Do you know what would be more depressing?

Driving HOME to Palmdale

At one stage I had a 100km commute to work. It involved no traffic lights on the way, one on the way home, a drive on country roads with spectacular sunrises, mountain mist, long fast straights and winding mountain roads and at the time I owned a Ducati motorbike.
The job was **** but the drive/ride to work always made me smile.

It's about 40' from my bedroom to my standing desk/kitchen table. I will get a job offer tomorrow that's a 27 mile commute each way. But I could take the bike and do carpool lanes for about 22 miles of that route.

6 miles up the coast. Here are two of my views along the way. Not too bad.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1374646216.jpg

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Same here yet busier than I ever was before. For me it was 22 miles (30 min via interstate, or 30 min in the 911 never getting out of 3rd gear on the back roads :D). If I were "still in the game", I'd be telecommuting 99% of the time...don't miss it one bit.

You all suck.. Mine is better than it used to be, but now it's @38 miles one way and a minimum of 1:30 each way. If there's any kind of weather, (rain, etc), then it's an easy 2 hours one way.

Its 5.5 miles from home to my business premises. I work from home until 9.30am then drive in to avoid all the traffic. Go home before 5 or after 6pm again to avoid traffic.What I cannot avoid is the multitude of speed cameras along "revenue road".

Back in 1968 when we lived in Hawaii my dad drove 10 miles to work. It took one hour each way, every time. He hated it with a passion. He did that for a year before we got to move on base. Then it was 6 blocks.

For over 20 years I had a commute that was under one mile. One day I decided to set a record. I backed my car into the garage the night before.

From ignition on to ignition off was 55 seconds. I will admit to some slight stretching of the speed limits, but that was over 22 years ago, so the statute of limitations has kicked in.

No. :(

But I am looking at moving back out to the West Coast in the next year or two. I miss the mountains, the weather, the culture of the area. DC has some great attributes, but I've just about had my fill, really.


The highlight of today's commute was an 8-car metro train at Union Station, instead of the normal 6-car train. I was just grinning, I was so happy. Then I realized that I was exuberant about being slightly less crowded in with a bunch of sweaty commuters. It dawned on me that I must be living in Commuter Hell. :(

I'll just make you feel better:

Place I USED to work, 31 mile (or so) commute in not so bad Houston traffic. Listen to morning banter. Avoid 610 and just go up Lawndale, Broadway, Navigation, Wayside to Clinton to complex. Some of you may recognize this Ward.

Arrive after sunrise or else you dealt with the druggies, hookers, scum. Worry about being shot, worry that a demolition might go off and drop on you.

Check for the dead bodies. Call cops and wait when you found one. Hose off front walks, hope that was not your job! Make sure the weeds were mowed down and you had clear lines of sight up the road and up the railroad tracks. Make sure no dead bodies in back. Ensure building locks/security were working.

Get some work done. Leave by about 4:30 to avoid all the issues. Pleasant drive home without the 5 PM rush hour!

It didn't take long, did it? I feel the same way.

My wife and I did that for a number of years before we finally decided to move into the city.

My commute is pretty awesome too.
About 36 miles each way; about 45 - 50 minutes.
Different car and different route each day.
All routes go down beautiful TN valleys, then cut across a gap to the next beautiful TN valley.
Some of the roads rival Tail of the Dragon for short sections.
Just puts a smile on my face every morning and afternoon.

Here is one route:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1374675843.jpg

I was going to complain... I drive five miles of surface streets to the freeway... fifteen miles into downtown Lost Angeles... forty five minuets to and hour each way... forty miles a day... two hundred miles a week.

But 50 mile drive to Palmdale? You win! Watch out for coyotes... and deer... and turtles... and gila monsters :p

4.5 Miles 10 mins or less. It took longer before it was paved.

No Complaints Ever !


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1374680676.jpg

This was mine last week (my office location varies). Seriously, I DID WORK :D

angela

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Did the commute working in Boston for 4 years; precisely 25 miles door to door, almost all highway--anywhere from a 30 minute drive to a 3 hour drive, depending on time and traffic.

Then did the commute from Mesa to downtown Phoenix--usually a 45 minute drive in and about an hour and some change drive home.

Now, I live in a sleepy little Army town and commute takes me about 5-7 minutes. If there are 25 other vehicles waiting to get in the gate on base, that's "traffic" around here.

I drive pretty far -- 25 miles -- but in the canyons of the Santa Monica mountains and PCH through Malibu. Some days I see a gorgeous sunrise/sunset, beautiful women, fantastic cars, stunning houses, deer, hawks and dolphins all during the same drive. Could be worse...

34 miles door to door.
Drive past this twice a day and never get tired looking at it.
This photo was taken yesterday (24/07/2013)
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1374752432.jpg

Much like jyl's here, only 4 miles instead of 3 1/2. All but the last 1/2 mile is rural and I hardly ever see a car 'til I get close to town. Sometimes I drive, sometimes I ride, if I have thinking to do I even walk.