Really Really Really long drive

[Apotheosis]

So, next week I make the move to Arizona.. it's going to be a 2,000 mile drive from where I am right now. Looks like I'm flying solo too, so to speak, I haven't been motivated enough to convince someone to come with me.


So, any suggestions on how to handle long car trips, solo?

[Jenisi]

Don't do just music, but comedy CD's. I love listening to Dane Cook on long drives. Also, don't stop a lot that just makes the drive last that much longer.

[Blud]

Get yourself a convertable. They are nice on long road trips. :)

[Trouble]

The main thing I did when I drove across country solo was to drive only during daylight hours. It helped a lot with alertness since I was sleeping plenty at night. I got maps of the entire route from AAA and got the little guidebooks for the states I was passing through so I could get hotel info. The books are free if you're an AAA member and you usually get a discount for AAA at the hotels. Oh, and try to guess where you'll be the night before so you can make an RSVP ahead of time. You almost always get a better rate if you call the night before rather than just showing up at the hotel.

Back when I last did it, cell coverage sucked and they didn't have nationwide LD; but if I were doing it now I'd bring your phone, a hands-free device of your choosing, and a car charger... that way you could call whomever up and chat a bit if you get bored or tired.

[Blud]

If you don't already have it, a GPS is a good thing to have too. Never know when you might need it. My VZ cellphone has it and I actually use it all the time, even though when I got it I didn't envision myself using it as much as I do.

Kind of like post-it notes...You didn't know you needed them until you started using them.

[B2]

Not just daytime driving; wake up EARLY and start driving. Like still dark early.

You'll end up driving farther than you would have if you had left later, because you might be tired but you aren't going to stop at 4 pm.

But don't not stop just because you want to get there fast. I mean, when are you ever going to drive across the country again? There are some BEAUTIFUL and very interesting things to see. Just because you're by yourself doesn't mean you can't make memories.

[Enceladus]

Like was mentioned above, take a bit of time to have a look at some of the stuff you're going to drive past. Hell, maybe even go a bit out of your way to see something if it's not too far out of your way. Look over your planned route and see what might be worth giving yourself a few hours respite from the drive. It may very well be the only time you're that close to one of those places, and I know I'd certainly regret not stopping at, say, Yellowstone for example, if it were only a hundred or so miles off my route. After all, what's that after you're doing 2000 miles already?

[Trouble]

Just because you're by yourself doesn't mean you can't make memories.

I agree. The solo trip to CA and back was an awesome experience for me. I still can picture parts of the drive with vivid clarity and that was 10 years ago. The CD I listened to for most of the trip is now a meditation CD for me at this point.

It was also a fun trip for me because about half the time I stayed with various friends who lived along the way. I even crashed at GS players houses a few times or met up with them for lunch or whatever when I passed through their towns. Maybe see if any PCers will put you up for the night along the way...

[Apotheosis]

Well, I'll be driving from Michigan so, I'll be running through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas(Amarillo/Panhandle), and New Mexico..

It should be interesting, to say the least.

[Tsa`ah]

One thing about those long trips heading west .... you literally wonder if there will be a sign that says "200 miles to the next sign".

Anytime I've had to travel those distances while driving, I have always made a point to stop every 3-4 hours for at least 10-15 minutes. Not only does this alleviate the inevitable back and ass pain that sets in, but you'll be able to drive longer. The more time you remain sedentary the higher the probability that you'll get tired long before you are normally accustom to.

[Stanley Burrell]

it's going to be a 2,000 mile drive

You sick sunnuvabitch.

[Bobmuhthol]

<<I love listening to Dane Cook on long drives.>>

You mean, you like listening to Louis CK's jokes performed by Dane Cook on long drives.

[BigWorm]

<<I love listening to Dane Cook on long drives.>>

You mean, you like listening to Louis CK's jokes performed by Dane Cook on long drives.

Hey, he stole some Bill Cosby jokes too. But the most blatant is the "Itchy Asshole" joke.

Dane Cook steals your jokes

[Sean of the Thread]

So, any suggestions on how to handle long car trips, solo?

