# So I'm Going To Drive Across The Country By Myself And I'm Going To Die **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 13, 2010, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931 "2010-12-13T00:21:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/81 "2010-12-16T16:25:10Z")
I’ll pick Saturday, half and hour after changing her mind and picking up that hitch-hiker. I don’t know if they are still used these days, but when we did a lot of traveling in the 90s we always had a CB radio. GPS is nice, but truckers give much better real-time info about traffic, cops, etc. They will probably know the highway they are on pretty well too if you are looking for a stop or something that isn’t where the GPS says it is. It can be a good distraction if you get tired of the radio or CDs; my dad once had a 100 mile conversation with a driver he never saw. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/82 "2010-12-16T16:41:14Z")
If he was doing a Double Nickel, after exchanging Handles, most of the conversation probably consisted of “Good Buddy,” “10-4s,” and “Radio Checks.” Unless one of them was an Alligator Radio.\* \*CB With “ALL Mouth and NO Ears” ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2010, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/83 "2010-12-16T17:53:59Z")
I _mean it_. **Do not** try to drive a truck up Mont Eagle Miuntain in Tennessee, in Winter, if you have never driven a truck before! ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/84 "2010-12-17T22:58:56Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > I _mean it_. > > **Do not** try to drive a truck up Mont Eagle Miuntain in Tennessee, in Winter, if you have never driven a truck before! There’s no reason to go over Monteagle - the most direct route, which is the one I assume she’s taking, is 10 to 20 to 30 to 40. None of those go near Monteagle - the interstate that goes over Monteagle is I24 from Nashville to Chattanooga. And Monteagle’s not that bad. Even in a truck in winter, except for the occasional snowstorm (I’ve driven it many, many times). ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/85 "2010-12-17T23:09:40Z")
I recommend the US 70/US 60 shortcut through Las Cruces (the best Mexican and New Mexican food in the country, without a doubt), Alamogordo (ugly little town, but a good opportunity to stop at a Blake’s Lotaburger), Ruidoso, Roswell, Clovis (another armpit), and some neat little six-man football Texas panhandle ranch towns, each with its own Texas-style Dairy Queen. Fantastic and diverse scenery, and it’ll cut a few hours off the I-25/I-40 route through Albuquerque. ---
**Author:** ![Dusty\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba8739/32.png) [@Dusty\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dusty_Rose)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/86 "2010-12-18T11:40:24Z")
Whatever direction you take- DON’T turn left at Albuquerque!! It got Bugs Bunny in trouble every time. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/87 "2010-12-18T12:01:12Z")
Are you dead, yet? ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/88 "2010-12-18T12:02:25Z")
If she’s dead how can she reply? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/89 "2010-12-18T12:25:31Z")
Where all these out-of-the-way directions from Tucson to North Carolina coming from? It’s about as no-brainer as it can get. I-10 to I-20 to I-30 to I-40. Done. I’m suprised someone hasn’t suggested that she go _west_. Get on a ship in Los Angeles, go through the Panama Canal, and drive down from New York. ---
**Author:** ![cards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecd19e/32.png) [@cards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cards)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/90 "2010-12-18T13:55:26Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I’m suprised someone hasn’t suggested that she go _west_. Get on a ship in Los Angeles, go through the Panama Canal, and drive down from New York. If only she had gone that way, she might have lived. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/91 "2010-12-18T18:54:30Z")
> [@Dusty\_Rose](#): > > Whatever direction you take- DON’T turn left at Albuquerque!! It got Bugs Bunny in trouble every time. No, it was [not taking the left turn](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8TUwHTfOOU) that messed him up. ---
