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The wrong way to get home
May. 18th, 2003 04:47 pmWas Zipcar-enabled today; decided to visit Target and such in nearby Everett for things too heavy to carry home. (And somewhat failed on this point; moving stuff into the house from the car, it was somewhat heavy in one hand, so in nice weather the half-hour walk probably would have actually been reasonable.) But getting back: drive into the smoking remains of Santilli Circle (once a rotary, now a road structure reminiscent of the London Underground logo). Fail to make it into the lane going around the rotary, so I wind up on 16 east. The first right turn takes you into this small neighborhood that's utterly disconnected with the rest of the world, but brings the enlightening realization that one needs to cross the commuter rail to get back to greater Camberville. Try the second light off of 16. This goes on to Second Street, which does in fact cross the commuter rail. Drive past the Mystic Mall ("wow, that's impressively dead") into Chelsea. Try turning right at a traffic light. Going straight takes me around Admiral's Hill in Chelsea, and through a nice-looking MDC park. But now I'm underneath the Tobin Bridge. Try turning left at the street marked "truck route".
Now, this is Beacham Street, which goes through Chelsea and Everett. This is an incredibly dead zone. Ever read Zodiac by Neal Stephenson? This is so incredibly the archetypical area of environment-destroying oil companies. "Rough road, drive at your own risk" says a sign. The road desparately needs repaving. Drive around a couple of corners; I'd turn back if other cars weren't going through in both directions. After driving for several minutes on what I'm convinced must be a dead end, I'm facing a McDonald's at a traffic light. This at least is a familiar McDonald's; I turn left, and I'm on Route 99 heading into Sullivan Square.
Looking at a map now, the entire area seems so incredibly badly designed. If you wanted to do something at Santilli Circle but didn't, you're basically stuck; it's a mile to the next place where you can do anything, and unless you feel like navigating side streets, none of which go where you want to, you need to turn around and go back. Yay 50's-era road building.
Now, this is Beacham Street, which goes through Chelsea and Everett. This is an incredibly dead zone. Ever read Zodiac by Neal Stephenson? This is so incredibly the archetypical area of environment-destroying oil companies. "Rough road, drive at your own risk" says a sign. The road desparately needs repaving. Drive around a couple of corners; I'd turn back if other cars weren't going through in both directions. After driving for several minutes on what I'm convinced must be a dead end, I'm facing a McDonald's at a traffic light. This at least is a familiar McDonald's; I turn left, and I'm on Route 99 heading into Sullivan Square.
Looking at a map now, the entire area seems so incredibly badly designed. If you wanted to do something at Santilli Circle but didn't, you're basically stuck; it's a mile to the next place where you can do anything, and unless you feel like navigating side streets, none of which go where you want to, you need to turn around and go back. Yay 50's-era road building.
