For 2,000+ Mile Round-Trip Drivers Only! (II)

[pilferk]

My second road trip on Oct. 3, I am convinced you will see the Odyseey van disabled on the side of the road. Three years ago was lower mileage and no issues. Really concerned.
Oh, what a mom will doi for the kids big and small to ride Autotrain back.

The BEST suggestion I can give you is to invest in a AAA membership, if you haven't already. It, at least, makes the thought of breaking down a little less stressful.

Also, and it might sound odd, but we make sure we have one of our laptops handy. That way, should anything go wrong, we can probably finagle internet access (McDonalds and Starbucks are everywhere) for free or very low cost in order to get the word out (or to grab contact info) that we're delayed.

We've never done the autotrain....I just can't make it "work" with out travel schedule. I want to, though. Maybe some day.

 

[nono]

Thanks so very much for your detailed reply!

Based upon your info, you confirmed our earlier observation that the ferry is not ideally suited for our southern Ocean County departure.

All the best.

Yes, I agree. Also, I think you like to leave in the overnight, right? If so, the ferry schedule doesn't suit your style, even if you were looking for an "off the beaten path" ride.

I do think that more northeastern NewYorkers, northern New Englanders and eastern Canadians should consider the route though as it is sure a nice way to take a couple hour break and avoid all the traffic of Balt./Wash./Richmond. Oh and of course the caveat is to NOT do this at all in the summer travel months as the Garden State Parkway is soooo unpredictable anymore with shore traffic.

 

[BC1836]

Yes, I agree. Also, I think you like to leave in the overnight, right? If so, the ferry schedule doesn't suit your style, even if you were looking for an "off the beaten path" ride.

I do think that more northeastern NewYorkers, northern New Englanders and eastern Canadians should consider the route though as it is sure a nice way to take a couple hour break and avoid all the traffic of Balt./Wash./Richmond. Oh and of course the caveat is to NOT do this at all in the summer travel months as the Garden State Parkway is soooo unpredictable anymore with shore traffic.

Thanks for your comment. Indeed, we depart very, very early in the morning and like to drive as far as possible before sunrise and the inevitable increase in traffic.

NOTE: We've been Jersey Shore residents for eight years (as of yesterday) and, as such, did our first two drives (in 2002 and 2003) as "BENNIES."

Looking forward to drive #24 next month.

All the best.

 

[disneymarie]

The BEST suggestion I can give you is to invest in a AAA membership, if you haven't already. It, at least, makes the thought of breaking down a little less stressful.

Also, and it might sound odd, but we make sure we have one of our laptops handy. That way, should anything go wrong, we can probably finagle internet access (McDonalds and Starbucks are everywhere) for free or very low cost in order to get the word out (or to grab contact info) that we're delayed.

We've never done the autotrain....I just can't make it "work" with out travel schedule. I want to, though. Maybe some day.

We have AAA, tires from SAMs club for road hazard, and the I-pad has internet. DS is a mechanic too. I just think he is pushing it on the tranny for so many miles. Oh, the belts, and anything else that could go wrong.....including my anxiety over accidents.The drive back in 08 was uneventful, except sooo tired and sitting so many miles KILLED my back.
Oh, what we do for our kids.

 

[dvczerfs]

We have AAA, tires from SAMs club for road hazard, and the I-pad has internet. DS is a mechanic too. I just think he is pushing it on the tranny for so many miles. Oh, the belts, and anything else that could go wrong.....including my anxiety over accidents.The drive back in 08 was uneventful, except sooo tired and sitting so many miles KILLED my back.
Oh, what we do for our kids.

its just like driving back and forth from home to the mall, about 50 times!

 

[pilferk]

We have AAA, tires from SAMs club for road hazard, and the I-pad has internet. DS is a mechanic too. I just think he is pushing it on the tranny for so many miles. Oh, the belts, and anything else that could go wrong.....including my anxiety over accidents.The drive back in 08 was uneventful, except sooo tired and sitting so many miles KILLED my back.
Oh, what we do for our kids.

We just brought our van (2002 Ford Winstar...about 88k miles) in last weekend for "the inspection". Knew tires were OK (they're only about a year old) but wanted it to have the once over before we left.

They didn't find anything, really. Had them flush and fill the tranny fluid, just because I thought it needed it. They said it needed an air filter (which I'll buy and do myself...even the mechanic said they massively overcharge for them).

