Transcontinental Travel Tips: A Journey With My Son ( Part 1 )
Posted on February 21, 2015 under Storytelling with no comments yet
December 26, 2014 – Day 1 of our trip
( Peter MacDonald photo )
How do you tackle a trip spanning 3 provinces, 19 states and 10,000 kilometers? One kilometer at a time.
My son asked me to accompany him on a trip to the West coast of Canada from our home province, Nova Scotia. He planned to spend some of the winter months in the relatively balmy climes of Victoria, B.C. This is hardly surprising, as the winter temperature in the East can whipsaw between 0 Celsius and rainy to minus 35 with a wind chill, in a matter of 24 hours.
Flying across the country made the most sense but his work in Victoria would require a car. I suggested that he find someone his own age to tackle the long drive across the country … in the dead of winter. Peter dismissed that notion in favour of his old man. After many discussions, we agreed that getting out of the snow quickly was paramount so we chose a route through the southern United States.
After completing the mandatory schedule of family functions on Boxing Day (street hockey game, singsong and a cameo appearance on stage at a local pub), we hit the road at 8:30 p.m. and soon arrived at our first stop: Amherst, Nova Scotia.
Now let me be clear: We are not the first, nor will we be the last folks to tackle a transcontinental trip by car. However, having survived the journey, I thought a few travel tips might be in order.
Tip # 1: Never go on a long trip to places unknown without a GPS
My guess is that many marriages have ended in a car, and not in the back seat, as you might be thinking. No. I suspect that many arguments have occurred with a couple on a long trip with one acting as the navigator. Actually, I know this to be true. After a long day on the road and desperate to find a motel, finding one’s accommodations in the dark, in a strange city, is often nerve wracking for the driver and the person occupying the passenger seat, especially if they are married to each other. As many have said before, a GPS is not only a life saver but also a wife saver.
Pete and I slipped across the border at noon the following day. Passing through Calais, we noticed a sign with an interesting marketing ploy. An auto glass company was offering a free lobster if you got your windshield repaired at their fine establishment. I wondered aloud if the lobster would be live or cooked. We thought about looking around to see if we could find a gravel truck to tail, to see if the glass company would make good on their promise.
Tip# 2: Bring a cooler with some snacks
It’s odd to think that a person could actually get hungry sitting in a car for 10 hours a day. Other than holding onto the steering wheel or checking your messages (passengers only!), driving hardly requires physical stamina. But there’s something about traveling that causes one to think about food … often. It’s great to be able to lean back and grab an apple, a handful of grapes or some crackers and cheese.
We put the hammer down on Day One and overnighted in Danbury, Connecticut. Before leaving on the trip, one of my brothers had loaned me an old copy of the classic book, “Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance”. Each day of the trip I tried to read a chapter or two. Easier said than done. On day two, we encountered two major traffic accidents which impeded our progress. The Interstate highways are a blessing when you`re trying to put on the miles but when an accident happens, it is utter chaos. We stayed overnight in Roanoke, Virginia. (Want some great Mexican food? Go to El Rodeo in Roanoke. The portion sizes are gargantuan).
( Part 2 next Saturday )
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