get out of harm’s way if needed without counting on a fuel stop during a storm.
We traveled some of the worst roads I can remember on Interstate 84 and even worse on 684. I cannot imagine what 95 would have been like as I read that 84 is a much better drive in a motorhome on a few forums. One particular jolt on 684 dropped the stabilizer bar down in front of me that holds the electric shade from moving side to side while driving. It looked like the old- time elevator gates that scissor across the opening, only in the coach it goes up and down with the shade instead of side to side on the old elevators.
Thankfully only the stabilizer dropped, but it was extremely unexpected and startling when driving down the road at 65 mph. For about 30 more miles I had to look on either side of it to drive to the next rest stop were I could try to fix it.
Luckily the bolt, sleeve and washer were right there on the dash when we stopped and it took just a few minutes to put it back together and tighten it up so that didn’t happen again. Then we were back on the highway.
After a short drive we turned off 684 to I-287 to cross the Tappan Zee Bridge. I was surprised to see there were two bridges now. The westbound lanes traverse a brand new cable stay bridge and the eastbound lanes are still on the old bridge.
Not far past the bridge was the turnoff for the Garden State Parkway. I had contacted the NJ Turnpike authority to verify I would be allowed on that roadway. Their first response was a NO, as nothing over 8 feet wide was allowed. I responded that all modern buses are 8 1/2 feet wide, the same as my coach, and I used to see lots of buses on the Parkway. The next response from the same person said they were in the process of updating their documents and that I was allowed on the parkway’s full length.
What they didn’t mention was the low bridges if you are in the fast or slow lanes, and they never mentioned the extremely narrow toll booths. One of the toll booths we went thru had maybe 3″ clearance on either side due to the mirrors extending out the sides. That was thrilling…
I have grown to love the I-pass transponder, especially the tolls that were full speed without any toll booths to drive thru.
We drove all the way down to exit 98 where we picked up interstate 195 west for 8 more miles toward Rt 9. We were camping in the boondocks for sure!