I'm thinking of driving across the country

[navin]

You gonna drive solo? Why not find someone who wants to do the cross-country thing, and have them split gas/hotel.

I'd do it if your lady's mom wants to buy me a ticket too, and i have nothing planned.

[Mike]

yes, solo.
no, she won't buy you a ticket.

[navin]

DAGGER..

[REED]

has anyone done any serious enduro driving solo before? what is a reasonable number of miles/hours in a day?

after doing the JMU - RI drive (500m) about a thousand times over 4 years I have a pretty good tolerance for marathon driving

I did nova to chicago (700ish i think) last summer

I would really stick around 11 hours - I could do more than that easily, but I don't know how many days I could keep that up.

unfortunately I had the distinct pleasure of driving to RI this past Friday in the rain - which slowed me down enough to catch rush hour in NYC and CT. took me about 10/11 hours, probably the worst drive of my life. even more so because I was in the civic - blech

I still want to do a XC trip someday, I just don't know if there is anyone in the world I could spend 9 days with in a car

[ScottyB]

drink water as your main fluid and beef jerky makes an awesome snack.

watch out for those deer at night! saw a ton dead on the highway from VA to GA this weekend.

[Ole]

If you go through Phoenix, go to Ajo Al's and get the Sonoran Muchacca Chimi. Best Chimichanga I have ever had. When my son Flys home, he stops there and gets one for me to eat when he gets here!

If you go through Houston on the so. route, go to Goode BBQ. Best Texan Style BBQ (brisket) you will ever eat.

If you go through OK, there is a BBQ near the Cowboy Museum (OK City), that is also good, can't remember the name of it. In Memphis (if you miss Memphis in May) try Pig on Beal. Maybe the best on Beal Street unless you go to the joint across the street (can't remember the name) maybe Rondezvous?.

In New Orleans try the Coffee Pot Restaurant (if it is still there), it was near Jackson Square, then you can walk over to Cafe du Monde for Beignets.

In Dallas got to Dick's Last Stand and get abused by the wait staff.

In Denver, Take the trolley and stop just about anywhere. If you go through the mountains and stop near Keystone, go to Goat - Soup and Whiskey.

One more place you have to stop to eat at is "Lamberts - Home of The Throwed Bisquits". There are 4 of them in the Midwest: Foley, AL; Sikeston, MO (I ate at this one - the original I believe) and Hwy 65 between Springfield and Branson. Its like a huge Crackerbarrel but much more fun. They come out of the kitchen with a huge plate of bisquits and ask "who wants 'em?" You throw up your hands and they literally throw them across the restaurant, you have to catch them or they make fun of you, then throw 2 at you! They walk around with bowls of Fried Okra, onions and other crap and fill your plate up with food. Plan on sleeping nearby cause you will be exhausted afterwards. It's one of those neat places that you need to see at least once in your life - like National Lampoons "Vacation".

[ScottyB]

They come out of the kitchen with a huge plate of bisquits and ask "who wants 'em?" You throw up your hands and they literally throw them across the restaurant, you have to catch them or they make fun of you, then throw 2 at you!

i saw that on food network not long ago -- looked awesome and yeah they mocked some guy for dropping his biscuit!

[PDenbigh]

Marathon Driving FTW!

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[rezarxt]

My parents had a house in flagstaff (My brother bought it about a month ago). Its a really pretty city with a wonderful surrounding area. I know youre only driving through, but it wouldnt be a bad stop.

Ive gone from MD to AZ several times and it takes about 3 days of hard driving (12-14 or so hours each day). Ive driven from NM to MD straight without stopping (switching between 2 drivers) and that went from 8am-9 pm the next day. That was a horrible drive and I never want to relive that lol. Good luck though. 8 hours a day sounds like it will be fun. Just leave early so you have plenty of time to mess around when you get to the next stop. Watch out for radar!

[Sijray21]

Ive driven from NM to MD straight without stopping (switching between 2 drivers) and that went from 8am-9 pm the next day.

was it difficult to find 24-hour gas stations?

[Mike]

in case anyone was wondering, these plans might be on permanent hold. she may have gotten a job locally. bleh.

[John]

Ive driven from NM to MD straight without stopping (switching between 2 drivers) and that went from 8am-9 pm the next day.

was it difficult to find 24-hour gas stations?

I was with my father in the the mid-80s when he drove straight from AZ to NoVA - even then we didn't have too much trouble finding stations. The key is not to get greedy, so when you are near a half-tank, you stop and fill up (forces the driver to take a needed break anyways).

in case anyone was wondering, these plans might be on permanent hold. she may have gotten a job locally. bleh.

Sorry to hear - it's definitely something worth doing one day. Unfortunately, fuel prices right now make the idea quite unappealling...

[rezarxt]

Ive driven from NM to MD straight without stopping (switching between 2 drivers) and that went from 8am-9 pm the next day.

was it difficult to find 24-hour gas stations?

The most difficult thing was not throwing up after drinking like 6 redbulls :?

Its def not something I want to do again. When I bought my car, I picked it up in St. Louis. I had to drive from St Louis back to MD. That was a 14+ hour drive because it had snowed the night before in St Louis and surrounding areas lol. RWD mustang + snow + first time driving car = not fun. I slid out on 70 right outside of St. Louis and came near to going into the grass in the median. Once I got on open roads I was clear though.