Travel Tip #9 PLAN. PLAN. PLAN.
Carefully plan trips with companions. That is the key to a successful trip, especially when you have interests that lead you in one direction and your companion has interests leading him or her in an entirely different direction. Nothing spoils a great vacation more than a squabble over where to go, how to get there, and how to “enjoy” the destination. I’ve traveled with friends, family, my spouse, and --- in the old days --- with schoolmates. The absolute freedom of hitting the road alone leaves every stop, every break, every side trip, and every destination absolutely a matter of one’s own preferences. Traveling with another party changes everything.
So, here are a few ideas for making the trip as wonderful as it can possibly be.
1) Take your companion’s interests into consideration. My husband loves antique stores, flea markets, junk stores, bicycle shops, theatre, concerts, parades, anything with a fish in it, and weird destinations. We MUST make it to the world’s largest ball of yarn --- or something like that! I love museums, historic sites, theatre, concerts, light hearted entertainment parks like Disney, great food, art, and scenic byways. Several years ago I went to our travel agent and explained my husband’s interests. Then I enumerated my loves. Finally, I gave him a budget and told him to plan the perfect trip. We ended up driving to Toronto where my husband and I parted early in the day. He went to some riverfront market destination. I went to a marvelous museum. Late in the afternoon, we met back at the hotel and went to dinner before traveling on to see Phantom of the Opera. Our hotel room was a first class suite at the top of the hotel where we overlooked the city skyline. Perfect. Win-win situation.
2) Strive for a win-win situation so that people enjoy the trip. When our daughter was little and going through a picky eating phase, she would eat only at McDonalds. On our trip to Disney World, we made a point of getting her meals first, and then we would go to another restaurant for seafood or steaks --- whatever.
On my recent trip to Florida, I planned my itinerary for the first half of the trip so that I did everything I wanted to do. My husband flew to Orlando where we
celebrated his birthday at Epcot and visited friends in central Florida. Then I told him to tell me which direction he wanted to go. I was ready to set the GPS and make hotel reservations according to his whims. I was pleasantly surprised when he announced at dinner one evening that he wanted to see the largest aquarium in the world --- in Atlanta. Cool.
Once we got to Atlanta, I wanted to see the Martin Luther King Historic Site and the Carter Presidential Library and Museum. Initially we planned for me to do separate sight seeing in the afternoon while he perused every exhibit at the aquarium. But once he saw his beluga whales, his hammerhead shark, and a host of other sea creatures swimming all around us in the underwater tunnel he was ready to leave, so we went to the historic sites together.
Then there was Stone Mountain. And Mount Airy, North Carolina (Mayberry). We paced ourselves carefully, but I gave him a lot of latitude for deciding where we would go, how much time we would spend there, and how many hours of driving we would do each day. The second half of the trip was his. The first half of the trip was mine.
3) Pack comfortable clothes and check the weather carefully. At one point it was
so chilly at Epcot’s Jose Feliciano Concert, my husband was nearly frozen to the
bleacher seat. I shooed him toward the closest gift shop to warm up. By the time I joined him, I insisted that he invest in a hooded sweatshirt. No need to be miserable.
4)Be considerate in the hotel room. Share the remote. Pack your favorite mystery
in the suitcase so you will be entertained while he watches his favorite show on TV.
5)Check frequently to see how your companion is doing. Is s/he tired, hungry,
anxious to take a side trip, disappointed by the agenda? Keep checking to
see what will make the trip comfortable and rewarding. Do not wait until nerves are frazzled and tempers flare. Whoa! Way too late for correcting the problem.
6)Speak up about your interests. A happy relationship is not a lose-win conciliation. In other words, never sacrifice your happiness for someone else’s pleasure. Find hotels, restaurants, sights, activities, and rest stops according to both people’s loves. It can be done. It is your trip too. If you hate to cook on a camping trip, volunteer to drive to Colonel Sanders’ and bring back a heaping pile of chicken in a bucket. (Make sure your companion likes chicken.)
7)Try to find a happy way to manage differences in sleeping patterns. On trips to Washington, DC, I often sleep “in.” My husband is an early riser. He heads out on the streets to visit with homeless people and offer them a meal. He always offers the homeless friendship and food. It is an endearing quality that never fails to impress me. He sees humanity where the masses see nothing.
I get to sleep late. He gets up and makes a beeline for another destination so my sleep is not disturbed. On other occasions, he gets up early, has breakfast in the hotel dining area and then he brings me juice, fruit, cereal, milk, and hot tea to our room. Aaah --- breakfast in bed. Win-win.
8)I love cross country trips. He likes to fly to one destination. So this year I drove ahead to Florida and he cruised into Orlando on Southwest --- yammering to some
inquisitive triplets about the joy they expected to experience at --- where else --- Disney World!
9)Don’t overdo it. Fatigue is a subtle spoiler of trips. Plan lots of breaks and plan on being flexible. Add a day or two to your itinerary so you can spend less time on the road if the old fatigue problem threatens to spoil the fun. An extra day or two also gives you the option of taking a side trip to a light house or a museum or an aquarium. Plan on having fun.
10)Plan a budget that will allow you to enjoy the trip. Clip hotel coupons from the
booklets provided at rest areas. When we got home, my husband made a point of
thanking me for managing the hotel stops with discounts, convenience, smoke free accommodations, and restaurant convenience. Take on an equal amount of responsibility so that one person is not being the “Super Woman” or “Super Traveler” while everybody else uses the hours for fun. Be clear about who is driving, how far each day’s drive will be, and who will manage route planning, hotels, meals, etc.
11)Keep a supply of food and water on hand in case growling tummies cannot wait
for the next stop twenty miles down the road. I carry a Ziploc bag filled with plastic spoons. A scoop of peanut butter (the jar fits marvelously in the drink container holder) will quash hunger on the spot. On the last trip I carried a loaf of whole grain bread. If I stopped for a burger, I transferred the meat from the white bread bun to the healthier bread. Carrying fruit is fine as long as you plan to eat it!!!! Nothing makes a car smell nastier than an over-ripe banana. THINK about what foods will stave off hunger, but not ruin the car interior “atmosphere.”
12)Allow time for rest room breaks, whether you need to stop or not. But make the
stops quick and get back on the road. I have to stop every two hours to stretch out and walk. But I only walk four or five minutes before hopping back in the van. Otherwise my back aches and my legs tighten from the strain of bouncing along the road. It is also a good idea to consider the risks of riding for a long time in a sitting position. Be sure to stretch legs, wiggle feet, and walk with a fair amount of frequency to ensure good circulation.
13)Audio books and music help with long trips. Just be careful not to be too
distracted by the narrated story. And if your companion does not enjoy your taste
in audio books, use the headphones! Don’t forget the headphones. USE HEADPHONES ONLY IF YOU ARE A PASSENGER --- NEVER IF YOU ARE A DRIVER. Behind the steering wheel, keep ALL your senses sharp and distraction free. No texting! No cell phones! No I-Phone ear buds. NO HEADPHONES. You want to get back home alive, right? Think. You cannot multi-task as well as you think.
14)Be patient with your companion. Be patient with yourself. My husband’s gum
chewing drives me nuts! But that is not HIS problem. It is MY problem. Why it
bugs me is a mystery. I just look out the window or take a nap when he drives down the road, chomping away. I have no business asking him not to chew gum.
15)Finally, thank each other for everyday courtesies. Remind him or her how much you love sharing the trip. Thank him for driving. Joke around and make laughter the heart of the experience. Always laugh – not AT the other person – but with him or her!!!!! Keep the days light and memorable. In other words, have a positive attitude by CHOICE! It’s contagious.
Showing posts with label trip planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trip planning. Show all posts
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Travel Tip #6 KNOW THE SNOW! EXPECT ICE! Copyright 2010
TIP #6 Know the snow! Expect ice!
