I don’t flatter myself that the subtitle of this cache is original as a cache name. Though I haven’t seen them, I’m sure there must be numerous caches around the world sharing this title. But ever since we saw Gandalf throw down that challenge to the Balrog on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm (Yes, he actually said “You cannot pass!” when he confronted the Balrog on the far side of the bridge, and delayed things so that the rest of the party were able to cross. Then Gandalf hurried over the bridge, but before completing the crossing, he turned and again to face up to the creature. THIS time he said the words that have entered into popular use ... probably because it actually sounds better. It’s come to express the presence of “a line which may not be crossed”.
When we moved into this newly- developing area in 2016, the connection of Gregory Hills Drive with Badgally Rd had not been made, and running the length of Narellan Rd could be a long and arduous trek, especially at peak hour, on the narrower road it then was. So it was with a measure of relief/gladness that I noticed the existence of Turner Rd back in those early (for us) days. And it was with an increased level of frustration and annoyance that I discovered the road set-up here was designed to (ostensibly) permit buses through, and not cars. Try putting the family sedan through the chokepoint and you say goodbye to your sump. Now I’m a fair person. I can understand the citizens of Curran’s Hill not wanting those newcomers from further west using their suburb as a rat-run to reach the motorway (even though THEY are not much more than newcomers themselves. And that the intersection of Turner Rd with Camden Valley Way allows only left turns anyway. The traffic island setup on Camden Valley Way simply does not permit right turns into or out of Turner Rd.) But it was not a windmill worth tilting at. So I left that end of Turner Rd alone for just under ten years.
Then I noticed that the hill which Turner Rd skirts around had earthmoving equipment all over it, evidently preparing it for residential subdivision. And it occurred to me that in the almost-decade since my last foray into this area, the number of four-wheel drive vehicles (i.e. with ground clearance sufficient to keep their underside above the once impassable barrier along this choke-point**) has now come to outnumber the number of family sedans/small cars on the road … and of course the 4x4’s beloved by many younger male drivers are also able to give a “stuff you” to the “You shall not pass”-ers. What’s more, the barrier NEVER HAS been a hindrance to motor bikes, or trucks. So (having some business in Curran’s Hill) I again ventured to the far end of Turner Rd, in the hope that things may have changed.
Nope.
Even though Gregory Hills Drive now connects to Campbelltown. Even though Narellan Rd has more lanes and carries far more traffic than it used to (so the "rat-run" appeal of this route has diminished). Even though the “You shall not pass” directive, instead of permitting only one group of road-users to use the thoroughfare, is now restricting only one group of users who could gain benefit from its use. Nothing has changed.
Hmm. Can someone tell me the definition of “discrimination”?
* Whinge I is GCANGWT. One of my first caches. The reason for it has not changed.
**and to confirm this, the satellite view currently available on Google maps shows this very thing … a 4WD moving through the choke-point! AND on StreetView, taken at a different time, guess what? Yup! The 4 wheel drive thoroughfare in action again!! See pics.
MummaPez adds another FTF to her growing list. Lookin'good!!