The Internet is a HUGE, world-wide network of data lines and routers. It doesn't work such that the path is direct [color=ff0000]YourComputer ---> AW.org[/color]. Any user connection passes through several networks nodes or "hops" before reaching the ultimate destination, traveling from the small dial-up, DSL, cable or other such "local" pipe, through pipes of increasing size to the target server ... and vice versa from the server to you. Any sub-net alongst the way is a potential bottleneck. I'm on DSL (AT&T aka SBC Global at this location (not home, which is Comcast resold via the local CableTV service). There are 13 hops to AutomaticWasher.org, and I'm less than 2 hrs from Houston (where the server is said to reside?). Per the route info, data packets between me and the server travel from here through a couple hops in Houston, then Euless(?), a couple unidentified locations, 5 hops tagged Dallas, another unidentified, then to ThePlanet.com (AW's host service) in Houston (assuming that is where their servers are located).
You can check your "hops" (on a Windows computer, don't ask me about Macs, LOL) by opening a command prompt window and entering
tracert automaticwasher.org