To get to the Hermits’ Rest, you have to go 2.2 miles down a county road for the last leg. As a county road in a poor county, you don’t expect immaculate maintenance. But, you might expect to be able to go in a straight line.
Not on our road! You know it’s a local driver when you see a lot of weaving and slowing down. There are spots where those in the know look like they are doing a slalom. There are areas on the hill where people driving what they think is a reasonable speed can go airborne.
We call that the roller coaster. When you first turn onto County Road 140 there’s what we call the washboard. It’s caused hubcaps to fall off. And there are at least two danger pits where I have no doubt people unfamiliar with the road have experienced damage to wheels or suspension systems.
In many spots, people just stop if they see another vehicle approaching, because there are so many places where it’s not safe for two to pass.
What to do?
I have no idea how to get us a safe road. The county crews occasionally come through and put asphalt or something in the holes, but it seems to sink down immediately. And even if a pothole gets fixed, more hunks erupt or holes form.
The rain hasn’t helped either. I really think it would be better to get rid of the pavement and make it a dirt road.
I know the crews try, though their attempt at grading the road led to the washboard section.
What’s good?
Well, driving so slowly and having to watch the road so carefully means you get to see interesting sights. Today a roadrunner ran in front of me both when I was leaving and coming home. Right down the road from the bird, a beautiful snake rushed across. I think another rat snake.
On the way home, I saw a family of woodpeckers visit their nest in a dead tree. They were large and had very red heads, so I’m guessing pileated woodpeckers.
And of course there are the lovely cattle in our meadow. So, I actually love our road, bumps and all.
The Hermits' Rest 
One thought on “Driving Down the County Road 140 Obstacle Course”