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How can I make a long driving trip fun?

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You would be surprised, but eventually the music just fades into the background. I've done many 2-3 hour road trips, and a few 10+ hour road trips, plus some in between. Music will definitely help. However, driving at that time of day alone is always tough. On the really long road trips, I simply got to the point where all I wanted to do is get out from behind the wheel. That is what kept me going.

Even if the music gets annoying, keep it going. Heck, annoying things will help you stay awake. Caffinated soft drinks are always good, so make sure you stop every so often for one. Plus, the urge to take a piss will help you stay away. If you find yourself falling asleep at the wheel, be sure to stop at the nearest gas station and either take a nap or wake yourself up. NoDoze or Vivarin are options you should be open to as well. Also, cold air will help, so be ready to crank the AC or roll down the windows. You'll have to stop for gas at least once too, so that will help.

Personally, I really enjoy long road trips by myself. I try to take one or two a year if I can. It gives me time to think and sort things out that are going on in my life. I know I'll be behind the wheel for a good portion of the trip, so I crank the stereo, make sure I have a couple of bottles of coke with me, and just go for it. I've never tried audio books or anything like that, but give it a shot. If it helps, great. If not, put in another CD. Finally, you are looking at about an 8 hour drive, so for the last couple of hours, the sun will be up, so thats bound to help.

Good luck, and I hope you are a night person by nature. If you think that you will need to stop, I live in South Bend, IN, which is right about in the midpoint of your drive, and right off of the I-80 toll road. Feel free to PM me and I'll give you my cell number. Hell, I'll probably be up as you pass by. There is a great all-night diner in town we could hit to get you re-charged. Trucker's special: 2 eggs, hashbrowns, toast, 2 strips of bacon, $4. Can't beat it.

Ryan
 
sorry, I couldn't resist. I recommend radio. CD's will get old REALLY fast. With radio, they break it up with commercials and that gives your through a rest (from singing/screaming the lyrics to the songs).
 
if you pass by any big cities, decide not to take the thruway or the expressway around the city, go through it. A 2 lane road through some questionable areas will keep you alert.
 
If you are cruising in the middle of night, switch it over to AM radio and listen to all the crazy people call up Art Bell and the like. You will be laughing so hard, you will never be able to sleep.

On late night drivess I love AM radio, there are some good talk programs, which help to keep our mind alert as you listen to them. You will be surprised that you dont get tired as easily if your mind is churning some information.
 
Aw, come on, Chicago won't even be half bad from 9:00 PM on. No major city would be. They've got excess capacity for that time of night, so you're really worried about nothing. I'd recommend leaving at a more reasonable hour, like 7 or 8 PM, because by 4-5 AM, you will be needing some good sleep. Caffeine loses its effectiveness after awhile, and I can't condone the use of ephedrine, or anything stronger.

At any rate, a 15-30 minute rest at a rest stop, or even the top of an on ramp, will work wonders. You'll see lots of truckers on the on ramps, because rest stops are very often packed way over capacity at night. Don't be concerned about "making time" if you're tired. It's not worth it. I agree about the talk radio. It will stimulate your mind and that will help keep you alert.
 
a pistol (a revolver preferably) and a trunk load of ammo.

Play the drive by game, most signs/pedestrians/motorists wins $20
 
music definetly. especially stuff u've never heard b4🙂 i dunno, maybe a book on cd or something, but i find that those things kinda suck because the preson reads so much slower then you would if you were reading from the page yourself😛 i guess u can buy or get a couple from the library.. rip to harddrive, use audio editor to crank up the speed and then copy back to cd🙂
 
I made that drive this weekend. Drove from the Bay Area to Vegas, made it in 7 1/2 hours with 2 gas/food stops. Kept myself awake by trying to hide from the cops, it was a huge rush.
 
"At midnight, I'm driving about 500 miles to from Madsion, WI, to Cleveland...alone." "How can I make a long driving trip fun?"

It's not fun and never will be, man.


 
Definitely get yourself some CD's of your favorite stand up comedian. I discovered doing this recently and it really really helps.
 
What out for psycho muttle men in big trucks, they tend to travel at night(see sig). I made it to boston from MD (~400 miles) on about 2 hours of sleep, some code red, two donuts, a big hot chocolate, and a good bit of adrenaline without a problem sleepwise. If you can't have someone to talk to, then bring a good book on cd and some music to alternate between. If you listen to one too long, you'll just tune it out.
 


<< Talk on you're cellphone. It helps on long trips, helps pass the time. >>


Of course...in the middle of the night, you might be hard pressed to find someone to talk to 🙂
 
Furthest I've ever driven is a little over 800 miles in one night a few years ago. Left a little before 5pm and got home at about 3am. At the time though all I wanted to do was get home and the hell away from where I was. Course also was when I got the most expensive speeding ticket ever too. 🙁

Under normal conditions most I've done is over 600 miles but that was with my wife (then fiancee) in the car doing some of the driving.
By myself under normal conditions has been about 500 miles. I set the cruise for 9 over and spent the time listening to music, talk radio, books on tape, etc...
These days if it's at all possible I fly...
 


<< Talk on you're cellphone. It helps on long trips, helps pass the time. >>


Yeah, GREAT idea.
rolleye.gif
You shouldn't be doing this at all, let alone at 80 mph when you are already annoyed and distracted by sleep and fatigue.
 
I agree - speeding is a huge rush - you become more alert to your surroundings and start trying to identify the oncoming headlights as being cops... The only bad part is that eventually during that long of a trip you're probably going to get careless, and that's when you're going to get jammed.

I wish I had a helicopter 🙁
 
Art Bell is on in most places at that time. He can be pretty entertaining depending on which wacko he's got on. Other than that and listening to CDs or books on tape, I really can't think of much you can do to make it "fun" because it won't be.
 
What I would recommend is Henry Rollins spoken word. They are really good, a lot of deep thoughts and jokes. The one where he is talking about his concert in Brazil is hillarious. The one I have heard the most is Think Tank.

Here is a link to his spoken ablums...Slow loading but good info
 
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