2023-05-26 41 -76

Location

Just off Rt 405, next to the ramps for I-180 in Muncy, PA

Participants

Pedalpusher

Expedition

J's Aunt and Uncle (near Baltimore, Maryland) have a Memorial Day party every year but things got weird during covid so this was the first year in a while that J went down and I was able to join her. As always, I check the hash points along our path and this one popped up, looking accessible and not even that far off our drive as we were already planning on going through Williamsport, PA. Due to the setup, I didn't think we would be able to pull over on the shoulder next to the hash, because there was the entrance ramp for the highway right there and we would be too far away driving by for a Speed Racer, even if we had a really bad signal and a wide Circle of Uncertainty. Studying the satellite pictures, I thought we had a good opportunity to park in one of the parking lots close by and I could walk over (very carefully).

With everything packed, we dropped Myka off at my sister's place before we got underway. The drive down was mostly uneventful, and in following the Phone GPS, we ended up getting off I-180 right at the hash and driving by. As I suspected, (even in the passenger seat), I got a reading that wasn't even close, but we could see there was a Wendy's restaurant right up ahead. J was concerned about having to cross the exit and entrance ramps for the highway so she decided to use the facilities while I made my careful attempt to acquire another new Graticule for my list.

Walking in the grass along the road, I managed to hit the ramps at the perfect time where no one was coming from either direction and easily made it across into the hash-field. It was an easy thing to get a good reading and some pictures of the area before heading back. Again, no cars coming for the entrance, but by this time, the exit ramp was full of cars waiting at a stop sign to merge onto the main road. I'm sure I got some weird looks as I crossed between the stopped cars, but happy for another successful expedition, I paid them no attention (excepting to get across safely).

Getting back to the car, we had some trouble getting back on the road, as we tried to take a short cut out of the plaza area only to find a Dead End (and a couple people also followed us too). With a second attempt, we were back on our way and we stopped for dinner in Harrisburg and a local brewery before we completed our journey just south of Baltimore. It was a very nice weekend as we spent Sat visiting J's friend in Virginia before stopping on Sunday morning in DC on the way back for the Party on Monday.

It was only upon getting home from our trip that I realized this was much bigger than just a new Graticule for me. Not only did I complete 2 Minesweepers but I also found that this is the first expedition for Berwick, PA!

Photos

Exiting I-180 for the Hash.
Driveby attempt was much too far away.
So we parked over here and I'm walking back.
A view as I'm walking over, I had a nice bit of grass so I could be separated from the main road.
I really wanted to insure a successful expedition and I made it!
Not much to look at by the hash. A view East-ish where I walked from.
View North-ish toward the main road.
View West-ish toward the highway overpass.
View South-ish and of the field surrounded by the entrance ramp.
Standard Stupid Grin.