Has anyone here ever driven across America?

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PeterUK_IHB

PeterUK_IHB

New member
I've always fancied this, I know it's a long way, but I reckon I'm gonna do it.

I've been doing some research - about ten minutes on Google - and I think it can be done!!



Navigation should be easy enough, all I would have to do is set the GPS to "New York" or even "Maine" or maybe "Florida"? No, "Maine" sounds better.



Like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZuIeVONYyw">this Bloke</a> one of my Fave British Comedians, Dave Gorman, he attempted to do it without giving any money to "The Man", in other words, he set off to do it by staying at little Mom and Pop Hotels and stuff like that He called His adventure "America unchained" of course, I wouldn't do this because it would be too much of a hassle to find Gas.



I reckon the Summer would be the best time to attempt such a Nutty adventure.



I think I'll take me Bike...in the Car of course...



What do you think?



By the way, my record so far is Pretoria to Cape Town, that was only 1500 kms though.



Edit: I just had a thought as my posting went up, how do I get back here?
 
[quote author="PeterUK" date=1226683428]I've always fancied this, I know it's a long way, but I reckon I'm gonna do it.

I've been doing some research - about ten minutes on Google - and I think it can be done!!



Navigation should be easy enough, all I would have to do is set the GPS to "New York" or even "Maine" or maybe "Florida"? No, "Maine" sounds better.



Like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZuIeVONYyw">this Bloke</a> one of my Fave British Comedians, Dave Gorman, he attempted to do it without giving any money to "The Man", in other words, he set off to do it by staying at little Mom and Pop Hotels and stuff like that He called His adventure "America unchained" of course, I wouldn't do this because it would be too much of a hassle to find Gas.



I reckon the Summer would be the best time to attempt such a Nutty adventure.</blockquote>


I think early fall for some reason. Less traffic, less tourists.



<blockquote>I think I'll take me Bike...in the Car of course...



What do you think?



By the way, my record so far is Pretoria to Cape Town, that was only 1500 kms though.



Edit: I just had a thought as my posting went up, how do I get back here?</blockquote>


<a href="http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/HomePage">http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/HomePage</a>



They'll even let you bring your bike.
 
Good luck, Paytuh. My husband has done it three times. (From California to Connecticut.) He recommends looking up the route first on mapquest or Google maps to plan your long route, then use GPS to get from smaller point to point (since the method that GPS uses may take you out of your way on a long trip - it's not great at optimizing.) Hope this helps. Maybe you can create a thread here that will be your travel diary with pics so we can follow along. That would be fun. Cheers.
 
I haven't doen all way across the states. But from here to Houston. Just across Texas and new Mexico represented over a thousand miles. Still not that many miles maybe 1400ish. Its not an issue you'll drive maybe 4000-6000 miles depending upon what you do. I just say you pack provision just in case you get stuck/flat/emergency, etc. etc. I've usually travelled with a little protection just in case you run into morons.



Anyways good luck

-bix
 
Made 2.5 round-trips (all 10-15yrs ago). One had to be in 2.5 days (LA-NY) -- not fun. One was using driveaway -- people move across the country, you drive their car for free. Can get a nice car, and the return trip is not a problem. You get ~10 days to drive across, plenty enough.



"travelling with a little protection" is

1. illegal (across state lines)

2. unnessesary

3. detracts from experience (because of what it does to your attitude)
 
[quote author="SoCal78" date=1226708281]Really, bix, you traveled with condoms? I don't know about earth's #1 and 2, but maybe he's right about #3.</blockquote>


Well you MOST certainly keep to the letter of the law. I have a CCW that is reciporical across ALOT of states (CA, NV, AZ, TX, etc. etc. - essentially where I travelled). If it isn't then I don't or I disassemble it and store it in the back.



It also states that transportation for the purposes of sale is illegal. Since I'm only carrying "one" firearm its usually a good chance you're not going to sell it. And in most states its legal to carry as long as you have the magazine and pistol separated, stored and locked. It does represent a challenge if ever needed (of course you most certainly hope you never, EVER need it...).



