driving across the USA - provisional itinerary

We have now put together a rough outline of the itinerary for our drive
across the USA from New York to San Francisco via New Orleans and Santa Fe.
This is my first trip to the USA.

We have had many useful suggestions from the newsgroup and our route and
places to stay are rough guides as to the final journey. We would love to
hear of any recommended towns along the route that would offer more
interesting stopping places; and any other suggestions or comments. We are a
bit wary now as to the weather conditions in the South West in particular.

And the important question is: What should we not miss? Which features along
the route or involving a reasonable detour would you recommend we include.

13th December, Saturday Fly to New York JFK drive to Philadelphia PA 106
miles

14th December, Sunday past Washington to Roanake VA 378 miles

15th December, Monday to Knoxville TA 260 miles

16th December, Tuesday Chattanooga TA 112 miles

17th December, Wednesday Tuscaloosa AL 204 miles

18th December, Thursday New Orlreans LS 291 miles

19th December, , Friday New Orleans LS 0 miles

20th December, Saturday Beaumont TX 261 miles

21th December, Sunday Austin TX 248 miles

22th December, Monday Sheffield TX 317 miles

23rd December, Tuesday Carslbad, NM 210 miles

Christmas Eve, Wednesday Santa Fe NM 267 miles

Christmas Day, Thursday Santa Fe NM 0 miles

26th December, , Friday Gallup NM 198 miles

27th December, Saturday Flagstaff AZ 185 miles

28th December, Sunday Flagstaff & Grand Canyon 77 miles

29th December, Monday Las Vegas NV 275 miles

30th December, Tuesday Bakersfield CA 286 miles

New Years Eve, Wednesday San Francisco CA 288 miles

New Years Day, Thursday San Francisco CA 0 miles

2nd January, Friday explore the Californian coast

3rd January, Saturday day off

4th January, Sunday San Francisco: Fly back to London

Approximately 4000 miles for the trip

On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 08:48:28 -0000, "rob tyler"
wrote:

We have now put together a rough outline of the itinerary for our drive
across the USA from New York to San Francisco via New Orleans and Santa Fe.
This is my first trip to the USA.

We have had many useful suggestions from the newsgroup and our route and
places to stay are rough guides as to the final journey. We would love to
hear of any recommended towns along the route that would offer more
interesting stopping places; and any other suggestions or comments. We are a
bit wary now as to the weather conditions in the South West in particular.

And the important question is: What should we not miss? Which features along
the route or involving a reasonable detour would you recommend we include.

13th December, Saturday Fly to New York JFK drive to Philadelphia PA 106
miles

14th December, Sunday past Washington to Roanake VA 378 miles

15th December, Monday to Knoxville TA 260 miles

16th December, Tuesday Chattanooga TA 112 miles

17th December, Wednesday Tuscaloosa AL 204 miles

18th December, Thursday New Orlreans LS 291 miles

19th December, , Friday New Orleans LS 0 miles

20th December, Saturday Beaumont TX 261 miles

21th December, Sunday Austin TX 248 miles

22th December, Monday Sheffield TX 317 miles

23rd December, Tuesday Carslbad, NM 210 miles

Christmas Eve, Wednesday Santa Fe NM 267 miles

Christmas Day, Thursday Santa Fe NM 0 miles

26th December, , Friday Gallup NM 198 miles

27th December, Saturday Flagstaff AZ 185 miles

28th December, Sunday Flagstaff & Grand Canyon 77 miles

29th December, Monday Las Vegas NV 275 miles

30th December, Tuesday Bakersfield CA 286 miles

New Years Eve, Wednesday San Francisco CA 288 miles

New Years Day, Thursday San Francisco CA 0 miles

2nd January, Friday explore the Californian coast

3rd January, Saturday day off

4th January, Sunday San Francisco: Fly back to London

Approximately 4000 miles for the trip

It sounds like a pretty brutal pace to me. There are only four days
where you aren't on the road, and you hit the road immediately on
arrival, when you will surely be tired and maybe also jet lagged. (In
addition to the driving time, there is the checking into and out of
hotels, finding places to eat, etc., that add significantly to the
stress level.) I would have suggested a day or so in Philadelphia, and
at least three days in New York, but it would only make the pace more
intense further on.

"B Vaughan" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 08:48:28 -0000, "rob tyler"
wrote:

We have now put together a rough outline of the itinerary for our drive
across the USA from New York to San Francisco via New Orleans and Santa
Fe.
This is my first trip to the USA.

