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Sunday, February 26, 2017

Goodfellows52: Catching the show on the road

Goodfellows52: Catching the show on the road: FARMINGTON/L...

Catching the show on the road





















































FARMINGTON/LIVERMORE/JAY— Route 133 is a road lined with bird’s-eye views of Western Maine’s rolling mountains and a breathtaking skyline that rivals anything man-made in a big city.

You could say this is Maine’s version of Route 66 — although a much shorter version of that storied road.

This road is filled with twists and sharp turns — and the last thing you want to be doing is looking down at your phone or speeding like a NASCAR driver behind the wheel of a supped-up stock car.

Ignoring the speed limit or being distracted will cost you your life — or worse, somebody else dies because of your stupidity.

And then there are the local sheriffs, who remain invisible until they come dashing out from the tree line like a fox that just spotted its next meal across the street. I often smile at a driver that passes me at the speed of sound, only to find that same driver down road next to police car with flashing lights

If you race across this route like a NASA rocket hurled through space, they will be picking up what is left of you with shovels. And then there are the sheriffs who will gladly hand you a ticket or arrest you for driving to endanger — depending, of course, on how fast you were going before you saw the boys in blue in your rearview mirror.

Route 133 is about 31 miles long and runs through several towns before it empties into Route 4 in Farmington— a college town that features the University of Maine at Farmington. I usually pick it up in Livermore to avoid most of Route 4. If you are obeying the law, it takes about 15 minutes to traverse it. This allows you the opportunity to avoid an endless array of traffic lights and the numerous school buses that descend on these towns after 2 p.m.

I travelled around the state covering everything from high school sports to boxing and auto racing. 

Yeah, I have been around.

I got a hot tip to use Route 133 to avoid a segment of slow-moving traffic on Route 4 as well leaving a trail of loud expletives throughout those quiet towns.

Yes, there are dangers to using Route 133, with deer crossing and drivers, whose skills behind the wheel are dubious.

But the views of these mountains on a sunny day are spectacular.

I refuse to drive Route 133 at night during the winter months due to black ice. During the day, the road is fine.

In a way, that road also acts as boundary when it comes to winter weather. I have often seen rain to turn to snow as I headed into Farmington. 

And in the fall, the view of Maine’s foliage is stunning and the tree line along the 133 appears to be on fire with its bright colors.

Those views of Maine’s mountains are worth the drive just to spend 20 minutes marveling at our green planet.

Enjoy the photos. My wife Terri took the wheel of the car so I could rattle off pictures of nature’s creations with my Nikon.

Out and about

Take a walk on the wild side around New England's outdoors. Come walk with my son and I as we explore state parks, historic sites, and creepy cemeteries. This is the good stuff in life, and there is nothing worth watching on television, anyway. Join us as we take advantage of Maine's beaches and pristine forests. In between our sojourns through the Pine Tree State, look for political insight and a few well-written opinion pieces as well.