Given your son is a mechanic...I'm thinking he wouldn't be too keen on letting someone else "inspect" it. I'm an IT guy....and as my wife says: OUR computers are the last ones to get any attention. I'd guess it's similar with mechanics and their family cars?

I, too, have a bad back.....it's the one thing I worry about. I've found adding a seat cushion REALLY helps. I just use one of those "bleacher" cushions that you see at football games...makes a HUGE difference.

 

[pwdebbie]

its just like driving back and forth from home to the mall, about 50 times!

Funny you should say this. I often find myself comparing the amount of time I've spent on the road, whether just a short trip to town or a longer trip to, say, the ocean, in terms of how far I would have been to WDW. Sometimes when we are on southbound 81, I'll say to dh, "Skip the exit and let's just keep driving south, we're already 1/16th of the way there . . . "

 

[BC1836]

Funny you should say this. I often find myself comparing the amount of time I've spent on the road, whether just a short trip to town or a longer trip to, say, the ocean, in terms of how far I would have been to WDW. Sometimes when we are on southbound 81, I'll say to dh, "Skip the exit and let's just keep driving south, we're already 1/16th of the way there . . . "

You are not alone in your "we're already...there" view; however, we take a slightly different approach: we're driving locally, notice the time and then make a statement like, "If we leave now we can make it to the Grand Floridian Cafe for breakfast tomorrow" or "If we leave now, we can make it to 'Wishes.'"

All the best.

 

[MinnieTink]

You are not alone in your "we're already...there" view; however, we take a slightly different approach: we're driving locally, notice the time and then make a statement like, "If we leave now we can make it to the Grand Floridian Cafe for breakfast tomorrow" or "If we leave now, we can make it to 'Wishes.'"

All the best.

Ditto all of this! We drive somewhere an hour or so away and my DH or I will say Well if we just do that 15 or 16 more times, we'll be in Disney! And we also do the Hey if we leave now, we can be there by morning etc! ALL the time!!

 

[rotlex]

Ditto all of this! We drive somewhere an hour or so away and my DH or I will say Well if we just do that 15 or 16 more times, we'll be in Disney! And we also do the Hey if we leave now, we can be there by morning etc! ALL the time!!

LOL, funny to read this. We do the exact same thing. We are roughly 16 hours straight to Disney, depending on speed of course. I do a lot of business related trips up to the Berkshire area of Massachusetts, and I constantly compare the ride times. It's roughly 4 hours up, and another 4 back, so 8 hours round trip. I think to myself how often I have done that in a day, and think jeez, if I just went up and back again, I'd be at WDW! I also think of those trips when driving to WDW, and in some ways, it makes it seem even shorter.

 

[amcnj]

Hi Nono. Thanks for the ferry details. I too have wondered about that route. Your Emporia time is not much different than mine, but of course I would take longer to get to the ferry. As you suggested, it would be a nice break for those traveling from further north, and for those like yourself who are real close to the ferry. What route do you take from the DE side to 95 south at Emporia VA? I guess overnight that route is pretty clear.

 

[BC1836]

Ever notice long drive-related questions on the Transportation thread that would be best addressed on this site? Are some folks unable to comprehend the mathematics of what constitutes a 2,000-mile round trip?

Go figure.

All the best.

 

[afwdwfan]

The BEST suggestion I can give you is to invest in a AAA membership, if you haven't already. It, at least, makes the thought of breaking down a little less stressful.

Great advice. I've used AAA services 3 times... Two of those times were in Florida.

Just found this thread but we'll be taking our next 2000+ mi round trip to the World in Nov/Dec!

 

[pwdebbie]

Those who travel I-81 are familiar with the large "paint can" just south of Shippensburg. We had some tremendous rain last night. I was on the road that runs along the northbound side and encountered flooded road conditions. While deciding whether to to travel through or not, we were watching the traffic on 81. When cars would hit the water, all you could see was a wall of brown water higher than the cars. Tractor trailers were swerving. We thought for sure there would be an accident. Any way, had we looked farther across 81, we would have seen what was happening with the paint can. Here's what was in this morning's paper:

"Flash flooding in the low-lying 1000 block of Mount Rock Road in Southampton Township, Franklin County, spilled over Interstate 81 and caused an advertising prop shaped like a giant paint can to float and tip sideways, Alspaugh said.
Crews responded because it was feared that the paint can might rip down some adjacent power lines. It did not, but the electric company was notified and the road was shut down until the water receded."