**Author:** ![Dusty\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba8739/32.png) [@Dusty\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dusty_Rose)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/92 "2010-12-18T19:08:58Z")
Whatever direction you take- BE SURE TO turn left at Albuquerque!! It got Bugs Bunny in trouble every time that he didn’t. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2010, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/93 "2010-12-18T19:55:40Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > If she’s dead how can she reply? Zombie, duh! ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2010, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/94 "2010-12-20T04:27:31Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Note– > > That route takes you up Mont Eagle Mountain. In Winter. In a **truck**! > > Bad mojo, even for an experienced driver. > > Do not go that route. That route doesn’t go within 50 miles of Monteagle Mountain. However, there are some steep grades around Knoxville, IIRC. There was no forecast for snow on that route when I posted this…not sure about now. I’ve been on much worse up in Pennsylvania in a much bigger truck in a nasty rain storm (no snow or ice though). 10-20-30-40 is still the most direct and shortest route and minimizes the nightmare traffic, other than Dallas. Some of the other routes posted here involved driving hundreds of miles out of the way. If snow was a concern, I’d take I-10 all the way to Florida and turn north. I-10 from Texas to Florda generally doesn’t get snow…ever. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/95 "2010-12-21T00:36:46Z")
Update: Well, I didn’t drive across the country, and so I didn’t die. Here’s what happened- I was planning on staying with my brother and his wife, just outside of Asheville, because the plan that I had going (a roommate situation in Asheville) fell through just a few days before I had planned to leave here. So then, the _night before_ I planned to leave, my brother fucking texts me that he doesn’t have enough work (he’s an electrician with his own business), his wife just lost her job 6 hours before, they’re “going to lose everything!!1” and that I should “call back in the spring”. :eek: I can’t just drive across the country with all my stuff and my son and my cats and hope that I’ll find a place just like that, or barge in on my brother when we’re not welcome now. I think my brother panicked about his wife’s job loss and somehow thought I would be asking him for money, even though I made it clear to him in the beginning that I was coming with plenty of money and just needed a place so that I could find a permanent place. But anyway, he did panic and now I don’t want to go there right now. My apartment is still mine until the end of the month, so I still have a place here, at least. Finally got my phone and internet switched back on today, or I would have updated earlier. The good news is that I think I have found a new apartment here in Tucson, on 4th Avenue, which is freaking awesome! I love living downtown, and 4th Ave is always busy with tourists, street kids, street performers, hippies, etc. There’s always stuff going on, it smells like incense, there’s all kinds of little restaurants (one of which I will be living above), head shops, and thrift stores, and then downtown is right there. Probably wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think I will love it. So, at least I will be living somewhere fun and cool, even if it’s not Asheville, yet. I may try again when my next lease is up. I’m disappointed, but I’m not going to let this get me down. My two adult sons are staying here, so at least I don’t have to leave them, because I don’t really want to, anyway. Thanks to everyone for all the well-wishes, and all of the great advice. To be honest, I don’t even really know if I could have done it- it seems like a daunting task that is just beyond me. Maybe one day I will find out. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/96 "2010-12-21T00:41:28Z")
P.S. My own personal definition of insanity- trying to expect more from anyone in my family than I’ve ever gotten, which is bupkiss in the way of love and/or support. :smack: D’oh! ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/97 "2010-12-21T00:46:06Z")
We have plenty of room- just drive over here. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/98 "2010-12-21T00:48:25Z")
> [@Cicero](#): > > We have plenty of room- just drive over here. Our winter of warm, mild temps and sunny days, vs Australia’s scorching hot summer… hmmm… lemme think about it… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Dusty\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba8739/32.png) [@Dusty\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dusty_Rose)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/99 "2010-12-21T00:53:45Z")
So no more death pool? No more werewolves, bigfoot (feet?), turning left or not turning left at Albuquerque? Phew! Thank goodness things have changed around. You surely would have died. 😃 … I have a feeling that your new circumstances are for the best, and your new neighborhood sounds great! You want us to come up with the best driving route for you? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931/100 "2010-12-21T00:54:24Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > Our winter of warm, mild temps and sunny days, vs Australia’s scorching hot summer… hmmm… lemme think about it… 😛 What’s summer like in Arizona? 🆒 I’m sorry it didn’t happen; I think you would have enjoyed the trip. I hope remaining in Tucson goes well for you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-going-to-drive-across-the-country-by-myself-and-im-going-to-die/563931.md?page=6)