Major dilemma...roadtrip, or no roadtrip? LONG

[Rufblackbird]

Folks...

Some of you may know that I'm planning a roadtrip, starting from where I am now (Aberdeen, Maryland) to the west coast. I finish my duties here on the 26th this month, and I have a plane reservation for the 14th of September out of LAX. Currently my roadtrip will take me to Michigan (depends if Recaro decides to respond to my request for a factory tour , down to Oklahoma to visit a friend, west into Colorado for a day or two of the Rocky Mountain twisties, then further west through Utah, Vegas, into LA. From there I wanted to visit a few shops (such as Andial) and Brian (SoCal911SC), then go up north along the PCH to San Jose to visit my relatives. Then it's all the way north along the PCH to Oregon where I'll stop by at Paul's (pwd72s) place, and into Washington State where I want to check out the SR-71 Blackbird, and meet up with the PNW Pelicanites to do the 1000km event rdane posted a while back. Finally it's a long drive down back to LA, where the 911 will go on a boat and I'll hop on a plane back to the rock I call home. Trip so far is totaling 7,300 miles, according to Microsoft's Street and Trips 2k4.

However...a good friend of mine who was supposed to do the trip with me cancelled because he got a new job and doesn't have vacation time. And lately my mom has been calling me all the time because she wants me to come home early and not to the trip by myself. She cites the terrorists getting ready to attack in September as one reason, also that I'll be spending some money I don't have, and another is that she'll be worried about me as I'll be alone, and the "fact" that I'll have car problems. Not to mention that since I'm the only one that really helps out at home, and she is saying there's a lot of cleaning to be done. (BS...there's ALWAYS a lot of cleaning to be done)

Now...I've been planning this for over a year. She doesn't know that I bought a 911 to do this roadtrip in...she still thinks I'll be driving a '80 Rabbit pickup that I sold a month ago. I've had doubts before about this trip, but I'm really eager to test both the 911 and my endurance on this trip. The way I see it is this is the only time in a LONG time that I'll have the chance to see a lot of the continental US, especially in my very own 911.

The dilemma is this...I want to do this roadtrip very much so no matter the expense, and there's a lot of people that I would like to visit (and I've already told them so). But now my mom just offered to pay shipping of the car to the west coast if I come home 2 weeks early. I just don't really know what to think right now... Thanks for listening!

[350HP930]

I think you will need to thrash your new purchase around for a few thousand miles to make sure you shake all the bugs out before you start on your trip.

If you think the car is up to it go for it and enjoy. My 930 is going up to the blue ridge mountains for a little spirited driving once its back together and tested.

[84porsche]

Jeff if this is what you have been planning then do it. Life is too short not to enjoy. I am actually planning my own first road trip up to Central California but unfortunately I can't take the P-car because of luggage and 2 other people.

[pwd72s]

Your mom says terrorists are going to attack in September? Gosh, I hope she called homeland security and let them know. Still, free shipping is quite an incentive....Jeff, I'd say count your pennies, calculate costs accurately, and then? Do as YOU wish....

[Rufblackbird]

Mom said she saw on the news or something like that...not like it's the first time it's been reported!

Mom also said that because there's no A/C in the car, it's gonna get hot driving in the summer (I told her it would be fall by that time) and I would get drowsy, and fall asleep at the wheel. Maybe it's time I get A/C installed?

I agree...life's too short, which is what I've said from the beginning of everything. I still have a few doubts about the trip tho...I don't really want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere, and be needing a part that I can't find!

[350HP930]

Just make sure to get a AAA membership before you start. You can always get a tow to a scenic little town where you can wait for pelican to ship you what you need. Just look at how well that turned out for MJF's character in 'doc hollywood'.

[MFAFF]

Do it....

Yes there are potential problems, yes there are risks...I'd say that you are more likely to have an accidnet than be involved in a terrorist attack but that's for you to evaluate.

Personally I' d go on the trip, alone or not you will enjoy it, you will have great time and whatever car issues you have there are Pelicans who will be able to assist.

Get the AA card, get your route map sorted and mark on it P-car dealers, shops or whatever the whole way across with pohne numbers and addresses, just in case. So you know where to go if there is a problem....

Not having a/c is not a huge issue, we managed for years with cars in hot climates before a/c was widespread so its not impossible..

Go for it an have a set of memories to last you a life time.

[rcecale]

Jeff,

I've made trips across the country a few times, both alone and with "a companion". Although none of the trips have been in my 911. My advice to you is to go for it. Do the trip.

Having a companion along is nice, but honestly, I prefer to make the trip by myself. You can really get lost in the beauty of our country. Take a camera with you for those once in a lifetime shots. And, since you'd be taking your 911, take along a laptop so you can connect to Pelican while on the road.

Life is short and sometimes you only get one opportunity at something. This certainly has the makings of a great one. Sounds like you have a great itinerary worked out. Another good thing about doing this trip by yourself is that any shcedule changes only need to be approved by YOU!

Randy

[Rufblackbird]

Thanks for the comments guys...so far, it's 8 to 1, in favor of roadtrip!

I'll definintely take pictures...with a digital camera and camcorder, I can take shots all day long. And the only computer I have is my Dell laptop, which will also help me navigate.

Yup...that's what I said to my mom...life is short, and I may never have another opportunity. Then again...she thinks I'm doing this in a rabbit pickup

I'll probably end up posting a "captain's log" of sorts...maybe see how many people on this board I can meet!

