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+--- Thread: Fly to Pittsburg, PA and drive back to California (/showthread.php?tid=232386)
Re: Fly to Pittsburg, PA and drive back to California - cbelt3 - 09-18-2019
Awesome road trip opportunity ! Definitely work on the playlist and navigation rules. Hopefully you both have eclectic music tastes. And definite side trip plans are critical too. Be sure to give her "My crazy grandpa" stories to tell.
And definitely get out and walk/ run around every couple of hours. Our older joints seize up after a while.
Re: Fly to Pittsburg, PA and drive back to California - testcase - 09-18-2019
GGD wrote:
[quote=testcase]If an EZ-Pass is available, that can be VERY helpful.
When I drove cross country in the 1980s I remember getting a lot of change for tolls before I left, and then was surprised when I drove the entire length of Interstate 40 from North Carolina to California and there was not a single toll.
Ahhh, the good old days. I too fondly remember them. Sadly, MANY states have toll roads now. EZ-Pass is good in about 19 states. It would STILL be a good idea to have a good supply of coins though. Some toll plazas / exits accept credit / debit cards now but, in the last few years, I've run across unmanned tollbooths that required cash. :oldfogey:
Re: Fly to Pittsburg, PA and drive back to California - Numo - 09-18-2019
IMO, long road trips can be one of the best ways for parents/kids to really open up and talk to each other.
However, YMMV.
Re: Fly to Pittsburg, PA and drive back to California - jdc - 09-18-2019
3d wrote:
Oh and jumper cables in the trunk. Don't assume.
Sooooo 1990s. Portable Car Jump Starter
https://www.amazon.com/GOOLOO-SuperSafe-Starter-Battery-Portable/dp/B076PR52Z7/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=jump+start+battery&qid=1568828886&s=instant-video&sr=8-7
Re: Fly to Pittsburg, PA and drive back to California - Robert M - 09-18-2019
Microman,
Aside from some of the excellent advice offered by everyone else, I offer these four tidbits. Keep in mind, this is coming from someone who drove cross country in a '79 Datsun 310 in 1989 and 1990.
My first piece of advice is don't rush. If you have the chance to take your time, do it. Take a side trip or two along the way. This is possibly a once in a life time opportunity. Take advantage of it.
My second piece of advice. Listen to standup comedy. I need to concentrate to appreciate a book on tape. I can't do that while at the gym while on the treadmill or elliptical. Absolutely, positively, definitely can't do it while driving. Standup comedy, on the other hand, makes for great listening while on the road. I've got hours and hours and hours and hours of standup comedy and one of the reasons is road trips.
My third piece of advice. Make sure you've got lots of data for your smartphone. Waze and similar apps is your friend on road trips. The last thing you want is to be stuck in traffic in bumbafart, USA.
My last piece of advice is to avoid driving across Tennessee. Did that on the way from San Diego to NY and it took all friggin' day! Never again!
Robert
Re: Fly to Pittsburg, PA and drive back to California - wurm - 09-18-2019
Robert M wrote:
My last piece of advice is to avoid driving across Tennessee.
Robert
Beats driving across Texas. Spent a night in Ft. Worth, then had to spend another in El Paso. And that's when I was still young.
Re: Fly to Pittsburg, PA and drive back to California - 3d - 09-18-2019
jdc wrote:
[quote=3d]
Oh and jumper cables in the trunk. Don't assume.
Sooooo 1990s. Portable Car Jump Starter
https://www.amazon.com/GOOLOO-SuperSafe-Starter-Battery-Portable/dp/B076PR52Z7/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=jump+start+battery&qid=1568828886&s=instant-video&sr=8-7
Fakespot review rating "D". LOL
Keep it simple with plain ol' jumper cables. 99 times out of 100 they won't need them on this trip. (Oh wait,, 20 yo car,, *edit* 95 times out of 100) So many people do not have jumper cables in the trunk nowadays. Without cables, even if someone wants to help they can't.
Re: Fly to Pittsburg, PA and drive back to California - vision63 - 09-18-2019
When you get to Californey, take a dip in your cement pond.
Re: Fly to Pittsburg, PA and drive back to California - jdc - 09-18-2019
3d wrote:
Fakespot review rating "D". LOL
Keep it simple with plain ol' jumper cables. 99 times out of 100 they won't need them on this trip. (Oh wait,, 20 yo car,, *edit* 95 times out of 100) So many people do not have jumper cables in the trunk nowadays. Without cables, even if someone wants to help they can't.
Yeah, but whos checking fakespot? to see if they arent "fake"
ecret:different model, he got it for free, jumps 6 cars: https://youtu.be/YKVH0CcWeMo?t=127
Literally hundreds of others to choose from. Ive got that exact model I linked, its now jumped 3 cars, including my neighbors POS 1990 accord. Battery was dead. Not even panel lights. 2 cranks.
Re: Fly to Pittsburg, PA and drive back to California - Paul F. - 09-18-2019
What a GREAT Road Trip!
Don't forget to build in "tourist" stops into ever day!
When I'm trying to put miles behind me, and not stop much, driving around the Western states, I go by hours in the car more than "miles". I Figure 6 hours is an "easy" day, and 8 hours is my preferred maximum. I've done 10 hours, and even 12-13 hours. Those are NOT fun, and I won't do them again by choice!
If you can tag-team drive, then 10 hour driving days are easy with each person taking 5 hours total, swapping every few hours and taking a "gas/bathroom/food/stretch" break.
I'd plan out the trip so that there is something "touristy" every day. Maybe twice a day. See Yellowstone. See the Badlands of South Dakota. See Glacier National Park. Take a few rural drives through the "Grassland" states rather than the Interstate the whole way.
Spend a few (or more!) "extra" days, and visit some places not really directly in your path. Visit New Orleans, or the Great Lakes, or drive to Washington State, and then down the Coast (wave as you pass through Eureka, CA...). Or through Texas and New Mexico and Arizona and have as many Taco's as you can.
Crossing the U.S. by road trip doesn't happen often! Take advantage of it.
Also take supplies, jumper cables, a few tools, five gallons of water, two working phones, and a AAA membership card. Seriously - join AAA for the towing benefits. Like, before you leave. And always have a couple MRE's or other non-perishable food packs in the car. You probably won't starve to death, but if you end up waiting 3-4 hours waiting for a tow, eating an MRE sandwich or whatever will keep you from getting grouchy and keep it an "adventure" rather than a pain in the butt.