US Hwy 30 begins at the Virginia Avenue intersection of Absecon Boulevard in Atlantic City, without any kind of signage to that effect. It isn't until a couple of blocks later that the first "official" sign appears. This is quite different from most other US Hwy termini which prominently display a "Start" sign, and often a "distance to the other end" marker.
In researching this oddity, I discovered that US 30 used to have such signs, but they were torn down during a recent urban renovation. I guess that noting the beginning of a major US Hwy isn't nearly as important as pointing to the parking lot of a casino... Go figure!
The first hour of driving takes you across a pretty flat and uninspiring terrain, punctuated by some rather odd little towns. It's not a bad drive, just not particularly interesting. Soon enough, you cross the Ben Franklin bridge into Philadelphia and begin the trek across the long state of Pennsylvania.
The road continues as a major, divided highway for the next hour or so, with an increase in foliage and a clear sense of rolling hills. This move into "farm country" is both relaxing and reassuring, offering pleasant views and hope for a more enjoyable drive. I pulled off US Hwy 30 at PA Route 74 in York, where I will re-start this coast-to-coast expedition as soon as I reconfigure my road rig for the long-haul drive ahead!
Note: I'm on track to re-start the drive tomorrow morning... Stay tuned!)
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