[rcecale]

Pelican Tour, 2004!

[Rot 911]

I'm like Randy, given a choice I would rather do a road trip by myself. I like the freedom of me being the only one to make decisions as to where to go and where to stop. As to any terrorist attacks a 911 on an open highway is a small target! By the way, if you are going down to Oklahoma are you going to take I-44? If so, at one point you will only be about 55 miles from my house. Should you need to do any maintenance feel free to drop by. I have any tool you might need to fix any problem that might arise.

[Rufblackbird]

Kurt,
Yes, I will be taking I-44 through Missouri. I looked up Lohman on the map...is that close to Jefferson City? Maybe I'll be able to make a detour and pay you a visit

[Rot 911]

Originally posted by Rufblackbird
Kurt,
Yes, I will be taking I-44 through Missouri. I looked up Lohman on the map...is that close to Jefferson City? Maybe I'll be able to make a detour and pay you a visit

Yes about 12 miles Southwest of Jeff City, so closer to I-44. Just let me know.

[arcsine]

Do it.

It will be better than dying not knowing what the trip would of been like.

[jyl]

I'd definitely do the trip. Sounds like a lot of fun.

Not sure about the car's reliability - that's your call, sounds like you are a good mechanic though, so if you bring tools, your AAA card, and Pelican's phone # you should be ready. Weren't there some good threads once on "what tools for a cross-country trip"?

I'd personally bring stuff for minimalist camping (small tent, sleeping bag, ground cloth, etc) and a list of campsites along the way. Waking up next to a bright stream or a mountain meadow is going to be a lot more inspiring than waking up in some dirty motel by the truck stop - and a lot cheaper. Also a small cooler that's driven off the cigarette lighter ($60-90: search "Koolatron" or similar) so I could get inexpensive, healthy food and drink from grocery stores rather than eat Denny's and McDonalds for thousands of miles. I'd also want the car to have a decent stereo, to carry plenty of music and audiobooks. With that preparation, I'd be a happy camper!

[vash]

why not a compromise? take out your map and draw a straighter line through the country. at least make it a bigass "L". looks like you are adding alot of miles backtracking back down the west coast.

nevertheless, if my car was up to the task, i would go for it. sounds like you have a long time of "listening to mom", coming up anyways. you may as well put in a session of crazy independence before the "sentence" starts. (my mom is chinese, I KNOW this). have fun, while you are still willing. test of man and machine!

oh, if the time comes for an oil change, and you happen to be in the bay area, you're welcome to my tools and garage.

[Rufblackbird]

Originally posted by vash
sounds like you have a long time of "listening to mom", coming up anyways. you may as well put in a session of crazy independence before the "sentence" starts. (my mom is chinese, I KNOW this).

oh, if the time comes for an oil change, and you happen to be in the bay area, you're welcome to my tools and garage.

Yup...all chinese moms think alike...

Yeah...it's a lot of miles backtracking back down the west coast...if I didn't see that thread rdane posted a while back about a very scenic 1000km driving event happening in Washington on Sept. 11, I would've gone straight to Washington via Montana from Colorado and straight down the PCH. But oh well...it's only a few extra miles . Cool...I'll be close to the bay area when I stop by San Jose to visit aunts...maybe a mini Pelican get together could be arranged?

[Owain]

When I was in college I had a couple of months off one summer so I worked for half of it and spent the rest driving from Victoria BC to Ottawa and back in an old beat up Datsun 200SX. It was a great trip, and memories and pics I'll have forever. I won't say it wasn't without difficulties, such as a blown up (literally) clutch in the Nowhere WA, with a 60 mile tow to the nearest garage (make sure you get AAA, mine way more than paid for itself on that one) but even those were part of the adventure. I even packed really lightly, expecting to have to trade the car for a bus ticket at some point, but I made it something like 10,000 miles (it was a rather circuitous route, lots of detours and stops to see interesting things) in all and arrived home in one peice. Doing it in a Porsche would be that much better, although you'd be more tied to it if there were major problems. Just prepare well (talk to RoninLB, I think there are threads where he describes what he brought along on his big ride a couple of years ago and some preventative stuff done first) and you most likely won't have any troubles. And if you do, just remember that you're on holliday and can enjoy the places you get stuck in .

I agree with Kurt and Randy. Given the choice I'd much rather do a trip like that on my own. You never have to vote on any course changes you want to make, you don't have to listen to complaning about this and that, you just stop when you need fuel, see something interesting, want to visit someone, need a nap or are hungry. Much simpler . I usually left the planning of the days route to the night before while I read guide books in my motel room.

Obviously I think you should just do it. You'll regret it if you don't take the opportunity when it presents itself, you might not get another chance. Mothers are supposed to worry about their kids but most likely the experience will outweigh the financial (as long as it's not too much) and the Mom troubles. Once you've reached home safely she'll be just as happy as if you had flown. Also, you're probably more likely to be involved in terrorist troubles in an aircraft than driving a car.

[vash]

yes, bring tools. i once had to change a fuel pump out in my jeep, in the friggen middle of hell, ok, it was utah. with a cresent wrench and leatherman tool. to this day, i cant remember why i had a new FP in the back. scary, solo. but damn fun.

[Rufblackbird]

got the fuel pump covered...it died on me a couple of weeks ago.

Just got off the phone with mom....that was not a good conversation at all. I'll spare ya'll of the gory details, but I think I might go on the trip just to piss her off.