What is Your RoadTrip Profile?

I had to choose all but the last. While I love my primary vehicle's, they just aren't financially smart to drive long long distances. I took my Yukon into Canada for my last roadtrip of near 3000 miles in January, gas was super expensive, and in Quebec it was even worse, after the exchange it was probably $3.50+ per gallon, and about $80 each fill up. After using the AWD and leaving it running all night long, and operating in -12 temp's, it got very expensive very quick. At some points during the trip, I was averaging only 10-12mpg. My next trip will be in my less fun, less exciting, even less to look at Civic Hatchback, but, it gets 50+ mpg so you have to kind of accept the fact its a much smarter vehicle to pick. Plus more mileage means I can go further than in the Yukon on less money. Therefore I see more, and I suppose overall means more fun. So it all works out one way or the other.

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Originally Posted by NickF829

Plus more mileage means I can go further than in the Yukon on less money. Therefore I see more, and I suppose overall means more fun. So it all works out one way or the other.

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Yukons are great cars -- even you might be amazed where I have squeezed that long Yukon chassis through tight gaps in the back country. I have had a love affair with cars and trucks as far back as I can remember and often these gas-guzzling four-wheelin' have provided the means to reach places I would never have gone without them. Yep, they do drink the fuel --
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/Getti...acetrack05.jpg
but very few Civics are going to get to the RaceTrack playa....

Thanks for the response and your vote in the poll

Mark

I had to pick all five as I have done them.
The Jaunt: A solo run to South Dakota only to see what there was to be seen. I took my road atlas and a wad of cash and headed out. Had an awesome time, met some great folks along the way(still friends with most of them and visit as often as I can) and have made the state a regular destination for road trips.
The Quest: A solo run around Lake Superior to find the coolest secluded beach that I could find. Many thanks to the local Canadian who pulled my stuck car off said beach.
The Challenge: Road trip to Chicago for pizza. Left Sunday morning and had to be back to work on Monday at 0700.(Chi-town is about six hours away from here one way). I did make it to work on Monday, dont know if I was very productive or not though.
Risky Business, Reservations or Winging It: I have found some really neat and CHEAP lodgings travelling that way. Some of the places, I just was too grossed out after a tour of the rooms(always insist on a tour before laying down money, learned that one the hard way). Its too bad that the cleanest and cheapest place I found is no longer there, chain motel bought it out and built a box there.
The Vehicle is King: No cookie cutter economy box for me thanks. I like to stretch out and have plenty of room for the whole gang or just myself while travelling. Be it my 73 Olds 98 or my beloved 59 Ford Galaxie 500, I am at home on the road with either one. Both cars will seat six to ten(depending on how cozy everyone is with each other) and has plenty of room for luggage and supplies to boot. While both are monsters when it comes to fuel consumption, being able to run all day long at speeds way beyond legal interstate speeds has a certain appeal to it.

I had to choose all of them, because at different times in my life, I am inclined towards different activities - even during different times of the year.

I am amazed at how many people I've met at car shows who DON'T take their vehicles for extended trips, instead choosing to just show them off around town. Within days of getting my first car, I was highlighting all the roads I had driven on in the atlas. I had to give that up, however, because I kept running out of markers!

We usually have a good idea of where we are going to go and set up reservations in advance (though not always), but I have a feeling that the next long trip we take is going to be one with no real destination in mind. I think we've become a little too burdened by setting even a loose schedule on our trips.

Solo trips, I don't make reservations at all and just wing it, and so far things have worked out well. These are sometimes jaunts and quests, but usually they turn into something else entirely: reflective moments and time for re-evaluation.

Most often I seem to go on Jaunts. For example, there is my upcoming trip to northern Idaho, within two days' drive. I also like Jaunts of a different sort, the fly/drive combo. I like to tag along with my parents when they fly down south, then I drop them off at the golf course and drive to fun and interesting places in the area.

Last year I completed a sort of Quest, my trip to the Yukon and Alaska. I had been dreaming about this journey for four years, and finally accomplished it with an unforgettable five-week trip up north. Now I guess I have to set other goals!

There is also an element of the Challenge in some of my trips. When possible, I like to fit in pro hockey or baseball games into the trips. Edmonton Oilers, or Minnesota Twins, or even taking the T to Fenway Park. I also like hiking and enjoying the outdoors in the places that I visit. How about going from 475 feet to 9800 feet in elevation and back in the same day? Or climbing 1200 feet in only 1.2 miles?

