Date:         Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:31:20 -0800
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Any Suggestions for 24-hour,
              straight through driving road trip??
In-Reply-To:  <373d06d60911130745p98e8ff6g67d0b801c71db2d6@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

 This thread seems to have evolved into the ethics of driving..(grin)

  You should be able to safely pull off a 24hr straight-through drive
safely, without endangering the whole driving world..  It means you divide
up the driving chores and the 'off driver' should sleep.  4hrs on/4hrs off
seems to be the most common rotation for a 24hr stint...The 'crew' is often
keyed-up at the start of a journey and will tend to want stay awake, all at
the same time for too long.   Someone needs to try to sleep soon after you
get moving..It may seem futile to lie down when you think "I'm not sleepy
yet" but surprisingly, sleep usually will come anyway, leaving a rested
driver ready to take over.
   After about 10-12 hrs you ought to reveiw the condition of your 'crew'
and if you have nobody who's rested enough..stop driving and sleep.
  When you have a long boring oft-repeated interstate drive to get through,
straight-through is a good way to get it done.  I bet 'taking your time'
along a mind-numbing very familiar interstate you're more likely to
space-out and crash through sheer inattention than you would be to fall
asleep with two drivers "focused" on getting the Job done..
  I've been up and down the I-5 interstate (west coast N/S route) using both
methods too many times to count..about a 21hr driving time. Tedious now,
either straight through or with a stop,  after so many trips..I sometimes,
if time allows, take some really strange detours just because...
  Good luck with it.
  Don Hanson


> >
> > > Good Evening!
> > >
> > >
> > > My wife, son and I are going to take our Westy on a road trip next week
> > > from our house (south of Boston) to Sarasota, FL. It appears to be a 24
> > hour
> > > trip. My wife thinks it would be neat to making the trip non-stop
> (other
> > > than gas, food, etc.).
> > >
> > > Admittedly some 25+ years ago I would do this at a drop of the
> proverbial
> > > drop of the hat, and in fact have done it a couple of times. But being
> an
> > > "old fart" I have some trepidations in doing a straight through drive.
> My
> > > endurance, eye sight, etc. ain't what it used to be.
> > >
> > > The plan is to leave next Friday at 6pm drive through the night and
> > arrive
> > > early Sat evening.
> > >
> > > Any hints, suggestions, etc?