Long Day in the Saddle

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 01/03/2019 at 22:05 • Filed to: Road Trip

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When we went north, we did it over three days. We decided to make the homeward trip over two days so we’d have an extra day at home before Mrs. Ttyymmnn has to go back to work on Monday. With stops, it was a 14-hour day.  Tomorrow will be similar, albeit it tad longer. We should have nice weather, though. The visit with my folks was nice, but I’m ready to be home.

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ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > ttyymmnn 01/03/2019 at 22:11

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Music, coffee and bathroom singing are your friends.

ttyymmnn > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 01/03/2019 at 22:13

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Lots of coffee. Had three teenagers along, too. They spend most of the time burning through cell phone data or watching movies on the laptop. They actually travel pretty well. We’ve been all over the country together. A 3,000-mile road trip is routine for this crew.

facw > ttyymmnn 01/03/2019 at 22:23

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I’ve gone round trip (with a big delay) between VA (actually points n orth) and TX a couple times. On the way down I did VA to Austin in four days (spending the nights in Asheville, Arkansas somewhere west of Memphis and Houston). Took longer because I was doing stuff along the way, and my back was killing me (didn’t remember until the last day that I had heated seats and it might be good to turn them on). On the way back I was trying to make up time so I didn’t stop much (though I did spend a morning at the Lane), and covered Houston to VA in two days stopping for the night in Hurricane Mills, TN, west of Nashville. That drive was actually much more pleasant, with the only issue being bit tired around Little Rock, but was fine after some food and caffeine . The second day I only stopped because I was worried getting a hotel might be more annoying past midnight, and I didn’t want to be rushed to get up before checkout time, I could easily have made it through MD and into PA.

Either way, my big takeaway is that TN is deceptively long.

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn 01/03/2019 at 22:24

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We’re in the middle of our return home as well, but we only split 900 miles over 2 days. This is a tradition from when my daughter was 2. It turns out to be a relaxing adventure instead of a marathon. Also, this is my third time making this trip without backup.

Safe travels. 

MM54 > ttyymmnn 01/03/2019 at 22:37

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This past summer I drove my rx7 from cleveland to the tail of the dragon (~12-13hr with restroom and fuel stops) on a friday , then on sunday drove home the same (in a day). It was a good time but gets pretty grueling for sure. Cruise control would have been nice.

TheRealBicycleBuck > ttyymmnn 01/03/2019 at 22:41

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My wife and kids just walked in the door from their trip to south Texas. I’m glad to have them home.

Enjoy the rest of your drive!

ttyymmnn > Chariotoflove 01/03/2019 at 22:46

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While I have backup, I usually do all the driving. My wife is an excellent driver , but I just hate being a passenger. I’d rather be doing something. The three days up was nice, and the 8-hour days felt like a luxury after our normal jaunts across the country where we just have to get there and burn up hundreds and hundreds of miles in a day. Though it’s a marathon, we are all ready to be home.

And safe travels to you as well. There are a lot of crazy assholes out there. 

ttyymmnn > MM54 01/03/2019 at 22:47

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I have actually found myself using less cruise lately. On the way north, we had an entire day of hard rain, and I never use the cruise in the rain. But with all the hills on the east coast, it’s easier to be proactive with the accelerator going uphill rather than wait for the cruise to floor it. 

ttyymmnn > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/03/2019 at 22:50

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If my wife took the kids on such a drive I’d be a nervous wreck. Not because I don’t trust her driving, but because I’m a control freak when it comes to road trips. 

fhrblig > ttyymmnn 01/03/2019 at 22:51

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Ain’t road trips grand ?

I’ve done an alarming number of miles the last two months. We’re entering our slow period, but I did 500+ miles today and found out I have to go to Casper, Wyoming tomorrow. Fortunately I have an iPod and Sirius XM. Also, there's a Hardee's in Casper. Mushroom Swiss Thickburger, here I come.

