Driving in the Dark

 

Disclaimer:  if this post is a little disjointed or incoherent (or perhaps that should read MORE disjointed or incoherent than usual), it's due to lack of sleep and too much caffeine.  

It was three weeks ago (yesterday) when all of Route 80 in the area of Wharton NJ was completely shut down.  Back in February, the east bound lanes of the highway had been shut.  On March 19th, the westbound lanes were shut.  This is all due to sinkholes and "voids"  (For those not in the know this article pretty much sums it up:  https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/new-jersey/2025/04/07/when-will-route-80-reopen-nj-releases-updated-reopening-timeline-from-sinkhole-repairs/82971983007/)  It's been a nightmare for all who travel route 80, which includes lots of trucks carrying their wares from California to the NY area.  As annoying and crazy as it all is, I'm not complaining about the work that is being done.  I know they are working around the clock.  I've seen it.  And I appreciate the men and women who are out there doing their best to get the highway open again. 

Having been on the westbound side when it shut down (https://bfthsboringblog.blogspot.com/2025/03/a-three-hour-tour.html) and observing when I head eastbound, I can tell you that the westbound traffic is usually worse.  (Of course I'm afraid that I've jinxed it by just typing that.  We'll see what happens when I head back to NJ next week.)  Not only does traffic get backed up for several miles at the detour exit, it also backs up on an exit several miles before that as people try to figure a way around the mess.  I know this is killing the locals.  (Someone in my office lives several miles before the detour and he has gotten stuck in hour traffic and has had to adjust his work hours to avoid the mess.)

In order to avoid the horrible traffic, I've taken to staying in NJ an extra night and heading out before dawn the next day.  My first time I left at 4 in the morning.  (https://bfthsboringblog.blogspot.com/2025/03/dont-run-over-rooster-stories-from-road.html)  That was the hour that I intended to wake up and go, but my body/brain do not like to cooperate.  I was up at 2 and made myself wait till 4 until I headed out.  The following week, I woke a little later (though still way before the alarm I had set for myself) and didn't get on the road until 4:30.  This week my brain woke me up at 1:30!

I do TRY to get back to sleep and I feel that it is way too early to hit the road.  So I got my clean laundry from the dryer (ran it the night before) and folded/put away.  I watched some tv.  (A tie between one of my favorite Columbo episodes and The Remains of the Day.)    Finally, I just gave up and hit the road a little after three in the morning!  

Yes, I was on the highway at 3:00 AM!  Traffic was light, but there was traffic, for the most part.  Before taking the detour (a brand new illuminated arrow has been set up at the exit), I pretty much followed in the path of an 18 wheeler.  Getting off, there was no immediate back up, but there was some at the two traffic lights.  The slightly unnerving thing was that as I headed for the exit to get back on 80 west, no one was ahead of me or behind me.  For a moment I panicked. (Because I'm me!)  I thought perhaps in the dark I had made an incorrect turn.  I hadn't (and if I had, I had my reliable Waze to help), but for quite some ways, it was just me on 80 west.  (80 east was another story...there were plenty of trucks headed eastbound.  I have a lot of respect for these guys and gals!).

I was the only one to get off at my exit in PA.  I was surprised when I saw how many cars there were in the bus station parking lot.  It was barely four in the morning and though the lot wasn't full, there were plenty of cars.  Guess more people have to head from PA to NYC than I realized.

There were no cars ahead or behind me as I started my last leg.  There were plenty of cars heading down the hill towards 80.  I kept going up and didn't encounter anyone else going in my direction. And as I got closer to our house, I was the only one on the road/highway.   Funnily enough, when I finally turned onto the backroads that would take me to the house, where I figured I would encounter no one, I did see one car going down the (incredibly steep hill) as I went up, just a mile from the house.  

I pulled into our garage around 4:35.  I didn't bother to unpack the car, I just grabbed two bags, went inside, took off my coat and went (back) to bed.  I set an alarm for 8.  (You KNOW I didn't need it right?)  I maybe got two 45 minute naps in.  Not ideal, but better than nothing.

I overcaffienated myself to get through the day.  (Which made me "jittery" for most of the morning.)  I'm looking forward to climbing into bed early tonight and getting some quality sleep.  I generally sleep well in the Poconos and not so well in NJ.   I think it has a lot to do with the anxiety of getting up and either getting to the office (via public transportation) or getting back to PA.  I've tried various sleep aids (calming music, a small dose of Benadryl, even a glass or two of wine), but nothing works well.  (Any suggestions?)

While the sleeping issues are a minus, the lack of traffic is a plus.  Dare I say, I've actually come to like driving in the dark?  Or at least making this particular drive.  I know that I have to stay alert and focused (and I am), but I find it to be less stressful.  There are less "jerks" on the road.  The truckers keep me company without being overbearing.  It's actually kind of nice.  (Of course if it were the middle of winter, it would probably be a different story.)

Of course with that said, I still can't wait for route 80 to be completely reopened and everything (hopefully) resolved.  I am counting down the weeks until I don't have to do my driving in the dark.