Returning to NC - Featuring the Sideling Hill Cut on I-68 in Maryland

Our trip home last Sunday was along the I-95 corridor, a route I hadn't taken since 2004.

Route: PA 48, PA 51, US 40, PA 281, PA 523, US 40, I-68, US 522, VA 37, I-81, US 17, I-95, I-85, NC 56, NC 50.

This was the first time I took the I-68 - I-95 route to/from PA/NC since 2004. So in some ways a number of things changed - and some stayed the same.

First, by take a small detour loop on PA 281 and 523. I added new mileage along 281 and clinched PA 523.

All of the older signs on I-68 in Cumberland have been replaced and a few are now in Clearview.

The rebuilding of Noah's Ark by the God's Arc of Safety Church hasn't changed since 2004.

Oh well. If you want to learn more about this Interstate highway oddity, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette ran a feature on the church and pastor in 2006.

We stopped at the Sideling Hill Exhibit Plaza and I finally was able to take good photos of the Sideling Hill Cut. (Amazing what having a real camera can do for you.)

I was actually surprised that I-95 from Fredericksburg to Richmond was not as heavy with traffic as I typically recall a summer Sunday afternoon to be. $4.00 gas has had its impacts. Although we saw a few slowdowns on the northbound lanes.

Other than nothing overly noteworthy, but it was an enjoyable 9 hour drive...quicker than I expected and would have been about 8 hours and 15-30 minutes if we didn't stop a few times.

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