A little more about snow driving safety --- with the expectation---uh---HOPE--- that spring is nigh! In addition to keeping your car in good repairs, knowing how to navigate in adverse conditions is essential.
Rule Number 1: If you do not NEED to drive on bad roads, don’t! Stay home. Give road crews and power line crews a little extra space by keeping your vehicle off the road.
Read a book. Write a book. Help a neighbor. Take a bubble bath. Clean house. Do whatever you choose, but do it off the road. If you are not a savvy slick-road vehicle operator, think twice before venturing out unnecessarily. The life you save could be your own.
Good tires. Good tread. Spend the bucks. I would make an educated guess that
half of the vehicles that end up in the ditch are ones with bald tires. You are maneuvering a 2,000-pound vehicle atop ice skating rink conditions. If you cannot ice skate, what makes you think you can control SO much momentum from a lethal weapon that is moving fifty miles an hour on an oversized public rink with hundreds of other lethal weapons lining up their crosshairs on YOU?
Oh, and if you are out there with four-wheel drive --- FORGET it on ice!!! Know HOW to use it to your advantage. Driving is a skill, not a reflex.
Watch out for semi drivers who are trying to get bread and milk to Walmart. Stay BEHIND all large vehicles. Recently I drove down into the mountains after a storm to get a snowy photo as a Christmas gift. When a large log truck pulled to the side of the road to allow drivers to go in front of him down the mountain, I watched every single car pull ahead in front of him. I pulled to the side of the road and waited for him to resume his ten mph trip down the mountain. A trip that normally would take four hours required twelve hours that day. I was not in a hurry to be creamed. Oh, and be extra careful about the potential for semis to jack knife on the interestates. I often take the side roads if truck traffic is threatening. I have a better chance of surviving a crash at forty miles an hour than at sixty/seventy miles an hour. I love getting bread from Walmart, but I love being able to eat it. Stay in your right lane on the interstates, and avoid getting sandwiched between large trucks. You are jelly waiting to happen. Oh, and know the terrain you will be covering, even if it is an interstate highway. There are some isolated mountainous interstates that I circumnavigate, just to avoid increased risks. Do you know which road(s) in your state are the deadliest? Check your highway traffic safety facts, and then ask yourself why more people die on those roads than any others in the state.
Back to the weather maps. Become a good friend with Jim Cantore and the gang on the Weather Channel. Learn to spot hazardous conditions that are approaching your area of travel. I am the first to admit that I made a HUGE mistake in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming in May! But I’ve had lots of experience navigating on icy mountain roads, and that probably made the difference. Carry a battery powered NOAA weather radio, cell phone, cell phone manual charger, CB, and or/ walkie talkies on all your travels, regardless of season.
Throw in emergency “sound systems” like a plastic whistle (you can get one at the Dollar Tree in the toy aisle), and an air horn (Walmart and sports shops). The advantage of a whistle is that it requires relatively little effort to make a sound that will carry a long distance. Do you know how to blow SOS? Answer: Three dots, three dashes, three dots. That is to say, three quick loud bursts, three longer loud bursts, followed by three short bursts. Thanks Dad for teaching me that. Thanks also to Sky King who rescued somebody on TV many, MANY moons ago. Rescued … because of reflection from a flashing mirror in a canyon two miles beneath his plane. Now what was the name of Sky King’s plane? Hmmmmmm. Another story for another time. Who is the famous actor who played Sky King? I DO remember that one! Hint: he is the real life brother of a famous television law man.
Back to winter safety. The lesson is clear: carry a mirror or yank your rear view mirror from its mount. Can you signal SOS with a mirror? By the way, you had better hope you can flag down a good Navy veteran with a background in Morse Code who can READ dots and dashes. I am so sorry that Morse Code is no longer an official mode of communication in the military. Civilians and soldiers/sailors/marines need to immediately recognize a distress call in the form of blinking lights or precisely administered sharp whistles. Don’t forget to use your air horn for blasting SOS too. But if you are in bear territory, you may need to reserve the air horn to ward off an aggressive sow that is hell bent on defending her cubs. Use your resources wisely! The bottom line is to think about every possible way to get help in an emergency. If you were pinned inside a vehicle in a ravine, how could you signal someone to render aide. Don’t count on a cell phone signal. P.S. don’t leave you cell phone loose on the front seat. I carry my phone in a fanny pack that can be clicked to my fastened seatbelt. Secure the phone. If your car tumbles or slides off the road, again that weird thing of momentum will hurl it out of your grasp. Good luck trying to get to your phone that’s out of arm’s reach.
And … throw a couple of bags of four-way chips or kitty litter in the back of your vehicle for weight. If you DO slide off the road, the chips/litter can provide some traction under your spinning tires to get you back on the road.
On one trip I purposefully drove INTO a winter storm to get a snowy picture at a state park. The weather conditions were harsher than I had imagined they would be, so I took refuge in a local hotel for five days. But I set my alarm clock to ring every two hours so that I could clear a path to and around my car. The hotel manager thanked me for clearing the walk in front of the hotel, but I was really just watching out for my best interests.
And PLEASE be cognizant of the stress that snow shoveling causes in cold weather! I have no idea how many heart attacks occurred with this last winter blast, but we do have a neighbor who suffered a MAJOR heart attack and somehow managed to survive after undergoing a sextuple heart bypass operation. Doc told him he was lucky. As he recovers from major surgery, I am not so sure that he feels “lucky.” Even young people have suffered heart attacks while shoveling snow. PUSH the snow with your heel on the back of the shovel. Do not lift. If you have a heart condition, if you are overweight, if you have a family history of heart disease, or if you are in the “heart attack years” wait for the spring thaw. There are many happy trails awaiting you. Don’t miss a moment of sheer joy on the great highway of life. If you must clear a path --- and I had to do so because I could never have dug out my car --- push snow/shovel ten minutes and take a warm twenty minute break. Take no chances with your life. You are not getting another one!
Carry a shovel and a broom in the winter. You may need to shovel snow away from a spinning tire, and you can spread the litter pebbles in front of same tire as you try to drive back onto the road. Don’t forget: you may be able to assist someone else who is stuck, but use your head for safety. Use your cell phone to call for assistance if the situation appears to be threatening.
Always keep a large candle and farmers matches in your vehicle. Propane lighters can “freeze up” in low temperatures. If you slide into a snow bank, it could be hours before you are rescued, i.e., towed.
Practice driving in a large open ice-covered parking lot --- check with the local police to see where you can practice ice driving. Be cognizant of trespassing laws and be respectful of private property. At a S L O W speed, hit your brakes to see how your vehicle handles. If your rear end starts to fishtail, take your foot off the brake and steer in a corresponding counter maneuver to offset the skid. Drivers ed books say to turn in the direction of the skid, but those instructions have always baffled me. Basically it works this way. If your rear end is sliding to the right and your nose is sliding to the left, turn your steering wheel quickly to the right. OK. I guess that IS in the direction of the skid, from the rear end perspective. I guess I drive with my nose in mind. Anyway, you car should be simultaneously slowing down and correcting itself so that you can regain control. Once the steering wheel turn corrects the skid, quickly resume a neutral position as though you are driving straight ahead. It’s just like playing the piano. The best musicians are the ones that practice the most … usually …. Some people can never play the piano well OR drive a car well. Make sure you know whether practice will indeed make you perfect. If you are an incompetent driver, prone to high levels of anxiety, get off the road. Otherwise practice. Practice. Practice. Practice.
If you need to brake on ice or snow, always “pump” your brakes. Lightly touch the brake pedal in staccato-like easy taps, rather than slamming your foot on the pedal. Some people panic and press the pedal even harder when a skid begins, which is the worst possible response.
Keep your speed well under the speed limit as road conditions merit. If a driver behind you believes that s/he can maintain high speeds under adverse conditions, pull over when you get to a safe place to do so and let the sucker pass. Be prepared to administer first aid a few miles down the road.
