{"id":14291,"date":"2013-11-03T08:49:28","date_gmt":"2013-11-03T13:49:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.howderfamily.com\/blog\/?p=14291"},"modified":"2022-01-24T07:59:24","modified_gmt":"2022-01-24T12:59:24","slug":"longest-routes-smaller-areas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.howderfamily.com\/blog\/longest-routes-smaller-areas\/","title":{"rendered":"Longest Routes for Smaller Areas"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Twelve Mile Circle audience loves little puzzles. Knowing that, I thought I might try to fold a couple of related ideas that have fascinated lately into a single entry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Dimension<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I looked back to one of the more popular 12MC concepts, the Longest Google Maps Routes<\/a>. I published that about eighteen months ago and it continues to be a popular page. Various social media and aggregator sites “rediscover” it from time-to-time, giving it new life. It’s quieted down a bit since the comments period closed after a year. Unfortunately I’ve had to specify an open comment period for all articles to try to tame a never-ending torrent of spam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second Dimension<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The second related page focused on my journey to Kentucky last summer. Back then I noted the tremendous amount of time and distance<\/a> I covered before I ever left the Commonwealth of Virginia. The drive was a bit exaggerated because I took a small detour to capture the independent city of Norton which counted as a county-equivalent for county counting purposes. However, the journey stretched an impressive distance even discounting the jog. I knew about all of that ahead of time of course. Nonetheless, understanding something and experiencing it in person differ considerably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rules<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With all that in mind, I’d begun to wonder about the longest Google Maps default drives in layers of geography that mattered to me. Specifically I focused on my home county, state and nation. I made the rules simple. First, it had to be the primary default point-to-point route suggested by Google. Second, it could not cross the borders of the home jurisdiction. Third, I couldn’t add intermediate points manually and I had to remain within the lines. Bridges were fine. Ferries were not. As an example, the rules wouldn’t allow anyone to use the Alaska Marine Highway System<\/a> to link Alaska to the Lower 48.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Admittedly, I formulated completely arbitrary rules designed to create some focus and structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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County – Arlington<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Arlington<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n