Acid

[The Ponzzz]

Do the research to find out what areas are going to be horrible during rush hour traffic and plan around that. Like I just drove to Indiana and back and the only city that made me wanna choke a bitch was Cleveland. I'd much rather be hitting Cleveland at around 1am-3am.

Music, audio books, comedy skits, buy a GPS unit and pack food instead of stopping a lot. Are you going to be trying to do it striaght with resting/sleeping in the car? Or hoteling it?

[Sean of the Thread]

If you're not really on a tight schedule plan some stops and enjoy America.

I always find museums... libraries...battlefields... monuments and shit along my route and take my sweet ass time.

In fact I highly recommend that.

[Celephais]

If you're not really on a tight schedule plan some stops and enjoy America.

I always find museums... libraries...battlefields... disability clinics... monuments... trailer parks... and shit along my route and take my sweet ass time.

In fact I highly recommend that.
Right, that's better.

[The Ponzzz]

If you're not really on a tight schedule plan some stops and enjoy America.

I always find museums... libraries...battlefields... monuments and shit along my route and take my sweet ass time.

In fact I highly recommend that.

I gotta agree. I plan on stopping at the Rock and Roll hall of fame on my way back to South Bend and possibly check out one of the caverns.

[Sean of the Thread]

I gotta agree. I plan on stopping at the Rock and Roll hall of fame on my way back to South Bend and possibly check out one of the caverns.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/Japgross/TDSCNCPIC_f.jpg

[Killer Kitten]

Books on CD are great for long drives. Also, treat yourself to decent food, stop at real restaurants for dinner instead of fast food stuff. Stop at rest stops even when you don't need a potty break, just to stretch your legs.
I did NYC to Indianapolis and back solo a few years ago. I arranged with GS friends along the way to meet for dinner, had brief family visits in Pennsylvania, and took several good novels along to listen to. I had originally tried to persuade a buddy to make the drive with me, but as it turned out I was really glad I did it solo. It was a great road trip.

[Clove]

Books on CD are great for long drives... I had originally tried to persuade a buddy to make the drive with me, but as it turned out I was really glad I did it solo. It was a great road trip.

The lesson here?

Destination Orlando=Copilot of choice
Destination Indiana=Books on CD

:love:

[The Ponzzz]

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b236/Japgross/TDSCNCPIC_f.jpg

Hahahahaha!!! THE PICK OF DESTINY!

[sst]

Umm wake up in the morning drive and dont be such a pussy about it.
2k mile drive isnt shit.

[SayGoodbye]

When I drove from Boston to Phoenix I did all the driving, during daylight hours and stopped at motels at night, took me four days and an awesome CD collection and Starbucks were enough to get me though it.

Last month I made the drive from Phoenix to Jersey but took someone with me, took us a little over two days with only stopping for a few hours at night and there was no cd player in the uhaul so we had to listen to local stations all the way. If that's not motivation to get to your destination faster I don't know what is.

So bring plenty of good music, stop for coffee and stopping at a decent place before nightfall are all my recommendations. Good luck with your trip!

Oh and a word of advice: watch out for troopers during your Amarillo/panhandle portion of the trip. It's wicked windy and your vehicle might be pushed around a little. I got pulled over for failure to stay in my lane.

[diethx]

Make sure your car is in good enough shape to make it all the way. Get it checked THOROUGHLY. My old car took a bit shit in 3 different states on my way down to Atlanta from NY the first time I made the trip (by myself). This was due to a problem with some relay which I didn't know existed.

And if you think mechanics are bad where you live, imagine how hard they'd try to rip you off when you're a thousand miles from home and stuck in the middle of bumfuck hillbilliesville with no choice but to pay what they ask.

[SayGoodbye]

Make sure your car is in good enough shape to make it all the way. Get it checked THOROUGHLY. My old car took a bit shit in 3 different states on my way down to Atlanta from NY the first time I made the trip (by myself). This was due to a problem with some relay which I didn't know existed.

