Surviving the Summer Road Trip
Written and Photos By: Nancy Coblenz, CEO, Rebel Role Model
Now that summer is upon us, and the children are out of school, vacation time becomes necessary. For some of us, rather than soaking up the sun on an exotic beach, we are beckoned by the highways and back roads of America. That’s right, the good ole’ classic road trip! As an avid road tripper, with 44 states under my belt, I’ve learned a few things to keep the trip engaging, interactive, and dare I say…fun!
My first road trip was at the age of 11 with my father, where we set out to drive from Southern California to Washington D.C. We both had not a clue what we were getting into, but nonetheless, packed his truck and headed off. The first day heading into Arizona, we encountered the heaviest monsoon I have ever experienced. It was like a scene from “The Mummy” with half the sky black as night and the other, a festering bright orange, from the sand. I recall my father saying everything will be just fine, but after crawling past overturned semi’s, and fighting winds over 80 mph, he reluctantly reassured me.
Finally reaching Phoenix, I broke down, this was the most horrifying event I’ve encountered in my 11 years of life. Then fear set in, what if the rest of the trip will be like this? My father sat beside me and said, “Nancy, there will be times in your life where you’ll be forced to go through huge obstacles; where you won’t know the outcome until much later. This feeling is just the first of many times you will doubt yourself. But it’s what you do to overcome these fears that make you a stronger person. So what’s it gonna be kid?” Barely catching my breath, I begrudgingly replied, “I’m not a quitter, let’s keep going.”
Since that trip, my father and I have completed Route 66 on four journeys, and have embarked on twelve cross country road trips. Let me tell you, a road trip will quickly teach you if you truly have the patience or not.
So, on to the survival tips. Most importantly, be as prepared as possible. As my father says, “It’s free to take it, so load up the truck.” There will be situations in which you would never guess to have experienced. Here's what I like to have in my vehicle: a large bottle of water (for the car), full toolbox, blanket, sleeping bag, knife, wet wipes, anti-bacterial sanitizer, paper maps (yes, they still exist), analog compass, a mason jar (to collect sand/rocks), and a plug-in cooler for snacks. These are the basics just in case you get into sticky situations.
The next initiative to tackle is your comfort. If you’re on the road for extended periods of time, it will take a toll on your mind and body very quickly. For my father, he uses a memory foam back pillow, and I use a neck pillow to stabilize myself when sleeping in the front seat. Also, ear plugs, eye mask, comfort fit headphones, and blanket are extremely helpful to have.
The not so obvious items that are necessary would be more for function, rather comfort. Always have an AC-DC converter, chapstick, sunscreen (yes, you get sunburnt), hand lotion, allergy medication, duct tape, electrician’s tape, and survival kit. Again, you never know what situation you’ll encounter, so
always be prepared.