Don’t forget the sleeping bag and warm gear. Again, carry a case of water and a
two-pound jar of peanut butter. Think of the guy who was recently pulled from the Haiti earthquake rubble. He survived twenty-eight days in the debris of a collapsed grocery store. Food. Water. Life.
Take a first aid course. It is DEFINITELY time for me to renew first aid procedures. American Red Cross guidelines for CPR are always changing. I am overdue for a refresher on every level. In many cases you can treat your own injuries. And you never know when you may need to assist others. Always carry a first aid kit.
Anti-freeze treated windshield washer is essential. Carry an extra jug in the back. Good wiper blades? Change them before a trip.
Don’t forget jumper cables. Cold weather wreaks havoc on batteries.
If you do not need to travel on bad roads, don’t.
If you do NEED to travel in bad weather conditions, stay calm and in control. Know your limitations and cuddle up with a good book in a hotel until conditions improve.
Stay calm. Have the tools you need for icy conditions. Learn the skills needed to navigate expertly. Watch out for aggressive drivers who have way too much horsepower for their Broncos.
Take your camera. You will see lovely snowscapes along the way. And you may need to photograph a wreck---hopefully not your own.
Safe travels! Have FUN!
A little more about snow driving safety --- with the expectation---uh---HOPE--- that spring is nigh! In addition to keeping your car in good repairs, knowing how to navigate in adverse conditions is essential.
Rule Number 1: If you do not NEED to drive on bad roads, don’t! Stay home. Give road crews and power line crews a little extra space by keeping your vehicle off the road.
Read a book. Write a book. Help a neighbor. Take a bubble bath. Clean house. Do whatever you choose, but do it off the road. If you are not a savvy slick-road vehicle operator, think twice before venturing out unnecessarily. The life you save could be your own.
Good tires. Good tread. Spend the bucks. I would make an educated guess that
half of the vehicles that end up in the ditch are ones with bald tires. You are maneuvering a 2,000-pound vehicle atop ice skating rink conditions. If you cannot ice skate, what makes you think you can control SO much momentum from a lethal weapon that is moving fifty miles an hour on an oversized public rink with hundreds of other lethal weapons lining up their crosshairs on YOU?
Oh, and if you are out there with four-wheel drive --- FORGET it on ice!!! Know HOW to use it to your advantage. Driving is a skill, not a reflex.
Watch out for semi drivers who are trying to get bread and milk to Walmart. Stay BEHIND all large vehicles. Recently I drove down into the mountains after a storm to get a snowy photo as a Christmas gift. When a large log truck pulled to the side of the road to allow drivers to go in front of him down the mountain, I watched every single car pull ahead in front of him. I pulled to the side of the road and waited for him to resume his ten mph trip down the mountain. A trip that normally would take four hours required twelve hours that day. I was not in a hurry to be creamed. Oh, and be extra careful about the potential for semis to jack knife on the interestates. I often take the side roads if truck traffic is threatening. I have a better chance of surviving a crash at forty miles an hour than at sixty/seventy miles an hour. I love getting bread from Walmart, but I love being able to eat it. Stay in your right lane on the interstates, and avoid getting sandwiched between large trucks. You are jelly waiting to happen. Oh, and know the terrain you will be covering, even if it is an interstate highway. There are some isolated mountainous interstates that I circumnavigate, just to avoid increased risks. Do you know which road(s) in your state are the deadliest? Check your highway traffic safety facts, and then ask yourself why more people die on those roads than any others in the state.
Back to the weather maps. Become a good friend with Jim Cantore and the gang on the Weather Channel. Learn to spot hazardous conditions that are approaching your area of travel. I am the first to admit that I made a HUGE mistake in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming in May! But I’ve had lots of experience navigating on icy mountain roads, and that probably made the difference. Carry a battery powered NOAA weather radio, cell phone, cell phone manual charger, CB, and or/ walkie talkies on all your travels, regardless of season.
Throw in emergency “sound systems” like a plastic whistle (you can get one at the Dollar Tree in the toy aisle), and an air horn (Walmart and sports shops). The advantage of a whistle is that it requires relatively little effort to make a sound that will carry a long distance. Do you know how to blow SOS? Answer: Three dots, three dashes, three dots. That is to say, three quick loud bursts, three longer loud bursts, followed by three short bursts. Thanks Dad for teaching me that. Thanks also to Sky King who rescued somebody on TV many, MANY moons ago. Rescued … because of reflection from a flashing mirror in a canyon two miles beneath his plane. Now what was the name of Sky King’s plane? Hmmmmmm. Another story for another time. Who is the famous actor who played Sky King? I DO remember that one! Hint: he is the real life brother of a famous television law man.
Back to winter safety. The lesson is clear: carry a mirror or yank your rear view mirror from its mount. Can you signal SOS with a mirror? By the way, you had better hope you can flag down a good Navy veteran with a background in Morse Code who can READ dots and dashes. I am so sorry that Morse Code is no longer an official mode of communication in the military. Civilians and soldiers/sailors/marines need to immediately recognize a distress call in the form of blinking lights or precisely administered sharp whistles. Don’t forget to use your air horn for blasting SOS too. But if you are in bear territory, you may need to reserve the air horn to ward off an aggressive sow that is hell bent on defending her cubs. Use your resources wisely! The bottom line is to think about every possible way to get help in an emergency. If you were pinned inside a vehicle in a ravine, how could you signal someone to render aide. Don’t count on a cell phone signal. P.S. don’t leave you cell phone loose on the front seat. I carry my phone in a fanny pack that can be clicked to my fastened seatbelt. Secure the phone. If your car tumbles or slides off the road, again that weird thing of momentum will hurl it out of your grasp. Good luck trying to get to your phone that’s out of arm’s reach.
And … throw a couple of bags of four-way chips or kitty litter in the back of your vehicle for weight. If you DO slide off the road, the chips/litter can provide some traction under your spinning tires to get you back on the road.
On one trip I purposefully drove INTO a winter storm to get a snowy picture at a state park. The weather conditions were harsher than I had imagined they would be, so I took refuge in a local hotel for five days. But I set my alarm clock to ring every two hours so that I could clear a path to and around my car. The hotel manager thanked me for clearing the walk in front of the hotel, but I was really just watching out for my best interests.
And PLEASE be cognizant of the stress that snow shoveling causes in cold weather! I have no idea how many heart attacks occurred with this last winter blast, but we do have a neighbor who suffered a MAJOR heart attack and somehow managed to survive after undergoing a sextuple heart bypass operation. Doc told him he was lucky. As he recovers from major surgery, I am not so sure that he feels “lucky.” Even young people have suffered heart attacks while shoveling snow. PUSH the snow with your heel on the back of the shovel. Do not lift. If you have a heart condition, if you are overweight, if you have a family history of heart disease, or if you are in the “heart attack years” wait for the spring thaw. There are many happy trails awaiting you. Don’t miss a moment of sheer joy on the great highway of life. If you must clear a path --- and I had to do so because I could never have dug out my car --- push snow/shovel ten minutes and take a warm twenty minute break. Take no chances with your life. You are not getting another one!
Carry a shovel and a broom in the winter. You may need to shovel snow away from a spinning tire, and you can spread the litter pebbles in front of same tire as you try to drive back onto the road. Don’t forget: you may be able to assist someone else who is stuck, but use your head for safety. Use your cell phone to call for assistance if the situation appears to be threatening.
Always keep a large candle and farmers matches in your vehicle. Propane lighters can “freeze up” in low temperatures. If you slide into a snow bank, it could be hours before you are rescued, i.e., towed.
