My Love Affair with NJTP - 2010 Tribute, Part 9

I started this year on the Turnpike, after braving the weather to go see the ball drop at Times Square. I was back with HER (I am a HE, you see!) on New Year's Day, have probably been with HER more times this year than any of the last 3 that I have been in the US and every single time has been MAGIC, one way or the other.

I love HER from start to finish. So I guess the best way to do this is to go exit by exit and see why I love the New Jersey Turnpike more than any other road in the USA.

I've never seen Exit 1 (or maybe I have), but life starts for me at Exit 2, in Swedesboro, NJ. What a wonderful coincidence for a TamBram (Tamil Brahmin) becuase right off of Exit 2, on the Swedesboro Paulsboro road is the Raja Ganapathi Temple, by far the closest from our home that has has appealed to my mind. So to say, exit 2 is kind of the Pullaiyar Suzhi.

I love HER at Exit 3 that leads directly to Philadelphia and Atlantic City and will be the course taken by many revellers tonight for New Year's eve celebrations. My home is located between Exits 4 and 5 so I'd be foolish if I don't love HER there. I take one exit or the other depending on which way I am going, 4 when going south and 5 when going north, though taking 4 going north has not been uncommon becuase that is the exit that is technically in Mt Laurel, which is the town I live in.

I love her at Exit 6 where she comes together with the Pensylvania Turnpike and it is only 2 miles from Exit 7, so it is always a landmark for me, especially when I am returning home after a long day. When I hit Exit 7, I know I am only 2 minutes away from Exit 6 and then only one exit to go for Exit 5, which then takes me home in less than 10 minutes. Not that I am happy to leave HER and go home, but a man's got to do what he's got to do...

I love HER at Exit 7A, becuase that is my back up plan for when traffic is piled up miles together. When I'm running back home and I'm tired, I leave HER early by taking Exit 7A, which offers me the alternate route to my home through I295 N, which by the way is the second best road for me in the USA. I have to say the competition is close! Exit 8 leads to Princeton and sure must be an important one but I've hardly ever been that way, so I'm not sure there is much to say.

I love HER at Exit 8A, which is where she splits into 2 tracks allowing the buses, the trucks and monster transporters to move away from the "Cars Only" path and makes life so safe and beautiful for me. I've not been much at Exit 9 but I was there one afternoon in sunny May and I have to say, it was a beautiful day. It was probably my shortest time with HER, only from Exit 5 to 9 and back, but that one hour will stay in my memory forever. It was one of those days I never wanted to end.

I love HER at EXIT 10, where I get directly into Edison, Indian capital of the USA and I love HER more at Exit 11, from where I can take the Garden State Parkway onward to 2 destinations I love being. One into Oaktree Road to go to Saravana Bhavan, which is where I'd rather eat out than any place else in the USA and the other towards Albany, which has become my favorite Thanksgiving destination off late.

I'm yet to explore Exit 12, but I love HER at Exit 13. This is what leads me to the Goethal's bridge, the Staten Island Expressway and further on to Verrazano and the Belt Parkway to finally hit JFK. This airport is 2 hours away versus Philadelphia, which is 30 minutes or Newark, which is an hour, but no one would believe how often I go there. Why I've already been there 2 times in this 1 week and it is a drive that has offered me some breathtaking views that I'll never forget.

I LOVE HER AT EXIT 13A. I've said much about this in my New Year 2010 Blog (referenced at the beginning of this piece), but I will say it again. Between Exits 13A and 14, 14A, B & C lies the Newark Liberty International Airport. I've said enough about how I can watch flights land and take off all day, but riding in a car at 60-70 miles an hour and having a flight take off or land right in your face and right above your head is just breathtaking. So many times this year, I've just wanted to pull up my car on the shoulder southbound on the turnpike near Exit 13A and just stand there and watch them come and go. Maybe next year...

Right after the Newark Airport stretch is a small mound on the road, on crossing which one is offered the first and most magestic view of Manhattan Island and as one treads past Exits 15E and 15W, one can still keep taking in the different views, including Jersey city on the other side of the river. Even if I have a job in New York city, I'd rather live in New Jersey, just to see this view everyday going to work. Believe me, I'd never get tired of it.

I HATE HER AT EXIT 16E. Because this is where I get off. But I have to thank HER at this point becuase that's where SHE leads me to the Lincoln Tunnel and into New York city, which is a lifelong love story in itself and about which I'd probably never stop talking...

You know what's funny? MY WIFE LOVES HER TOO! I'm sure for most of the reasons that I already do, but for one reason more than anything else. The NJTP is the one road that has the most consistent pattern of service areas, all of them replenished with rest rooms, restaurants and full service gas pumps. We've driven a lot over the North East but no other highway here is consistent in this matter. And wait, that's not even the single biggest reason, my wife likes the NJTP. Every one of these service areas has a Starbucks (which BTW is my favorite brand in the USA) and which is where my wife can stop for her most favorite cup of Tall Chai Latte, extra hot.

How much more can I say about HER? I'm starting to believe I can go on forever. It's 1015 AM on Friday Dec 31 and I have things to do like run to the Indian grocery store and get some Tea, which we incidentally ran out of, for my wife. Got to keep her happy, right? After all, she knows everything about me and my NJTP and what's more, she understands...

In case you're wondering, "Wait! This post should have been published last night, right?". Yes you're right. But I got back home only past midnight and was too tired to write. I WAS WITH HER FOR OVER 4 HOURS AND IT DIDN'T SEEM QUITE ENOUGH...