Thanks, Ksp. I appreciate your concern and doing the research on it. The symptoms aren't a match, however. Thankfully!
I can understand your being super cautious due to your having lived in FL and the south in general, and I appreciate that.
God, you drive 600 miles in one day?! Even with 2-3 stops to rest, that's one HECK of a long drive, familiar or not. Now that I've done it myself, I know exactly what it means, which I had no way of knowing before this. I hated driving at night, period, but on this last long leg, I felt I had to push for her sake, and feeling I wasn't endangering either of us or anyone else. If I'd thought that, I'd have stopped somewhere for the night and carried on today. But I'm SO GLAD I could make it!
I gained 2 hours going back, but was shocked to see how dark it'd gotten at 6:30 PM. When I left it was still somewhat light at 8:00 PM.
When I was on the road I thought about what it must have been like travelling for people like your father and your relatives. No interstates, granted less traffic, but also signs alerting travellers to GAS AND LODGINGS AT THIS OFFRAMP! Even with picnic tables and rest areas to pull off on, it's hard to imagine what it would be like to travel that kind of distance without having a good idea of where the next gas station would be.
One of the best pieces of advice you gave me, for which I'm VERY thankful, was to fill up the tank at the halfway mark. I did that, and on the way back there were a few very long stretches where there was absolutely nothing. It was desolate, empty, and ugly. No gas stations, no anything.
I had enough on my plate without worrying about running out of gas, so am very thankful I followed your good advice!
Ha, I did practically have to pry my hands off the steering wheel, and was very happy to do so. I don't plan to touch a steering wheel for the next 24 hours.
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kspkap (13570)
7 years ago
@Cat
“on the way back there were a few very long stretches where there was absolutely nothing. It was desolate, empty, and ugly. No gas stations, no anything.”
You mean there are still places like that in our interstate country? Well, I’m glad I gave you that bit of wisdom. I learned the hard way. Back in the late ‘70’s I proceeded on my own to drive from Dallas to below Orlando. I had a little Honda Civic stick shift. Really good gas mileage. I-10 wasn’t completed at that time so I was detoured in several areas. I filled up somewhere along the line at one of the little towns. Finally I was on the competed part of I-10 tootling on down the road. I had been getting gas when I was at the 1/4 tank mark. Finally the Florida pan handle which never seems to end. I can’t remember where I was when I noticed the 1/2 tank mark and saying to myself “I’ll have to stop before too much further.” and continued on my journey. I was driving along when all of a sudden I was at the 1/4 tank mark and began looking for gas. Nope, can’t see one! Back then there weren’t many exits. No exits, no gas! It was getting dark on that desolate piece of road. I began to get panicky. By the time I reached I-75 South I was praying and praying in earnest! I was on Empty driving on a wing and a prayer when I pulled into a motel next to a gas station. I checked in, went to the room and went to pieces. The next morning the fumes left (being facetious) in the little Honda got me to the gas station. I was back on the road again. From that time forward I fill up on the 1/2 tank mark. I’ve talked to women who travel by themselves and they don’t stop for gas until they’re below a 1/4 tank! Not me! 1/2 tank it is!
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