As I drove Adrian to Waterville Wednesday, one thought occurred to me.  I HATE driving to Waterville.  There's just no way around it....I just hate that drive.  And what frustrates me the most, is that there's no other easy way in.

Now I'm not saying that I hate Waterville....not by any means.  It's a cute little town and it's nestled in some beautiful country side.  But I hate the drive there.

Every damn road from Clinton, through Deansboro and into Waterville sucks.  They are all hilly, curvy roads and I swear that every single intersection that I take is a blind one.  At every stop sign or turn I literally hold my breath as I begin again on the gas hoping someone does not come over the blind hill or around the blind curve and broadside me.  It's very frightening. 

For me the misery starts at the flashing light on College hill.  It never fails that the person across from you plays the stop go game with you wondering who has the right of way (even though you very clearly know who does) and as you watch that moron and try not to get hit you have to watch up the hill to see whats coming down from Hamilton College around that blind curve.  If you make it through that intersection unharmed, now you have that stretch of Route 233 where, if you have ever traveled that road in your life, have had a deer run across.  So now you are up, down, turning and dipping, all the while trying to check out all of the many homes for sale on that short stretch of road and watching for deer.

Now you have turned on to 12B.  This part is just miserable too.  Its a nice big open road, which means there will be speeding, and it too has funny little curves on knolls, so that once you reach 65 you suddenly find yourself NASCAR turning [.....hold up...that could explain some things.....they do love their NASCAR out there.  Maybe these roads are all built like this on purpose.....never mind, back to my rant. ]  So now 12B is taking us into Deansboro, where the speed limit drops drastically to 35...why I'm not quite sure.  We're talking about one intersection with a disgusting hotel on one corner and an equally bizarre convenience store on the other....it's not like anyone it going to be taking a casual walk through town....but of course if I don't drop to 35, I will be pulled over and ticketed.

This ride gets even worse at this point...I have turned onto the dreaded 315.  It's a motion sick persons biggest nightmare.  If I'm not driving, I'm throwing up.  It is so full of turns, and curves and blind spots....it's ridiculous.  I know it was cut by Oriskany Creek and that the gorge has something to do with it...but come on.  Couldn't they straighten that bitch out a little bit.

So in an effort to not do any more slalom curving, I turn up Bogan road.  Now this is a straight up the mountain side shot all the while curving right....god help you if someone else is coming...and watch out for the Peacock that lives at the crest of the hill.  At least if he's out it's becomes somewhat of a rewarding experience getting to the top.  The rest of Bogan road is just as bad, but it took miles off my car sick journey, so I up, down, around my way, speeding up and slowing back down drastically.  Then I pass an Alligator crossing sign...that makes me laugh....Thank you.  I needed that. 

Finally I must turn one last time...once again I have no idea if anything is coming on my right.  I take a deep breath and press on. 

And I'm there.  A half hour or so rest and I get to do it all again in reverse....yeah.

It really is just a miserable ride.  And I have tried alternatives, believe me.  I have tried taking the Dugway....not any better.  Coming in from 12 is just way out of the way, and besides it really is the same car sick, blind spotted thing.  Maybe the people of Waterville just want to make their town unaccessible...maybe the roads are strategic. 

I don't know, I just know that I hate the drive.  Every moment from when ass hits the seat of the car until I arrive I am miserable.  If it weren't for the beauty of the area or the complete necessity, I would never go.

Don't take it personally Waterville, Paris, Marshal, and Sanger Field....it's not you....it's just the getting to you.