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Post by puffy on Jul 25, 2019 11:45:12 GMT -5
I start by saying that I'm 77 years old.and I've been driving for 60 years 35 of them in the Detroit area.. .The years though have zapped my strength and stamina.The last time I visited my sister (450 mile trip) I got so tired and nervous driving at high speed I stopped half way and spent the night at a hotel..I live in a small but very modern town It has far more stores that I have money to shop in..All within about 7 miles from home.I average driving less than 4,000 miles a year these days..The point of this is to say..If you have long trips that you want to make. Now is the time. If you wait and end up old like me you may not want to make them.
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Post by pepesdad1 on Jul 25, 2019 12:17:55 GMT -5
Just came off a trip that exceed 1,000 miles. Me driving (I'm 76) all the way on the interstate and mountain roads left me feeling drained every day. The interstate particularly around Atlanta was a bit harrowing...most are driving at 70+ MPH while reading, looking down at their phone, reaching behind them for something, etc. These people are nuts!!! You don't have control of your vehicle while doing something else...the mountain roads (2 lane and narrow...some without guard rails) was also a white knuckle experience.
Wife and I and doggie included, have decided that if it isn't with 30 minutes of the house...we aren't going. This was my last vacation....I'm done with it. I love my little shack, that is paid off and comfortable, for the tree of us...nothing is so important that I have to leave home for it...unless it is a funeral, then I am forced to be involved (unless it is mine, and then I won't care).
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Mac
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Post by Mac on Jul 25, 2019 12:39:06 GMT -5
Good advice. A friend of mine, who's 81, just completed a Route 66 odyssey, sharing driving with a friend. SF Bay Area to Chicago. Kudos to him!
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Post by Legend Lover on Jul 25, 2019 13:07:30 GMT -5
Great advice. I love driving but I'm sure that might change as I get older. Thanks for the heads up, Larry.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2019 13:30:30 GMT -5
For the last few years I don't drive much anymore and find it stressful. Hard to believe I used to do over three hundred miles a day of city driving doing outside sales. One other thing is when I was younger I loved to drive at night these days I prefer daylight. Its not like I am even old yet at only 53 until this fall but some of my health issues just make driving unenjoyable.
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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 25, 2019 14:57:06 GMT -5
I'm 2 months shy of 69 and I've been driving since I was 14. First 7 years I had my license I drove over 100k miles every year. Next 40 years I averaged about 19k a year. Since I retired I stay off the road as much as I can. We love driving trips still. The first couple of days rough but then we don't want to stop. We are still planning on a couple of 6k mile trips on the trike if I can ever get it fixed. The first 4 days on a bike are hard, but after the 5th day we don't want to get off.
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Post by toshtego on Jul 25, 2019 15:41:44 GMT -5
I have no reason to do long road trips anymore. Before 2005, I would make the 1,900 mile round trip from here to LA. Much of that was on two lane roads including the old Route 66. Those back roads allowed me to keep my pace of 50 to 55 MPH. That trip took me through the Jicarilla Apache Nation and the Navajo Nation which I enjoyed. I mostly stayed off the so-called "Freeways" which are truly another form of enslavement.
My feeling is I am somewhere between Pa Kettle and the Joad Family while on the road. "Better go around, young fella, 'cause this old timer ain't speeding up any time soon".
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Post by pepesdad1 on Jul 25, 2019 15:48:57 GMT -5
I have no reason to do long road trips anymore. Before 2005, I would make the 1,900 mile round trip from here to LA. Much of that was on two lane roads including the old Route 66. Those back roads allowed me to keep my pace of 50 to 55 MPH. That trip took me through the Jicarilla Apache Nation and the Navajo Nation which I enjoyed. I mostly stayed off the so-called "Freeways" which are truly another form of enslavement.
My feeling is I am somewhere between Pa Kettle and the Joad Family while on the road. "Better go around, young fella, 'cause this old timer ain't speeding up any time soon".
My thoughts and feelings exactly...which is why I'm done with long distance rides. |
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Post by instymp on Jul 25, 2019 17:30:37 GMT -5
When I was in my 20's drove from Ft. Lauderdale to IL, just south of of Chicago in 23 hrs.
Last year we drove from Weaverville, NC to SD for a road trip.
This year I figure 350 mile a day. (To keep wife happy for the next one)
Would love to do Route 66 & mile marker 1 ket west to the end in the north.
Don't like night driving anymore.
72 years old.
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Post by monbla256 on Jul 25, 2019 19:45:49 GMT -5
These days I don't have much need for distance driving and most of mine is around town now. Spent almost 40 years driving on highways to and from work and really don't like to get on freeways anymore. All of what I need I can get here in town or by mail. I think the last time I drove to Dallas or Ft. Worth was 8 years ago when I retired and they are both just 30 miles away but I have to use a freeway to get to them ! There are enough crazy drivers in town so why subject myself or my car to them at higher speeds ! 
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Post by pepesdad1 on Jul 25, 2019 19:55:23 GMT -5
Exactly my thinking! Old codgers get to be old staying off the freeways.
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Post by toshtego on Jul 25, 2019 20:09:33 GMT -5
On those occasions I drive a Freeway, I am in the far right lane and will cruise the road shoulder if I have to to keep my speed where I want it.
