Going to be driving cross-country in a few weeks. Tips?

[Jean-Luc]

Welp, I'm packing up in California and moving back to Connecticut, both to help out my father and to attend Animation Mentor. I'm going to attempt to make the trip (2,900 miles) in approximately 5 days, and am wondering if any of you have some tips on A) What will make the trip safer, and B) What will make the trip more entertaining.

What I already have:
1) A lot of music and comedy albums (probably 40+ hours of comedy alone)
2) 2 gallons of water behind driver's seat.
3) GPS
4) Cell phone (duh)
5) Mapquest directions in case my GPS decides to fuck me over at some point
6) Gas card.
7) Fresh oil change, windshield wiper blades, washer fluid for car.

[PopeAK49]

A) Don't get drunk.
B) For entertainment; Make sure your favorite music, If you get tired of driving look for some places that seem of interest and check them out. To me it looks like you might stop somewhere near mountain Rushmore, you should take a look at that if you pass it.

[MetKiller Joe]

Do you have AAA membership?

[flibitijibibo]

5 tips from a frequent traveler:
1. Bring lots of music, audiobooks, stuff like that to keep you awake/not bored.
2. Buy something for your ass. Trust me, without something comfortable, your ass will be in severe pain by the end of the trip.
3. Start looking for gas at about a quarter of a tank left. For some reason, gas never shows up when you totally need it.
4. Keep the car pretty cold. Heat = sleepy, sleepy = bad.
5. Sunglasses. Less pain on your eyes from squinting and the occasional flare of light which otherwise sets your face on fire.

[paladin]

Which interstate are you taking.

[Jean-Luc]

@MetkillerJoe
I do not have a membership there.

@flibitijibibo
1) Got a ton of that (20 George Carlin albums :iamafag:)
2) Will purchase.
3) Agree.
4) A/C ain't going off for a while. Traveling through Nevada/Arizona desert the first day.
5) Can't afford prescription ones. Sunglasses - Prescription = someone's gonna die.

@paladin
I-80

[Limited]

Get a brick and slap it on the gas pedal...

In all seriousness, tips would be to have regular stops, so your leg doesnt get cramp/start hurting. If you get a pain in your leg on day 1, your screwed. I pulled a muscle in my leg just being in an hour long traffic jam, changing gear all the time and using the clutch did it.

If your in the car alone, I suggest making sure your radio works or you have a big collection of CD's.

Maybe have rest stops planned, motels or whatever some where you can stay over night.

DRIVE SAFE!

[Masterz1337]

Where in CT?

[Jean-Luc]

Madison

E: http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/9797/whatihavetodocopy.jpg

p much

[MetKiller Joe]

Madison

E: http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/9797/whatihavetodocopy.jpg

p much


psssh *waves off*

You'll do fine... :haw:!

[kid908]

^
|
Agree. You'll be fine.

Remember to take pictures.

[Limited]

Wow thats litterally all the way across America. Bet theres some amazing views.

[kid908]

Take a few detours. stop by every state capital. Now that's a road trip

[PenGuin1362]

Welp, I'm packing up in California and moving back to Connecticut, both to help out my father and to attend Animation Mentor. I'm going to attempt to make the trip (2,900 miles) in approximately 5 days, and am wondering if any of you have some tips on A) What will make the trip safer, and B) What will make the trip more entertaining.


get fucking TANKEDDD!! no not rly. just out of curiosity where in ct?

EDIT: wow sorry, didn't bother to read below. any idea how far from hamden that is?

[Corndogman]

It too bad you driving alone. I just finished a two day car trip, but was with other people so I sat in the back with my laptop. I downloaded a ton of movies and tv shows to watch. Get one of those DC/AC power adapters for the car.

[Jean-Luc]

Get one of those DC/AC power adapters for the car.
If I'm driving alone, what would I use it for?

[Llama Juice]

So you could plug in your TV and Xbox and laptop, after buying one of those Verizon cards that lets you get internet anywhere and bridging that connection to your ethernet port so you can run a crossover cable to your 360 so we could play some H3 while you're driving.

Might want to modify your steering wheel so you can put the buttons on the wheel itself.

