Date:         Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:11:59 -0400
Reply-To:     Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: Advice needed for cross-country trip
Comments: To: Ellen <elleninoregon@HOTMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <BLU144-W37F4E0CA4BCF2A79C8F53EB8730@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

I'd suggest a relatively small laptop (Macbook with a 13" screen would
be about as big as I'd recommend) with wifi and bluetooth capability.
The laptop can double as a DVD player. There are lots of places that
can give you reviews on GPS units. The overall info for those is
mostly the cheap ones do the same job as the expensive ones. And yes,
GPS quickly becomes a very useful addition.

I'm not sure I'd worry about a wireless internet service (though I've
used one in the past and was thankful I had it.) I use mine, because
I'm an internet addict and must have my feeding several times a day.

Satellite radio is a wise choice. You may have a lot of stuff on an
mp3 player, or cds with you, but the satellite radio service can give
you traffic in a lot of cities, and news sources long before you get
near terrestrial radio sources. An FM tuner type has worked nicely for
me for 4 years now (Sirius). I have other more elaborate setups now
too, but the FM tuner one is a nice transportable device.


On Aug 12, 2008, at 10:53 PM, Ellen wrote:

> The short story is this: I'm planning on quitting my job the first
> part of October, and embarking on a cross-country trip to see all my
> relatives.  This trip will take me from Oregon to Minnesota,
> Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Texas, California, then back home to
> Oregon.  About 6000 miles in all.  I don't have any particular time
> schedule.  I have a pension, and will look for more satisfying work
> when I get back home.  Lola (with just under 53,000 original miles)
> will make the trip.  I have AAA plus and sufficient funds should
> anything go wrong on the road.  I guess my question is logistics.  I
> don't have a laptop currently, but I see the need for one.  A
> wireless internet service?  GPS?  What else do I need to know?  This
> is all new ground for me.  Anyone who has done this, please let me
> know what worked, what didn't work, what you wish you had known.