Okay, alot of us will be hitting the road the latter part of the upcoming week to head to Moultrie, GA. BTW, it's pronounced MOW-tree. I thought I would post a travel advisory thread especially for those who will have to come through the Metro Atlanta area.

First and foremost, if you remember nothing else remember this DOOLY COUNTY Georgia is one big speed trap. This applies to everyone traveling south on Interstate 75. Dooly county lies south of Perry (Houston county pronounce How-ston) and just noth of Cordele (Crisp county). Last I was through there Interstate 75 had construction going on county line to county line of Dooly county and they were taking full advantage of the reduced construction zone speeds and doubled fines for speeding. This ain't just sour grapes as I did get nailed for 58 in a 55 but as you enter the construction zone you will see the cruisers lined up on the side of the interstate like so many crocodiles at an antelope crossing. No lie, the blue lights will amaze you, you'd think dunkin donuts was on fire. My advice is to lock your cruise control at 53 before you ever cross the county line and leave it there until dooly is in your rear view mirror. They will tag you for one mile over so don't play with them.
I myself am either taking US41 all the way down or peeling off the interstate at Perry.

For the most part Georgia interstate speed is 70mph with reduction to 55mph in municipalities. Georgia isn't bad to set traps so use your best judgement. The areas to watch out for on the roads I travel are anywhere inside the perimeter in metro Atlanta. South of Atlanta Clayton county has taken to patrolling I75 (that's the area just south of Hartsfield-Jackson Airport/the I285/I75 junction. Inside the perimeter the speed limit drops to 55 and the heaviest police activity is on the southern end of the downtown connector (I75 and I85 run together for 8 miles downtown) these are going to be motorcycles cops sitting under every overpass at the bottoms of every dip. Be advised though that the usual flow of traffic is such that you will get run over going the speed limit. Use your best judgement. Peak of police activity is timed to rush hour with more in the north bound lanes in the AM and reversed in the PM. Whatever you do do not set foot in the HOV (far inside lane marked by a double white line) lane unless you have more than one in the vehicle or are on a motorcylce or drive a "green" fuel vehicle. They have cameras on every stretch and will get you. The same applies north of the perimeter on I85 except this is not an HOV lane. North of the perimeter on I85 we have toll lanes (aka lexus lanes) and unless you have a peach pass you will get pulled over, note these lanes are always maddingly empty even when traffic is at a crawl. There is limited police activity on the northern portions of the downtown connector as traffic is such that you are lucky to even approach the speed limit. North of the connector police presence is more on the 75 side as opposed to the 85 side, again timed to rush hour. On 75 they seem to be concentrated around the Chattahoochee bridge area.
If you must travel through Atlanta by all means try to time your trip to off peak times. Morning rush starts around 7AM and lasts until 9ish but can linger depending on how many unfortunate souls bump into each other. The evening rush starts no long after three and wraps up 6ish but all bets are off if the Braves are playing around that time or other events are occurring in the city. The absolute worst areas of Atlants to be in during the rush are anywhere on the north side of town roughly from the I75/I285 junction across to Spaghetti Junction (I85/I285) this also includes the GA400/I285 junction as well. Lesser congestion occurs at both the east and west I20/I285 junctions as well.

Special note on south bound congestion. I75 experiences a major slowdown around the Hudson Bridge exit every morning and evening, northbound and south bound respectively. This is due to the merge of I75 and I675 just north of Hudson Bridge, lots of traffic dumping onto one highway. Stay in the inside lane to avoid the traffic making for the exits. This bottleneck usually lingers just a little later and begins earlier than the rush downtown as this is the upstream or downstream as it may be.

If you arte coming in from points east and west I20 is usually smooth sailing save for the I20/I285 interchanges. The west side can be particularly troubling in the mornings due to traffic comming off the higher ground west of town and driving due east into the morning sun. Across town on I20 is never an issue unless TSHTF. If you decide to come in from the west and take 285 down and around, as I usually do, you will have no problem if you stay left as you approach the airport to get onto 285 east from 285 south (the exit 1 area) then be sure to follow the signs for Macon but only the signs in your lanes. There are several side by side exits merging here and looking across into the other lanes can confuse you. Tip; as you enter the underpasses (those are actuall a couple of the runways of Hartsfield-Jackson) start moving right as the next exit is I75. As you enter the exit lanes move right or you will drive right past the exit and back onto 285, turn right onto the 75 exit but stay left to avoid the GA85 exit and then merge left as the east bound 285 I75 exit also merges.
If you miss this exit just drive on and take the 675 exit.
If you are coming from the east and come around 285 it is much simpler as you do not have the airport to contend with and do not have all the multiple lanes as the west side has, it is well marked and just take the 675 exit, if you miss the turn go onto the 75 exit but pay close attention to signage.

That pretty much covers traffic in my area of operations. I hope Rick or others further north can advise on conditions as well.