We have had many useful suggestions from the newsgroup and our route and
places to stay are rough guides as to the final journey. We would love to
hear of any recommended towns along the route that would offer more
interesting stopping places; and any other suggestions or comments. We
are a
bit wary now as to the weather conditions in the South West in
particular.

And the important question is: What should we not miss? Which features
along
the route or involving a reasonable detour would you recommend we
include.

13th December, Saturday Fly to New York JFK drive to Philadelphia PA 106
miles

14th December, Sunday past Washington to Roanake VA 378 miles

15th December, Monday to Knoxville TA 260 miles

16th December, Tuesday Chattanooga TA 112 miles

17th December, Wednesday Tuscaloosa AL 204 miles

18th December, Thursday New Orlreans LS 291 miles

19th December, , Friday New Orleans LS 0 miles

20th December, Saturday Beaumont TX 261 miles

21th December, Sunday Austin TX 248 miles

22th December, Monday Sheffield TX 317 miles

23rd December, Tuesday Carslbad, NM 210 miles

Christmas Eve, Wednesday Santa Fe NM 267 miles

Christmas Day, Thursday Santa Fe NM 0 miles

26th December, , Friday Gallup NM 198 miles

27th December, Saturday Flagstaff AZ 185 miles

28th December, Sunday Flagstaff & Grand Canyon 77 miles

29th December, Monday Las Vegas NV 275 miles

30th December, Tuesday Bakersfield CA 286 miles

New Years Eve, Wednesday San Francisco CA 288 miles

New Years Day, Thursday San Francisco CA 0 miles

2nd January, Friday explore the Californian coast

3rd January, Saturday day off

4th January, Sunday San Francisco: Fly back to London

Approximately 4000 miles for the trip

It sounds like a pretty brutal pace to me. There are only four days
where you aren't on the road, and you hit the road immediately on
arrival, when you will surely be tired and maybe also jet lagged. (In
addition to the driving time, there is the checking into and out of
hotels, finding places to eat, etc., that add significantly to the
stress level.) I would have suggested a day or so in Philadelphia, and
at least three days in New York, but it would only make the pace more
intense further on.

the idea was to bypass New York this time - and visit New York and New
England as a separate adventure - i am also interested in what the rest of
the US thinks about NY ..............

On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 08:48:28 -0000, "rob tyler"
wrote:


I agree with the other post. It sounds like you are just "driving"
throught the USA and not seeing anything. WHY?
It has been my experience, and others see it too on this newsgroup,
tha tpeople from the UK just can't fathom the vast distances in North
America. Your trip is almost all behind the wheel. By the time you
check out of a hotel, hit the road, get to where you are going - since
it is winter - it will be dark when you get there - What will you see?
Who will you meet?


If you haven't booked your flights, Iwould suggest:
====================
New York - 4 days
Philadelphia - 2 days
Washington - 3 days
Williamsburgh - 2 days
Savannah - 1 day
New Orleans - 2 days
Miami - 3 days for New Years, Orange Bowl parade, et al....
Back to New York and return flight

But, hey, that's just me -




BTW Do Vegans breastfeed?




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"TheNewsGuy(Mike)" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 08:48:28 -0000, "rob tyler"
wrote:


I agree with the other post. It sounds like you are just "driving"
throught the USA and not seeing anything. WHY?
It has been my experience, and others see it too on this newsgroup,
tha tpeople from the UK just can't fathom the vast distances in North
America. Your trip is almost all behind the wheel. By the time you
check out of a hotel, hit the road, get to where you are going - since
it is winter - it will be dark when you get there - What will you see?
Who will you meet?


If you haven't booked your flights, Iwould suggest:
====================
New York - 4 days
Philadelphia - 2 days
Washington - 3 days
Williamsburgh - 2 days
Savannah - 1 day
New Orleans - 2 days
Miami - 3 days for New Years, Orange Bowl parade, et al....
Back to New York and return flight

But, hey, that's just me -




BTW Do Vegans breastfeed?


- and do they swallow etc..
- i like driving - it's like watching an allday movie - but live! - so it's
a holiday - but it's also visiting without imposing - i only like to go
where i feel welcome - and the US has always had good reports back - i was
just talking to a friend down the pub tonight who had been to your country a
dozen times including spending 6 month in 1978 driving around it in the
anti-clockwise direction - reverse of my route - he was enthusiastic about
the people - but emphasised:' always listen to what the locals tell you' -
there are places it isnt safe to go ........

On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 01:18:59 -0000, "rob tyler"
wrote:


- i like driving - it's like watching an allday movie - but live!

