What is Your RoadTrip Profile?

[Ali]

As a very new member here I have really enjoyed finding other crazies who love getting in the car and just GOING! Certainly the risk factor and jaunt profiles fit us - know where you are starting and where/when you have to be back, arm yourself with maps and a couple of guide books and then just head off. It has never ceased to amaze me the difference in experience between people who take a tour of a country and people who roadtrip. For instance, I doubt if anyone on a tour would have had the delight of visiting Haga Haga on the Shipwreck Coast in the south east of South Africa. Fortunately we had a heads up from a bunch of very friendly locals at a bar/restaurant in Port St Edwards who suggested Haga Haga as a must see. A tiny settlement, a very cheap self contained unit in a back yard with spectacular ocean views and a couple of kilometres walk along a pristine, wild beach confirmed their recommendation. The same goes for our fanstastic drive from Front Royal, Virginia all the way down to Baton Rouge, Louisianna mostly along Parkways.
To me that is the essence of roadtripping. Finding spectactular places that you would never see or read about by talking to people who live there and having the freedom to go to the places they recommend. It is the ONLY way to travel!

[Mark Sedenquist]

As a very new member here I have really enjoyed finding other crazies who love getting in the car and just GOING!

You are among friends here -- most of us ARE crazy.

It has never ceased to amaze me the difference in experience between people who take a tour of a country and people who roadtrip.

Yeah, I agree -- part of it is being open to seeing what the day brings. Some of my best tips have come my way after I stopped trying to fit a trip into a schedule. My favorite method of roadtripping (one that I don't have much time for these days...) is to wake up in the morning. Go stand by the car and flip a leaf in the air -- which ever way the leaf is pointing is the direction I will drive that day. Thanks for the report about Haga Haga

! To me that is the essence of roadtripping. Finding spectactular places that you would never see or read about by talking to people who live there and having the freedom to go to the places they recommend.

This is, in a nutshell, whey the Great American RoadTrip Forum exists. And please share tips with other folks -- there are always more questions than responders, although we all try to keep up...

Enjoy and welcome!

Mark

[mikphire]

I'm a challenge/jaunt/risky in that order.
I'm mainly a nature collector, see beauty in the little things-seashells, feathers, twigs, pebbles. I like collecting rocks from everywhere and thimbuls for some strange reason.
Last year was my 'see how much national parks I could see' jaunt. This year, it's a mining/cash and treasures sort of expedition. Since i like rocks, figured it would be perfect :)
Never booked a motel/hotel in advance- you just never know where you'd end up at the end of the day.

A roadtrip to me is a way of discovering the world at a human pace, putting distances into a time perspective, of freedom- stopping when you want, seeing something beautiful and having the time to stop and smell the roses and enjoy a place, get a story from a local, meet fellow travellers, waking up to a wind storm on the edge of a canyon, be able to soak your senses, mind and body into different experiences, and come out a little better for it.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Never booked a motel/hotel in advance- you just never know where you'd end up at the end of the day.

Glad to know that there are others out there (although these days, I must have certain business features when I travel and so my "risk" factor is lower).

....get a story from a local, meet fellow travellers, waking up to a wind storm on the edge of a canyon, be able to soak your senses, mind and body into different experiences, and come out a little better for it.

Very poetic, thanks for sharing and contributing here.

Mark

[BlazingSaddles0745]

The vehicle has always been supreme to me, since I rebuilt my first 1934 Chevy engine at the age of 11, and it actually ran when I finished it. Actually anything with an engine from RC to ocean liners always intrigues me. All that mass of metal apart is just a cold mass of metal, but properly assembled it is a living breathing entity.

I say all but challenge because the only thing I collect is pictures and memories, and have made many memories since becoming a full time traveler. Whether I am cruising down the road in our Southern Comfort 2004 Dodge Diesel dually, four door, pulling both trailers (36 ft Rv and 14 ft Cargo), or ripping down some trail or side road on our 1100 Yamaha Silverado the feeling is the same. There is no way to subdue the spirit of an adventurer.

Actually cruising the side roads of the SW deserts in the truck has the same
feel and thrill as the motorcycle, just no bugs on the teeth, so less protein. Driving the mountain trails and passes in the Sky Islands of Arizona and looking down from some perch where the American Indians once roamed and lived freely is a feeling no city or tourist trap could ever give me. The roads less traveled are the best roads for us (my wife and I), no need for shopping malls, cities, or the like. Don't get me wrong, we like our creature comforts and usually find a full hookup RV park at night but the natural beauty of our big wonderful country is what thrills us, and the plight and struggles of our ancestors (both of us being of Cherokee descent), be it whatever tribe thrill us and give us meaning for life.