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Originally Posted by wacko2

How about going from 475 feet to 9800 feet in elevation and back in the same day?

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Wow, where did you this opportunity?

Mark

Easy enough the next time you're in Palm Springs, California. There is a tramway that goes up Mount San Jacinto to an elevation of 8,500 feet. The cost to ride the tram is roughly $20 per adult. From the mountain station, you can hike up to Wellman's Divide which is above 9,700 feet. It's a moderate hike, about 6.5 miles round trip, and results in totally awesome views of the valley and surrounding mountains! The whole excursion, including the tram, can easily be done within 6 hours if you're in good shape and hike at a fairly good clip. You will need to obtain a (free) day use wilderness permit, but you can get this at the Long Valley ranger station. Among other things, you will need to know your vehicle license plate number.

I went up the mountain last year in mid-November, and somehow I picked probably the best day to do it! The weather was great for hiking, and I enjoyed the mountain scenery and the temperatures which were 30 F cooler than the valley bottom. I even spotted some small patches of snow. (Snow in southern California! A revelation for a Canuck like myself!) And from Wellman's Divide, I was able to see the Salton Sea which had to be some 50 miles away. Naturally, I took some awesome pictures of the scenery!

I do have to note that between December and April, the mountain is often covered in snow up to 10 feet deep. So always come prepared for the weather, and for sudden changes in weather. As well, altitude sickness may be a concern for some people, although I felt no ill effects myself. Also, for those early birds who are up to the challenge, it is possible to hike to the summit at 10,800 feet, which adds another 5.5 miles to the journey.

Oh, and don't rush to Palm Springs too soon... the tramway is closed for a maintenance period each August. (Palm Springs in August is probably like baking in an oven anyway.)

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Originally Posted by wacko2

(Snow in southern California! A revelation for a Canuck like myself!)

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There are several ski areas within an hour of downtown Los Angeles...

While not southern California, per se, the worst case of snow blindness I have ever had was near the Nevada/California state line on early February morning a few years ago. I have driven in full-on blizzards elsewhere in USA and Canada, but I have never been that dis-oriented as I was near Mountain Pass, California. The only way I can tell I was still on a road, any road, was by watching my speedometer...

Plus, we get snow every year in Las Vegas -- not a lot but still a winter wonderland-look for most Chrismases.

Mark

Mark probably has heard me say this many times over, but probably never together... unless my trip has a specific destination (which usually involves moving, vistinging family, etc.), my favorite road trip is to just pick a direction and drive. So, that would mean my primary "Roadtrip Profile" would be the "risky business" type Mark has refered to.

Even my trips that have a set destination are just winging it. No reservations, and I mean that both ways. Usually the only contingent is that I get between destinations in the shortest amount of time. 2 Days from Phoenix to Wenatchee, Washington is my standard trip, and I love it! Other than that, the route can change at a moments notice, and I never have a clue where I'm going to stop, because I only stop when I need to stop.

Some may call me crazy, and I just may be, but those are the type of trips that are for me. No planned stops, nothing like that, just if it looks interesting, I'm going to do it.

My last trip was like that. I took a brief trip up to Tonto Natural Bridge near Payson, AZ. After that, I didn't feel like going home, so I visited Strawberry, Pine, Camp Verde, and Arcosanti (it was closed, but I did get to the gate!). Those trips are the best. Infact, its time for another one... as soon as I get my car repaired.

-Brad

I am sort of the opposite of Arizona Brad. Given the limited time and resources I have, I feel that my chances of a highly successful trip are enhanced by extensive planning. I pore over maps, research distances and costs, and find out useful things to know way in advance. So by the time I actually get to my destination, I can hit the ground running, even if I have never been to that particular place before!

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Originally Posted by Editor

I have driven in full-on blizzards elsewhere in USA and Canada

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Common sense would dictate that you should never drive in a blizzard. Still, I've seen a couple of white-outs when my dad was driving.

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Originally Posted by Editor

Plus, we get snow every year in Las Vegas -- not a lot but still a winter wonderland-look for most Chrismases.

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Really? It snows that often in Las Vegas? I was under the impression that snow in Vegas was a once-in-a-decade type of thing. (For the record, I've been to Las Vegas exactly twice, so just ignore me...)