Just Returned from a 3,603 mile round trip -- driving solo, and with Pepper, my dog

[Eupher]

I'm kinda numb, actually. Drove out to the Phoenix, AZ area from my digs here in Arkansas a week ago today. Stayed overnight at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma on Saturday after dropping off Jackie, my parrot, at her boarding digs in Grandview, MO. Continued on Sunday to AZ. Each leg was about 800 miles.

Enjoyed the holidaze with my sister and her kids and grandkids once we got there. Her ex, too, if that's important. Bob's a good guy, but I guess it just didn't work out.

Left Peoria, AZ yesterday morning for the trip home and drove with only pit and fuel stops until arriving in Oklahoma City. Stayed the night (well, only about 4 hours), then picked it up again and drove up to Grandview, MO (outside of Kansas City) to pick up Jackie, my parrot. Some health issues to be reported on Jackie after more test results are received. Nonstop the rest of the way home, with the last 100 miles in sort of a pissy rain.

Pepper was a trooper. No complaints out of her at all, and she was happy to be home. Me too, for that matter, though I certainly bitched a lot at tons of idiot drivers.

For those who may be curious, I drive a 2018 Toyota minivan. It's without a doubt the most comfortable and reliable vehicle I've ever driven and even puts up with the enormous potholes on I-40 in New Mexico.

 

[papa tiger]

I done that stuff lots of times. So long a trip I mostly stayed in the left lane,
much smoother that the 18 wheeler hell strips. I saw my kids and theirs. It was good.

Sometimes I drove all night after a 3 to 11 shift. Once I drove all day and night after a 11 to 7 am.
I slept in my Leather jacket in the back of my Forerunner in their drive. It was for Football homecoming.
Of course I would do it all over again. Just kidding. Ugh. the Pain, oh The Pain. ... ...

The longest drive in the last couple of years was up to my Lake home to make sure the home and heat is set to Extreme cold nights.
5 hours up, 1 & 1/2 hours there and near 4.5 hours back on a quicker route, higher faster traffic. In the Dark to in the dark day.

 

[Eupher]

I done that stuff lots of times. So long a trip I mostly stayed in the left lane,
much smoother that the 18 wheeler hell strips. I saw my kids and theirs. It was good.

Sometimes I drove all night after a 3 to 11 shift. Once I drove all day and night after a 11 to 7 am.
I slept in my Leather jacket in the back of my Forerunner in their drive. It was for Football homecoming.
Of course I would do it all over again. Just kidding. Ugh. the Pain, oh The Pain. ... ...

The longest drive in the last couple of years was up to my Lake home to make sure the home and heat is set to Extreme cold nights.
5 hours up, 1 & 1/2 hours there and near 4.5 hours back on a quicker route, higher faster traffic. In the Dark to in the dark day.

Ah, papa, you're a trooper. Probably not on the same level as Pepper, my dog, but then again, she doesn't drive.

BTW, the idiot drivers I refer to aren't the semi-drivers -- unless, of course, they camp out in the left lane. Happened fairly often on the trip out there, but I guess they got the memo and stopped that nonsense on the way back.

Another BTW -- I do not exceed the speed limit. Unless, of course, I don't see the restrictions in a construction zone until later. I hate paying speeding tickets, and don't ask me how I know how that works. My wife, in particular, has been nabbed a ridiculous number of times in said circumstances.

I'm just a regular driver who's been driving for 50+ years. No professional stuff, except for the military angle. We won't talk about that, eh?

 

[Twostep]

In June it was Oklahoma City to Atlanta and back in two days. Arkansas was a lesson in patience. Traffic laws do not apply to truckers?

 

[Eupher]

In June it was Oklahoma City to Atlanta and back in two days. Arkansas was a lesson in patience. Traffic laws do not apply to truckers?

I-40 and I-70 are pretty much the same -- choked with truck traffic.

 

[hollydolly]

I remember you leaving to drop your Burd off at a loaction hours in the pposite direction.

Pleased you had a good time. but if it was me I'd be dead from exhaustion...

 

[Pepper]

Next time @Eupher please take this Pepper too. I never go anywhere. Thanks!

 

[Eupher]

I remember you leaving to drop your Burd off at a loaction hours in the pposite direction.

Pleased you had a good time. but if it was me I'd be dead from exhaustion...

Not quite the opposite direction. I had to drop her off in Kansas City, which is north and west of me. Then loop back to the south and west a LONG way. There just aren't any viable parrot boarding opportunities in my neck of the woods.

 

[Eupher]

Next time @Eupher please take this Pepper too. I never go anywhere. Thanks!

As long as you don't need a car seat, no problem! lol

 

[Remy]

I'm glad you made it home safe without mishaps. Driving long distance is something I really dislike. I have driven across the U.S.. Never again. I can't even stand 2-3 hours on the freeway.

