Wondering About Federal Highways.

There are a lot of different types of roads in the United States.  There are federal highways, state highways, county roads, township roads, private roads, lanes, jeep trails, long driveways. . . you get the idea.  Did you know who builds the roads designated as federal highways and have route signs similar to these:

(The difference in the two on the right is that the 1961 sign was just the white shield with the black number and the 1970 sign was square and included the black frame.)

They say they are U.S. roads but they are always maintained by state or local governments.  This all started way back in 1926.  It is a rule of thumb that generally the odd numbered roads run north and south and even numbered roads run east and west.  The lowest numbers are in the east and the north.

Let me tell you, even knowing all this, I can get lost.  Do you know I got lost one time in a town so small that it only had a couple of red lights?  Yep, but I didn't go too far the wrong way before I figured it out.  But then once I went the wrong way a whole state before I realized I was heading west instead of east.  My excuse was that it was a cloudy day.  Best reason I could come with in short notice.  Now, I bet none of you have ever been lost, right?  So, make all the correct turns today, follow the correct route signs, and have a great day, you hear?