Practice driving in a large open ice-covered parking lot --- check with the local police to see where you can practice ice driving. Be cognizant of trespassing laws and be respectful of private property. At a S L O W speed, hit your brakes to see how your vehicle handles. If your rear end starts to fishtail, take your foot off the brake and steer in a corresponding counter maneuver to offset the skid. Drivers ed books say to turn in the direction of the skid, but those instructions have always baffled me. Basically it works this way. If your rear end is sliding to the right and your nose is sliding to the left, turn your steering wheel quickly to the right. OK. I guess that IS in the direction of the skid, from the rear end perspective. I guess I drive with my nose in mind. Anyway, you car should be simultaneously slowing down and correcting itself so that you can regain control. Once the steering wheel turn corrects the skid, quickly resume a neutral position as though you are driving straight ahead. It’s just like playing the piano. The best musicians are the ones that practice the most … usually …. Some people can never play the piano well OR drive a car well. Make sure you know whether practice will indeed make you perfect. If you are an incompetent driver, prone to high levels of anxiety, get off the road. Otherwise practice. Practice. Practice. Practice.
If you need to brake on ice or snow, always “pump” your brakes. Lightly touch the brake pedal in staccato-like easy taps, rather than slamming your foot on the pedal. Some people panic and press the pedal even harder when a skid begins, which is the worst possible response.
Keep your speed well under the speed limit as road conditions merit. If a driver behind you believes that s/he can maintain high speeds under adverse conditions, pull over when you get to a safe place to do so and let the sucker pass. Be prepared to administer first aid a few miles down the road.
Don’t forget the sleeping bag and warm gear. Again, carry a case of water and a
two-pound jar of peanut butter. Think of the guy who was recently pulled from the Haiti earthquake rubble. He survived twenty-eight days in the debris of a collapsed grocery store. Food. Water. Life.
Take a first aid course. It is DEFINITELY time for me to renew first aid procedures. American Red Cross guidelines for CPR are always changing. I am overdue for a refresher on every level. In many cases you can treat your own injuries. And you never know when you may need to assist others. Always carry a first aid kit.
Anti-freeze treated windshield washer is essential. Carry an extra jug in the back. Good wiper blades? Change them before a trip.
Don’t forget jumper cables. Cold weather wreaks havoc on batteries.
If you do not need to travel on bad roads, don’t.
If you do NEED to travel in bad weather conditions, stay calm and in control. Know your limitations and cuddle up with a good book in a hotel until conditions improve.
Stay calm. Have the tools you need for icy conditions. Learn the skills needed to navigate expertly. Watch out for aggressive drivers who have way too much horsepower for their Broncos.
Take your camera. You will see lovely snowscapes along the way. And you may need to photograph a wreck---hopefully not your own.
Safe travels! Have FUN!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Tip #4 Drive a Well Maintained Vehicle
Copyright 2010 Lea, The Traveling Novelist
Travel Tip # 4 DRIVE A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE
Before the trip have a trusted mechanic thoroughly check your car. Replace belts, tires, brakes, and any other parts of the vehicle that could pose serious problems on the road. Do not take any chances with worn brakes, an aging water pump, or bald tires. Be certain that you have good tread on the tires. You may end up driving through a mountain pass in the middle of a blizzard in May. I made the mistake of trusting a “local” in Wyoming who assured me that I could safely navigate through a mountain pass as a short cut to the Grand Tetons. Supposedly, lots of semi drivers had come over “THE mountain” that morning. By the time I came onto the twinkling, ice-crystal covered Rocky Mountain skyline, it was too late. Blinding snow hit my windshield like a super-sized sheet of frozen fog.
The tread on my snow tires was new. My brakes were good. The windshield wipers wiped well. The windshield washer reservoir was full. The defroster worked on both front and back windshields. And the heater adequately warmed my nose and toes. The engine purred like a napping kitten in a sunny windowsill. I had no worries about the mechanical safety of the Ol’ Windstar. The vehicle was in tiptop condition. All I had to do was navigate with adeptness through an hour and a half of snow packed roads. On a side note, the risk of “listening to the locals” (see Tip #2) could have cost me my life. In retrospect, I should have listened to my gut and taken what may have been a safer route around the shortcut. Arriving late but alive at Jackson Lake Lodge in the Grand Tetons National Park was far more important than taking the risk of plummeting two thousand feet into a lifeless canyon. OK. There might have been some bears and elk down there, but by the time I would have crashed on top of them, I would have been beyond prayers for survival. On the other hand, the fellow bears standing nearby would have benefited from fresh carrion on which to feast. Do elk eat carrion? They may be vegetarians. I’ll check on that.
Having the vehicle well maintained involves more than the windshield wipers, heater, engine, etc. If you don’t know how to change a flat tire, learn. And before driving away from your hometown, have your mechanic pull out the donut spare tire and check to be sure that you have the proper equipment needed to keep you rolling. Check the air pressure in your four tires that are holding you up (save gas with fully inflated tires) and check PPI (pounds per [square] inch of air pressure) in the donut. Chances are you will not have to change a tire. But it is money in the bank and peace of mind to know how to fix a flat if necessary.
Confession time. I have blonde hair. I’ve never had to change a tire. But through the years, I have had more than one occasion when I needed a tire change. Once, when I drove along a rustic road above Canaan Valley in the mountains of West Virginia, I ran across a railroad spike that perfectly punctured my right rear rubber roller. I made it to a convenience store/gas station in the valley before realizing I was in trouble. Keep in mind that I am a fierce, independent traveler who is willing, able, and determined to change my own tires, thank you very much. No sooner had I spread out my blue, crackling, plastic tarp (always carry one for who-knows-what-may-happen that warrants the possession of a tarp) the circumstances changed. Just like all the other times when a flat interrupted my journey, a kind, helpful gentleman came to my “rescue.” Although I did not need to be rescued at that particular moment, I am always gracious and appreciative of anyone who wants to help me. It is genuinely insulting to turn away a guy who wants to perform his chivalrous duty. It is sexist and asinine to throw my hair over my shoulder and whimper, “I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout fixin’ no flaaaats.” It is equally disrespectful to discount the generosity of a dude who wants to do his good deed for the day. I have always pulled out a $10 bill once the donut is in place on my vehicle. The money has never been accepted. Payback does not register with Samaritans. Truly, I would feel better if guys would take the bill, but somehow it undermines the validity of their helpfulness---from their point of view. Some friends have theorized that it is the blonde locks that wield a magical power over knights on white horses (or in white Chevy Blazers). They may have a point. I do not know. I just appreciate the help and assure the rescuers that I will pay it forward.
So, I try to remember small acts of kindness. I have to admit, I have never stopped to help someone change a tire. And I have never had a woman stop to help me change a tire. Is it really necessary to burn bras again to change this deeply ingrained role perspective? Guilty. So the next time I see someone along the side of the road with a flat, what shall I do? Honestly. I shall assume the person has a cell phone and can call for help. I too shall make a phone call to report the stranded motorist. Safety is a valid consideration. Malicious individuals will feign distress as a means of luring travelers to a holdup situation.
May I be clear? This is NOT the appropriate response when there is an accident. Stop. Render aid. But stay alert. My husband and I pulled into a dark ravine late one night because we saw car debris (strips of metal, broken glass, a side-view mirror, etc.) strewn across the highway. There was no accident. As soon as we realized that we were about to be robbed, we peeled rubber and made it back to the highway. I digress. More about personal safety in future posts.
Speaking of fixing a flat. It’s a good idea to carry Fix-A-Flat (an aerosol can of pressurized something that will sustain adequate air pressure in a slow leaker. Carry a tire gauge so that you will know when you do have a slow leak. If you know you are losing pressure, stop at the first auto mechanic shop you can find. Car dudes can check the tire and make necessary repairs. And I am NOT sexist. I know women engineers, but I have yet to see a woman changing oil at Walmart. Someone fill me in on a gal that loves to work on cars and is rotating tires at Walmart. Where are you women car fixers?
Also it is a good idea to carry oil and check oil level intermittently. Your mechanic can advise you when to check oil. Beware! If the oil light suddenly glows a blinding red or orange alert from your instrument dashboard, STOP! You can destroy an engine in no time flat if you drive with an insufficient well of lubricant for the engine.