A floating ginormous paint can -- wish I hadn't missed it! (And no, we didn't go through the water even though we were five minutes from our destination. After I saw a large truck turn around at the opposite side as well as one car stuck in the middle of the flooded area, I decided that even though I was in a 4Runner, it was better to be safe and backtrack. Added about 25 minutes to my trip because so many other roads were flooded also.)

 

[dvczerfs]

Those who travel I-81 are familiar with the large "paint can" just south of Shippensburg. We had some tremendous rain last night. I was on the road that runs along the northbound side and encountered flooded road conditions. While deciding whether to to travel through or not, we were watching the traffic on 81. When cars would hit the water, all you could see was a wall of brown water higher than the cars. Tractor trailers were swerving. We thought for sure there would be an accident. Any way, had we looked farther across 81, we would have seen what was happening with the paint can. Here's what was in this morning's paper:

"Flash flooding in the low-lying 1000 block of Mount Rock Road in Southampton Township, Franklin County, spilled over Interstate 81 and caused an advertising prop shaped like a giant paint can to float and tip sideways, Alspaugh said.
Crews responded because it was feared that the paint can might rip down some adjacent power lines. It did not, but the electric company was notified and the road was shut down until the water receded."

A floating ginormous paint can -- wish I hadn't missed it! (And no, we didn't go through the water even though we were five minutes from our destination. After I saw a large truck turn around at the opposite side as well as one car stuck in the middle of the flooded area, I decided that even though I was in a 4Runner, it was better to be safe and backtrack. Added about 25 minutes to my trip because so many other roads were flooded also.)

awwwwww, so the paint can isnt there anymore????

 

[patkingpin]

Finally booked our hotel for the way down from Buffalo!!! We are staying at the Hampton Inn in Columbia right off of 77. Has anyone ever stayed there?

Also, the family has decided to stay in Savannah on the first night of the way back. Does anyone have any hotel reccomendations near there? My wife wants to tour a plantation before starting the drive back, hopefully some driving Dis'ers can help me there also?

Thanks!

We leave 2 weeks from tomorrow from Buffalo!!!

 

[krisnchris]

Wow - that paint can is our marker that we are almost to my Dad's side of the family in PA. Hard to imagine!

 

[nono]

What route do you take from the DE side to 95 south at Emporia VA? I guess overnight that route is pretty clear.

Sooo, I have never gotten a major source to by default route me this way, but it always comes out the same time (and less traffic lights!). After leaving the ferry, take Rt. 9 to Rt. 1 South (briefly). Then proceed on Rt. 24 (a right hand turn) heading S/W over to Rt. 113, which will take you almost to the MD/VA border before hooking you back into Rt. 13.

The other gotcha is signage and spaghetti interstates around Norfolk/VA Beach. This trip, we took Rt. 64 (3 miles longer) instead of trying to hop interstates the way the online services try to route us, which always leaves us . So, by taking Rt. 64 to Rt. 664, we hooked in pretty seamlessly (read: I made 1 minor mistake! ) to Rt. 58 to head across the southern part of VA and to Emporia.

HTH!

 

[nono]

Are some folks unable to comprehend the mathematics of what constitutes a 2,000-mile round trip?

Maybe it's denial.

 

[disneymarie]

Given your son is a mechanic...I'm thinking he wouldn't be too keen on letting someone else "inspect" it. I'm an IT guy....and as my wife says: OUR computers are the last ones to get any attention. I'd guess it's similar with mechanics and their family cars?

I, too, have a bad back.....it's the one thing I worry about. I've found adding a seat cushion REALLY helps. I just use one of those "bleacher" cushions that you see at football games...makes a HUGE difference.

Yep. just as I was a hairstylist in my first life (after highschool) my family always needs hair cuts. But I blame the bad back and carpal tunnel. DS can do work on them, but procrastinates. I can not see changing timing belts 2 weeks out.

The idea of a cushion is a good idea. I had a lumbar shaped back support like mesh on a frame I should dig out. Next is someway to raise the feet and legs a bit. The grandson gets the cooler to rest his on....I should get a little foot stool.