By Jo Clark
We looked at each other over the glasses of wine on the table and, toasting, said, “What a great way to begin a road trip!” We were enjoying a wine and wild game pairing at Saskatoon, our favorite restaurant. It happens to be in Greenville, SC, and only four hours from home, so we pulled out of the driveway and drove 250 miles before our first dinner on the road. I retired from teaching in June, eager to start taking all the trips Darrel and I have dreamed about. But, alas, 2020 was not the perfect year for tripping! We decided on a road trip, with several definite places for week-long stays in condos or resorts, planning to use our vacation time-share points for our stays. The trip would take a route through some magnificent parts of America, allowing for photo ops of jaw-dropping scenery.
We pulled out a United States map to pick interim stops, scheduling about five-hour driving days, knowing that photographers can turn a five-hour trip into eight without even trying! (Yep, I’m the spotter, and my excited taping on my window is usually accompanied by a crescendo of “ooohh, OOOOHHH!!”) Getting ready for a seven-week, 7,000-mile road trip was not the challenge I expected, but the success of that preparation was seen in the safe return home!
We decided to drive the newer of our two cars, and preparations began in earnest. I emptied the inside of our vehicle, including the trunk, and took off to the car wash for a final cleaning and vacuuming before loading. I cleaned the inside of the windows too—how DO they get so grimy? Naturally, you will stock up on hand sanitizer, wipes, and even extra masks (to replace the ones you inevitably lose). This article will focus on tips that will make traveling more pleasant and even save you some money.
Tip 1: Check it Out
Have an expert check your battery, brakes, and belts. It may cost you some time, and maybe even money, but not as much as it would cost to break down 75 miles from the nearest town! Our battery and tires are relatively new, but I did a visual inspection and double-checked the air pressure (although the car has an indicator light for low tire pressure—ain’t technology grand?) After checking the oil level, brake fluid and filling the windshield washer fluid container to the brim with a blend that cuts road film and bug juice, I pronounced our Hyundai “Ready to roll!” 
Be sure the top off all fluids before pulling out. On the last trip, we managed to blow a fuse by having the two cigarette lighters in constant use with a GPS and charging station for two cell phones. Now I’ve learned: have the AC on low, and don’t leave things plugged up when you turn off the car (who knew!?) I made sure to put the pack of 20 amp fuses into the glove compartment. (By the sixth day of the trip, we had already replaced one.)
Tip 2: Locked Out
Nothing is worse than that “Oh, NO!!” that escapes your lips as you slam the car door and, in the same instant, realize the keys are still inside. Take that spare set of keys and bury them in the bottom of your pocketbook (or pants pocket). Do NOT put the spare key inside your luggage. The chance that the bags will still be in the trunk is directly proportionate to the distance from the locksmith.
Tip 3: Crate It
A square plastic crate works perfectly to hold a bottle of washer fluid, Windex and towels for the inside, a set of jumper cables, and an air pump that uses the cigarette lighter for power. Tuck in a can of WD-40—it works great to get bugs off the hood and grille, and if you get into a fire ant bed, it takes the stinging and burning out immediately (yes, I speak from experience.) Add in a small first aid kit and an emergency road kit with a flashlight, reflective safety flashers or flares, and an emergency blanket.
Tip 4: Track your Trip
Use your cell phone to take pictures of the email showing the hotel confirmation number and address, so it is handy to key into the GPS (or to show the front desk if they can’t find your reservation.) Bonus tip: A ground floor room that you can back right up to saves countless steps unloading and loading, too.
Tip 5: Use the Bed
Use your bed to lay out all the items you need to pack. It puts them at the right height to save your back and allows you to get a visual idea of clothing colors, seeing what matches and what can do double duty. It is easier to spot what you consider a necessity and what could be left behind by spreading things out. The bed also works perfectly for camera equipment, letting you group cameras and lenses for specific purposes, like landscapes, waterfalls, or nighttime shooting. Deciding on the necessary equipment for two enthusiastic photographers.
Tip 6: Packing in Stages
Separate things in a logical way for loading. You will probably want boots only during the longer stays when there is more time for exploration, so the bag of shoes goes in the very back, accessible when you unpack most of the trunk.
Tip 7: Packing for the Weather
Use the Internet to check the weather! Use predicted weather and temperatures to help guide packing decisions. Remember to toss in a pair of thin weight long underwear—just in case. After 12 days of 80-90 degrees, a 41-degree day slipped up on us. Long sleeves and jeans felt pretty good. A Hyundai really does hold it all!
Tip 8: Pack an Overnight Bag
Pack a bag with all you need for one or two nights. After years of unloading the entire car every night and loading it back up the next morning, we finally figured this one out (I guess we’re slow!) Now, we pack pj’s for the night, fresh undies, socks, and clothes for the next day (or more if we have a long leg of a couple of nights between our extended stays) in a separate duffle bag. Then his shaving kit and my “bathroom bag” are tucked into the ends. A large bag holds everything you will need for one night and needs to be loaded into the trunk LAST.
Tip 9: Protective Packing
To pack fragile items, like a sinus flush unit or contact sterilizer, put them in small, insulated lunch bags. A CBD or Hemp oil bottle may leak if the eyedropper top is bent sideways; a tall prescription pill bottle is perfect for storing these items safely. Insulated lunch bags provide a layer of protection for packed items. Store breakable bottles in old pill containers and labeled plastic bags.
Tip 10: Zip it Shut
Pack several resealable plastic bags. They are useful for so many purposes, and a plastic bag labeled “Cell Charger” or “Camera Cord” helps remind me not to leave it behind in a room. Another essential for the wine lover is a wine packing bag. This is a sealable bubble-wrap bag that allows you to pack that bottle of wine you couldn’t live without for a safe trip home. Sealable wine bags allow you to bring home some treasures without leaks.
