Happy Spring Break!
I am on Spring Break, and visiting my family in Colorado, and therefore have lost any concept of time.
This Five Things is dedicated to making the most of your eight-hour plus car trips. For the better part of my adult life, I have had an eight or ten hour drive to take 3-5 times a year. Growing up we drove to Colorado, took marathon road trips; the Corliss girls know how to travel. We thrive in the car. We can get everything we need to get done in a stop in seven minutes flat: food, gas, bathroom. It’s the way we were raised.
Next week is subscribers only, then usual programming in April.
This sentence now has links to the my instagram, and old issues of the newsletter. I hope today is beautiful for you. Also my Outdoor Voices link.
Number One: Don’t be afraid of a bathroom break
I have this sort of pride about not having to stop very often on long drives. The pickle is I also love a Diet Coke on the road - and these two realities cannot live in harmony. So currently I am working on not being too proud to stop a mere ninety minutes after the last stop. It it was it is. I do try to stack stops. Like if I stop for the bathroom, I’m getting gas no matter what, probably a snack too.
The other thing is - no matter what you’re doing in a day, it’s important to drink water. So don’t be afraid of a bathroom break. Also, always pee at McDonalds, they have predictably clean bathrooms.
Number Two: Plan your audio for variety
I think for any long car trip, especially solo, it’s important to plan ahead so you’re not six hours in skipping every song on an already overplayed playlist.
This is what I listen to on the way to Colorado, almost every time:
From KC to Topeka: worship music. I don’t really need to be entertained for this portion, I just need to sing along. As I am passing the strip club west of Topeka, I switch over to an episode of Who? Weekly - this is the time for frivolous fun, so I do two episodes. Around my Salina/Russell/Hays stop I try to have a long form investigative podcast to listen to, I want to get lost in a story, doesn’t need to be high energy. Once I hit the Colorado border, it’s time for Country Classics or Truck Yeah. Then the home stretch, the Kiowa road, I listen to Britney Spears.
Number Three: Nerds Rope
It’s the best candy and I don’t know why more people aren’t talking about it.
Number Four: Use cruise control, except when it is raining
I really think the number one thing you can do to be a pal on the road is use cruise control. There is no need to be passing the same person over and over. Don’t use cruise control when it’s raining or the pavement is wet, you’ll hydroplane.
Number Five: You can survive a tire blow out
The first time I drove from Baylor back to Kansas by myself freshman year, I was so scared I was going to be stuck on the side of the road somewhere. Then, 14 miles into Oklahoma, that happened, a tire blew out. I pulled over and tried to figure out what to do. I have no idea how to change a tire, and no desire to learn. I called the Oklahoma Department of Transportation who connected me to a tow truck driver. They came out and put on the spare, and followed me to gas station so I could pay them in cash. I was directed to the world’s sketchiest tire shop, where a 400 pound man in overalls sold me a used tire for $80. One hour and one McFlurry later, I was on my way.
I so often get scared about the worst thing that could happen - or really the level above the worst, because the worst is like bad bad. But I can survive the level above the worst, and you can too.
Hays has a dog park
It’s not really on maps, but if you search for Ft. Hays State soccer complex, it’s in that same area. It’s a great little dog park. Perfect for the Kansas City - Denver trek. And in my experience, very few people know about it. I want it to stay an uncrowded secret, but it’s too good not to share.