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I know ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad highlighted this way back on page 1. But in my skimming, I wasn’t sure you picked up on it.</p>
<p>That is the part that scared me the most! Please don’t do that.</p>
<p>jmmom and ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad don’t know how close to home your comments are hitting. Very long story short, I have chimney sweeps at my house right now, because our HVAC guy told me this afternoon that our ductwork has a block in it. The chimney sweep (did you know that only 20% of them are certified?) said to me after coming down from the attic on his way to the basement, “Oh yea, there’s a LOT of nest in there.” And he hasn’t even looked up from the basement yet. Close, close call that does not make me happy.</p>
<p>Luckily we have carbon monoxide detectors and it’s registering 0, but this could have been potentially very dangerous. So no, I won’t risk the same by keeping my car idling!</p>
<p>How’s that for hijacking my own thread!</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be comfortable sleeping in a car by myself. Lots can happen, imo. I would spring for a hotel/motel room even if I was only going to stay a few hours. Try priceline or something similar to get a good rate.</p>
<p>OTOH, we have an RV and have stayed in Walmart and Cracker Barrel parking lots overnight. But, we were in an RV and no one could see inside. Perhaps if you do decide to sleep roadside you could somehow cover the windows?</p>
<p>good luck.</p>
<p>Are there any motels left out there that have rooms by the hour? Of course, you might want to take your chances in your car over something like that. In Japan, there are podlike rooms that you rent just for napping. During the fall when I visited colleges with D, I can’t tell you how many times I wished for one of those! </p>
<p>I’m also one of those who gets lulled into sleepiness by driving, no matter how much sleep I’ve gotten. One word of caution, it’s best to stay away from sugary carbs (like Cinnabon, alas). Those things knock me right out.</p>
<p>mousegray - I’ve heard some domestic airports have those podlike rooms, but none I’ve ever been to! I’m thinking there’s a fortune to be made there. And yea, don’t think I’d want to stay in a place that rents by the hour. LOL!</p>
<p>Ha, didn’t think so. </p>
<p>Anyone up for a new business venture?</p>
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tango - good idea about the sign. I’m hoping when they see that I’ve got my small travel pillows out and seat lowered back as far as it goes, they’ll get the gist. I could also take along a little blanket and spread it out over me.
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<p>This reminds me of the time my brother and I saw a man with his head on his steering wheel, not moving, parked right by our driveway. We thought he was dead or had had a heart attack and honked the horn–turned out he was just napping!!!</p>
<p>I don’t see any problem with sleeping at the rest stops on major interstate highways. There is good lighting and plenty of activity both day and night. The big problem is likely to be cold weather at this time of year. I guess you could always idle the engine but I have never liked that idea.</p>
<p>There seems to be a bigger problem than finding rest stops. If you can consistently anticipate “hitting the wall” after just a couple of hours in the car, you might want to get a medical checkup.</p>
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I agree–especially if it’s one with a restaurant, etc. I can’t really see that you’d be much safer in a motel.</p>
<p>edad - as many have illustrated here, I think this is a common occurrence. Prolonged concentration while driving on long-distance trips tires the eyes (and yes, I’ve had my eyes checked annually - I still do not need prescriptive lenses at 50 years old). Obviously if others on this thread have witnessed others dozing at rest areas, then I’m not the only one with this issue. And as I mentioned earlier, once I have that initial nap (somewhere between 2-4 hours) this doesn’t happen for the rest of the trip.</p>
<p>No, it is not typical for a healthy person to hit the wall after only a couple of hours of driving. Sure there are plenty of drivers using rest areas to catch a quick nap or even a long sleep but that does not imply they hit the wall in a couple of hours. I am probably more typical even though I am in my 60’s. I like to stop after 3-4 hours for a quick pit stop, maybe a cup of coffee and a brief walk. I am good for at least 8 hours of driving before fatigue sets in. When I was younger I would easily go 12 or more hours.</p>
<p>I think some people just get drowsy in a moving car, even if they’re not that tired.</p>
<p>Hunt - and even if they’re not driving, like D1. We always joke, put her in anything moving, and she’s out. When we took an overnight train between Salzburg and Paris several years ago, H, D2 and I slept horribly due to the rocking back and forth as the train traveled through tunnels and around mountains. D1 woke up and said, “That’s the best night of sleep I’ve ever had.” We wanted to shoot her at that point. I think it’s the perkiest I’ve ever seen her!</p>
<p>My son is like that–we say he has “carcolepsy.” I was actually worried whether he would be able to drive safely, but it doesn’t seem to happen when he’s driving.</p>
<p>Maybe these are the same kids that had to be driven around to get them to sleep when they were infants?</p>
<p>edad - almost everyone I’ve ever talked to who makes long drives drinks caffeine sporadically throughout the drive and say that’s what gets them through it. I do not handle caffeine well. If I didn’t have the side effects I do from caffeine, I would probably fall in that ‘norm’ (whatever that is).</p>
<p>I have driven cross country several times alone, and the trick I use to keep me alert is to have a small (lunch box size) cooler of ice on the passenger seat and I stick my right hand in there when I feel myself starting to zone out. Cold, yes, but very effective.</p>
<p>I don’t think reclining and napping at a well lit rest stop is any more dangerous than anywhere else. I’ve done it dozens of times over the years.</p>
<p>Update on leg one of the journey - </p>
<p>So many surprises! I basically made it the whole way the first day, minus 35 miles, which I am about to finish this morning. I had an awesome night sleep two nights ago (thanks to some Benadryl) and had no problems with drowsiness; I kept waiting for it to kick in and it didn’t. My first stop wasn’t even until almost Toledo and basically because I needed gas (although I did succumb to the Cinnabon, but don’t tell those on the Exercise and Wellness thread!).</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I hit lake effect snow around South Bend, then from Cleveland into Pennsylvania, with some areas being bad enough that the traffic slowed down to 25 mph as we couldn’t see the lines on the road, then another bad patch in central PA. I compensated by getting behind one of many semis and followed their tracks. My windshield washer fluid had been topped off last week, but at one point last night, I had to stop and buy some more! Am also soooooo glad I bought new tires for the CR-V last week (the originals had 38,000 miles on them) as it made me feel safer as I navigated the lake effect snow areas.</p>
<p>However, the slow downs added just enough time to the trip that, by the time I was within an hour of D2’s apartment, I decided I’d had enough and just wanted to climb into a bed by myself, and not share a double bed with D, so I pulled off and got a room at a Hampton Inn… nice room and very quiet. </p>
<p>I listened to CNN and MSNBC on XM radio most of the way, and I think that’s what kept me engaged and awake. </p>
<p>Off to meet up with D after she gets out of class this morning, then take her car into the shop and get it serviced before I return home with it tomorrow! </p>
<p>D2 told me that making this trip is almost easier when you’re by yourself. You get to pick what you listen to (that keeps you alert), when you stop, etc. I do think there’s something to that line of thought… will find out tomorrow, when hopefully I will NOT have to deal with the snow!</p>
<p>Very good report and I’m glad it went so well!</p>
<p>Glad it went well. The idea of a single woman sleeping at a rest stop made me very nervous, though I didn’t post that.</p>
<p>Safe travel for the rest of the journey with D!</p>