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Thank you Michael for your concern. We too was worried about the lenght off those journeys but we have carried out numerous 20hr+ test drives with great success.
Hi 'glc' yes you are right, we are mostly interested in the cities and their nightlife but the major part we are both looking forward too is the car journey & the routes it takes us. Flying would take the fun out of it.
Where exactly have you been carrying out your numerous 20 hour drives? Just for comparison sake, the kinds of drives you are talking about would be like driving from London to Glasgow, back to London, and then make yet another trip back to Glasgow, without stopping.
The fact that you think that this kind of car journey would be anything resembling fun, and that you think you can make these drives in the kind of time you have written down on paper, makes me really wonder what you are comparing it too. But clearly, you're convinced you're experts on the subject, so we'll just hope that you don't hurt anyone else along the way.
You have enough time as to not make it so tough on yourselves. It really is not a good idea to attempt that kind of drive as Michael has pointed out. It would be totally counter productive if you made it anyway, as you would need at least the entire next day to rest and recover. You might just as well make the drive enjoyable and stopover, or fly.
Good question. The 20+ hour drive was, London - Aberdeen - Cardiff & back to London. The 2nd/3rd was London - Nice (France) - London to pick up/drop-off my sister. Reguarding the actual roadtrip we looked at stopping-off somewhere in between the two long journeys but nowhere appealed to us. Any suggetions?
There is absolutely no comparison driving in Europe, including the UK, (even Australia) and driving in the USA. Maybe right now there is nothing which appeals to you, but that is because you've not been there. Allow yourself the flexibility to get off the interstates, and take the opportunity to stop at things which appeal to you... along the way.
You're not going to get all that information on the internet. Even now, on my fifth trip, I am still stumbling upon amazing sights I had no idea existed. And these take time out of your journey... these are the amazing places which fill the camera and create lasting memories.
Enjoy the road - leisurely!
Lifey
Thank you Lifey for your input.
We have decided to pay heed to your advice (and the other experts), by flying from Orlando to New York. This will give us the chance to experience, American domestic air-travel and provide a longer time frame to travel from Chicago to Denver. So now we'll pick up the car in N.Y.
Out of curiosity, how does driving in the U.S differ so much from Europe? (Apart from different side of the road lol)
Guess it's not so much the action of driving. That is pretty well much the same. It is the culture of the road which is so different, and which you will want to embrace. The first Rand Mc Nally atlas I ever got, was sent to me by a friend way back in 1998. The slogan on the front is 'America's love affair with the road.' That just about sums it up.Quote:
Originally Posted by kylelove
Almost anywhere, and especially in Europe and the UK, you decide to go to a place and your trip is focused almost solely on the destination. It is the getting from point A to B which gets in the way... best over and done with as quickly as possible (with a few exceptions).
In the US there is much more focus on the road, the actual journey from A to B. In fact there are many who think of the journey as the actual destination, and are not really focused on where they end up. That's why it is called a roadtrip. It's much the way I travel, when I am in the US.
By spending time off the interstates, and enjoying the two or four lane highways, you will see much of the US you may never have heard of, and discover little interesting things which are not on the internet or in guide book. (Just today I came across such an attraction in BC.)
There will be times that you wish you had left more time for this place or that city. Make note of them. They will be the backbone of your next trip. And believe me, there will be a next time. Roadtripping America has a magnetic attraction that gets you back again and again.
I for one am looking forward to your roadtrip report.
Lifey
Magnificently put Lifey, the journey is the destination, I'm going to steal that slogan lol.
We've added Vancouver to the itinerary as the jounrney will be interesting and the destination looks amazing.
Our roadtrip report will be a novel lol
Kyle
You're welcome to it... I think I read it on these forums, quite some time ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by kylelove
If you do that, check that you will be allowed to take a rental vehicle into Canada. Not all companies allow their vehicles to cross the border.Quote:
We've added Vancouver to the itinerary ...
There is a special forum where we encourage you to log your field report. You can read there about the experiences of others... and see their photos.Quote:
Our roadtrip report will be a novel lol
Lifey
Thank you again Lifey!!
My friend (34) will hopefully be passing his driving test in june (U.K), does anyone know if he will be legally allowed to drive in the USA???