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JeepinMatt wrote:Somewhere they say coffee (or caffeine in general) is more effective than a short nap.
And nicotine makes the body absorb caffeine six times faster*
This is just a fact I've heard from several intelligent people. I assume it to be correct, but haven't researched it.
Agreed on the caffeine! Seems like a good idea at the time, but you'll end up feeling like someone's had a poo on your tongue and somewhere around the 16th straight hour of driving you'll start hallucinating. It's hard to drive when the centre line's writhing and giant bats keep committing suicide by flinging themselves across your windshield. Water's a better bet, and if I have to stop, a peppermint tea's a great pick-me-up.
JeepinMatt wrote:Somewhere they say coffee (or caffeine in general) is more effective than a short nap.
The most recent study I've read about says just the opposite, actually. When I towed across the country to go to Newfoundland, I signed off on my usual cola-fueled caffeine intake. Didn't make me sleepier, but it made me a lot less jittery. Recommended.
I just checked, and Hammond and May DO both have audiobooks! Awesome. I wonder if they're at my local library?
Apexcarver wrote:to get me to that point we are talking 4 cups of coffee and 3 vivran. (i was quite skinny at the time)
That's a E36 M3load of caffeine man.
Ingest too much and you'll end up veering off, crossing the border and speaking in tongues (which will land you in a whole load of trouble), end up being forced to play for the Mape Leafs and... yeah. Then you'll be a Maple Leafs player. Is that how you want to end up?
I don't know if I'd attempt a drive that long, if not for my own sanity and safety, then for whoever else on the road I might veer into when I think I'm being chased by imaginary wolves. Couldn't find a cheap motel (without bullet holes) and catch 6 hours of sleep and a hot breakfast? Eat at Waffle House. That'll keep you awake for hours and hours. One way or another.
The trick is star slow with i.e. first 9 hours (Keith: audio book) hold the caffeine until the end. After 8 hours stop for a wholesome meal... then follow in this order. about an hour after this meal you will stake fading take a 30-60 min nap.
Now comes the home stretch... start slow with coffee mixed with hot chocolate..
when the sugar rush declines eat a snickers and sip a red bull- while maintaining a calming audio tune of your pick.
wait for it....Wait for it gauging the red bull is key.. then pull the trigger with half a red bull and a 5 hour energy. no don't hold back on the tunes. you should make it no problem. i didn't mention drinking a lot of water is very important.
(note: past performance is not indicative of future results)
Caffeine makes you pee!
Gotta love long road trips, ive probably done the ny-fl/fl-ny trip solo at least 50 times, and always try and plan to at least go through the metro areas at night to avoid traffic.
not much new in the way of tips though, i carry a few bottles of Gatorade or similar, some good snacks like trail mix , crank up the audio books and drive until i cant drive anymore. sometime im at my destination before that happens, sometime i pull over at a rest area and power nap for an hour. i always stop for breakfast at a good truck stop.
Oh, and I'll pull over and rest for a bit if im tired or not a bit before sunrise, thats the worst time for me and i know as soon as dawn breaks ill be nodding off, not a good idea at 75mph...
I've had good experiences with hitchhikers. They are almost always crazy, but that just makes them more interesting to talk to.
For me, coffee at many roadside places is a bit too dicey. It's almost always too strong for me and not always that fresh.
The last thing I want is to have a sick stomach while on a looooong roadtrip. So I always drink tea on these trips. And I always bring my own teabags (Lipton) into the store because I don't want to drink any "weird" tea. This way I'm always drinking a fresh caffinated beverage and I can control how strong I want it. I also bring along protein bars and almonds (and maybe rasins).
I sort of like hunting around for "weird" radio stations when I'm on a trip, so I don't bring an iPod or anything like that.
I took a ~23-Hour Round Trip~ non-stop (except for gas and one 20-minute cat nap) to pick up my Teapot in central Ontario (from NJ) earlier this year. Except for the lake effect snow storm, it was no problem.
Thanks for all the tips!
I'll be taking the Google suggested route through PA, OH, Indy, IL, MO.
Any places to look out for? Places I can drop the hammer and make up time, places I need to follow strictly to the speed limit?
Well, OH is gonna suck. Indy and IL are close seconds. Any turnpike is smokey heaven too.
Gearheadotaku wrote:Well, OH is gonna suck. Indy and IL are close seconds. Any turnpike is smokey heaven too.
I don't think that he'll be touching IL, at least not the bad parts of it.
Another vote for audio books. I use to also listen to stand up comedy routines as well. Make sure you choose things with a bit of excitement and like like. The right reader is a must as well, some of the less expensive books are read by people that just drone on and on just putting you to sleep. I always found Robin Williams old routines to be good entertainment on the road, it is impossible to get tired.
Might also look at picking up a handheld CB with external mag mount antenna. That might give you a heads up on road conditions or speed traps.
I have a set of old timey radio show cassettes from when radio was the TV which make a trip seem shorter. It's interesting to hear the lifestyle differences.
The problem seems to be finding a cassette player in one of my cars, but they make me laugh.
In Ohio as long as you stay under 10 over you should not gat a second glance. Have fun.
i start by waking up at my regular time, working all day, eating dinner, then hitting the road around 7pm. i chug a large bottle of mocha Frappucino (starbucks brand) while the gas tank is filling right at the start of the drive. after that, i maintain the buzz with diet pepsi, 20 oz per tank of fuel -- at my speed, that's about 4 hours. i also drink water along the way, and i pee in a 32 oz gatorade bottle, which can be dumped at fuel stops or just poured out the window going down the road. the wide mouth bottle is key, as is cruise control.
i listen to rollins spoken word, which is kinda like audiobooks i guess. and whatever other favorites are on my ipod.
following that formula, i've made it solo from Charlotte to Detroit (11 hours), Detroit to Atlanta (12 hours), and Detroit to Gainesville (18 hours).
i eat high-protein snacks like beef jerky and almonds. avoid sugar, as it'll kick up your insulin and make you sleepy after the initial buzz.
i listen to rollins spoken word
It's like we were seperated at birth. "I'm going to fly this berkeleyin thing into the sun, man!!!"
Speeding keeps me awake. A CB radio is the best way to get away with speeding that I know of. Do with that information what you will.
I like the audiobooks also.
Also think about road noise...it's a long trip and youre ears will be ringing. Sometimes I take hearing protection for long trips like that.
Who from your past (or present) haven't you talked to in a while? Call them up and have some of those hour-long phone calls to catch up. Hands-free devices rock.
Clem
Oh...and keep in mind it'll be deer season.
We drive from Indy to Tucson every couple years. WE usually take the dogs, so they help with the awake thing. 30 hours STRAIGHT gets old and tiring, but having a comfortable vehicle makes it easier. The first trip was in the 01 Grand Vitara with a table strapped to the roof. Small seats, large people, confined space and a 14 month old puppy..... not something I would EVER recommend. lol
Second time was in the 06 Sierra crew cab. It's amazing what a pair of good seats will do. Passenger controls the radio, light snacks and breaks every 2-3 hours to stretch our (and the pooches) legs worked well. I drink water all day when the sun is up, then switch to caffinated drinks when the sun goes down. We also rotate naps in the back. I think this summer we will stop somewhere about 15 hours out. I'm getting too old and lazy to run 30 hours at a time.
ClemSparks wrote:Also think about road noise...it's a long trip and youre ears will be ringing. Sometimes I take hearing protection for long trips like that.
The entire interior of the E30 is currently getting stripped and covered in sound deadening material. I'm hoping that will help with the road noise.
Thanks for all the suggestions guys!