 

[hollydolly]

I'm glad you made it home safe without mishaps. Driving long distance is something I really dislike. I have driven across the U.S.. Never again. I can't even stand 2-3 hours on the freeway.

Remy that's about my limit on the motorway these days.. 3 hours max.. and I've had more than enough.

It's not the driving, I've long been able to drive long distances, but the sheer amount of traffic now in the last few years on our roads on this tiny Island... makes even the shortest journeys torturous..

 

[Jocko]

Good job. Home safe and sound.

 

[CooCooforCoCoPuffs]

I'm kinda numb, actually. Drove out to the Phoenix, AZ area from my digs here in Arkansas a week ago today. Stayed overnight at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma on Saturday after dropping off Jackie, my parrot, at her boarding digs in Grandview, MO. Continued on Sunday to AZ. Each leg was about 800 miles.

Enjoyed the holidaze with my sister and her kids and grandkids once we got there. Her ex, too, if that's important. Bob's a good guy, but I guess it just didn't work out.

Left Peoria, AZ yesterday morning for the trip home and drove with only pit and fuel stops until arriving in Oklahoma City. Stayed the night (well, only about 4 hours), then picked it up again and drove up to Grandview, MO (outside of Kansas City) to pick up Jackie, my parrot. Some health issues to be reported on Jackie after more test results are received. Nonstop the rest of the way home, with the last 100 miles in sort of a pissy rain.

Pepper was a trooper. No complaints out of her at all, and she was happy to be home. Me too, for that matter, though I certainly bitched a lot at tons of idiot drivers.

For those who may be curious, I drive a 2018 Toyota minivan. It's without a doubt the most comfortable and reliable vehicle I've ever driven and even puts up with the enormous potholes on I-40 in New Mexico.

 

[papa tiger]

Most likely the truckers are running 75 mph in the left lane,
so they don't run 65 or so in the rough Bump-bump right lane.

Next year the left lane will be screwed up bump-bumps too.
The real unsafe part is all the Rubber tread thrown from the
re-treaded tires.

I get the unsafe part of State Employees picking up the tire carcasses.
Trucking needs to pay 1% more just for those to be safe with proper
traffic signaling guidance's on them areas.

Last year I counted more than 20 large chunks of tread on a N-S interstate
in just 2 miles. How many Tractors trailers on the road are just pieces of junk.

Those potholes are really hard on the front wheel bearings.

 

[smiley]

did the dog enjoy it - that's the important thing heh?

 

[CooCooforCoCoPuffs]

I'm kinda numb, actually...
...Enjoyed the holidaze with my sister and her kids and grandkids once we got there...
..Left Peoria, AZ yesterday morning for the trip home and drove with only pit and fuel stops until arriving in Oklahoma City.... Some health issues to be reported on Jackie after more test results are received...
...Nonstop the rest of the way home, with the last 100 miles in sort of a pissy rain...
...Pepper was a trooper..
..No complaints out of her at all, and she was happy to be home.
...Me too, for that matter, though I certainly bitched a lot at tons of idiot drivers...
For those who may be curious, I drive a 2018 Toyota minivan. It's without a doubt the most comfortable and reliable vehicle I've ever driven and even puts up with the enormous potholes on I-40 in New Mexico.

Glad you got back in one piece, safe and sound; enjoyed the visit once you got there.
Can totally understand the numb...I assume you mean body or tush feels numb, after driving so many miles in such a short period of time!

I don't travel long haul car as much as I used to...I get stiff these days and I've gotten to the point it almost seems boring because it is beginning to take on a "same old same old" quality..been there done that type. I now have a more comfy car, and am planning to try a really long haul probably from Tucson to Wash DC or perhaps Toronto soon.

I enjoy driving so much. I think I've gone coast to coast - at least 20-30 times in my life I think? And it was for "fun" as am not a trucker, though I probably could have made money being one?

Am in Tucson, AZ. Peoria has changed so much from the 70s; it used to be in the "sticks" back then: orange and grape groves...and desert.

I too don't like pissy rain driving conditions, what I consider rain that doesn't really call for on all the time wipers and I hit the wipe button as needed: makes vehicle a mess, yucky misty pissy-like but not real falling down wash off type rain?

Who is "pepper" the trooper? Sorry, haven't been here long enough...

My dh bitches at drivers all the time! Especially truckers. It seems he thinks truckers know right when they can get in his way...just looking for the right moment to piss him off...lol More drivers on the road and the percentage of idiots goes up exponentially I think. I just try to stay polite and stay alive on the roads these days.