As for detracting from the experience, not really. If you are experienced with a pistol/rifle its just another too you carry or have with you. Believe me, im not looking for anything from anybody and I would be the first to usually help people. But once on the open road you never know.



Ohh I do carry condoms... my wife put them in there just in case the mood hits her... :lol:.



-bix
 
[quote author="PeterUK" date=1226683428]I've always fancied this, I know it's a long way, but I reckon I'm gonna do it.

I've been doing some research - about ten minutes on Google - and I think it can be done!!



Navigation should be easy enough, all I would have to do is set the GPS to "New York" or even "Maine" or maybe "Florida"? No, "Maine" sounds better.



Like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZuIeVONYyw">this Bloke</a> one of my Fave British Comedians, Dave Gorman, he attempted to do it without giving any money to "The Man", in other words, he set off to do it by staying at little Mom and Pop Hotels and stuff like that He called His adventure "America unchained" of course, I wouldn't do this because it would be too much of a hassle to find Gas.



I reckon the Summer would be the best time to attempt such a Nutty adventure.



I think I'll take me Bike...in the Car of course...



What do you think?



By the way, my record so far is Pretoria to Cape Town, that was only 1500 kms though.



Edit: I just had a thought as my posting went up, how do I get back here?</blockquote>




Ive done it 4 or 5 times and it can be interesting but there are long stretches of the country id avoid if I could.. like the 800 miles or so between El Paso and Dallas.

Also Id plan some spots a long the way that you might like to see or stop at, like the worlds largest ball of string or wall drug or whatever.
 
I drove from Middletown, Connecticut to Pasadena, California in 1983. We drove a total of 6,000 miles over a period of two months.......we stopped at most of the state parks and camped along the way. Great trip........everyone should do it.



When we arrived in Pasadena, we had a total of about $7.00. I started my job which paid $16,000 per year and did not get a paycheck for two weeks. The institute let us stay in their housing for the first 2 weeks. Living on $7.00 for two weeks was a bit of a challenge. In an effort to find something to do that would be fun we drove down to the rose bowl to see fireworks on July 4th. Without knowing it, we parked in a space that cost $5.00 and by the time we figured it out, there was no way out of the space(totally blocked in). So after paying the $5.00 fee, we then had $2.00 for the remaining two weeks.
 
I've gone cross country a couple of times, from Cali to the deep South. If you get down that way, keep some cash on hand to pay your "fine" when you get pulled over by southern law enforcement. Just like in Mexico, some cash saves you a bunch of hassle sometimes...
 
When Graph goes cross country, he goes old school Ninja style for his protection:



<img src="http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l234/dvsalias/retard_nunchucks.jpg" alt="" />
 
I have driven across country a number of times. The last was when I moved from Orlando, Florida, to San Diego, California. I have been in 42 of the 50 states. The only ones I have missed are in New England, in the Mountain Northwest and Alaska. America has a lot of diversity, but there are some areas that are not too attractive. I have driven across Iowa in the winter. The entire state is fall plowed, so it was hundreds of miles of bare dirt and dirty snow. The drive across Texas gets old too. I actually enjoyed driving across the plains. There is not much to see, but as you approach the Rocky Mountains, it is fun to watch them rise up from the horizon. The mountains tend to be the most interesting because there is something to see, even from the car.
 
Pssh, no love for Texas? As they say, "The sun rises and the sun sets... and you're still in Texas! " :lol:



I would love to, my only issue is finding time with my wife to do so.... Oh well, maybe sometime in the future.

-bix
 
[quote author="biscuitninja" date=1226709237][quote author="SoCal78" date=1226708281]Really, bix, you traveled with condoms? I don't know about earth's #1 and 2, but maybe he's right about #3.</blockquote>


Well you MOST certainly keep to the letter of the law. I have a CCW that is reciporical across ALOT of states (CA, NV, AZ, TX, etc. etc. - essentially where I travelled). If it isn't then I don't or I disassemble it and store it in the back.