Speaking of flats, never drive on a flat tire unless you are in a high risk situation (in the middle of the road on a bend, in a high crime area, etc.) You will bend the wheel rim and may cause much more damage than you can imagine. Get as far off the road as possible. Park on a level surface. Do NOT exit or stand on the driver side of the vehicle. Slide your cute buns across the seat and exit the vehicle on the passenger side. Call a tow truck. Better to pay a tow dude than to put yourself in danger as you change a driver side tire while traffic whisks by you. Too dangerous.
Besides, Fix-A-Flat and oil, you need to carry jumper cables. You may not need a jump along the way, but someone else might. I can honestly say that I have jumped more than one stranded driver. Oh, and know exactly HOW to hook the cables to the battery terminals. For some weird reason I can never remember which line is which. My Dad was an automobile mechanic and he would be disappointed that I am easily confused as I try to figure out red on what? I do know that it is not safe to mix up battery poles between car engines. Fortunately, I have always been able to count on the expertise of---yes---the men who use the cables. Ladies, we need to do better.
My husband is a terrific aide when it comes to vehicle trip planning. In addition to managing the mechanical inspections and repairs, he stocks the van with supplies I need to ensure good maintenance on the road. Hubby is famous for buying “junk” at flea markets, but sometimes the junk comes in handy. There is a tacky, brown, used brief case in the back of my van which contains socket wrenches, screw drivers, pliers, wire cutters, tie-wraps, and an assortment of other supplies and tools. A few months ago I was visitng an office where the manager was having difficulty with the air conditioning. On a whim, he asked me if I might have any tools in the van. I pulled out the brief case, he found what he needed to make some adjustments to the A/C, and I felt like a good Samaritan. In truth, my hubby was the good guy!
In fact, there is one huge concern that I am contemplating even as I write this travel tip. I need one more important addition to my van: a cargo net. My newly arrived AAA newsletter has a great article about flying objects inside vehicles. If we are in a situation where it is necessary to slam on the brakes or, Heaven forbid, we hit something head-on, all the objects that are stored loosely inside the van will fly forward. The power with which my “tool box” alone will hit the back of my head could knock me out or worse.
Having been in a low-speed head-on collision many years ago, I understand the physics of objects impacting other objects---like my skull. At that time, my seatbelt saved me, but I was hardly left unscathed. Some of my docs marveled at my survival. Head-on collisions are high risk accidents. My chicken neck took all the impact it could take as it whiplashed violently back and forth. An EMT pulled me out on a backboard. I screamed in pain. I had months of physical therapy and pain management. I cannot forget the words of my talented Super Therapist---Steve. “Get a car with an airbag. You won’t survive the next head-on collision without an airbag.” So we got airbags.
Be certain that the safety equipment on your vehicle is working properly. If you own a used car, be sure that the body shop did not cut corners by stuffing newspaper inside the steering wheel well where the airbag should be. (Have a mechanic make the determination that the airbag will work if you need it.) Remember, if you put a cow-catching equivalent grill protector on the front of your vehicle (to protect it from flying evil deer that wait in dark shadows of the night to leap in front of you), the grill protector will interfere with your airbag deployment. Tricky. Make a choice. Honestly, I do not know what is safer here. This is new information for me. I just heard about it over Christmas break. Hmmm … don’t know….
Never put small kids or petite adults in front of an airbag. The safety bags explode at a speed of 200 miles per hour. Skinny necks cannot survive the blow. And learn to drive effectively with your seat positioned as far away from the steering column and airbag compartment as possible. Be sure that you are wearing seatbelts, and do not weaken the fibers of a seatbelt weave by washing it regularly with chemicals that could cause deterioration of the restraint system. It is my understanding (someone out there correct me if I have been misinformed) that seatbelts are not intended to be cleaned. Seatbelts are installed for a reason. They absolutely save lives. I know.
Be sure that brake lights, flashing lights, and turn signals are working well. And, for Pete’s sake, do not forget the horn! I will forever love, platonically speaking, the college student who did a driving safety speech in my class. He advised us to use dimmed lights, brakes, and a LOUD horn to shoo away deer that live beside road burms. Depressed deer are intent on committing suicide by smashing through windshields.
As soon as I heard the class presentation, my driving style changed. I feel a little guilty laying on the horn when I think families are settling down for the night inside there homes. But outside their houses, deer gather in clumps, like innocent looking legged grapes. The truth is they are waiting for those of us on the road whose vehicles---they believe---deserve to be crumpled. On a serious note, many people have died or been severely injured by deer smashing through windshields. Learn to use the horn. By the way, it too is not a guarantee of safety. 99% of the time, I have been successful “persuading” deer to run away from my van by blaring, and I do mean blaring, my factory installed deer-shooing-sound maker. But occasionally the blasting, low pitched alarm startles them, and they jump in front of the vehicle. Be prepared to STOP. Better yet, do not drive after dark. I’ll come back to this notion later when I discuss personal safety. Basically, this gives you a good overview of how to travel safely and comfortably with your car well prepared for the trip.
These recommendations are not all inclusive. A well maintained vehicle will not save you from accidents. It will curtail the risk of accidents and serious injuries related to the car or van itself. Will it cost money to make all these car management checks and repairs? Of course. The question to ask is simple. How much is your life worth?
Travel Tip # 4 DRIVE A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE
Before the trip have a trusted mechanic thoroughly check your car. Replace belts, tires, brakes, and any other parts of the vehicle that could pose serious problems on the road. Do not take any chances with worn brakes, an aging water pump, or bald tires. Be certain that you have good tread on the tires. You may end up driving through a mountain pass in the middle of a blizzard in May. I made the mistake of trusting a “local” in Wyoming who assured me that I could safely navigate through a mountain pass as a short cut to the Grand Tetons. Supposedly, lots of semi drivers had come over “THE mountain” that morning. By the time I came onto the twinkling, ice-crystal covered Rocky Mountain skyline, it was too late. Blinding snow hit my windshield like a super-sized sheet of frozen fog.
The tread on my snow tires was new. My brakes were good. The windshield wipers wiped well. The windshield washer reservoir was full. The defroster worked on both front and back windshields. And the heater adequately warmed my nose and toes. The engine purred like a napping kitten in a sunny windowsill. I had no worries about the mechanical safety of the Ol’ Windstar. The vehicle was in tiptop condition. All I had to do was navigate with adeptness through an hour and a half of snow packed roads. On a side note, the risk of “listening to the locals” (see Tip #2) could have cost me my life. In retrospect, I should have listened to my gut and taken what may have been a safer route around the shortcut. Arriving late but alive at Jackson Lake Lodge in the Grand Tetons National Park was far more important than taking the risk of plummeting two thousand feet into a lifeless canyon. OK. There might have been some bears and elk down there, but by the time I would have crashed on top of them, I would have been beyond prayers for survival. On the other hand, the fellow bears standing nearby would have benefited from fresh carrion on which to feast. Do elk eat carrion? They may be vegetarians. I’ll check on that.
Having the vehicle well maintained involves more than the windshield wipers, heater, engine, etc. If you don’t know how to change a flat tire, learn. And before driving away from your hometown, have your mechanic pull out the donut spare tire and check to be sure that you have the proper equipment needed to keep you rolling. Check the air pressure in your four tires that are holding you up (save gas with fully inflated tires) and check PPI (pounds per [square] inch of air pressure) in the donut. Chances are you will not have to change a tire. But it is money in the bank and peace of mind to know how to fix a flat if necessary.
