The famous reporter who made a career of avoiding the interstates and choosing small country roads, said, during one of his famous CBS News segments of On the Road,

 

            "Thanks to the Interstate Highway System, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything."

 

         Unfortunately, this is pretty much true. The interstates, with their multiple lanes and cloverleafs, are not very attractive, and they were built along property which was fairly easy for the government to access and purchase, but they do have one decided advantage — they can get you from place to place in a reasonable time. And, since time is sometimes more important than place, they have been of great benefit to American society. Sure, it is more fun to get off the highways and onto the byways, as long as you factor in the additional hours and days. I actually like to do both. I prefer traveling on interstates to get to a place, and then like to sample the local roads while I’m there, especially if they are particularly scenic. I have often shunned the highway if the byway will get me to the same place, as long as it doesn’t cost me an extra day. So, hurray for Mr Kuralt, for helping us appreciate these country roads, but few of us have the time or the resources to use them all the time.