Feo's Road Trip Tips
I've
been told that the following are really just common sense rules,
but they aren't really. Common Sense applies to things we do every
day, things that are "common" to us, and very few people
do road trips.
Road
trips are often done on the spur of the moment and even the ones
that are planned out, are often made without carefully considering
all the factors. Why? Because these factors have not been faced
before. The dynamics of a road trip - with other people in the
vehicle - often run counter to the "common sense" dynamics
of the home or workplace. Even prison cells offer more room than
you are likely to find in a car or recreational vehicle.
These
following tips, based on my years of experience as a road tripper,
are meant to ease your stress, whether you are a first timer or
an annual traveler. Anyone who remembers the awful annual roadtrips
with your parents (and the same arguments that flared up every
single time) knows what I'm talking about.
ROAD
TRIP TIPS
1.
When you are a passenger, never complain about the driving
/ traffic / trip.
2. Plan ahead for bathroom breaks:
a: Try to schedule your bathroom breaks around fuel stops.
b: If you are going to take drinks with you, bring food
to eat while you drink so the liquid won't run right through you.
3.
Plan your next gas stop when the meter gets down to a quarter
tank. When at the gas station, give yourself an extra minute or
two to walk around and stretch a bit. Your body and circulation needs it!
4.
Tolerate the driver's music.
5.
If you use the map while moving, keep it down on your lap. Make
sure that you don't unfold it to the point that it interferes
with the driver's "space" or their visibility.
6.
In heavy traffic, when riding shotgun, automatically volunteer
to give a head check for traffic in other lanes. The driver can't
see through your noggin.
7.
Don't try to win arguments at any time, even if you know you are
right.
8.
If those arguments involve directions, make absolutely SURE
you are right and then point it out on the map.
9.
If you get lost anyway, laugh it off. You will still have to share
close quarters with this person for the rest of the trip. Everybody
makes mistakes and it could just as easily have been YOU in the hot
seat.
10.
When you feel too tired to drive, ask the other person to drive.
Don't worry about who has driven more. If you are both exhausted,
pull over somewhere safe and rest as soon as possible. Don't worry
about "making good time".
11.
It always needs to be said. You MUST buy the following
items before going on a roadtrip:
a: The deluxe carwash
b: The deluxe oil change and get the premium oil.
c: The deluxe coolant and radiator flush
d: The full tune-up with everything checked and all fluids
topped off. All filters replaced with new ones.
e: Have all five tires rotated, checked and balanced (yes
I said 5! You would never go on a roadtrip without a spare tire
would you?)
f: Buy 5 cans of Fix-A-Flat. The tube and nozzle kind.
You'll thank me the very first time you have to use it.
g: Unless you are bringing enough money for hotels and restaurants
along the way, bring along a good sized plastic cooler for your
food and beverages. Keep it inside a large plastic bag. Why not
double bag it? I don't care if they are top of the line Coleman
coolers (like the one I own). Coolers WILL sweat
onto your seats. Trust me on this.
And
finally, rule 12.
When packing the vehicle for a roadtrip, NEVER allow
your stuff to get in the way of ANY of the windows.
It interferes with visibility, it makes you a moving billboard
target for thieves / vandals on the road, and it may conflict
with the highway laws in some states and / or counties that you
pass through.
Follow
these basic rules and every road trip will be a comfort. Additional
things you will discover on an individual basis, but everything
I've set down will make all your problems easy to deal with and
make your whole trip an adventure instead of a downer. |