After three years of on the road living we wonder why we did not go sooner, and the price of diesel and gas is just another part of our lifestyle. I jokingly tell my wife when Diesel Fuel reaches 6 bucks a gallon, we will buy a house and stay where we are at that time. I guess managing to afford the fuel to do what we do is sort of a challenge, but none of the collecting and such is part of our on the road experience.

During my work life for Uncle Sam I was fortunate to be in all 50 states, but my present wife had never been to many states, we are rectifying that now, and loving it. Some were whirlwind tours when working, but now we can take time to see and do what we want. Our motto is warm winters and beautiful cool summers. So far it has worked great.

[cool]

80% of the times, the reason for my roadtrips would be a fun-filled escape. In that process, I end up satisfying my quest. I've very rarely taken risks with my trips(always reserve prior) sadly because, I've never had a leisure trip(yet!). Something to achieve, somewhere to go was always in my mind & itinerary. Once I've satisfied the 'tourist' in me, I'd realize I've not seen enough until I really take the off-beaten path. Until then...

cool

[airetos]

I actually chose 4 out of the 5 choices, in saying that, I did do this poll based on my journeys in my homeland of New Zealand. Back home, Jaunt covered the Day Trips- spur of the moment, fun escapes from reality and when reality hit us back, we returned home lol, and despite how many trips started most ended as Quest - somehow finding spiritual enlightenment, regardless of whether it was or was not sought, and with all of our whimsical road trips, it came with made up challenges of how many items we could collect for Free, or the number of ppl we would randomly go up to and hug, to how many phone numbers of long distancec probable dates we collected or how many times a certain word was said by certain ppl to how many trucks we could get to toot their horns, activities or challenges/dares ranging from mundane and original to just plain stupid and memorable.

However, if we were planning a Long Road Trip to a further destination, because NZ is soo small and u can usually make it from one side of one island to the other in one day the reservations were made before we left home, this was normally the case as our "Tour Group" usually consisted of 2-3 girls on their own.. with very strict parents - regardless of our age hahaha.

And with my very first USA Road Trip/Relocation fast approaching, no doubt the answers will change, this time the "Tour Group" will be myself, my gorgeous husband and the unknown road to our new home ahead. I'm very much looking forward to exploring my new country - needless to say, some of the activities noted above will not be used.. :D

[Mark Sedenquist]

...with all of our whimsical road trips, it came with made up challenges of how many items we could collect for Free, or the number of ppl we would randomly go up to and hug, to how many phone numbers of long distancec probable dates we collected or how many times a certain word was said by certain ppl to how many trucks we could get to toot their horns, activities or challenges/dares ranging from mundane and original to just plain stupid and memorable.

These all sound like great challenges -- welcome to the Great American RoadTrip Forum! That is quite an odessey from NZ to Florida to the Bay area!

I'm very much looking forward to exploring my new country - needless to say, some of the activities noted above will not be used..

I would bet that to be true!

Mark

[road tripper]

Road trips are all things to all people I think. One of my first was running away from home (Inkster, Michigan) at age 17 in a 1930 Model A Ford. My two pals and I made it to Jacksonville Beach Florida. We didnt have much loot so we washed dishes in all night diners for meal and a few bucks. We lived on peanut butter sandwiches and watermelon for days on end. In those days (1953) having Michigan plates on the car, traveling in the south was a real chalenge to say the least. The same Model A took us back to Michigan to "face the music". We all had money from paychecks when we returned so we treated friends to cases of beer and a drive in movie where five of us got busted for being drunk and disorderly. After promising police officers we would return the next day with our parents we (five this time) jumped in the same model A and took off for Mardi Gras. We made it to Lexington Kentucky, where we ran out of money, got busted and spent five days in "juvee". I am now 70 years old(?) and I am still on the road. All of my trips all over the world have been great adventures. I am now in the Philippines and will be back in the states to do a 5000 mile trip. One of my greatest roadtrips was traveling with a carnival, with wife and three kids living out of a school bus in the late sixties. Wherever you go..........there you are. Keep on truckin, road tripper P.S. I voted for all.

[Mark Sedenquist]

I am now 70 years old(?) and I am still on the road.

I loved the telling of that tale!

Wherever you go..........there you are.

My favorite word for this concept is "Nowhere" which I always pronounce as being " Now Here". Thanks for the message and the votes!

Mark