Tip 11: Protect Yourself
I researched the most likely ways germs are transmitted. High on the list was a gas pump. I purchased a box of disposable gloves to use as needed. I also feel that hotel linens are sufficiently cleaned and Clorox, but snuggling up to a “used” pillow was just asking for trouble: we hauled along our neck pillows as well as our body pillows. Better safe than sorry. Also, hotel floors may not be as clean as you would like. Having pairs of surgical booties or even a large pair of socks to slip on at the door can keep your tootsies clean and germ-free.
Tip 12: Eating In
Think of things you can take along to cook in the room to help cut costs. A trip can get expensive if you are eating out three squares a day, especially when you’re talking about a minimum of seven weeks. Add to that traveling during a pandemic, and you have a recipe for unpleasant surprises. Right now, few hotels offer breakfast (other than cold muffins).
For two weeks before our trip, I listed things we could take along to cut costs, as well as make breakfast in the room when it wasn’t provided. The “cooking in our room” idea paid off. It is rare to find rooms without a small fridge and microwave, so you can always make a bowl of oatmeal and even cook bacon and scrambled eggs. Then when you have an actual kitchen, you can take full advantage of the cooking options. You may even want to take along an electric tabletop single-burner and a skillet for in-room meals. Cooking extra when you have the chance will allow you to enjoy lunches from the cooler without fast food stops. An omelet from dinner leftovers means a full tummy for Darrel, facing the day’s drive.
Tip 13: Eating On the Road
For easy on the road eats, stock up on protein drinks, Vienna sausage, and even sardines. Use a handled shopping bag, and toss in several sleeves of crackers, cheese crisps, forks (and hot sauce for good measure), and you have the makings of lunch on the road! Individual packs of oatmeal make an easy microwave breakfast. Eggs and bacon are easy to handle in a hotel microwave or a condo unit’s stove.
Tip 14: Stay Hydrated
A small filtering pitcher will provide quality drinking water without having to buy bottled water. Having freshly filtered water without having to shop or store it is a bonus.
Tip 15: Keep Cool
A large cooler can be used as an in-car refrigerator; put the cooler behind the passenger seat so it is easy for a passenger to turn around and reach without the driver stopping. (Important tip: measure or test the cooler in the seat, so you don’t end up with one that doesn’t “ride” safely.) A wire shelf that fits inside the cooler will keep items out of the melted ice that collects in the bottom of your cooler. (HINT: be sure the drain plug is in tight, or it will wet the seat!!)
Tip 16: Storage Containers
Plastic bins make a great stackable system for storing items. A bonus is that you can see what is inside. We started with two, one for our kitchen items (don’t forget to toss in a roll of paper towels, toilet paper if you hate the thin stuff, paper plates and bowls, utensils, and, of course, wine glasses – I do have my standards!) A small set of stainless nesting bowls with lids will do triple duty as a mixing bowl, storage container, and even a dishpan!
Tip 17: Click It
Stacked bins will fly forward on sudden stops. Click that seatbelt like you would to keep a child in place. Another useful thing about the plastic bins is that you can use them as a bedside/chairside table (or even a footstool!) I even added a third container, a file drawer to hold all the travel brochures and books I collected along the way. Stackable containers have myriad uses, but they WILL fly forward upon the inevitable sudden stops.
Tip 18: Wash, Don’t Pack
A smaller container holds extra bathroom essentials, like razors, a large bottle of contact solution, alcohol pads (great for cleaning windshield wipers, too), laundry packets, color catchers, and dryer sheets. And quarters! Change is tough to come by nowadays, so get a roll or two from your bank. Washing costs have been $1.75 and drying $1.50 in hotel laundry rooms. Fortunately, most condos have an in-unit washer and dryer! These storage bins are not only handy for packing but make great footstools. Stacked storage bins are also perfect bed/sofa side tables.
Color Catchers, or Color Guard sheets, are always a good idea, but especially when traveling and washing everything in one load. These little sheets soak up all the loose colors floating in the water and prevents the dreaded “pink underwear” syndrome.
Tip 19: Know Before You Go
If you are a AAA member, maps and guidebooks are free. You can stop by your local office or go online and order anything you want, and they will mail them right to your door. At the Premier level, you can be towed 200 miles instead of 50. It may be worth the increased membership price–because, well, you just never know. Cross-country map with projected stops—it was a good starting plan!
Tip 20: Home Sweet Hotel Room
If you need a dark room to sleep or just some privacy for a gapping curtain, try a couple of snack bag clips. In a pinch, you can also use the pants hanger from the closet to hold curtains together. A Bucky® sleep mask called “40-Blinks” can be a blessing in a light-infused room because it doesn’t touch your eyes and wreck your mascara. You can find those online or in Bed, Bath & Beyond. Earplugs can ensure a quiet night’s sleep (from the neighboring revelers or the snorer next to you!) Earplugs to guarantee a quiet night’s sleep, and chip clips to ensure a dark room.
Tip 21: Humidity is a Good Thing
A wet washcloth laid over the AC unit’s vents will help provide needed humidity in a dry, stuffy room. It helps prevent dry, fly-away hair, itchy skin, and stuffy noses. In a dry climate, this trick works wonders!
Tip 22: Arrive Early
Plan to get to your hotel before dark. It will be much easier to find, and it is nice to put your feet up and unwind before bedtime.
BONUS TIP: Oh, and compression socks for long days on the road really do make a difference. Invest in a few pairs. And for goodness sake, get some sleep. That makes the next day a lot more fun! We’ve discovered the benefits of compression socks! Yes, you feel like your Grandmother, but, hey–at least they make cute ones now!
All photos by Jo Clark and Darrel Mellies
