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#240728 - 08/11/2004 22:16 LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions??
loren
carpal tunnel

Registered: 23/08/2000
Posts: 3826
Loc: SLC, UT, USA
Due to my current unemployed state, and a yearning to get my ass out of the couch divot, I've decided I'm hitting the road, in a couple of days, for about 3 weeks.

I went on a buying spree to prepare, and got myself a Garmin Quest for navigating, a Thule Cascade 1500 roof cargo box for my stuff, and a Shasta 15+ Sleeping Bag for sleeping wherever. I'm also trying to install a fan in the empeg before I take off to make sure I don't get any overheating when driving 11 hour days.

Here's the route so far:
SF to Salt Lake City where I'll meet up with the Ozone folks for some snowkiteboarding. I'll hang out there for a day and then probably ride their coat-tails to a SKB event in Vail, Colorado for a day or so. From there on to Boulder where I'll hang out with one of my high school buddies for a few days and do some snowboarding.

Then it's sort of nebulous but I'll make my way back home to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a while, at least through Thanksgiving. Any ideas what I should do/see/visit on the way from Boulder to Baton Rouge? Where to stop and sleep?

While I'm in LA I plan on doing some exploring of the Atchafalaya basin with my step-father who works for the Nature Conservancy, and looking for some tattoo inspiration in the form of a cypress tree. I'll also spend some time in New Orleans with another good buddy of mine.

Then my younger brother and I will make our way back to San Francisco via the Southern route, stopping at every major skatepark we can find along the way, and he'll fly back home a week after we get back here.

SO!... Any tips? Stuff I should make sure I bring on a long road trip? Places I absolutely have to stop and see? Any and all suggestions are welcome! Matt (ithoughti), I was hoping you could chime in since you just did a long trip in your WRX =].
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|| loren ||

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#240729 - 08/11/2004 23:17 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: loren]
kayakjazz
member

Registered: 10/09/2004
Posts: 127
Loc: Bay Area, CA/Anchorage, AK
Sigh...green with major envy! Have you seen Bryce and Zion, especially with snow?

I aways take either my Camelback or the bladder from it on long trips so I can sip whenever...on the kayaks, too!

And you're younger, but I rarely leave home without my Thermarest. Good for the decks of cars, friends' couchs or floors, or wherever...

Have fun...how could you not!

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#240730 - 08/11/2004 23:47 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: loren]
cushman
veteran

Registered: 21/01/2002
Posts: 1380
Loc: Erie, CO
I can never find reliable coffee on the road, so (especially if I am camping) I press my own coffee with a coffee press and a backpacking stove. The Camelback and Thermarest are also great ideas. I usually also take a folding camp chair for rest areas where you want to sit by your car (hatch up, soobie style!).

Maybe you might want to put some books on tape on your Empeg, too.

Sounds like a rocking trip. Hope you have tons of fun!
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Mark Cushman

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#240731 - 08/11/2004 23:49 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: loren]
robricc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/10/2000
Posts: 4931
Loc: New Jersey, USA
I envy your trip as well. I really would like to a coast-to-coast drive sometime soon.
_________________________
-Rob Riccardelli
80GB 16MB MK2 090000736

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#240732 - 08/11/2004 23:57 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: loren]
tman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
No suggestions but that does sound like an amazing trip

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#240733 - 09/11/2004 00:47 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: loren]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31594
Loc: Seattle, WA
Quote:
I went on a buying spree to prepare,


Hah, that's not a trip, just an excuse to buy gadgets.

Just kidding, sounds like a fantastic adventure, I hope you have a great time.
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Tony Fabris

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#240734 - 09/11/2004 01:14 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: tfabris]
loren
carpal tunnel

Registered: 23/08/2000
Posts: 3826
Loc: SLC, UT, USA
Hahah... so true though. All stuff i'd been wanting to get for a long time, but needed the excuse too. It's funny because sleeping bags ARE gadgets these days. They are so technical and there are so many options. =]
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|| loren ||

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#240735 - 09/11/2004 01:27 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: loren]
ithoughti
old hand

Registered: 17/07/2001
Posts: 721
Loc: Boston, MA USA
Sweet dude! As I just returned from my 27 day 10,160 mile road trip (the pic website for it is here: http://thelongdrive.photosite.com/ ) its in reverse order with the latest pics first.

