LesterOfPuppets

I'm not sure what's going on, wind damage maybe?

big john

Not certain but I think the sign is old enough so the recently exposed panel is from when the 99 was the route through L.A. before it became the 5.

I remember when the freeways here had the thick cable separating the n/s and e/w lanes, before K rails and concrete barriers.

You know, the cables that cut into a car when making contact.

Also in those days the cars coming toward you would blind you with their headlights, before any sort of light barrier was used.

BillyD

I would argue there's little doubt about that influence.

LesterOfPuppets

Here's some big city action for ya. 70 miles or so to get home hopefully I don't have to shortcut or totally wuss and take a bus home.

BillyD

That would be like me arguing my photographer dad had no influence in my hobby development. Like the hundreds of photographs in scores of albums around the house when I was growing up had no impact. Like the huge photo enlarger squeezed into his bedroom, looming almost 8 ft high above me, had no influence on my interests.

Eric F 

Ahh...I see now. It's the overlay for the 5 signage that was torn away to expose the 99 underneath. Got it. Lester's mention of the 134 confused me.

big john

Ever drive the 99 north of the split with the 5 near Bakersfield? There is a small airport out there and at night it looks like the planes are going to land on the freeway coming toward you. It's quite unsettling.

Oh, and I drove the 5 when the section going north of there just opened. There was a warning sign to tell you there was no gas for 200 miles!

terrymorse 

I've always enjoyed that SoCal language quirk. Freeways are so central to SoCal culture that you precede their names with "the".

It's like an honorary title: "You will address me as the 405."

big john

Well, I live right off the 210, north of the 118, a couple miles from the 5/14 interchange.

Eric F 

I've driven thought the 5/99 split many times, in both directions, but maybe not at the right time to see the planes.

Eric F 

Is it unique to So Cal? I was under the impression that Nor Cal folks do that, too.

big john

Maybe they don't do it anymore, it's been a while. IIRC I saw it from the 99 coming south before it merges with the 5.

terrymorse 

Sounds complicated. I live between 101 and 280, north of 85.

It's rare to hear "the <freeway_number>" around here. And when it is spoken (or written), we interpret it as "out of towner".

big john

The late Dave Tesch named some of his frames after California highways. He did not include the "the".

The one I have is named after State Route 22, near San Diego.

badger1

Same up here: e.g. we take 'the 401' (or the 403, depending) to go to Toronto and points east. Reflects the fact that in Ontario the 4-- series freeways now play such a central role in getting almost anywhere.

Edit for accuracy: I should say that when we head out to N.B. in late spring we take the 401 as far as Halton Hills, then get the h_ll off onto the 407 toll expressway. This is a relatively recent and very fast bypass route that takes one north of and completely past Toronto/the GTA, and spits one out back onto the 401 just east of Oshawa. Used to have to take the 401 through Toronto: up to 18 lanes + collector lanes full of traffic going nowhere fast.

Eric F 

The highway-sign shape around the number is pronounced "the".

phrantic09

We use just the number unless the road has a name, then it’s The Northway, The Pike, The Thruway

otherwise it’s 787, 81, 90 etc

DougRNS

they've been on the road since they left spring training. Must be front office underlings trying to meet their quota. That's a hard sell despite sweeping the BoSox.

DangerousDanR

Sorry to have to tell you this, but they are the State Bird. And the Provincial Bird in Manitoba. Also the State Bird of Minnesota and Alaska.

There is no escaping the Mosquito. We just get different diseases from them.

phrantic09

This was prior to opening day I believe (I didn’t see it, one of my staff told me) but it was definitely players. Maybe the other day was too recent of a generalization.

I considered the Monday game, but was too tired.

datlas 

Did it pass??

DougRNS

maybe she can assuage Velo Vol's climate dysphoria.

#GoodLuckWithThat

big john

badger1

Yep ... the 401 in winter (especially) can be pretty hairy! The thing is sooooo busy, year round. I guess it would be; if you include Quebec Autoroute 20 from the ON/QUE border to Quebec City, you have (over, I think) half the population of Canada living in proximity to a single route: Quebec City to Windsor ON.

MoAlpha

She and I both use SAD phototherapy lights in the Fall and Winter. SAD!