In all seriousness... do you have any stops? Ask members here if they live along the way, stop by them and couch surf your way across (hella cheaper than hotels, and a lot more fun). I've done that twice. The first time I stopped by the house of an admin for a different website, he threw a party and half the kids from that site showed up... awesome time.

Second time I stopped at Anton's house and got to chill with him for a while... also gave him a pink spongebob... another awesome time haha

Find a rock at your first gas station, give it to the person at the 2nd gas station as a gift. Find a rock at that gas station and give it to the person at the 3rd one.

Or... ask the employees to sign the rock and just keep it all throughout the trip. Give it to the persn at the last gas station you stop at... or keep it for a cheap souveneer haha.

[Atty]

Buy a Garmin GPS. I drove about 1,000 miles a few months ago for a friend to help her move between states but luckily I had two girls riding with me to keep my sane, so no help there.

Although advice I can give you, get the GPS. I frequently travel between cities here in Florida, and when I need something, anything, the GPS is there to deliver. Restaurants, hotels, gas, etc. It's a blessing.

[Corndogman]

If I'm driving alone, what would I use it for?

Shouldn't have said get one. I just mean for future reference, those are useful.

E: Llama if your ever traveling south you can crash on my couch.

[cheezdue]

And I thought a 18 hour trip to Mexico is bad. You are going coast to coast. D:
Well at least you'll get different scenery every now and then.

[Jean-Luc]

@Atty

Already have a GPS. One of the best Christmas gifts ever :iamafag:

[Atty]

Oh, good.

Use it to find strip clubs and try to find a girl named after every state you drive through.

[Jean-Luc]

I'll keep it in mind :-3

Also, updating first post with the shit that I have already.

[Limited]

I suggest packaged food that can be opened up and eaten straight away. Over here services and gas stations the food costs a bomb and you might not always be near one when your feeling a bit peckish. You want to keep your energy levels up, even if your not massively tired you could fall asleep as not much is happening.

Make sure you have phone number for emergency breakdown company, just in case.

[ODX]

Stop at every McDonald's you find and buy a sweet tea, not only does the taste stay in your mouth for a while (at least for me) but it's cheap and there's plenty of it to drink.

Just make sure you say 'no ice' or else you get a cup full of ice and about 1/6 of that is the actual drink.

[Rentafence]

Jesus. Why are there so many of us at Modacity living in Connecticut?

[Masterz1337]

There's not that many is there? Doesn't Jean Make the 4th? He's only an hour and a half away from me too.

[Rentafence]

You
Me
Polarbear
Flyingstone
Soon to be Jean-Luc
Some other dude who has those 2 infinity symbols for his avatar

[Masterz1337]

Where's flyingstone from? I know polar is up by Salem.

[Rentafence]

Manchester, if I remember correctly.

[Masterz1337]

Ct modacity gathering? :hellyeah:

[ICEE]

For long straight roads, don't forget about cruise control... sore legs are bad. Also, it may help to get your hotel/motel rooms in advance. Know where your going to stop and when. planning is key. And maybe (definitely) i'm paranoid, but if you have a knife, keep it wedged between your seat and whatever is next to it. If worst comes to worst, you may need it. I'd keep one in my car at all times if it wouldn't get me expelled from school.

E: youll probably need more water. I go through a gallon in a day. I wouldn't be surprised if you do too considering the possibility of fatigue from driving. And piss bottles could be vital too.

[ExAm]

Get a brick and slap it on the gas pedal...

In all seriousness, tips would be to have regular stops, so your leg doesnt get cramp/start hurting.
Unless he's in a lot of traffic, cruise control would be adequate. There's plenty of room past the pedals to stretch your legs out. That isn't to say that stopping isn't good, though.

E: Curse my habit of posting before checking the next page!

[Siliconmaster]

Ct modacity gathering? :hellyeah:

I'd be there. Myself and my college are equally spaced about 2 hours on either side of CT. :) So either way gathering = win.


For the trip I agree with planning where you'll stop. As for cruise control, if you do use it, just be sure you don't get drowsy. The good thing about having to use the gas pedal is that you have to think while you're doing it.