I have a few suggestions/observations/somethinganothers:

1. Switch to Verizon Wireless. I have Cingular and my friend Jen has Verizon and she had far more consistant service than I did.

2. When driving through Texas miles from Wichita Falls, in the middle of the night when it is very windy and rainy and you see brake lights in the distance and tumbleweed blowing across the road -SLOW DOWN! I slowed to about 70mph but it was too late, a HUGE tumbleweed blew out in front of my car and I smashed into it. It shredded my left rear tire and I had to change it in the wind and rain with trucks zooming by my head in the pitch dark. Not a fun time. Oh and Wichita Falls doesn't have any tire stores that carry my stupid Rice Boy Khumo tires, so I had all of one choice for a tire in the right size, a Yokohama.

3. Make sure that your positive battery terminal is connected nice and tight and your battery is charging properly, so that when you blow a tire in the middle of nowhere Texas and you have the hazard lights on for a half hour while you change the tire, and you go to start the car it actually starts. Yeah, that wasn't too fun either, luckily Jen has Verizon so we could call AAA.

4. Get AAA

5. Seconded on the coffee thing. If you enjoy coffee, it is extremely difficult to find a good cup on the road.

6. I loved having my laptop with a wireless connection. It was great to download pics onto and keep in touch with friends/family. Not to mention it was good to be able to log into my email and delete all the spam I get.

7. My Empeg had no problems with overheating or anything, and I had it running for 15+ hours in a row several different times. I wouldn't worry about it too much. The laptop was also good to bring just in case you need to do something with the Empeg.

8. Don't know if bugs will be a problem this time of year or not, but in hind sight I would get one of those stoneguard clear bra things. I scraped so many bugs off my car.

9. Buy a Valentine 1. It saved my ass A LOT. It was fun driving across the plains at 110+ mph for hours on end, but it would not have been nice to get caught.

10. The WRX does _not_ get good gas mileage at 110+ mph. I suppose this is obvious, but it gets the best if you never go into boost. I would say cruising at about 3000rpm (just below boost) in 5th gear worked best for me as far a mileage, but man is that slow.

11. I'm assuming you've been to New Orleans, but just in case you haven't, Frenchman's Street was great for music and a more chill atmosphere.

12. Keep a travel log/diary. It's the only way to be able to remember everything you did and people you met.

13. more to come after I talk with Jen and get her insight...



Attachments
240053-monument_wrx.jpg (134 downloads)



Edited by ithoughti (09/11/2004 01:49)
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---------
//matt

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#240736 - 09/11/2004 02:06 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: loren]
drakino
carpal tunnel

Registered: 08/06/1999
Posts: 7868
Well considering you will be in Boulder, you could take a trip down I-25 to Colorado Springs and I can show you around a bit. Depending on the weather, Pikes Peak may still be open (bring winter clothes for that). Guess it all depends on what you want to see. NORAD tours I think are out of the question, as the clearance usually takes at least a few month. Some ideas on stuff to do is here. Also, if interested I could give you a tour of my work, since you allowed me to see where you worked back in May.

Schedule has me available Tuesday-Friday right now with no fuss.

My couch is also open of you want to stay a night around here.

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#240737 - 09/11/2004 02:27 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: ithoughti]
FireFox31
pooh-bah

Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
All I have to say about that picture is . loren, enjoy the trip! ithoughti, that's really really humbling to see that photo. 10k miles in 27 days? That's like 5 months of commuting for me... wow. Why am I sitting here behind a desk when I could be driving around somewhere amazing?!

Oh yeah, and loren, if you switch to Verizon, get an old school StarTac. I was able to use my Verizon StarTac in the most remote, middle of nowhere Oregon and California by forcing it to Analog mode. Sure, it costs alot, but if you're in a jam, it's priceless. I don't know any other phones that you can force to analog, but make sure you have one.
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FireFox31
110gig MKIIa (30+80), Eutronix lights, 32 meg stacked RAM, Filener orange gel lens, Greenlights Lit Buttons green set

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#240738 - 09/11/2004 05:35 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: loren]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
My top tip from my European Trip this summer would be to take a bottle of spray on Febreze with you (not sure if you have this stuff in the US).

