Day 2: September 17, 2021
Expressway Day
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Here's the other component of the B & B at Headley Inn. I left well fed as well as well rested.
Yesterday's drive ended with a pretty big oversight. The National Road's Reciprocity Bridge, just a couple of miles west of Headley Inn, as been stripped of its concealing overgrowth and is now quite visible from US-40 -- if you're looking. I wasn't. Actually, it is big enough and clear enough to be noticed even if you're not looking. Apparently I was actively not looking. So I started the day by backtracking and taking some pictures looking almost directly into the rising sun plus one from the east end with the sun at my back. The name comes from a mutually beneficial deal being reached by some U.S. congressmen as they approached the bridge.
I followed US-40 through Zanesville by turning right in the middle of the Muskingum River. Or maybe it was the Licking River. The 'Y' bridge crosses both and I'm not sure where the names change. Maybe they change right where I made my turn.
I didn't miss the New Concord bridge, but I did carry on the reciprocity technique of some shots into the sun and one not.
I was beginning to realize that I wasn't going to make it to my end-of-day target if I stayed on the National Road and continued stopping for pictures. I reverted to the mindset that I started the trip with and dropped a mile south to I-70. I moved to I-470 near Wheeling and got another bridge picture as I entered West Virginia.

I posted a version of the third picture on Facebook, and identified it as PA Turnpike as I misquoted some Guy Clark lyrics. My error was revealed when I geotagged the photo and discovered it was in WV. James Schul noted that the street lamps looked "strangely like the ones on I-70 in West Virginia" but I didn't initially take him seriously. I've already apologized to James and guess I probably should also apologize to either West Virginia or Pennsylvania but I'm not sure which.

This is definitely the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I'll admit that it doesn't look nearly as bad as that WV construction backup in the previous panel. But there were miles upon miles of traffic at this level and way beyond and it made a bigger impression on me. I'm not sure how much time, if any, it actually saved me, but I am sure that it wasn't worth the aggravation or the $18.20 toll.
As I approached my target motel in Allentown, PA, I tapped "Favorites" on my GPS to remind myself how far I was from my morning target and was surprised to see a local restaurant on the list. I don't recall adding Wert's Cafe but probably did so after reading some article or getting a recommendation from a friend. Once I was in my room, I checked the restaurant's website and decided it was just the place for dinner. Wert's is known for hamburgers and onion rings. An order of onion rings is reportedly enough to feed two or more people so I ordered French fries with my cheeseburger. I should have gone for the o'rings since the fries were also enough for two and they were not particularly impressive. The 'burger, however, was great. It may look like enough for two but I managed. The menu contains "regurlar" hamburgers but a genuine Wert's 'Burger is stuffed with mushrooms and onions. Not to the point of taking over the sandwich but to the point of being an important contribution.
As I do in most cities, I made a Google Maps check to see if there were any breweries in the area. A half dozen popped up very close with several more a few miles away. I picked the closest and headed to HiJinx Brewing Company where I enjoyed a Helles Yes lager and some good live music.
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