[Jean-Luc]

The good thing about having to use the gas pedal is that you have to think while you're doing it.

This. I fall asleep within 10 minutes if I'm using cruise control, no matter how awake I was beforehand. Also, granted, I can't use cruise control on this car. 2001 Pontiac Sunfire, at least mine, doesn't have it.

[PenGuin1362]

you should all come visit me next time i go to hamden (next weekend >_>)

[Jean-Luc]

Righto, looks like I'll be leaving between August 2nd and August 5th, and it should take me 5-6 days to make it all the way across. Tonight I'll burn my CD's, and tomorrow I'll figure out what to pack. Fun times :iamafag:

[Gwunty]

@MetkillerJoe
4) A/C ain't going off for a while. Traveling through Nevada/Arizona desert the first day.

Ohh yes you will, your driving up the mountains, and you have a older car, if you don't turn it off at key points (signs say where) your car will overheat and you will be stuck in the middle of the desert.

Also stop in Vegas, seriously.

[Jean-Luc]

http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/7189/pictureq.jpg
Entire box devoted purely to DVD's :nsmug:

So, got a bit more organized plans, currently doing "practice packing" now in order to determine what I can bring and what I'll need to ship across.

Also, don't ask about the GH controller in the garbage.

[TomClancy]

Quite a few DVD's you got there.
Not sure what else to recommend since everyone has pretty much stated everything I could think of.

Also, can I have that GH controller since you're just throwing it away?

[ThePlague]

Nice pornbox duder

but seriously, it's hot as hell in AZ so be ready.

[Jean-Luc]

Righto everyone, I'm leaving on my trip in 2 days (Monday morning). I've revised my route, and now it's almost final.

DAY 1
Victorville, CA --> Grand Junction, CO: 694 miles
Sights: Mohave National Preserve, Las Vegas, Zion National Park, Utah Mountains/Forest, Green River.

DAY 2
Grand Junction, CO --> Hays, Kansas: 580 miles
Sights: Colorado River, Rocky Mountains, Great Plains (with some crazy weather hopefully

DAY 3
Hays, Kansas --> Effingham, Illinois: 605 miles
Sights: More Great Plains, fuckton of fields

DAY 4
Effingham, Illinois --> Somerset, Pennsylvania: 549 miles
Sights: I have no idea

DAY 5
Somerset, Pennyslvania --> Home: 401 miles
Sights: I have no idea here either

Overall, should be an enjoyable trip. I have lots of music, water and food to keep me going, and I'll (hopefully) find many things to take pictures of.

[Jean-Luc]

Welp, double posting AND bumping here, sorry mods.

Made it across safe a few days ago, last day being a 23-hour, 1,000 mile journey (Illinois --> Connecticut), arriving at 4:00A.M. Been sore and with a headache ever since. Pictures of :iamafag: coming soon; brace yourselves!

[TomClancy]

Congrats! Bet you saw a bunch of cool stuff.

[Roostervier]

welcome back :mech2:

[Jean-Luc]

Here's two for now, CBA to upload any more tonight :effort:

http://i28.tinypic.com/5clsb8.jpg

Can't say I was expecting to see a Bradley being carted down the highway, but hey.

http://i28.tinypic.com/24b7rc3.jpg

Glenwood Canyon, CO

[TomClancy]

Woh, nice.

[rossmum]

Nice.

A guy I used to play RO with saw a Tiger pull alongside him on one of the major motorways in the UK, it was being moved between museums on the back of a truck :downs:

[Mr Buckshot]

What type of GPS do you have? I previously had a Garmin Nuvi 250W until I sold it to a friend, and picked up a 265WT on sale.

[Reaper Man]

Camera.

That is all you need :downs:

[Cojafoji]

Take a can of gas with you. Stuff it in the trunk.
or plan out your gas stops for the trip. i know it's paranoid, but still...

awesome freakin pictures man.

[Ganon]

nice pictures, second is beautiful

[Jean-Luc]

Righto here we go. 51 of the best photos I took. Desktop versions on request.


