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Soloing America's Roads:
Enjoy the Ride! by Lea
Lane
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Head for the open road...solo!
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Driving solo along the highways and byways
of North America has been one of the most liberating
experiences of my life. I've driven to glaciers in
the Canadian Rockies and navigated a Mexican mountain
pass to find my favorite hacienda - happily on my
own.
When you're both driver and navigator,
the decisions and labor are yours alone - and so is
precious freedom. The following suggestions have helped
me make the most of my delightful and sometimes challenging
solo sojourns. I've learned that when I plan a bit
I can enjoy the wind in my hair, even when it isn't
always at my back.
Tune up. Check the air pressure,
wipers, oil and tires. At a minimum, go to one of
those fast-lube places and get the basics checked
before any road trip. I remember a drive in the mountains.
It was getting dark and started to rain - and the
wipers on my little MGB didn't work. I made it. V-e-r-y
s-l-o-w-l-y.
Learn about your car. At one point
in my life I couldn't even figure out how to adjust
my power mirror, but now I can jump-start a battery
and change a tire. It's especially important when
you're doing all the driving to utilize accessories
that make you comfortable, such as cruise control,
seat heater and sound systems. Skim your car's instruction
manual when you're early for an appointment to familiarize
yourself with all the bells and whistles.
Learn stick. Ya never know. If
you're renting, you may find a deal you can't refuse,
or the only car available may be stick. Besides, it
will help immensely if you drive outside North America,
where stick shifts are more prevalent. I learned in
London, on the left side of the road, and it wasn't
pretty!
Join a support group. AAA is the
most-renowned company, but I also belong to a travel
assistance program called On Call International. It
will find me a local mechanic and also covers me in
any medical emergencies and for other travel problems.
I've even called reps when I lost my purse, and they've
guided me out of my funk.
Get a GPS, or at least some good maps.
Satellite directional systems don't cost much now;
many are on smart phones. Some also offer recommendations
for lodging, eating, walks and excursions. Having
the means to figure out where you're going is especially
important when you're solo.
Rough out a schedule. Drive in
daylight, if possible. Start out early so you can
enjoy the unexpected and still arrive before dark.
And bring sunglasses for glare.
Pack well. In the glove compartment,
ideally: maps, flashlight, pen and paper, insurance
and car registration, coins, a basic first-aid kit,
ice scraper, window cleaner, a rag and a spare pair
of sunglasses.
In the trunk, at a minimum: a spare tire,
jack, jumper cables and tire-pressure gauge. In cold
weather: antifreeze, de-icer spray and a bag of sand.
Of course you do need to leave room for luggage! Or,
as I often do on long trips with many lodgings, I
just place things in garbage bags and bring in my
overnight materials in a carry-on.
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Pack
healthy road trip snacks.
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Pack a small cooler. Fill it with
snacks and drinks to keep you happy. This is a healthy,
economical idea for rest stops or when you get the
munchies, and it will save you time when the only
option is a fast-food restaurant with a line of bus
tourists. I like apples, nuts, carrot sticks, 100-calorie
snack packs, string cheese, raisins and small bottles
of drinks. (Here
are some more ideas.)
Keep your cell phone charged.
Don't forget the phone's power cord, and bring an
extra battery. In fact, for longer trips or when there
may be inclement weather, I pack an extra phone.
Stay alert. Before you get drowsy,
take frequent breaks and walk around. Drink caffeinated
beverages, chew gum, rest often, stay hydrated. Take
rest stops often, and walk around. And when you're
at the wheel, don't read or text. I like to listen
to DVDs, or books on tape, or the radio (satellite
offers most choice, and is a great investment for
solo road trips). I blast the Stones or whatever appeals.
One of the joys of soloing is that if you like rap
you can play it loud, and no one will whine, "Turn
that x#!%# noise off!" You can even sing
for hours without critique.
Make preemptive gas and pit stops.
You don't want to be running low, especially on secondary
roads. I gas up when I'm down to a quarter of a tank,
and I "go" whenever I gas up, whether I
"have to" or not. In an emergency, an empty
bottle, or an empty roadside may be options for a
guy. After all, you're solo - who cares? (I know,
gals: Life isn't fair.)
Stay safe. Keep a low profile,
lock your doors, don't linger in parking areas or
at traffic lights in dark, crime-ridden areas. Don't
pull over for unmarked vehicles. Use your head and
follow your gut, and you'll be fine.
Independence on the road is challenging
and fun! There's nothing better than a road ahead,
leading to unknown pleasures. And going solo is the
ultimate road experience.
Lea
Lane
9/12/08
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