Brooklyn's On Fire

In April, a car caught fire on the Williamsburg Bridge.

I was in a car below on the BQE, and was able to lean out the window and get some shots, as the holdup caused thick traffic. In an attempt to get away from it, cars were driving all over the place, even going the wrong way on exit ramps, causing even more of a tangle. It was insane.

By the time we were heading back, maybe two or three hours later, traffic has rectified itself and vanished, completely, with no signs of the previous mess. Gridlock, to me, is such a fascinating thing. It stops as quickly as it starts, getting knotty in some areas strictly because one car slowed down, then another, and another...

Anyway, summer is approaching, which means more traffic is definitely on the way. I am currently logging 40 miles each way to work, which works out to be about 45 minutes in the morning, and 60 minutes in the evening. Unfortunately, I am going to have to compete with beach traffic soon, made all the all the more depressing when you're hot and sweaty and burning gas to keep the AC on, and the drivers around you are driving with the windows down because they're nice and cool in their swimsuits, swigging iced coffee. D'oh.

I'm hoping to get at least one week down the shore this summer, and would really like to get a rental in Beach Haven or Ship Bottom, out on LBI. I haven't had a vacation in a long time, and would just like to sit around, being lazy and BBQ'ing for a few days. Because that's what summer is all about. Smelling like salt water, sun and charcoal.