Community Stories

Scenes from the Dirty Windshield (Warning: Lots of pics!)

Faz
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Hello all,

Over the last few months, the state of Pennsylvania has been a frequent destination. Hauling and backhauling steel, wood, fencing and shingles. I have to say, it's an extremely beautiful state, quirky, friendly and surprising. I enjoy every drive there, even when the weather is foul. Here are some random pics I snapped over the last few weeks. Hope you enjoy!

Pre departure kit..

Om12.JPG Om 37.jpg Om13.JPG Om14.jpg


Picking up a load of walnut in Amish country. Liverpool PA

Om 27.jpg Om 25.jpg Om 26.jpg Om 28.jpg


Some surprising views...
Dino.jpg Om 30.jpg



Some beautiful views..
Om 2.jpg Om 3.jpg Om 23.jpg


The theme here is "Thirst"!

Om1.jpg Om 31.jpg Om15.jpg Om 29.jpg


The ever changing weather..
Om 16.jpg Om 37.jpg Om 38.jpg Om 39.jpg Om 41.JPG



Sky views...

Om 32.jpg Om 33.jpg Om 36.jpg


Unusual vehicles spotted..

Om 17.jpg Om 40.jpg


Many roadside messages!

Om 18.jpg Om 21.jpg


....a little contrast...

Om 24.jpg


If you lust after a Speedmaster, beware!!

Om 35.jpg Omeg ad.jpg

There are tons of Rolex billboards, some in the most unusual places but this is the only Omega ad I've spotted. On I-276.

Leisure..

Om 19.jpg Om 20.jpg


If you want to get a buzz!

Om 22.jpg


Hope you've enjoyed! Thanks for looking

Faz
Edited:
 
Faz
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Vitezi Vitezi
Thanks for that earworm!
Hahaha! I thought of fetching that video as well..Exactly what I had in mind! Amazing!
 
Larry S
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It is a very, big, diverse and pretty state.
 
STANDY
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What a nice looking Polyphemus Moth ( giant silk moth )

@cicindela might correct me
 
propervinyl
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@Faz first of all, thank you for posting these photos! We dont know eachother but I have really enjoyed the photos of your travels.

Two quick questions -

1) I find the highway pavement conditions in PA to be really awful. As you have traveled extensively in the state, is this something you agree with?

2) If you ever drive through the ridge country in SE PA, how do you manage the rapid ascents/descents? I have always wondered how folks hauling heavy loads handle the terrain in this part of PA.

Thanks again, and please keep the photos coming! I'm sure I'm not the only person here who really enjoys them.
 
Larry S
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Having grown up there...the roads absolutely suck.
 
cicindela
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STANDY STANDY
What a nice looking Polyphemus Moth ( giant silk moth )

@cicindela might correct me
Indeed, Antheraea polyphemus, mostly an Oak feeder, occasionally other hard woods.
 
Faz
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propervinyl propervinyl
@Faz first of all, thank you for posting these photos! We dont know eachother but I have really enjoyed the photos of your travels.

Two quick questions -

1) I find the highway pavement conditions in PA to be really awful. As you have traveled extensively in the state, is this something you agree with?

2) If you ever drive through the ridge country in SE PA, how do you manage the rapid ascents/descents? I have always wondered how folks hauling heavy loads handle the terrain in this part of PA.

Thanks again, and please keep the photos coming! I'm sure I'm not the only person here who really enjoys them.
Thanks for the kind words. It's so enjoyable to share these moments with the community. As Larry said, Pennsylvania is a fantastic state.

Oh...you're right about the road conditions. Here in Quebec, we are notorious for very poor roads but Pennsylvania is close behind. The worst roads I find are in the state of Michigan unfortunately. I must say that road rehab is undergoing across the state on the major turnpikes, interstates and state roads. Some of the ruts the shoulders meet the main road are downright dangerous for a loaded semi.

I've traveled pretty much across the whole state and the various ranges (Endless, Poconos, Allegheny etc...) and the trick is to focus on RPMs. Choosing a gear that will get you up the grade at about 1200 RPM. The scary part is going down some of the very long and steep grades with a fully loaded trailer (25 tons). Same applies, choose a low gear that will hold you at 10 mph under the permissible speed going down the grade. Using the engine brake and service brake to scrub off speed once you reach the permissible speed limit to bring you down 10 mph below and so on and so forth. Limited use of brakes is desirable so you don't overheat them at which point they become useless.

