Road trip TIPS.

[arlon]

Sorry for beating road trip theme to death but out of the vehicle thread I thought a destination thread might be interesting. Now out of that thread there seems to be some TIPS coming up that are useful too.

Tips on logistics, planning, photographing, journeling, etc. would be helpful.

I'll start with a short story..

Wife never picked up a camera till our road trip to colorado last year.
She started taking a few snap shots out of the car window with my (now hers) D50 and 18-200VR . I never got that camera back, just glad I had it along as a backup!

When we got to the hotel and put the photos on the laptop I was shocked to see she had shot 20-30 MILE MARKERS and highway signs documenting our travels.

She shot mile markers, highway signs, city signs and signs from every eatery we stopped at. When we got to the park, she shot signs there too.

I go straight for the scenery myself.

When we got back to Houston and went through our photos I was amazed how useful it was for placing all of her shots. She knows exactly where her scenery shots where made and where we ate lunch. It really helped bring the trip back to life and for me the memories are what it's about.

I had to use her mile markers and road signs to figure my scenery locations out. I now shoot dumb signs along the way too.

Makes for a cool scrap book/journel to have the highway and mile marker signs thrown into the mix of scenery.

Instead of just scenery, the signs bring the back the "JOURNEY".

What tips for road trips do you have? I know there are some experienced trippers out her.. Arlon

[toverman]

Stay away from the enchilada "specials." It's just a guarantee that you'll be stopping again real soon. On long trips, we take a little cooler that plugs into the power socket with snacks and food when the road doesn't offer procurement of edibles.

Take photos of ...

Food you eat.
People you encounter (with permission).
Souvenirs you didn't buy.
Each other.
Your vehicle parked somewhere interesting.
All the junk you had to take with you.

This is all stuff you probably know already. Another important lesson, one that some photo buffs forget, is to spend a day or long activity where you don't take your camera. Just enjoy it and let your mind record the images!

[Huck]

No road tips here, but we are fixing to go to Daytona Beach driving from OKC. We are going to try to drive the 20 hours to Jacksonville and stay a few days there 1st, but I have 2 kids aged 3 and 7 so this should be interesting lol.

[venchka]

Road Trip Tips: I got a few. No time now. I'll be back.

[Chop249]

Do you have links to the other threads you're talking about? They sound interesting.

[arlon]

vehicles: http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=77142

destinations: http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...ad.php?t=77160

[arlon]

Maps.

Good detailed road maps are available as a BIG county map book from the Tex. Dept of Transportation. These are very detailed maps and include street maps of every town in Texas. GPS/Internet may have these somewhat obsolete but I still carry mine when I go out. You'll never be lost with one of these in the car. I also have a very detailed atlas we keep all the roads we travel highlighted on. Not as detailed as the county map book but still WAY more detail than a foldout state map and way better for planning than trying to look at a GPS screen. Paper is not dead yet.

[snidow]

My recently learned Road Trip tips:
1. When traveling in tornado alley, plan on the place you are staying being hit by bad storms.
2. Expect the entire town to be without power.
3. Have flash light with fresh batteries, for the complete darkness that falls when everything is without power.
4. Fresh water (I had this thank goodness), food beyond the typical snack stuff.
5. Carry some cash. Because without power credit cards and debit cards are nothing. (I had not bother to get any)
6. Be ready to drive a long way for your next meal.
7. Last, to be ever so Thankful that no one was hurt, power was restored and clean up continues.

[jerrykr]

If you photograph a building that has a historical plaque, take a close up picture so that you can read the plaque later. You don't have to take notes or remember what you photographed.

[David_3]

Originally Posted by arlon

What tips for road trips do you have?

A Mountain Dew and a dip of Copenhagen will allow you to drive all night.

I know there are some experienced trippers out her.. Arlon

I once drove solo from Oak Harbor, Washington to Key West, Florida. Does that count?

[Chop249]

Ahh sweet sweet Copenhagen...... I haven't had a dip in over 4 years, and a cigarette in 2yrs 10mths............. I certainly miss it but feel much better off for not doing it.

[arlon]

Originally Posted by David_3

A Mountain Dew and a dip of Copenhagen will allow you to drive all night.

I can do that on a coke and a box of fig newtons but I'm very caffein sensitive.

[Chief]

Car battery charger for the camera batteries

lots of memory cards

Have fun


Oh yes a piece of garden hose, a shovel and toilet paper



Gordon

[Chop249]

Originally Posted by Chief

Oh yes a piece of garden hose,


Gordon

Huh? I guess you lost me.

[Dobick]

Four things that I won't leave home without:

Camera bag loaded
Lot's of water
decent but small set of tools (to include a sturdy hammer, decent set of wrenches, pliers and a solid knife)
and a blanket

And while I usually pack a little bit heavy with lots of extras, they always seem like they are exactly that, extras.