Sort of Legal

Stop in the Name of Burgers & BBQ.  If you are in a small town, or better yet, passing through an area with no cell reception that doesn’t even have a large enough population to have a name, and you see a sign for burgers, barbeque, or anything similar, stop and eat there.  The further removed from an urban area, the better. 

Chances are you won’t be disappointed in the food, and even if you are, it’ll be an interesting experience.  Plus, you’re helping out a truly local business.

In contrast, if you see a sign for sushi in these types of locations, continue move along for the sake of your stomach.

When in Doubt, Peace Out.  If you’re sketched out about a potential sleeping spot, leave.  Free camping and spots to stay are great, but it’s not worth jeopardizing your safety or your sleep quality, especially if you have to work or get a long drive in the next day.  You can make more money, you can’t more more you’s.  Play it safe.

Fill’er Up.  When you get the opportunity to fill-up on gas or water, do it even if it’s a little inconvenient.  I’m impatient so I am constantly tempted to just fill up gas or water part of the way, in fact, when I’m at a home base, I do that with gas more than I’d like to admit. BUT on the road, it’s important to fill up when you can as both are essentials that will really eff-up your day if you are dozens of miles from them. 

Oh, and the places you are most likely to run out of gas are also the places where you won’t have cell service.  So, unless you like walking to the nearest emergency highway phone miles away, fill up when you can.

If you’re going to be camping or staying near a lot of fresh water sources, a LifeStrawand/or gravity filter could be a good investment. One or both are on my future supply list.  (Have to knock gear out one by one because it gets expensive!)

Shower Power.  When you’re on the road, you won’t always have access to a shower, and you definitely won’t always have access to a hot free shower.  When you do, take advantage – do two-a-days, especially if it’s FREE! Full disclosure: A hot shower is one of my favorite things in this world so I probably prioritize it more than some.

Take the Free Things. If you can get something for free, accept it! It’s been over a month since I’ve stayed at a hotel, but you better believe that the last time I did, I took the extra shampoo, conditioner, and soap!  It’s nice to have the minis around.  Same for free beer…even if it’s Bud Light Lime at Open Roads Fest.

Trust Personal Knowledge.  The internet is great but there is still no substitute for personal knowledge.  You still get the best information from locals and fellow travelers – from the best place to grab a bite to a cool to an off-the-map hot spring to a cool dive bar to hikes that are amazing but not crowded, locals and fellow travels know what’s up.  

Sure, some things (but not all) you could figure out on your own through hours of online research…or just have a five-minute conversation with a local or fellow traveler that has been to the place you are at or heading to. And as long as you’re cool, I’ve found people actually enjoy passing on their knowledge. I know I do. It’s so cool to see someone enjoy something you recommended.

Double or Triple the Amount of Time in a Location.  I have a tendency to get excited and try to pack too much in and end up exhausted.  You can get away with this on shorter trips where you can go home and crash, but on longer trips it can have a cumulative detrimental impact.  You need sleep and down time to function at your highest level. 

AND when you are working as you go, like I am, you really need more time or you end up either foregoing things you want to do or working miserably at the end of the day until early morning hours to make up time.  Honestly, this is a lesson, I learn this lesson over-and-over and over, eventually it will sink in.

There Are No Mistakes, Only Learning Experiences.  Just keep learning and don’t beat yourself up about mistakes.  I make mistakes, I mean have learning experiences, every single day.  The trip would be pretty miserable if I was constantly mad at myself for it.  

Yeah, honestly, sometimes, I just can’t seem to avoid a bit of self-flagellation, but overall, I’ve gotten pretty good at just learning from mistakes.  It means you’re trying things and growing.  My road trip skills have improved dramatically in the 6 weeks-ish I’ve been on the road.

Get Trashed.  Throw away whatever amount of trash you have any time you get the opportunity.  Sometimes – like along parts of my scenic drives through British Columbia – there seem to be nice big ‘ole trash cans everywhere.  

But at other points, particularly when staying at free sights on US public lands for multiple days, trash cans can be hard to come by…and then as your trash accumulates, it gets even harder because you need a bigger trash can to ditch your trash bag.

Oh, and but the good trash bags.  My first week, I bought the cheapest trash bags I could find and after a few days of using one, I went to throw it out, it caught slightly on something in my car and tore open….in my car, which let me remind you is also my home so just no bueno.

HAVE FUN! There’s a lot of planning involved in long term travel – where to sleep, what to eat, where to get gas, where to get WiFi, and so on. At times, particularly in the beginning (seems to get easier as you go), it can feel a bit over-whelming. Don’t forget to make time for fun! And, if after a bit you find you’re not having fun, STOP. You don’t have to long term travel or road-trip for any certain period of time and you are free to change your mind if it doesn’t work for you.