Driving long distances...

[dhc905]

Doing a long trip (CA-Chicago), wondering what people's opinions are of seat covers - I'm thinking lambskin because I remember my dad had some on his old car and it was warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

 

[foodguy]

veteran of many MANY long drives ... used to cover small town football in west texas. buddy and i once drove from dc to idaho without stopping. i'm of two minds about music. personally, i like quiet. you can get into a zone after the first couple of hours where the time starts to fly. music tends to make you realize how time isn't flying. if y ou're going to do music, satellite, so you're not having change cds, etc.
bring lots of water, and a couple of empty liter water bottles, too.

 

[alexwgoody]

a bottle of vodka, you're gonna get real bored without it

 

[Sazerac]

Recorded books. Recommend Martin Amis' _Money_, which is hilarious.

And lots of baby carrots. They don't make you feel like **** after eating a lot of them.

 

[celery]

Avoid straight roads, nothing puts you to sleep faster than driving in a straight line for 5 hours.

 

[zarathustra]

Has anyone used any services that will drive those sorts of distances for you? I have to take a car and I just want to be able to sit back in the SUV and chill.

 

[coolpapa]

Originally Posted by JohnGalt

Satellite radio(really a good quick energy boost)
x1000
I drove from Louisiana to SF last summer, solo. It was a breeze with satellite radio. The vehicle matters as well. I was driving my wife's GL550 and it was simply a pleasure. Avoided I-10, took I-40 most of the way and actually enjoyed it. Did the same on the way back and drove 1000 miles in one day without breaking a sweat. Plan your route thoughtfully, get satellite radio.

 

[imatlas]

Don't use LSD to stay awake.

 

[HgaleK]

No bullshit +1 on amphetamines. Vyvanse or adderall will keep you going for days if you have enough of it. If not that, ephedrine works wonders. Just know your safe dosages.

 

[Doc4]

Chocolate covered coffee beans.

They'll give you the buzz of coffee, but without the bladder-busting when you can't or don't want to pull over.

Originally Posted by dhc905

Doing a long trip (CA-Chicago), wondering what people's opinions are of seat covers - I'm thinking lambskin because I remember my dad had some on his old car and it was warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

When you've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and you're wearing sunglasses, you won't notice the seat covers.

 

[texas_jack]

Take turns with your fiance.

 

[tesuquegolfer]

Originally Posted by RedLantern

Having driven by myself from Knoxville to Seattle in a moving truck in 3 days, my advice is this:

1. Get started early - pre dawn twilight
2. Do not drink any coffee or have breakfast in the morning - it will just make you need to stop sooner.
3. Get in at least 300-350 miles before you stop for "breakfast" which should be gas station coffee.
4. Sunflower seeds work better than anything for keeping me awake at the wheel.

5. Optimal traveling is done in a dehydrated and slightly hungry state.

I second the sunflower seeds. I used to take a 4 hr. class that ended at 10:00 pm after a full day at work and I would still have a 1.5 hr drive home. I would fill up with gas, get a diet coke, and seeds. The seeds keep you moving and did the trick for me. There were times before seeds that I didn't remember the last 10 miles of my trip, pretty scary. I tried slapping myself, pinching inner thigh, head out the window... 1.5 years of that ****, glad I survived, it was brutal.

 

[Cary Grant]

How to cover 1300 miles.

 

[Huntsman]

Originally Posted by tesuquegolfer

I second the sunflower seeds. I used to take a 4 hr. class that ended at 10:00 pm after a full day at work and I would still have a 1.5 hr drive home. I would fill up with gas, get a diet coke, and seeds. The seeds keep you moving and did the trick for me. There were times before seeds that I didn't remember the last 10 miles of my trip, pretty scary. I tried slapping myself, pinching inner thigh, head out the window... 1.5 years of that ****, glad I survived, it was brutal.

haha, that's my life! Except my trip home is 2-2.5 hrs (depending if I take the train for :45min or not). And I've done it now for 2 years and have 2 more to go!

 

[Mr Herbert]

i drove about 1100 miles in one go solo with only one stop at KFC and a couple of piss stops.

A thermos of coffee and a 4 pack of red bull plus the cricket on the radio.

Although there was almost no traffic on the road. When i got close to my destination (a city) i found dealing with traffic and traffic lights etc very hard.

Although outback driving is pretty easy I wouldnt do it again - it was dangerous.