It also states that transportation for the purposes of sale is illegal. Since I'm only carrying "one" firearm its usually a good chance you're not going to sell it. And in most states its legal to carry as long as you have the magazine and pistol separated, stored and locked. It does represent a challenge if ever needed (of course you most certainly hope you never, EVER need it...).



As for detracting from the experience, not really. If you are experienced with a pistol/rifle its just another too you carry or have with you. Believe me, im not looking for anything from anybody and I would be the first to usually help people. But once on the open road you never know.



Ohh I do carry condoms... my wife put them in there just in case the mood hits her... :lol:.



-bix</blockquote>


Just don't get your guns mixed up.
 
[quote author="skek" date=1226712730]I've made several driving trips across country -- Cali to Mass., Cali to Florida, and Cali to the midwest and back, including some detours along the way. Some I did solo, some with a travel partner. I love the drive, even when there's nothing to see. Got some great adventure stories to tell too -- getting caught in a tornado, strange lights in the desert at night, topping out at [speed redacted] in that empty 110 mile stretch through the Mojave and a few more stories that you just had to be there.



Of course, these were all back when you went to the local AAA office and got a folded up road map...</blockquote>


Hey I still do that.
 
[quote author="CalGal" date=1226736383][quote author="IrvineRenter" date=1226735029]I have driven across country a number of times. The last was when I moved from Orlando, Florida, to San Diego, California. I have been in 42 of the 50 states. The only ones I have missed are in New England, in the Mountain Northwest and Alaska. America has a lot of diversity, but there are some areas that are not too attractive. I have driven across Iowa in the winter. The entire state is fall plowed, so it was hundreds of miles of bare dirt and dirty snow. The drive across Texas gets old too. I actually enjoyed driving across the plains. There is not much to see, but as you approach the Rocky Mountains, it is fun to watch them rise up from the horizon. The mountains tend to be the most interesting because there is something to see, even from the car.</blockquote>
IR, you have to go to New England in the fall. New Hampshire and Vermont are absolutely beautiful when the leaves turn colors.

And Boston is an amazing city!</blockquote>


I lived in the Ozark mountains for about 10 years. The fall colors are very beautiful there as well. I grew up in Central Wisconsin where the dominant tree was the red maple. In the fall the leaves turn a bright red. In a good year when the oaks turn a bright orange, the aspens are a bright yellow, and the pine trees stay dark green, the variety of rich colors is striking. Unfortunately, Wisconsin lacks the topography of the mountains to give the full panorama.
 
[quote author="skek" date=1226712730]I've made several driving trips across country -- Cali to Mass., Cali to Florida, and Cali to the midwest and back, including some detours along the way. Some I did solo, some with a travel partner. I love the drive, even when there's nothing to see. Got some great adventure stories to tell too -- getting caught in a tornado, <strong>strange lights in the desert at night</strong>, topping out at [speed redacted] in that empty 110 mile stretch through the Mojave and a few more stories that you just had to be there.



Of course, these were all back when you went to the local AAA office and got a folded up road map...</blockquote>


I knew it! You were abducted by evil right wing aliens and they converted you to a conservative from a liberal. I know deep down that you are liberal, as there have been some redeeming and hopeful comments from you. I know you can't remember any political belief before the abduction, but hopefully one day you will return to normal.
 
Just a hint... driving fast in the middle of the night and in the desert is a sure sign you might be trying to smuggle something. They probably stuck a drone or "copter" on you or something.



I once was out there for the Silver State Classic. Got to let my mustang run (nearly) wide open for nearly 15 minutes before I had to slow down for a couple of turns. I wanted to let my high speed lakester run open but unfortunatley that got flooded in Hurrican IKE. Maybe after the engines are redone.



-bix
 
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