Great for those moments when you have already worn every pair of pants inside out, and the town you are in is somewhat backwards and doesn't have a self service Laundy

Enjoy your trip, I'm thinking of doing a coast to coast trip in the Smart next year, let us know how you are gettin on.

Cheers

Cris.

Edit - Pants is the UK meaning, ie underwear


Edited by Cris (09/11/2004 05:38)

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#240739 - 09/11/2004 07:22 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: Cris]
andym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 17/01/2002
Posts: 3996
Loc: Manchester UK
Quote:
I'm thinking of doing a coast to coast trip in the Smart next year


Scarborough to Blackpool?
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Cheers,

Andy M

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#240740 - 09/11/2004 14:21 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: andym]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Nah!!!! US Coast to Coast. Just started looking into how huch it would be to take the Smart over there and then bring it back.

Cheers

Cris.

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#240741 - 09/11/2004 14:27 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: Cris]
JBjorgen
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3584
Loc: Columbus, OH
Cris:

You'd certainly get lots of weird looks, if nothing else. I've yet to see a Smart in the Carolinas. You may want to consider renting a car...it'd probably be cheaper.
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~ John

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#240742 - 09/11/2004 14:47 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: JBjorgen]
robricc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/10/2000
Posts: 4931
Loc: New Jersey, USA
I have seen Smarts on US roads here and there, but still very rarely. The most recent sighting was on the Garden State Parkway. I know they're preparing to bring the fortwo to the US and I think dealers are already set up in Canada and Mexico.
_________________________
-Rob Riccardelli
80GB 16MB MK2 090000736

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#240743 - 09/11/2004 14:50 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: JBjorgen]
Roger
carpal tunnel

Registered: 18/01/2000
Posts: 5683
Loc: London, UK
Quote:
You may want to consider renting a car...it'd probably be cheaper.


Yeah, but rental cars in the US are generally carp.
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-- roger

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#240744 - 09/11/2004 17:36 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: robricc]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
Yup, we've got a sprinkling of Smart dealers here now -- SWMBO is getting a Smart for her birthday in the spring.

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#240745 - 09/11/2004 17:39 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: mlord]
RobotCaleb
pooh-bah

Registered: 15/01/2002
Posts: 1866
Loc: Austin
nice! does she know?

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#240746 - 09/11/2004 17:53 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: loren]
hybrid8
carpal tunnel

Registered: 12/11/2001
Posts: 7738
Loc: Toronto, CANADA
Slightly off topic (for this thread), but does anyone have any suggestions/comments on renting a car for 3 days and driving from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon (and anything else interesting along the way or near by)?? Including suggestions on places to stay at night, what else to do, what to bring, etc..

Thinking of doing this for a few days after CES (January) and before I have to fly from vegas to San Francisco for Macworld that week.

Bruno
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Bruno
Twisted Melon : Fine Mac OS Software

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#240747 - 09/11/2004 17:59 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: hybrid8]
robricc
carpal tunnel

Registered: 30/10/2000
Posts: 4931
Loc: New Jersey, USA
I usually don't rent a car without checking this site first:
http://www.rentalcodes.com/
_________________________
-Rob Riccardelli
80GB 16MB MK2 090000736

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#240748 - 09/11/2004 19:46 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: RobotCaleb]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
Quote:
nice! does she know?


Yup.. gotta get the right colours, ya know!

Cheers

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#240749 - 09/11/2004 19:56 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: mlord]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
You mean they're not just snap-in faceplaces?
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Bitt Faulk

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#240750 - 09/11/2004 20:15 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: wfaulk]
mlord
carpal tunnel

Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14491
Loc: Canada
They are, but no sense in paying extra for the wrong initial colours!

Cheers

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#240751 - 09/11/2004 20:18 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: mlord]
wfaulk
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/12/2000
Posts: 16706
Loc: Raleigh, NC US
Quote:
They are

Oh, my. They are?