And if you think mechanics are bad where you live, imagine how hard they'd try to rip you off when you're a thousand miles from home and stuck in the middle of bumfuck hillbilliesville with no choice but to pay what they ask.

Excellent advice. I drove my 96 Ford Contour and had the signal relay burn out in New Mexico.. Literally.. smoke from the steering column. Turns out there was a recall on the car for that reason and I had no idea. So yeah.. thorough check of the car, tires.. oil.. brakes.. signals.. all that good stuff.

[Alfster]

So, any suggestions on how to handle long car trips, solo?

Masturbate often in the car

[Sean of the Thread]

I may or may not have masturbated into a checkers cup on a road trip.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

Every year when I lived in Virginia, I'd drive home to Tucson Arizona. That's a haul. I did it for 5 years and each year I'd go a different route to explore America, just me and my dogs. Loved it, always took my time and had a blast.

For long road trips, I always thought books on cd were awesome, and I'd buy like 5 things of beef jerky, bubble gum, cigarettes, and water. I'd also pack some motrin, eye drops, a pillow and blanket (besides things like road flares, fix a flat, etc) for emergencies.

Now when I road trip it, it's from Kansas to Tucson, and my dashboard looks like an electronics outlet; GPS, cellphone, and Ipod. I don't speed so no need for a radar detector.

Seriously though, bubble gum and beef jerky. That's the ticket. Oh, I had smoked ham jerky once, which was the fucking bomb. Also get chicken gizzards whereever you can (usually in Oklahoma or Texas).

[Sean of the Thread]

And a checker's cup.




SKEEEE SKEEEE

[Sylvan Dreams]

Audio books are awesome. I tend to find those more mentally engaging than music.

[Sean of the Thread]

and a checker's cup.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

Oh that reminds me. If you travel with Sean, bring moist towletts.

[Sean of the Thread]

www.2guys1checkerscup.com


No thanks.

[Methais]

<<I love listening to Dane Cook on long drives.>>

You mean, you like listening to Louis CK's jokes performed by Dane Cook on long drives.

I thought about all the crazy names you could name your kid a long time ago. Me and my friends used to make itchy asshole jokes too. Louis CK stole my jokes. That asshole.

Even if he did outright steal his jokes though, Dane Cook tells them much better than Louis CK. Louis seems a bit lacking in the charisma department.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

Mr. Brooks was a good movie, so was Employee of the Month. I didn't like What Up chuck or whatever it was called.

[Methais]

Put Spaceballs on a CD and listen to it in your stereo.

[Alfster]

...while masturbating

[Sean of the Thread]

In a checkers cup.

[Sean of the Thread]

wearing a dee snyder wig.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

I saw a picture of Dee Snyder today and was thinking he looks fucking OLD now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvx8KHX8_zQ&NR=1

[diethx]

I saw a picture of Dee Snyder today and was thinking he looks fucking OLD now.

I walked past him coming out of my bank once back home. I got too nervous to say anything.

But anyway, he IS old.

[Apotheosis]

Wow.. Thanks to all of you for the suggestions and advice..

I'll have to remember my checker's cup...

But seriously, I've decided to rip "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and listen to that on the way.. seriously, I'll be driving through "bat county".. hahaha


I've decided to visit with family along the way, so i'll be stopping in Illinois overnight, and then i'll stick with a hotel the rest of the way..... it'll be a helluva trip, that's all I can say..

car is A-OK to make the drive, already had that checked..

[DCSL]

Hm. I guess I'll have to look into some of these suggestions as I get older. I've always made road trips in one shot. At least, when I'm driving. Texas to New Jersey and back, Texas to Colorado, et cetera. I hate pointless driving, so when the point is to get somewhere, I want TO GET THERE. But I know I'll eventually be too old to do that shit... Luckily, girls don't need Checkers cups.

[Arkans]

Fuck listening to Fear and Loathing... Do the road trip while consuming every phenethylamine and trypamine under the sun!

- Arkans

[Stretch]

If you get a chance, get "The Lincoln Lawyer" on tape.

It's hilariously bad.