Thoughts on the Commonwealth

[SCSL]

So now that I've been out here for a bit & settled in, some thoughts on VA from an "outsider":

1. People are really friendly. No doubt about that. Which is good because,,,

2. People drive really fast. Really really fast. Crazy fast on dark, windy, country roads. And they rubber neck on highways worse than I've ever seen. Which is weird because,,,,

3. The citizens of the Commonwealth must take highway safety very seriously. The density of police out here is amazing. I've never seen more police in my life. And getting a ticket out here is not cheap. It's like buying a piece of road. Traffic violations seem to be a very high priority for law enforcement in the Commonwealth. And there's vehicle inspection which, as a gov't run scam & revenue stream, will never go away. It's entrenched.

4. Some linguistic differences. For example, the word "Yield". As in: 'Yield Sign'. Where I'm from, the word "yield" implies at least a fluttering of the brake peddle, perhaps a glance to the side. Not so in the Commonwealth. The term "Yield" seems to mean a flooring of the gas peddle and a rapid acceleration into oncoming traffic. Citizens of the Commonwealth seem to have no issues with this linguistic difference, and it's associated change in behavior. The signs are on every highway entrance, and everybody most certainly "yields".

5. Not easy to wheel compared with out west. It's all private land. Which is fine if you are already in the off-roading "scene". But I would think it's difficult to get into four wheeling if you are new because you can't just head up to an easy trail and experiment. So luckily there is ROAV and other off-road clubs. But I don't think there's a regularly scheduled weekend trip every weekend like with Solihull in CO. I think the extreme wheeling opportunities, while certainly available, are more limited than out west. However, there is some outstanding wheeling out here which I was lucky to experience,,but it's like a closely held secret due to the overall scarcity.

6. It rains. Which makes my current Rover situation more complex. I need a top. So if anyone can refer me to a boat shop, or auto top shop, that will take on the project without killing me, let me know. I got a quote of $2500 from a custom auto top store and, when I picked my jaw back up off the ground, decided to put it off & borrow my wife's car if it rains. As such, I live & die by the weather forecast. Compared to Colo, the percipitation situation out here is extreme. Which is in some ways good because,,,

7. Though the mountains in CO are beautiful, the forests, hills, & valleys out here are just as fantastic as a natural back-drop. The rain keeps it green, which in itself is something to be appreciated. And the many rivers, lakes, and ponds are full of fish,,,so bass & sunfish fishing, which is something I had put on hold while in CO, are back at the fore-front of my agenda.

8. The price of land is far cheaper in central & western VA than in the CO mountains. So why aren't their more off-road parks? I think the whole business of off-road parks is in it's infancy. If done right, by the right folks, with the right marketing skills & dedication, I think it could be a great opportunity for both the owners and the wheelers. Hmmmmmmmm,,,

9. Did I mention it rains a lot in VA ?

10. CO is very dense with Land Rovers. Both 'off-the-shelf' and built-up. Similarly, VA seems to be a Land-Rover-Intensive state. Many on the boards are from VA, and I seem to see LRs everywhere I go. Hope to meet more of you in the coming months. I'm going to try to make the upcoming GWNF trip (if it doesn't rain)

[Rovin4life]

I lived in South West Virginia about an hour outside of Bristol.

Called Marion.

yes cops everywhere, my brother in law is a State trooper in Martinsville.

and let me tell you dont speed in Wytheville or anywhere from Roanoke to Abington. Thats about two hours of driving and lots of cops there.


They care for one thing in VA, hunting. Not offroading.

Not sure why. but most of the mountains are really small compared to NY and Co.

[roverX]

Glad to hear you made the move OK.

[Funrover]

So you have some rain eh?..LOL.....sounds like you are having fun though....Did you ever think of opening your own park? I'd find a way to make a trip out there...... For a cheap top there is always a tarp,duct tape, and bungee cords..LOL.......Start posting pics man...I wanna see.........

[Hank]

You think people drive crazy here? Go to Atlanta.....

[Roverdude]

I have to disagree about anyone in the commonwealth taking highway safely seriously. Certainly the drivers DO NOT. I'm from NY, and while everyone up there drives far more aggressively, EVERYONE will, thus traffic flow is far more predictable. In VA, you have the aggressive drivers, you have the asleep commuters locked onto the taillights of the car in front of them, you have the little old ladies doing 50 in the left lane, as well as a healthy mix of new immigrants who drive like they do in the homeland. So there is no rhyme or reason to it at all. I think the only unifying thing about it is that they are all idiots! (exept the good LR owners who frequent this board )

The gov't, they only consider highway safety a revenue maker. If they actually wanted to improve highway safety, maybe they'd consider improving driver training, improving notorious bottlenecks and dangerous roads, and SYNCHRONIZING the lights in urban areas .

Finally, to the city planners in all of NOVA. You are all retarded. Far more retarded than that kid Corky on Life Goes On. You have no problems allowing developers to build more and more townhouses and McMansions, yet you expect all these new residents to use the same roads that were designed to accomodate 1/3 the present population. There simply are no alternatives to the main thoroughfares and that is not right!

OK, enough venting, as you can tell... I'm not a big fan of the drivers of NOVA. That being said, I do enjoy living and working here, I feel I live a richer life then I did in NY, however, when the PCS to someplace warm, windy, water front and w/ less traffic comes up, I'll probably take it!

[Adam in NYC USA]

[quote=Roverdude]I have to disagree about anyone in the commonwealth taking highway safely seriously. Certainly the drivers DO NOT. I'm from NY, and while everyone up there drives far more aggressively, EVERYONE will, thus traffic flow is far more predictable. In VA, you have the aggressive drivers, you have the asleep commuters locked onto the taillights of the car in front of them, you have the little old ladies doing 50 in the left lane, as well as a healthy mix of new immigrants who drive like they do in the homeland. So there is no rhyme or reason to it at all. I think the only unifying thing about it is that they are all idiots! (exept the good LR owners who frequent this board )

I resemble that remark. I am a LR owner and I am a retarded idiot. Now, I am not as bad as that sheep-loving, bovine-rearing dude named , I forget, RoverY?

Adam

[Adam in NYC USA]

[quote=Roverdude]I have to disagree about anyone in the commonwealth taking highway safely seriously. Certainly the drivers DO NOT. I'm from NY, and while everyone up there drives far more aggressively, EVERYONE will, thus traffic flow is far more predictable. In VA, you have the aggressive drivers, you have the asleep commuters locked onto the taillights of the car in front of them, you have the little old ladies doing 50 in the left lane, as well as a healthy mix of new immigrants who drive like they do in the homeland. So there is no rhyme or reason to it at all. I think the only unifying thing about it is that they are all idiots! (exept the good LR owners who frequent this board ) [quote]

I resemble that remark. I am a LR owner and I am a retarded idiot. Now, I am not as bad as that sheep-loving, bovine-rearing dude named , I forget, RoverY?

Adam

[FelixLockhart]

Heh, I was reading through your list nodding the whole time. That's pretty accurate, except for #5, which really really REALLY depends on where you are. Where I am, wheeling is pretty easy, basically just pick a direction and drive 'til ya run out of road, I've yet to run into a trail that looked worth pursuing on private property.

If you haven't already, check out http://virginia4x4.org/, there's a forum there. And welcome to Virginia!