The car that made it all the way across
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20007.jpg

Morning of the First Day (Mohave Desert)
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20009.jpg

Interesting Sky
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20011.jpg

Seeing into the Distance
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20013.jpg

Unsteady Hand 1 (Desert)
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20016.jpg

Finally, some mountains
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20022.jpg

During a traffic jam
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20024.jpg

Never seen rocks like these before
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20031.jpg

More of those rocks
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20038.jpg

Because it looked cool
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20045.jpg

FUCK that's large
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20049.jpg

FUCK that's flat
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20059.jpg

Entering Utah
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20065.jpg

Odd pathway
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20067.jpg

Large mountains in the distance
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20070.jpg

Yay for erosion
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20073.jpg

Tall cliffs
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20078.jpg

Ice Cream rocks
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20080.jpg

Interesting
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20087.jpg

30 Miles visible..Holy shit
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20089.jpg

Pancake mountain
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20094.jpg

Vibrant
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20097.jpg

More pancake pillars
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20113.jpg

Utah canyon
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20115.jpg

Ghost Rock
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20120.jpg

Distant cliffs
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20125.jpg

San Rafael Reefs, also known as "The Squeeze"
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20133.jpg

Fucking HUGE
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20139.jpg

Entering Colorado...and 75mph speed limits
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20146.jpg

Massive piles of sand
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20152.jpg

Beautiful morning
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20161.jpg

Placid
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20176.jpg

Colorado
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20185.jpg

Entering Glenwood Canyon
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20194.jpg

Sun Rays
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20198.jpg

Pretty
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20201.jpg

Here we go
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20206.jpg

Damn
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20209.jpg

o_o
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20214.jpg

Leaving the canyon; off to the Rockies
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20218.jpg

Red cliffs
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20230.jpg

Nice overlook
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20238.jpg

The summit of that mountain is 2000 feet above my head, mmkay?
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20258.jpg

Goddamn
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20265.jpg

Colorful
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20273.jpg

This is what you see for about 1200 miles
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20292.jpg

A nice sunset
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20295.jpg

Fog obscured windmills
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20307.jpg

Goddamn Bradley Tank
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20320.jpg

Fuck you Ohio, you suck
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20327.jpg

Ohio is boring
http://jeanluc.projectiris.net/CrossCountryTrip/CrossCountry2009%20336.jpg


I stopped taking pictures in Ohio because it just go so fucking boring that I gave up. Enjoy!

[TomClancy]

Ohio isn't all bad! :saddowns:
You just drove through the sucky parts up north. ;)

[PlasbianX]

I like Ohio T_T

[TomClancy]

Ohioans unite!

[Roostervier]

Nice pictures Jean-Luc!!

[Siliconmaster]

I Like them. Having been a lot of those places myself, it's cool to see what pictures you took. I love the rock formations in Utah- so pretty looking.

[LesserOf2Evils]

Wow those pictures bring back memories of when I traveled from here in Atlanta to Salt Lake City, visiting the Grand Canyon along the way. Awesome trip in my Grandad's 05' Corvette.Glenwood Canyon was one of the cooler stretches of road. I'll see if I can find my photo album there are probably some pictures of taken within miles of your.

[Jean-Luc]

Ohio isn't all bad! :saddowns:
You just drove through the sucky parts up north. ;)

The parts I drove through were fucking torture :saddowns:

Granted, I ended up driving a total of 1,000 miles that day, so I was somewhat on edge to begin with.

[TomClancy]

Don't blame it on Ohio. >_>

[Bodzilla]

dam you americans!


good thing i started saving at the start of the year for a trek around america :realsmug:
i'll be heading off at the end of my apprenticeship.

[ExAm]

dam you americans!


good thing i started saving at the start of the year for a trek around america :realsmug:
i'll be heading off at the end of my apprenticeship.

dude when you get to the west coast stop by santa cruz, k? We'll knock a few back together :downs:

[Bodzilla]

Santa cruz!

Thats where all the crazy people Li......... hello :downs:

[ExAm]

Santa cruz!

Thats where all the crazy people Li......... hello :downs:
Hey it's just that the crazy fucks like to speak at public meetings :C

[PopeAK49]

Come to Alaska! You will love it here!