You do not want to go beyond a speed you can't recover from...and it's easy to do just that.

Cheers,
 
ICONO
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Terrific images…there are some great opportunities for editorial photography

A real sense of the different journeys…and the idiosyncrasies, of semi rural America

Please keep it up !
 
propervinyl
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Faz Faz
Oh...you're right about the road conditions. Here in Quebec, we are notorious for very poor roads but Pennsylvania is close behind. The worst roads I find are in the state of Michigan unfortunately. I must say that road rehab is undergoing across the state on the major turnpikes, interstates and state roads. Some of the ruts the shoulders meet the main road are downright dangerous for a loaded semi.

I've traveled pretty much across the whole state and the various ranges (Endless, Poconos, Allegheny etc...) and the trick is to focus on RPMs. Choosing a gear that will get you up the grade at about 1200 RPM. The scary part is going down some of the very long and steep grades with a fully loaded trailer (25 tons). Same applies, choose a low gear that will hold you at 10 mph under the permissible speed going down the grade. Using the engine brake and service brake to scrub off speed once you reach the permissible speed limit to bring you down 10 mph below and so on and so forth. Limited use of brakes is desirable so you don't overheat them at which point they become useless.

You do not want to go beyond a speed you can't recover from...and it's easy to do just that.

Cheers,

Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply! After hauling a boat with a half-ton pickup through the area, I am cringing to think about what it takes to navigate these roads in a 25 ton rig. It sounds terrifying.

Be safe out there, and keep the photos coming!
 
merchandiser
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Good stuff Faz, thanks for posting. I grew up in Ohio very close to the Pennsylvania border. I have driven on some of the roads in your photos and it brought back many memories. Winding down eastward on PA Route 60 into the Fort Pitt tunnel is great as is the view of downtown Pittsburgh when you emerge from the tunnel. Amish country around Westminster is a fascinating thing to see that I’d highly recommend to anyone here. Thanks again for the post!
Edited:
 
Mtek
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@Faz. Please don’t stop making these threads, they are great and I look forward to them.

Question - I haven’t seen you mention, but what camera are you using? Many times your driving, yet the pics look fantastic. I would like to know, thank you.
 
Faz
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Thanks so much for the interest and kind comments.

I use my iPhone 6 to "steal" some pics as I'm on the move. It's always on photo mode so all I have to do is snap away from the hip so to speak. I also use my Nikon D5000.. 2010 vintage, when I'm stopped.
 
noelekal
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Faz Faz
Thanks for the kind words. It's so enjoyable to share these moments with the community. As Larry said, Pennsylvania is a fantastic state.

Oh...you're right about the road conditions. Here in Quebec, we are notorious for very poor roads but Pennsylvania is close behind. The worst roads I find are in the state of Michigan unfortunately. I must say that road rehab is undergoing across the state on the major turnpikes, interstates and state roads. Some of the ruts the shoulders meet the main road are downright dangerous for a loaded semi.

I've traveled pretty much across the whole state and the various ranges (Endless, Poconos, Allegheny etc...) and the trick is to focus on RPMs. Choosing a gear that will get you up the grade at about 1200 RPM. The scary part is going down some of the very long and steep grades with a fully loaded trailer (25 tons). Same applies, choose a low gear that will hold you at 10 mph under the permissible speed going down the grade. Using the engine brake and service brake to scrub off speed once you reach the permissible speed limit to bring you down 10 mph below and so on and so forth. Limited use of brakes is desirable so you don't overheat them at which point they become useless.

You do not want to go beyond a speed you can't recover from...and it's easy to do just that.

Cheers,



Well, it's a mighty rough road from Lynchburg down to Danville,
On a line with a three-mile grade;
It was down that line where he lost his air-brakes;
You can see what a jump he made.

 
Dan S
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Thank you for taking the time to take these photos and post them. I spent the first 30 years of my life in the northeastern part of the US, and this brings back lots of memories - so wet and green.
 
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