I can also comment on I20 in Alabama as I travel that way quite a bit. Speed limit is also 70 and reduced to 55 in Birmingham, Anniston and the stretch near the GA line. There is construction along a stretch from St Clair county to Pell City and again in Anniston. Don't worry about rush hour as there isn't one compared to Atlanta (just stay off US280 from Birmingham to Sylacauga if you go the cross country route). If you take I65 south to Montgomery and come across then be advised of construction south of Birmingham.
Police activity on the interstates is very low, one notable is west of Bessemer on 20 as there is always a trooper around the mercedes plant (Vance). Bessemer city mat be hitting 20 as well, and anywhere the city of Hoover (I459) can they will be patrolling.

And that's why I live in Montana.

Do y'all even have a speed limit?

Forgot a couple.

The city of Forsyth, (Monroe county) not to be confused with the county of the same name, just north of Macon drops the speed limit to 55 as well. Forsyth is also home to the public safety training academy and must send the academians out onto the highway to train.

Just south is Macon and the I75/I475 split. I75 straight through is quicker but fewer lanes and can get congested at times around the I75/I16 split (stay right). 475 is the newer road and wider with more lanes, take your pick.

On the interstate its 75mph on two lane country highways its 70mph. Back in '98 that's 1998 when we traveled the western states looking for a new home Montana interstates were still posted "REASONABLE and PRUDENT" problem was I was driving a '89 Ranger 4x4 2.9V6 that could do reasonable but not prudent.
80 was about the hardest I pushed it, and I do mean push. You should have seen me going up Raton Pass in New Mexico, we made it by this much I--I.

Hey Robb how about a report from points south.

If your traveling up US 301 from the eastern part of the State I suggest not going around Gainesville. [Go westward to I75 Ocala or South of Ocala. If you think you still want to go around the North side of Gainesville Take my word for it. Just Don't.

This little town considers their part of the road a bona fide cash register.

Twenty five miles south same route a little town Citra is trying very hard to get on the National List.

Waldo ranked the third worst speed trap in North America
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120831/ARTICLES/120839872




The National Motorists Association has identified Waldo as the third worst small-town speed trap in the United States and Canada based on the number of tickets issued per 1,000 residents, shown Wednesday on US 301.



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Travelling Friday night expect delays around all four Gainesville Exits between 2:30-5:30PM Mornings 7:00 9:15 am Should have no problems caused by any UF Gator Games. Football, volleyball, swimming and diving are all out of state this weekend.

Our football team is playing the GA Bulldogs in Jacksonville Florida about 80 miles North and East . Waldo and Citra will be making money lots of it this weekend. I will save my Bulldog Comments until I get safely back behind Gator lines Sunday morning.

You can expect problems anytime in the Orlando area

ttt

The weather for the Rondi could not be any less then perfect for our Rondi.

http://www.weather.com/weather/weekend/Moultrie+GA+USGA0393:1:US

The Address for The Rondi :

Moultrie Technical College
800 Veteran's Parkway
Moultrie GA

Breakfast is at JT Harvey's : 7:30- 8:30 Host Gene Bell Snow & Bell Insurance






Mike Flick regrettably can't make it. He fell sick for nearly two weeks and is way behind and a hard freeze coming soon.

Everyone registered will get a certificate of training from me . A description of the eight hours is on the back .

See everyone there. 75 dollars at the door
Full Time College Students $45
Minors under 16) get in free

I'll be there in spirit with you guys.

Ron "Jonesie" Jones and two others, his son and another NJ trapper safely arrived in Moultrie GA.

Eric Arnold, Paul Brooker, Tim J and Lighting are all here safe.

David McLeod, Rich Federation, Matt Chitwood, , My family & others safely arrived.

Gene Bell of Snow & bell Insurance is here . His BBQ Rig is in the parking lot at the Motel.

No doubt that we are gonna have a great lunch tomorrow.

Gene Bell of Snow & bell Insurance is here . His BBQ Rig is in the parking lot at the Motel.

No doubt that we are gonna have a great lunch tomorrow.

Made it home safe and sound. Hope the same for every one else.

The After Hours Club ended up last minute at https://www.facebook.com/events/522281847799237/

Saturday, October 27, 2012
7:00pm Fullers Catfish House Adel Ga

It was last minute and wish we planned it better because we lost David McLeod, Eric Arnold, Tim Julien and Paul Brooker before we even found somewhere to meet. Even Kirk Dekalb wanted to go but was still moving equipment back to his shop

Next year Fullers is the place we will meet Friday and Saturday Nights next Year.Great food, plenty of space and some great southern hospitality from our waitress, a young & very cute, blond Georgia peach.

Meal was attended by Wpn Podcaster Ron Jones and his son Jennings Jones who works with Fish & Jame back in NJ.

WpN Podcaster Rick Federation and Bruce Lyman originally from Clearwater Florida. who one of his Rick's employee who seemed to have caught our waitress's full attention.

I was joined by my daughter Marie and Mariann Joiner.

Checked out of our motel at 11 am and took our time coming back arrived about 2 PM. Everyone in my family made it home safe.

Tonight's Podcast cancelled . I am gonna rest up for a busy Monday morning.

Sorry I missed it Robb. I can put away my weight in catfish.