2018 Toyota minivan? I owned a 2000 minivan - Plymouth Grand Caravan. Most comfortable and reliable thing I ever drove...until ex dh was broadsided by a pizza delivery driver. The minivan was 11 years old...and only had 138,000 miles on it! All from me exploring the US!

Glad you made it back!

 

[Mr. Ed]

Soon to be wife and I drove from New York to Salt Lake City, Utah, 1979 with only $200 in my pocket. Bought a lime green plastic tarp from Kmart to be used as a tent. First night pouring down rain, bought 4 novelty rubber tipped spears to hold the tarp up.The things we do when we are young.

 

[rgp]

Over the years , I did most-all my travel by motorcycle. Border-to-border and coast-to-coast more than once. @ 75 can't do it any longer and damn I miss it.

We [Americans] live in a large beautiful country, just so much to see, and mentally I wasn't done seeing it, when my body decided I was.

I did venture into Mexico and Canada , but just a tad.

I don't think I went deep enough into Mexico to see the really scenic part, but I did go a fair distance into Canada and it too is just beautiful.

 

[Eupher]

Am in Tucson, AZ. Peoria has changed so much from the 70s; it used to be in the "sticks" back then: orange and grape groves...and desert.

I too don't like pissy rain driving conditions, what I consider rain that doesn't really call for on all the time wipers and I hit the wipe button as needed: makes vehicle a mess, yucky misty pissy-like but not real falling down wash off type rain?

Who is "pepper" the trooper? Sorry, haven't been here long enough...

My dh bitches at drivers all the time! Especially truckers. It seems he thinks truckers know right when they can get in his way...just looking for the right moment to piss him off...lol More drivers on the road and the percentage of idiots goes up exponentially I think. I just try to stay polite and stay alive on the roads these days.

2018 Toyota minivan? I owned a 2000 minivan - Plymouth Grand Caravan. Most comfortable and reliable thing I ever drove...until ex dh was broadsided by a pizza delivery driver. The minivan was 11 years old...and only had 138,000 miles on it! All from me exploring the US!

Glad you made it back!

Thanks for a very thoughtful reply!

The sheer amount of retail establishments in and around Peoria is frightening. Lots and lots of places to spend money. Not a fan of that setup, but it's where my sister calls home.

Pepper the trooper is my dog. She came along for the ride and was quite happy curled up in the back seat of the minivan.

TBH, the issue that irritates me more than truckers camping in the left lane is this -- I'm traveling in the right lane, at or just above the speed limit with the cruise control on and there is a vehicle approaching in the passing lane (but will not pass before I'm forced to shut down cruise control because of a slower vehicle in front of me). That drives me nuts. When the shoe's on the other foot, I will try to increase speed to keep that from happening to the other guy.

My previous minivan was a 2004 Toyota Sienna. I traded it in with 270,000 miles on it and it was still going strong. It had an interference engine, meaning if the timing belt broke, that would lunch the engine. Ergo, the timing belt had to be changed out every 100,000 miles -- and it was not a small job. Apart from that maintenance item, a high pressure fuel pump, tires, batteries, and regular oil changes, that's pretty much all I ever did with that car. Oh, rear shocks and a cable for the sliding door as well. Absolutely great car. A lot of people hate minivans, but as a musician with up to 4 low brass instruments and a dog guy (had 5 dogs at one time), it is the most practical vehicle for me.

 

[Eupher]

Most likely the truckers are running 75 mph in the left lane,
so they don't run 65 or so in the rough Bump-bump right lane.

Next year the left lane will be screwed up bump-bumps too.
The real unsafe part is all the Rubber tread thrown from the
re-treaded tires.

I get the unsafe part of State Employees picking up the tire carcasses.
Trucking needs to pay 1% more just for those to be safe with proper
traffic signaling guidance's on them areas.

Last year I counted more than 20 large chunks of tread on a N-S interstate
in just 2 miles. How many Tractors trailers on the road are just pieces of junk.

Those potholes are really hard on the front wheel bearings.

Of the various states I drove through -- Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, the worst roads were in New Mexico, especially westbound. Lots of work being done, but NM has a long way to go. And yeah, I managed to hit a chunk of truck tire and it caused a very small leak, which I'm scheduling to be inspected today. It wasn't engine oil, and I suspected it was brake fluid. Topped off the master cylinder, which seemed a bit low. Made it back fine with no brake issues, but I definitely want to get the vehicle up in the air and get it checked out thoroughly.

 

[Eupher]

did the dog enjoy it - that's the important thing heh?

Excuse the arrogance, please, but as her owner, Pepper just wants to be around me. The classic dog thing -- she even follows me into the bathroom, which is not advised for ANY living thing.

She willingly gets into the back seat area, then curls up on the bench seat and naps. Never a yelp of complaint. I'm not sure if that qualifies as "enjoyment" but I'll take that as a win.