Confession time. I have blonde hair. I’ve never had to change a tire. But through the years, I have had more than one occasion when I needed a tire change. Once, when I drove along a rustic road above Canaan Valley in the mountains of West Virginia, I ran across a railroad spike that perfectly punctured my right rear rubber roller. I made it to a convenience store/gas station in the valley before realizing I was in trouble. Keep in mind that I am a fierce, independent traveler who is willing, able, and determined to change my own tires, thank you very much. No sooner had I spread out my blue, crackling, plastic tarp (always carry one for who-knows-what-may-happen that warrants the possession of a tarp) the circumstances changed. Just like all the other times when a flat interrupted my journey, a kind, helpful gentleman came to my “rescue.” Although I did not need to be rescued at that particular moment, I am always gracious and appreciative of anyone who wants to help me. It is genuinely insulting to turn away a guy who wants to perform his chivalrous duty. It is sexist and asinine to throw my hair over my shoulder and whimper, “I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout fixin’ no flaaaats.” It is equally disrespectful to discount the generosity of a dude who wants to do his good deed for the day. I have always pulled out a $10 bill once the donut is in place on my vehicle. The money has never been accepted. Payback does not register with Samaritans. Truly, I would feel better if guys would take the bill, but somehow it undermines the validity of their helpfulness---from their point of view. Some friends have theorized that it is the blonde locks that wield a magical power over knights on white horses (or in white Chevy Blazers). They may have a point. I do not know. I just appreciate the help and assure the rescuers that I will pay it forward.
So, I try to remember small acts of kindness. I have to admit, I have never stopped to help someone change a tire. And I have never had a woman stop to help me change a tire. Is it really necessary to burn bras again to change this deeply ingrained role perspective? Guilty. So the next time I see someone along the side of the road with a flat, what shall I do? Honestly. I shall assume the person has a cell phone and can call for help. I too shall make a phone call to report the stranded motorist. Safety is a valid consideration. Malicious individuals will feign distress as a means of luring travelers to a holdup situation.
May I be clear? This is NOT the appropriate response when there is an accident. Stop. Render aid. But stay alert. My husband and I pulled into a dark ravine late one night because we saw car debris (strips of metal, broken glass, a side-view mirror, etc.) strewn across the highway. There was no accident. As soon as we realized that we were about to be robbed, we peeled rubber and made it back to the highway. I digress. More about personal safety in future posts.
Speaking of fixing a flat. It’s a good idea to carry Fix-A-Flat (an aerosol can of pressurized something that will sustain adequate air pressure in a slow leaker. Carry a tire gauge so that you will know when you do have a slow leak. If you know you are losing pressure, stop at the first auto mechanic shop you can find. Car dudes can check the tire and make necessary repairs. And I am NOT sexist. I know women engineers, but I have yet to see a woman changing oil at Walmart. Someone fill me in on a gal that loves to work on cars and is rotating tires at Walmart. Where are you women car fixers?
Also it is a good idea to carry oil and check oil level intermittently. Your mechanic can advise you when to check oil. Beware! If the oil light suddenly glows a blinding red or orange alert from your instrument dashboard, STOP! You can destroy an engine in no time flat if you drive with an insufficient well of lubricant for the engine.
Speaking of flats, never drive on a flat tire unless you are in a high risk situation (in the middle of the road on a bend, in a high crime area, etc.) You will bend the wheel rim and may cause much more damage than you can imagine. Get as far off the road as possible. Park on a level surface. Do NOT exit or stand on the driver side of the vehicle. Slide your cute buns across the seat and exit the vehicle on the passenger side. Call a tow truck. Better to pay a tow dude than to put yourself in danger as you change a driver side tire while traffic whisks by you. Too dangerous.
Besides, Fix-A-Flat and oil, you need to carry jumper cables. You may not need a jump along the way, but someone else might. I can honestly say that I have jumped more than one stranded driver. Oh, and know exactly HOW to hook the cables to the battery terminals. For some weird reason I can never remember which line is which. My Dad was an automobile mechanic and he would be disappointed that I am easily confused as I try to figure out red on what? I do know that it is not safe to mix up battery poles between car engines. Fortunately, I have always been able to count on the expertise of---yes---the men who use the cables. Ladies, we need to do better.
My husband is a terrific aide when it comes to vehicle trip planning. In addition to managing the mechanical inspections and repairs, he stocks the van with supplies I need to ensure good maintenance on the road. Hubby is famous for buying “junk” at flea markets, but sometimes the junk comes in handy. There is a tacky, brown, used brief case in the back of my van which contains socket wrenches, screw drivers, pliers, wire cutters, tie-wraps, and an assortment of other supplies and tools. A few months ago I was visitng an office where the manager was having difficulty with the air conditioning. On a whim, he asked me if I might have any tools in the van. I pulled out the brief case, he found what he needed to make some adjustments to the A/C, and I felt like a good Samaritan. In truth, my hubby was the good guy!
In fact, there is one huge concern that I am contemplating even as I write this travel tip. I need one more important addition to my van: a cargo net. My newly arrived AAA newsletter has a great article about flying objects inside vehicles. If we are in a situation where it is necessary to slam on the brakes or, Heaven forbid, we hit something head-on, all the objects that are stored loosely inside the van will fly forward. The power with which my “tool box” alone will hit the back of my head could knock me out or worse.
Having been in a low-speed head-on collision many years ago, I understand the physics of objects impacting other objects---like my skull. At that time, my seatbelt saved me, but I was hardly left unscathed. Some of my docs marveled at my survival. Head-on collisions are high risk accidents. My chicken neck took all the impact it could take as it whiplashed violently back and forth. An EMT pulled me out on a backboard. I screamed in pain. I had months of physical therapy and pain management. I cannot forget the words of my talented Super Therapist---Steve. “Get a car with an airbag. You won’t survive the next head-on collision without an airbag.” So we got airbags.
Be certain that the safety equipment on your vehicle is working properly. If you own a used car, be sure that the body shop did not cut corners by stuffing newspaper inside the steering wheel well where the airbag should be. (Have a mechanic make the determination that the airbag will work if you need it.) Remember, if you put a cow-catching equivalent grill protector on the front of your vehicle (to protect it from flying evil deer that wait in dark shadows of the night to leap in front of you), the grill protector will interfere with your airbag deployment. Tricky. Make a choice. Honestly, I do not know what is safer here. This is new information for me. I just heard about it over Christmas break. Hmmm … don’t know….
Never put small kids or petite adults in front of an airbag. The safety bags explode at a speed of 200 miles per hour. Skinny necks cannot survive the blow. And learn to drive effectively with your seat positioned as far away from the steering column and airbag compartment as possible. Be sure that you are wearing seatbelts, and do not weaken the fibers of a seatbelt weave by washing it regularly with chemicals that could cause deterioration of the restraint system. It is my understanding (someone out there correct me if I have been misinformed) that seatbelts are not intended to be cleaned. Seatbelts are installed for a reason. They absolutely save lives. I know.
Be sure that brake lights, flashing lights, and turn signals are working well. And, for Pete’s sake, do not forget the horn! I will forever love, platonically speaking, the college student who did a driving safety speech in my class. He advised us to use dimmed lights, brakes, and a LOUD horn to shoo away deer that live beside road burms. Depressed deer are intent on committing suicide by smashing through windshields.
As soon as I heard the class presentation, my driving style changed. I feel a little guilty laying on the horn when I think families are settling down for the night inside there homes. But outside their houses, deer gather in clumps, like innocent looking legged grapes. The truth is they are waiting for those of us on the road whose vehicles---they believe---deserve to be crumpled. On a serious note, many people have died or been severely injured by deer smashing through windshields. Learn to use the horn. By the way, it too is not a guarantee of safety. 99% of the time, I have been successful “persuading” deer to run away from my van by blaring, and I do mean blaring, my factory installed deer-shooing-sound maker. But occasionally the blasting, low pitched alarm startles them, and they jump in front of the vehicle. Be prepared to STOP. Better yet, do not drive after dark. I’ll come back to this notion later when I discuss personal safety. Basically, this gives you a good overview of how to travel safely and comfortably with your car well prepared for the trip.
