Well, that's what the signs at the border should say. That may not be entirely fair though; rally courses tend to be a tad smoother, actually.

What is it with this state and a complete lack of roadbeds under the pavement? It will never cease to amaze me how little substance there is under the macadam surface; tar on dirt, as far as I can tell. I know it's a cost thing, but I can't help wondering if, given the cost of doing repairs every spring, it might not have been better to spend the money up front to put in good, deep road beds. It costs more up front, but just the savings in bent rims would be worth it.

With some of the frost heaves in my area creating a delta in the road surface of over six inches, the time has definitely come to park the car for the rest of the winter and just use the Jeep. It's a tough decision, since the car gets around 50% better fuel economy, and with a commute just over 54 miles each way, that makes a noticable difference in my weekly fuel budget; I have this particular car for exactly this reason, commuting; it's economical, reasonably (read as; low) powered and intended to get me safely to and from work every day. The Jeep? Not so much. Really it's a toy, but with sidewalls roughly three times taller, it's far better suited to the rally course I drive to work. My comments earlier about building myself a rally car for winter driving were simply fun, but maybe I should think seriously about it. Taller sidewalls with a tougher suspension would be entirely appropriate. Besides, it would give me an excuse to get/build another car; I like that idea. I suspect my wife might not share my enthusiasm though.

So, what are your experiences with the roads here in New Hampshire during frost heave season?

This is a concept that too many people seem to utterly miss; driving is a privilege, not a right.  Why does this come to mind currently?  The number of fatal accidents around the country is staggering, and when I read the comments after news articles my mind boggles at the number of people who make statements like "we need to lower the speed limit to keep people safer".  Oh, good heavens, not that one again. The speed limits in this country are already irritatingly low.  They have been set, as far as I can tell, to keep the most incompetent driver on the road safe while hurtling along in two tons of steel.  I have a different idea; let's raise expectations regarding driving abilities!

A few weeks ago we took a "family trip" and, as always, we were in a hurry to get to our destination.  We left early in the morning and let the kids go back to sleep.  When they woke up we ran through a drivethru and grabbed breakfast, and got back on the road.  That got me thinking; when did it become fashionable, or even acceptable, to eat while driving?

 Jack Pruitt, center, of Richmond, Va. watches the smaller items get auctioned off during Richard Kemp's mack truck collection auction in Hillsborough, NH on Saturday, July 25, 2009.  Joy Lewis

This morning, on the way into work, I did something a little different; I opened up my windows.

I run a newer car for the daily commute to work since I need to know I'll make it in every day and, like most newer cars, it's quiet inside.  Too quiet, in my opinion.  Oh, and there's the cabin air filter.  Isolation from the outside of all senses except sight.  This doesn't make for a good driving experience.  Granted, commuting in general doesn't make for a good driving experience, but why ruin it more than necessary?

So as I left the house I put down the windows and just drove along.  It was refreshing to feel the wind on my face and realize that the old driving experience can still exist, even in today's more modern cars.  I could smell the trees  and flowers as I drove along rt 119 through northern Massachusetts and I could hear everything going on around me.  I could even hear the motors of the little cars, as quiet as most of them are.

The interstate was where it got really interesting.

The Interstate Highway System exists for a reason; to get people (and stuff) from point "A" to point "B" as quickly as possible.  The system performs this task rather well and according to U.S. Department of Transportation, there are numerous sections of the Interstate System which handle over 250,000 cars and trucks per day.  It is also a most dreadfully dull way to travel. 

I never could resist the temptation to use a Monty Python quote.  But it seems oddly fitting for the quest I have chosen for myself; to find a world class driving road here in our great state of New Hampshire.  It also gives me a great excuse to get out and see more of the state.

The other day, while angering most of the drivers on the road by having the audacity to travel at the speed limit, I had something of an epiphany.  When I was a kid I always wondered why it was my father drove so slowly.  Was he just old or what?  Well, I was a teen, so of course that was where my thoughts went.  Almost twenty five years later with my own children sitting in the back seat, it dawned on me; he was setting an example.  He was burdened with that thing we call responsibility.

When I was in 2nd grade I not only knew who I was and who my friends were but who I was going to be. In 6th grade I was quite sure(if not overly confident) in whom I was and would become. Now after my freshman year of college I am not sure of who I am, who I will become or who my friends are. I say this with perhaps some exaggeration and certainly little depth, because I have accumulated many pieces of the puzzle . Despite this, I have come to conclusion that what assisted me most in this has been my fortunate opportunity to meet so many interesting and wonderful people. Certainly many others, if not all, can say this yet I feel that few would say the majority of influential people in their life were old enough to be their grandparents. I mention this to emphasize what I see to be a rather neglected aspect of our lives.

Every day,we see higher and higher gas prices. Less than 10 years ago I was in high school and a gallon of gas cost only 97 cents. It's almost 4 times that now, and who knows when it will slow down.