Get Off the Road! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Roman road, Italy

Marcus and the soldiers could have been traveling on a Roman road most anytime from about 500BC. The roads were built wherever Rome conquered. Though the roads were open to all travelers, the primary reason for the roads was to quickly deploy troops and supplies when needed.

The roads were built to require little maintenance, constructed with layers of stone and a sloped surface for precipitation to drain off quickly. Many sections of Roman roads still exist.

Answer: Silk Road, Asia

Though others had already made the journey, Marco Polo became famous because of the story of his travels, "Il Milione", printed in 1477. He dictated it to Rustichello da Pisa, a fellow inmate, while imprisoned. There are a multitude of versions and no authoritative way to determine which is authentic.

The Silk Road or Silk Route began as internal routes to trade within China and eventually expanded into a number of routes that were used for trade from Europe to Asia and all points between.

Answer: The Ridgeway, Britain

The locals did topple some of the Avebury stones into specially dug pits during the early 1300s, and during a 1938 excavation a body was found below one of the toppled stones. I named him Bart.

The Ridgeway, which has been traveled for at least 5000 years, and passes many historic sites, is often referred to as Britain's oldest road. Though the original path was much longer, today 87 miles (139km) have been identified as The Ridgeway National Trail.

Answer: Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Peru

My imagined Inti and his llama could have been traveling on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in the 1400s while Machu Picchu was under construction. The trail winds through the Andes, and in some spots reaches dizzying heights. The scenic trail goes through cloud forests and alpine tundra. As one reaches the Sun Gate, the view overlooks the grandeur of Machu Picchu.

The Inca roads covered approximately 40,000 kilometers (25,000 mi). They were used by civilian and military and it is believed that tolls were levied for use of some roads.

Answer: Great St Bernard Pass, Switzerland

This pass through the Valais Alps is between what today is Switzerland and Italy. Since the Bronze Age people have been using it to cross the mountains.

A hospice was started in 1049 by Saint Bernard of Menthon to protect and succor travelers. The dogs were bred much later to help rescue travelers. The most famous of the dogs is Barry, who is reported to have rescued forty people, including the young lad. Ever since, the hospice has always kept a St. Bernard named Barry in his honor.

Answer: Oregon Trail, USA

The wagons that transported people and supplies on the Oregon Trail were generally heavy and slow to stop.

The Oregon Trail was originally used for fur trappers in the early 1800s, but gradually became the way west for farmers, gold miners and others. The route ran generally from Independence, Missouri, to Oregon City, Oregon, but many started on the Oregon trail and then branched off to alternate sites such as Utah and California.

Answer: Overland Trail, Yukon, Canada

Robert W. Service wrote "The Cremation of Sam McGee", and many other poems about the Yukon in "Songs of a Sourdough" which was published in 1907.

The Overland Trail went from Whitehorse north to Dawson City. Prospectors could travel by wagon during the summer months, but dog sleds were the only way to travel in winter.

Gold was discovered in one of the Klondike's tributaries in 1896, but because of the remote location, it would take about a year for the news to spread. However, it then spread like wildfire, and people left their current lives to prospect for gold. It's estimated that over 100,000 people converged on the Klondike region to search for gold. Though some did get rich, most were to be disappointed.

Answer: Guoliang Tunnel, China

The villagers of Guoliang Village, Henan Province, China, were determined to have a more modern and faster access to civilization. Their marketing slogan is "The Road that does not tolerate any mistakes". Approximately 0.75 miles were carved from the side of the mountain, some of which is open and some of which is tunneled through the mountain with large windows (through which they apparently dropped the rubble). This is not the only tunnel in China to go through a mountain side, there are similar examples in Xiyagou and Kunshan.

Naming one of the villagers Cheng was my idea.

Answer: Abbey Road, London, England

The album "Abbey Road" was recorded and released in 1969 by the Beatles. The iconic album cover was released without the name of the band or the album. This is considered to be the Beatles' last recording, for though "Let It Be" was released later, the majority of it had been recorded previously.

The road crossing is in front of the EMI recording studio, where the album recording was completed, and which would change its name to Abbey Road Studios in 1970.

Answer: Calle Santo Domingo, Pamplona, Spain

The bull run is part of San Fermin festival, held from July 6-14. The six bulls that are destined to fight later that day are joined in the run by additional steers. The entire run usually takes about four minutes as they run through the following streets: Santo Domingo, Town Hall Square, Mercaderes and Estafeta.

There are many injuries each year, though the majority are minor. Still the participants must be wary, they run with the knowledge that a number of previous runners have been fatally gored.