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn 01/03/2019 at 23:04

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We’ve been blessed with no assholes, no construction, and good weather so far. 

ttyymmnn > fhrblig 01/03/2019 at 23:05

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Actually, road trips ARE grand. I love ‘em. I’ve got truck drivers in my family, and driving is in my blood. As for Wyoming, I need to see  a WY plate. We have 48 states on this trip. We are only missing WY and ID.

ttyymmnn > Chariotoflove 01/03/2019 at 23:06

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Lucky you. What is your route?

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn 01/03/2019 at 23:08

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30 east, then 55 up to west Memphis. Second day, north through MO, and IL to 70, them east to Indy. 

ttyymmnn > Chariotoflove 01/03/2019 at 23:14

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Sounds good. Be safe!

Chariotoflove > ttyymmnn 01/03/2019 at 23:15

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You too!

fhrblig > ttyymmnn 01/03/2019 at 23:19

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I agree. I never get tired of driving. I'm thankful I have a job that lets me spend so much time behind the wheel.

ttyymmnn > Chariotoflove 01/03/2019 at 23:23

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Thanks. The beer is cold, and tastes really good, but it’s time to hit the hay.

ttyymmnn > fhrblig 01/03/2019 at 23:24

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What do you do, if I may ask?

fhrblig > ttyymmnn 01/03/2019 at 23:30

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I deliver instruments and implants for orthopedic surgeries. I've been with my company for about a year now and it's probably the best job I've ever had. After the last ten years with my last job, I'd forgotten you could actually like your job 

ttyymmnn > fhrblig 01/03/2019 at 23:39

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Neat. I’ve had a couple of “delivery” jobs in my life, and they were the best I’ve ever had. I love being on the road.

Safe travels.

fhrblig > ttyymmnn 01/03/2019 at 23:59

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Thanks! I was a courier for a bit and loved it. Then I went from being a driver to customer service and so on and wasn’t really happy. This opportunity came out of left field and I seized it, and I haven’t looked back.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > ttyymmnn 01/04/2019 at 00:28

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Aah naice!

I’ve done this thrice now:

I was alone twice. T he road along lake Erie is awesome!

ttyymmnn > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 01/04/2019 at 07:48

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My mom lives in White River Junction. And that road along the lake looks awesome. Now that I’ve become a serious armchair historian, I really want to get back to that part of the country. I visited Ft. Ticonderoga as a kid (40 years ago), and would love to kick around and check out the spots from the War of 1812.

TheRealBicycleBuck > ttyymmnn 01/04/2019 at 08:13

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I grew up taking 9+ hour drives with my mom regularly. It was also over an hour of driving just to get anywhere from where we lived. Mom was single, I was a latchkey kid. I guess I got used to it. There was one winter night when she was running really late. She finally got home two or three  hours late. The snowstorm made the driving treacherous and  she couldn’t make it up the hill into our subdivision. She walked the last half mile. She was a tough lady. 

For Sweden > ttyymmnn 01/04/2019 at 12:24

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Me, 5 minutes ago: What about the train?

Me, now: Oh.

MM54 > ttyymmnn 01/04/2019 at 19:07

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Agreed. The flatter the area, the better cruise control works for me. When it gets hilly (or like you said, rainy/snowy) it gets turned off since I can drive the car much better with the ability to, you know, see ahead of me.

ttyymmnn > For Sweden 01/05/2019 at 01:07

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Sixty hours is less than three days, though, which is how long we took to get there (via Richmond and DC). But then I wouldn’t have a vehicle when I got there. I’ll stick to driving.

ttyymmnn > TheRealBicycleBuck 01/05/2019 at 01:11

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You do what you gotta do. I was a latchkey kid too, but not for very long. After my parents divorced, my mom eventually sent me to live with my dad. It was tough, but it was a good move in the long run. You do learn to be self-sufficient. After moving in with my dad, we would take regular drives up to PA, about 8 hours. You do get used to it, and I was keen to remind my boys that when I was a kid and the sun went down you couldn’t even read. You either slept or stared out the window at a dark world.