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4. Put your trip together. This is the fun
part! Once you've amassed a pile of ideas and information
about routes, destinations, and places to stay and eat, you
can start putting the puzzle pieces together. Once again,
our RoadTrip
Forum can come in handy. Let's say you've sketched out
a trip from Las Vegas to San Francisco in December. A quick
post asking for advice would bring you the helpful news that
your route through Yosemite won't work. Tioga Pass is closed
in winter. You've just been protected from a 300-mile detour.
You can also find out about cool events and attractions that
fly under the radar of national media. Did you know, for example,
that Lake Isabella, California holds a Turkey
Buzzard Festival in September, or that there's a "World
Famous" Gopher Hole Museum
not too far from Calgary, Alberta?
5. Make sure your vehicle is adequately
equipped, and be prepared for emergencies. Whether you're
traveling by car, RV, truck, bike, motorcycle, or sit-down
lawnmower, your road trip will be smoother if it's in excellent
mechanical shape. Depending on your route and destination,
carry appropriate emergency supplies, and consider getting
a CB radio. Even though cell phones have become ubiquitous,
there are still plenty of areas where they don't work. A
properly installed CB will always work, which is why truckers
still use them and police still monitor them. Learn about
weather and road conditions
for the areas where you'll be driving. Do you know what
to do if tornadoes start touching down around you? Have
you ever driven
in snow, or on a
mountain road? There's a state highway in Washington
that's a beach. Is it safe to drive on sand in an ordinary
car? What about an RV? Will you need four-wheel drive on
the route you've chosen? Make safety a part of your planning,
and you'll reduce the chances that "acts of God"
will interfere with your trip. One of the nation's leading
experts on defensive driving write a weekly column for RoadTrip
America: Drive
Safe with Uncle Bob.
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