These recommendations are not all inclusive. A well maintained vehicle will not save you from accidents. It will curtail the risk of accidents and serious injuries related to the car or van itself. Will it cost money to make all these car management checks and repairs? Of course. The question to ask is simple. How much is your life worth?
Friday, January 22, 2010
Travel Tip #3 Buy a GPS but Carry a Map
Copyright 2010 Traveling Novelist
Traveling solo for thousands of miles or for hundreds of miles requires a solid sense of direction. Gasoline is too expensive to throw away on the road less traveled. Heading off in the wrong direction can cost you lost hours and a much thinner pocketbook than you had planned. One time I traveled to Amish Country with my friend, Mary. Returning on the interstate after dark and chattering away about how much fun the trip had been, we were oblivious to our whereabouts. When we came to a division in the four lane system, we were so busy yammering, I drove past the exit at an Interstate crossroads. Two hours and a hundred seventy miles later, I began to question some of the landmarks. We called our husbands, told them we were running behind schedule a little, and pedaled back up the road as fast as our Flintstone feet could take us. A GPS would have caught the error immediately,
and would have squelched, “Recalculating,” within two seconds of our missed exit ramp. Alas, the purchase of the satellite highway direction system was in my future.
Don’t skimp when buying a GPS. Consult Consumer Reports, experienced friends, and knowledgeable electronics sales reps before laying your money down. Some jurisdictions do not allow hand held GPS units to be used by vehicle operators, so be sure to acquire a unit that attaches to your dash or window. Perhaps most importantly, select a model that not only announces when your turns are forthcoming, but specifically identifies the street name for your turn. A neighbor of ours has a unit that only announces basic directions such as “Turn left in 500 feet.” Of course, if there are merging streets, avenues, alleys, and private drives in close proximity, it is easy to miss the road indicated by the wise lady in the box. But instructions such as “Turn left on Elm Street in 500 feet,” are clear. Usually you can spot the street sign far enough ahead of the intersection to make the correct maneuver efficiently.
Another feature of our GPS that is incredibly helpful is its capacity to tell the vehicle operator not only to turn left, but to advise the driver to “Turn left on Elm Street. Then keep right.” That usually means that there is a four lane street and I need to be in the right lane in preparation for another turn---to the right---shortly after heading along Elm Street. I rarely have to signal to other drivers the need to change lanes in anticipation of a quick turn in another direction.
Finally, be certain to practice driving on familiar roads with the GPS long before heading on a trip. Get used to the sound of the instructions, and do not allow the lady in the box to steer you into a lake. Stop for stop signs. Stop for red traffic lights. Stop or slow down for highway construction. Yield at yield intersections. When I first started using the GPS I thought I was exceedingly distracted by the directions, to the extent that I would NEARLY run stop signs, simply because the lady instructed me to turn right in 200 feet. It was weird to feel overwhelmed by a computer generated voice that ordered me to drive into oncoming traffic. Initially, I thought this was my problem. But, as soon as my husband began using the unit, I noticed that he had a tendency to keep moving into intersections, regardless of traffic signs and signals. A few times I would yelp, “Stop! Stop!” This tendency to tune out other variables in the driving environment is equivalent to the dangerous distraction experienced by cell phone users who barrel through department store parking lots, ignoring speed, rights of way, and pedestrian safety. Be CAREFUL with the GPS. Stay alert. Focus.
As I prepare for a long distance trip in the near future I have been weighing the importance of upgrading my GPS. New road construction is prevalent in the area of my destination, so my decision to upgrade has been made for me. Occasionally a city will rename a street which will throw you off, unless you have a sense of where you are apart from the perspective of the wonderful metallic, signaling globes swirling around the heavens above us. Keep a small compass attached to your key ring. You can pick up one for a couple of bucks at a discount department store. If it “feels” like you are going in the wrong direction on the wrong street, maybe you are.
Be prepared for personal safety awareness when using a GPS. Unfortunately, the satellites will signal you to drive the most direct route to your destination even if it is a dangerous route. Stay alert. If you see a lot of trash on the streets, heavy bars on storefronts, loiterers staring at your out-of-state license plates from a distance, you have taken the wrong road. Get back to a safer highway as fast as possible. Ignore the computerized message of “Recalculating,” and realize that the GPS will “catch up with you” as you consciously choose a safer route. Safety first. Then follow the GPS.
Do the driving directors ever take you in the wrong direction? Yes. But rarely. On my Wild West vacation I established a routine where I stopped daily at Walmart. I bought water bottles, snacks, ate a bite of lunch, and got $100 cash as I checked out. There is something homey about finding a Walmart as a base of operations along America’s highways. I type “Walmart” into my shopping database of the GPS and set the unit to take me to my store, restaurant, and bank stop. Twice in six thousand miles I was directed to a vacated Walmart building. Somewhere in the vicinity, a Super Walmart had replaced the address of the one on my GPS. That was not a big deal. I either asked directions at a gas station or hopped on the interstate for the next town.
So, why did I title this section Buy a GPS but carry a map? Because sometimes a map is better than a GPS. It is that simple. Before leaving on a long trip, I carefully map out my chosen route with plans to stop at museums, art galleries, historic sites, etc. Acquiring official state road maps before setting out is invaluable. Every state in the USA wants tourists to spend money within their borders. I am happy to do that with all but one state, which I am currently boycotting. (You guess which one it is. Forget it. You’ll never figure this one out.) Nevertheless, go online. Look up the state tourism homepage. (For example, Google “Arkansas tourism official homepage.”) Ask them to send you an official map. It should arrive by snail mail within two or three weeks. Laying a map out in front of you gives you the total perspective of your travel through a specific geographic region. The GPS will get you through Arkansas expeditiously. Perusing the state map of Arkansas and reviewing their state tourism guides will give you many choices for fun, educational, intriguing diversions off the beaten path.
There is also the possibility that roads will be under construction, detours will lead you into areas that raise questions about location, and shopping mall parking lots will be displayed on the GPS screen as a road. You may simply want to plot another course to avoid heavy traffic, dangerous areas, densely populated urban areas, etc. If it is rush hour, I often plot a route around the main business districts of cities, including around D.C.’s beltway, knowing that I will have a more pleasurable experience staying away from tired, potentially aggressive drivers who want me out of their way. No problem. By the way, try to hit key metropolitan areas “outside” of rush hour.
When traveling to Wyoming, I carefully monitored weather forecasts and was aware of a highly volatile storm system with tornado watches and warnings along my plotted route. I studied the satellite images of NOAA weather maps, and charted an alternate route through northern Wyoming. I used my Wyoming state road map to do so. Devils Tower National Park was just thirty miles from my new route, so I calculated driving times, risk, and prepared a stop at the beautiful volcanic rock formation. I steered clear of the storm system that was destroying homes and lives to my southwest, allowing plenty of time to reach my night’s stay to the south. But as I drove toward Casper, the skies became more and more ominous. The first clue to danger was the significant decrease in traffic. I went into a heightened state of observation. When I realized that suddenly there were no tractor trailer trucks on the road, I knew I was in trouble.
Unfortunately my weather radio reported no impending threats. But, as I have learned, the local radio station was on top of the crisis. Professionally trained spotters had detected a tornado on the ground in Casper. I was driving straight into it. As soon as I heard the report, I exited the interstate and looked for the strongest, safest hotel in the vicinity. I checked in, informed the staff that a tornado was on the ground in Casper and was headed north. Then I called the Casper hotel, joked a little bit about the weather “down there” and asked them cordially to release me from a room reservation penalty as I had procured shelter in Gillette. They were very cordial and understanding. I settled into my room for the night. It was 2:30 in the afternoon. Safety first. Everything else comes later.
Have a map for every state through which you travel. It is far more comprehensive and far more comprehensible than any GPS screen. Never drive down the road juggling a road map in your right hand while steering your vehicle with your left hand. Study alternative routes and be flexible with your time. Do not try a long trip into unfamiliar territory without a GPS. Know how to use it. It is not a luxury. It is a necessity for serious travelers. And take a map. Be smart. Be safe.