I was joking.
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Bitt Faulk

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#240752 - 09/11/2004 20:22 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: loren]
matthew_k
pooh-bah

Registered: 12/02/2002
Posts: 2298
Loc: Berkeley, California
A few sugesstions...

1) Sign up for a month's worth of unlimited gprs and get an inverter to power your laptop. Being able to surf (no matter how slowly... you can look out the window while pages load) really makes being a passenger go faster.

2) Full Size Spare - If it'll fit, it'll save you so much hassle should you get a flat.

3) Consider a bra for your vehicle. While they're hideous to look at, you're going to be doing so much driving in such a short time period it may be worth it.

4) Read about where you'll be. Remember books are free at a bookstore as long as you read them there while enjoying an overpriced beverage.

Matthew

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#240753 - 09/11/2004 20:48 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: robricc]
boxer
pooh-bah

Registered: 16/04/2002
Posts: 2011
Loc: Yorkshire UK
Quote:
I know they're preparing to bring the fortwo to the US

And what precise market did they design that heap of s**t for? The Smart, the sport: terrific, and then a bummer, it could be anything: Peugeot, renault, Skoda, Fiat, ford, Vauxhall - I have a suspicion that it was designed and built for the european hire car market. It looks nothing and it does nothing.
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Politics and Ideology: Not my bag

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#240754 - 09/11/2004 21:11 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: JBjorgen]
Cris
pooh-bah

Registered: 06/02/2002
Posts: 1904
Loc: Leeds, UK
Quote:
Cris:

You'd certainly get lots of weird looks, if nothing else. I've yet to see a Smart in the Carolinas. You may want to consider renting a car...it'd probably be cheaper.


I would only do it in a Smart, too easy otherwise Anyone can hire a Car and go driving, but in a Smart it is more of a challenge. I suppose I could just buy one here and sell it when I have finished with it on my trip, any one want a Smart with 10,000 miles on the clock at the end of next summer at a location in the US yet to be decided

And anyway, I'd get a kick out of showing you boys that bigger isn't always better

Cheers

Cris.

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#240755 - 10/11/2004 00:28 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: loren]
Ezekiel
pooh-bah

Registered: 25/08/2000
Posts: 2413
Loc: NH USA
Loren - I have one suggestion, it's cynical, but I think worthwhile. Donate to your local Police/Fireman's Widows & Orphans fund and get a window sticker. Not only is it good to support your local departments, but I really feel that officers go a bit easier on you on the off chance that you stray a bit too far above the posted limits. Of course, it's probably too late now to do this, but maybe not.

-Zeke
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WWFSMD?

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#240756 - 10/11/2004 01:12 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: hybrid8]
jimhogan
carpal tunnel

Registered: 06/10/1999
Posts: 2591
Loc: Seattle, WA, U.S.A.
Quote:
renting a car for 3 days and driving from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon (and anything else interesting along the way or near by)??


I've done that trip (in a sorry-ass rented Malibu, no less). Hmmm, actually, I think i went Fresno -->Death Valley --> LSV --> Grand Canyon --> LSV --> Fresno. I thought the canyon was great (and would like to spend some real time there some day) but there's a whole lot of nothing between there and Vegas. Bring your Empeg! I *did* stop at the Hoover Dam on the way back and took the high-priced tour (a hard-hat as a souvenir) and found that worthwhile.

I don't dislike desert, just didn't find that rocky expanse of Arizona interesting. I found Death Valley was much more to my taste. Next time, some better wheels.
_________________________
Jim


'Tis the exceptional fellow who lies awake at night thinking of his successes.

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#240757 - 10/11/2004 03:19 Re: LONG Road Trip!!! Suggestions?? [Re: wfaulk]
mtempsch
pooh-bah

Registered: 02/06/2000
Posts: 1996
Loc: Gothenburg, Sweden
Quote:
I was joking.


But it's quite cool. Saw a TV-shop where they visited some Swiss company that had jigs for holding the various panels, and giant "inkjet printers" (ie a set of airbrush heads) so that you can get any picture you want painted on your Smart. And software to properly wrap a picture onto the car.
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/Michael

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