If you are driving on the Interstate Highways in th eUSA, the movie is
the same tedium every minute - it ALL looks the same. Not sure you
will really enjoy that film for 21 days.

and the US has always had good reports back - i was
just talking to a friend down the pub tonight who had been to your country

Well, "my country" is Canada. But I hope you got good reports about
us too. :-)

- so it's
a holiday - but it's also visiting without imposing - i only like to go
where i feel welcome -

I have always felt "welcome" in the States - I find people do not have
the "stand-offish" somewhat distant attitude we (British heritage)
have . They are much more friendly and willing to talk to
"strangers". I remember as a young man going to a conference and at
breakfast eating alone at a small table. A person I did not know sat
down at the empty chair at my table and we talked as if we were old
school buddies. Here, in Canada, and I think in the UK, a person
would have waited for an empty table so as not to "impose" or have to
talk to a person they did not know.

dozen times including spending 6 month in 1978 driving around it in the
anti-clockwise direction

Oooo 1978! - gas (petrol) shortage time - must have been fun gunning
it out at the pumps :-)

And, you see, we have another problem already. In North America it is
"counter-clockwise" :-)


there are places it isnt safe to go ........

Yes.


Anyway, I hope you enjoy your trip. I just think you will be spending
too much time in your car and not enough time experiencing all the
great sites, activities, or meeting people.




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"TheNewsGuy(Mike)" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 01:18:59 -0000, "rob tyler"
wrote:


dozen times including spending 6 month in 1978 driving around it in the
anti-clockwise direction

Oooo 1978! - gas (petrol) shortage time - must have been fun gunning
it out at the pumps :-)


I know it was a long time ago but I recall the gas shortage as
being in the winter of 1973/74 as a result of the Yom Kippur war.

Keith

"Keith Willshaw" wrote in message
...
I know it was a long time ago but I recall the gas shortage as
being in the winter of 1973/74 as a result of the Yom Kippur war.

Keith

There was another round of shortages in the summer of 1978. I remember
that well going from DC to NYC that summer.

Pan

Keith Willshaw wrote:


I know it was a long time ago but I recall the gas shortage as
being in the winter of 1973/74 as a result of the Yom Kippur war.


There was no gas shortage then. Period. True, on TV you did
see (true) reports of long gas lines in places. But these were
not due to an actual shortage ... there never was a shortage
of gas or crude. There were engineered local stoppages of supply
to cause the gas lines and get publicity. But, overall, there
was no shortage. Where I lived there was not even a real
attempt to fake a shortage. Just high prices and many stations
open shorter hours ... but there were always plenty of stations
open 24 hours if you drove to them.

Doug McDonald

On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 15:22:26 -0000, "Keith Willshaw"
wrote:

....
I know it was a long time ago but I recall the gas shortage as
being in the winter of 1973/74 as a result of the Yom Kippur war.

Actually it was in 1979 too (not 1978 as I said) I know it happened
because I had planned an automobile trip across the USA but abandonded
it due to the shortage. ... but lets blame the Jews anyway. I am sure
they had something to do with it! LOL!

There are other reasons given too.

1973 Shortage
http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/OPEC.html

"...Nor, as is commonly believed, was OPEC the cause of oil shortages
and gasoline lines in the United States. Instead, the shortages were
caused by price and allocation controls on crude oil and refined
products, originally imposed in 1971 by President Nixon as part of the
Economic Stabilization Program. By preventing prices from rising
sufficiently, the price controls stimulated desired consumption above
the quantities available at the legal maximum prices. Shortages were
the inevitable result. Countries that avoided price controls, such as
West Germany and Switzerland, also avoided shortages, queues, and the
other perverse effects of the controls...."



1979 Shortage
http://www.brojon.org/frontpage/bj050701-2.html
"...In 1979, when the Standard Oil-backed Shah of Iran was thrown out
by his own people as a harsh iron-fisted "profiteering" dictator and
the nationalist Ayatollah took over, the flow of Russian oil through
Iran suddenly stopped. Other pipelines were constructed through Iraq
and Turkey. The Russian oil was now called OPEC Arabian-Middle Eastern
oil and marketed at the even higher "spot market" price. This accounts
for the gas shortages and the rise of the price of gasoline in 1979.
On November 4, 1979 the Iranian “revolutionaries” captured and held
hostage 65 Americans. The very next day Iran canceled all treaties
with the US and USSR, which meant the oil flow had been stopped. In
response, President Carter froze the Iranian “assets” in the US. ..."



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