Copyright 2010 Traveling Novelist
Traveling solo for thousands of miles or for hundreds of miles requires a solid sense of direction. Gasoline is too expensive to throw away on the road less traveled. Heading off in the wrong direction can cost you lost hours and a much thinner pocketbook than you had planned. One time I traveled to Amish Country with my friend, Mary. Returning on the interstate after dark and chattering away about how much fun the trip had been, we were oblivious to our whereabouts. When we came to a division in the four lane system, we were so busy yammering, I drove past the exit at an Interstate crossroads. Two hours and a hundred seventy miles later, I began to question some of the landmarks. We called our husbands, told them we were running behind schedule a little, and pedaled back up the road as fast as our Flintstone feet could take us. A GPS would have caught the error immediately,
and would have squelched, “Recalculating,” within two seconds of our missed exit ramp. Alas, the purchase of the satellite highway direction system was in my future.
Don’t skimp when buying a GPS. Consult Consumer Reports, experienced friends, and knowledgeable electronics sales reps before laying your money down. Some jurisdictions do not allow hand held GPS units to be used by vehicle operators, so be sure to acquire a unit that attaches to your dash or window. Perhaps most importantly, select a model that not only announces when your turns are forthcoming, but specifically identifies the street name for your turn. A neighbor of ours has a unit that only announces basic directions such as “Turn left in 500 feet.” Of course, if there are merging streets, avenues, alleys, and private drives in close proximity, it is easy to miss the road indicated by the wise lady in the box. But instructions such as “Turn left on Elm Street in 500 feet,” are clear. Usually you can spot the street sign far enough ahead of the intersection to make the correct maneuver efficiently.
Another feature of our GPS that is incredibly helpful is its capacity to tell the vehicle operator not only to turn left, but to advise the driver to “Turn left on Elm Street. Then keep right.” That usually means that there is a four lane street and I need to be in the right lane in preparation for another turn---to the right---shortly after heading along Elm Street. I rarely have to signal to other drivers the need to change lanes in anticipation of a quick turn in another direction.
Finally, be certain to practice driving on familiar roads with the GPS long before heading on a trip. Get used to the sound of the instructions, and do not allow the lady in the box to steer you into a lake. Stop for stop signs. Stop for red traffic lights. Stop or slow down for highway construction. Yield at yield intersections. When I first started using the GPS I thought I was exceedingly distracted by the directions, to the extent that I would NEARLY run stop signs, simply because the lady instructed me to turn right in 200 feet. It was weird to feel overwhelmed by a computer generated voice that ordered me to drive into oncoming traffic. Initially, I thought this was my problem. But, as soon as my husband began using the unit, I noticed that he had a tendency to keep moving into intersections, regardless of traffic signs and signals. A few times I would yelp, “Stop! Stop!” This tendency to tune out other variables in the driving environment is equivalent to the dangerous distraction experienced by cell phone users who barrel through department store parking lots, ignoring speed, rights of way, and pedestrian safety. Be CAREFUL with the GPS. Stay alert. Focus.
As I prepare for a long distance trip in the near future I have been weighing the importance of upgrading my GPS. New road construction is prevalent in the area of my destination, so my decision to upgrade has been made for me. Occasionally a city will rename a street which will throw you off, unless you have a sense of where you are apart from the perspective of the wonderful metallic, signaling globes swirling around the heavens above us. Keep a small compass attached to your key ring. You can pick up one for a couple of bucks at a discount department store. If it “feels” like you are going in the wrong direction on the wrong street, maybe you are.
Be prepared for personal safety awareness when using a GPS. Unfortunately, the satellites will signal you to drive the most direct route to your destination even if it is a dangerous route. Stay alert. If you see a lot of trash on the streets, heavy bars on storefronts, loiterers staring at your out-of-state license plates from a distance, you have taken the wrong road. Get back to a safer highway as fast as possible. Ignore the computerized message of “Recalculating,” and realize that the GPS will “catch up with you” as you consciously choose a safer route. Safety first. Then follow the GPS.
Do the driving directors ever take you in the wrong direction? Yes. But rarely. On my Wild West vacation I established a routine where I stopped daily at Walmart. I bought water bottles, snacks, ate a bite of lunch, and got $100 cash as I checked out. There is something homey about finding a Walmart as a base of operations along America’s highways. I type “Walmart” into my shopping database of the GPS and set the unit to take me to my store, restaurant, and bank stop. Twice in six thousand miles I was directed to a vacated Walmart building. Somewhere in the vicinity, a Super Walmart had replaced the address of the one on my GPS. That was not a big deal. I either asked directions at a gas station or hopped on the interstate for the next town.
So, why did I title this section Buy a GPS but carry a map? Because sometimes a map is better than a GPS. It is that simple. Before leaving on a long trip, I carefully map out my chosen route with plans to stop at museums, art galleries, historic sites, etc. Acquiring official state road maps before setting out is invaluable. Every state in the USA wants tourists to spend money within their borders. I am happy to do that with all but one state, which I am currently boycotting. (You guess which one it is. Forget it. You’ll never figure this one out.) Nevertheless, go online. Look up the state tourism homepage. (For example, Google “Arkansas tourism official homepage.”) Ask them to send you an official map. It should arrive by snail mail within two or three weeks. Laying a map out in front of you gives you the total perspective of your travel through a specific geographic region. The GPS will get you through Arkansas expeditiously. Perusing the state map of Arkansas and reviewing their state tourism guides will give you many choices for fun, educational, intriguing diversions off the beaten path.
There is also the possibility that roads will be under construction, detours will lead you into areas that raise questions about location, and shopping mall parking lots will be displayed on the GPS screen as a road. You may simply want to plot another course to avoid heavy traffic, dangerous areas, densely populated urban areas, etc. If it is rush hour, I often plot a route around the main business districts of cities, including around D.C.’s beltway, knowing that I will have a more pleasurable experience staying away from tired, potentially aggressive drivers who want me out of their way. No problem. By the way, try to hit key metropolitan areas “outside” of rush hour.
When traveling to Wyoming, I carefully monitored weather forecasts and was aware of a highly volatile storm system with tornado watches and warnings along my plotted route. I studied the satellite images of NOAA weather maps, and charted an alternate route through northern Wyoming. I used my Wyoming state road map to do so. Devils Tower National Park was just thirty miles from my new route, so I calculated driving times, risk, and prepared a stop at the beautiful volcanic rock formation. I steered clear of the storm system that was destroying homes and lives to my southwest, allowing plenty of time to reach my night’s stay to the south. But as I drove toward Casper, the skies became more and more ominous. The first clue to danger was the significant decrease in traffic. I went into a heightened state of observation. When I realized that suddenly there were no tractor trailer trucks on the road, I knew I was in trouble.
Unfortunately my weather radio reported no impending threats. But, as I have learned, the local radio station was on top of the crisis. Professionally trained spotters had detected a tornado on the ground in Casper. I was driving straight into it. As soon as I heard the report, I exited the interstate and looked for the strongest, safest hotel in the vicinity. I checked in, informed the staff that a tornado was on the ground in Casper and was headed north. Then I called the Casper hotel, joked a little bit about the weather “down there” and asked them cordially to release me from a room reservation penalty as I had procured shelter in Gillette. They were very cordial and understanding. I settled into my room for the night. It was 2:30 in the afternoon. Safety first. Everything else comes later.
Have a map for every state through which you travel. It is far more comprehensive and far more comprehensible than any GPS screen. Never drive down the road juggling a road map in your right hand while steering your vehicle with your left hand. Study alternative routes and be flexible with your time. Do not try a long trip into unfamiliar territory without a GPS. Know how to use it. It is not a luxury. It is a necessity for serious travelers. And take a map. Be smart. Be safe.
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