ROAD TRIP!!!

[AccountingDrone]

So, since hubby is unemployed scum like me, we are taking a couple thousand and doing a road trip from Connecticut to California for the month of March. With the diesel car and staying in the extended stay motels that have micro kitchens as much as possible we can manage this on his severance package and manage the bills. We have 3 cities that he has tentative interviews in [old connections that might be able to network him into a job, and we want to visit them anyway]

We are planning on cruising west on I 80, with a bump up to Minneapolis. We may tweak the route a bit more, as there have been a few places on Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, and Man vs Food that look interesting enough to try and hit so if anybody has any suggestions we can check out online to see if we want to work it into the schedule, let me know =)

I love planning road trips!

[we are coming back the 'southern route', through Az, NM, TX, LA and up the coast because his mom lives in Fresno and his dad is in San Berdoo, so a giant loop works out =) I haven't started planning the return trip yet =)]

[Lyse]

Oh, jealous!!! Love trips were you aren't planning out potty breaks to keep to some timetable and have flexibility on where to make stops at!

[taxguykarl]

We are planning on cruising west on I 80,

My place is just a couple miles south of I-80 (nearest I-57), you're welcome to stop by.

[Kanalah]

Awww no stop in Oklahoma?

[AccountingDrone]

Oh, jealous!!! Love trips were you aren't planning out potty breaks to keep to some timetable and have flexibility on where to make stops at!

I know ... we were originally planning on me driving and him flying for this coming summer some time, so his being out of work makes it easier. We would prefer that he be working, but making lemonade =)

My place is just a couple miles south of I-80 (nearest I-57), you're welcome to stop by.

That sounds fun, or perhaps you could come by the motel for dinner, we both love to cook =)

Awww no stop in Oklahoma?

Maybe, it is sort of on the way home via the 'southern route', though last time we came home through central Texas. We haven't started planning the trip home yet =)

[Sarlon]

depending on your southern route coming back home I live in NE TN, can offer hot food, and laundry for free :P

PM me if you want

[taxguykarl]

That sounds fun, or perhaps you could come by the motel for dinner, we both love to cook =)

Or vice-versa. If you come in the summer, I can easily have some home-grown goodies on the menu. PM me the details.

[dalesys]

I80 @ Salt Lake: Crown (pastrami) burgers at Crown Burger... Except on Sunday.

[AccountingDrone]

^^ pastrami burgers? That sounds yummy.

If the road trip goes anything like last time, Salt Lake is about where we broke for the night. [There was *lots* of Wyoming ...]

Tentatively we are starting out March First, and I can manage about 500-600 miles a day before my body rebels and I need to break out the good drugs. Theoretically, border of Ohio and PA is the first night, Roughly Chicago is the second night, somewhere between Minneapolis and Des Moines for the third night, Somewhere in the wilds of Nebraska for the fourth, Salt Lakeish for the fifth. Reno for the sixth. I have memories of Reno ... * and thence to Fresno.

* Well, when you are tired and suffering the dregs of altitude sickness, loosest progressive sluts makes perfect sense on a billboard, when you consider that prostitution is somewhat legal in areas of Nevada.

[csquared]

If you are passing through the Atlanta area, give me a yell. If you don't have time for lunch/dinner, at least let me give you the traffic reports and some shortcuts.

[Sapphire Silk]

So, since hubby is unemployed scum like me, we are taking a couple thousand and doing a road trip from Connecticut to California for the month of March.

Make sure you have tire chains and an emergency kit in your car when you drive both through the Midwest and the Rockies. Blizzards can pop out of nowhere this time of year. The cops will close the roads and not let you continue in the mountains without chains.

An emergency kit should include blankets, a way to generate heat (sterno), candy bars, water at a bare minimum. Make sure you keep the cell phone charged so you can call for help if necessary.

[Jester]

Being an Arizonan, I have plenty of suggestions for if/when you pass through my home state, but I would need to know if you plan on going through the northern part (I-40 through Flagstaff) or the southern route (I-10 through Phoenix and Tucson). I have plenty of suggestions, but would have more on the southern route than the northern, being from Phoenix and having spent far more time there than up in the mountains.

[AccountingDrone]

If you are passing through the Atlanta area, give me a yell. If you don't have time for lunch/dinner, at least let me give you the traffic reports and some shortcuts.

Probably will wander past Atlanta, we are returning with a hit to Key West FL since part of the reason for the trip is job hunting we are making sure to hit areas that Rob has some contacts in to drop off resumes. And there is always time for food

Make sure you have tire chains and an emergency kit in your car when you drive both through the Midwest and the Rockies. Blizzards can pop out of nowhere this time of year. The cops will close the roads and not let you continue in the mountains without chains.

An emergency kit should include blankets, a way to generate heat (sterno), candy bars, water at a bare minimum. Make sure you keep the cell phone charged so you can call for help if necessary.

I have had chains since my first car at the age of 16 [a nash metropolitan] Growing up near Rochester NY and turning of age to learn driving in October, I learned winter skills first and my dad was an eagle scout. There was no way I would be raised not thoroughly brainwashed with Be Prepared We are not only taking usual supplies, we are also packing the arctic survival suits. One can comfortably nap in a snowbank in the arctic circle in the pumpkin suits [military surplus]

Being an Arizonan, I have plenty of suggestions for if/when you pass through my home state, but I would need to know if you plan on going through the northern part (I-40 through Flagstaff) or the southern route (I-10 through Phoenix and Tucson). I have plenty of suggestions, but would have more on the southern route than the northern, being from Phoenix and having spent far more time there than up in the mountains.

I caught a look at the proposed route, and the only thing I remember about Arizona is we cross over near Lake Havasu City again. At least I now know that you *drive* over London Bridge, it isn't set off in some park I believe that is I10?

We will be hitting Key West, I have some rum for you to taste still

[Jester]

I caught a look at the proposed route, and the only thing I remember about Arizona is we cross over near Lake Havasu City again. At least I now know that you *drive* over London Bridge, it isn't set off in some park I believe that is I10?

That is neither I-10 nor I-40, but is definitely more in the neighborhood of I-40, i.e., northern Arizona. Let me know when you have more specifics. Feel free to PM me if you want.

We will be hitting Key West, I have some rum for you to taste still

YOU have rum for ME to taste? Well, THAT'S a switch from the norm!

Seriously, I look forward to it. By all means, let me know ahead of time when you'll be here, and for how long, and I'll set some time aside for you if I can. (Hopefully you won't be coming through here during one of my impending trips this year....)

But since I know you guys will be on a budget, I have to ask...you DO know that Key West is very much out of the way as far as driving down here, and that Key West IS very expensive to stay in, right? I ask because I'm concerned.

And...what IS this rum you have for me to taste, hmmm?

[DaDairyDruid]

Assuming you are taking 90/94 through WI to Minn. If you have the time Frank's Diner in Kenosha (my hometown) www.franksdinerkenosha.com is well woth a stop. Get a garbage plate. When you get back on the innerstate you can stock up on meat and cheese goodness at Mars Cheese Castle.