Which brings to mind my former neighbor, now Gone to Glory, Elfido Vigil. Elfido was quite a man @ 6 feet 2 inches and about 140 pounds. I have seen more weight on fence posts. Elfido always wore an enormous Stetson in Silverbelly above his bullet proof thick eyeglasses. Elfido would cruise down our two lane highway to Taos at about 35 miles per hour in his AMC 4 wheel drive stationwagon. This is a road posted at 60 MPH. His wife was proudly seated at his side. There was no rushing Elfido. Drivers pulling up on his rear bumper would employ all manner of tactics to encourage faster driving. Elfido was resolute about his speed and never varied. "It was fast enough when this road was dirt. It is fast enough now", said he. Elfido never looked to the left nor the right. His eyes were focused straight ahead, his hat cocked in the same position. Mountains could rise and fall, Elfido Vigil was not going to move any faster. You just better get used to it and plan accordingly. God rest his soul. One of my biggest and best buck goats bore his name in remembrance, he too has gone to glory.
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Mac
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Post by Mac on Jul 26, 2019 10:38:47 GMT -5
Well, may he RIP. May have been a fine person, but sure was a dolt—maybe a stubborn prick—about proper driving.
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Post by oldcajun123 on Jul 26, 2019 10:45:42 GMT -5
 Tosh, Elfidos story reminded me of my Mother’s Brother, big sugar cane farmer, drove tractors all his life, after cane season he would drive his 6 cylinder Chev in town for a game of Bouree, Cajun Poker. He would drive the 8 mile trip in first gear, engine and transmission whinnying, his buddies would ask Fernand why don’t you shift that car, he would answer First is good enough for me.. 
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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 26, 2019 12:09:34 GMT -5
If I only had back the hours I spent behind cane trucks in Louisiana and hay trucks in Arkansas.
The only reason that I still drive to travel is that we are super comfortable in my truck, have our snacks and drinks and each others company. We listen to audio books, music, sing old hymns and hold hands. Just being on the open road is a vacation for us.
And on top of that, I would rather die than fly.
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Post by pepesdad1 on Jul 26, 2019 12:33:50 GMT -5
Tosh, Elfidos story reminded me of my Mother’s Brother, big sugar cane farmer, drove tractors all his life, after cane season he would drive his 6 cylinder Chev in town for a game of Bouree, Cajun Poker. He would drive the 8 mile trip in first gear, engine and transmission whinnying, his buddies would ask Fernand why don’t you shift that car, he would answer First is good enough for me.. Now THAT is funny!!! Good for Elfidos...first gear was good enough...I love it! |
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Post by bigwoolie on Jul 27, 2019 10:19:02 GMT -5
For the last few years I don't drive much anymore and find it stressful. Hard to believe I used to do over three hundred miles a day of city driving doing outside sales. One other thing is when I was younger I loved to drive at night these days I prefer daylight. Its not like I am even old yet at only 53 until this fall but some of my health issues just make driving unenjoyable. Exactly. I'm 52, and I don't drive anymore unless I have too. Especially at night. I will travel 30 miles in another direction to go to a store if it avoids a branch of the same store 1/2 the distance in Ashville, which is just up the road. I abhor driving in traffic and the city. We travel because of the nature of our life, living in an RV, but I may do only 300 miles of the journey and pull off for the rest of the day. It might take take me 4 days to make a 2 day journey. And when I arrive, Im done until we relocate again. I've driven the Alaskan / Canadian highway 10 times (over 4,000 miles each trip) but now Id rather take a whuppin' than even think about it. People are terrible drivers, and rude these days. And with sincere apologies to all of my friends on here who drive OTR, trucking has made highways and interstates a living hell. |
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Post by toshtego on Jul 27, 2019 11:35:10 GMT -5
Tosh, Elfidos story reminded me of my Mother’s Brother, big sugar cane farmer, drove tractors all his life, after cane season he would drive his 6 cylinder Chev in town for a game of Bouree, Cajun Poker. He would drive the 8 mile trip in first gear, engine and transmission whinnying, his buddies would ask Fernand why don’t you shift that car, he would answer First is good enough for me.. That is hilarious and sounds about right. We had another old guy here who might fit that bill. Roberto Medina, survivor of the Bataan Death March and patriarch of the Medina Sand and Gravel Company. This old boy started out after the war with a Model A flatbed and a shovel and grew his business to an empire of quarries, huge rock crushers, at least one of every truck ever made and a fleet of earth moving equipment. He used to claim he started out with a mule and a wagon. Anyway, as Roberto aged, he drove slower and may have also been in "The First Gear Club". I would see his old Chevy truck ahead of me on the highway and immediately hit the brake pedal. |
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Post by toshtego on Jul 27, 2019 11:37:19 GMT -5
Well, may he RIP. May have been a fine person, but sure was a dolt—maybe a stubborn prick—about proper driving. "Dolt" kind of fits. Elfido was just not aware of the tailback behind him since passing can be difficult on a busy two lane highway. Some people who drive slow will cruise the road shoulder so traffic is not impeded. Not Elfido. |
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Post by puffy on Jul 27, 2019 12:10:22 GMT -5
My grandfather had a Model A Flatbed truck.It didn't have any doors on it..That was way before seat belts..That is he had it until he ran it off the road and got thrown out of it..Soon after that he had a car.
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Post by toshtego on Jul 27, 2019 15:12:15 GMT -5
My grandfather had a Model A Flatbed truck.It didn't have any doors on it..That was way before seat belts..That is he had it until he ran it off the road and got thrown out of it..Soon after that he had a car. I have a trailer which was once the back half of a Model A flatbed. The original bed, axles with diff, wheels. Here is the interesting part. I once had to remove a few bolts to repair something. Using the correct eight sided socket and a breaker bar, I was sure the threads would strip or the bolt head facets would mash into round. Nope, that bolt was so hard, it came right out with a bit of fine rust. We knew how to make steel in those days! |
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Post by instymp on Jul 27, 2019 16:50:22 GMT -5
If I only had back the hours I spent behind cane trucks in Louisiana and hay trucks in Arkansas. The only reason that I still drive to travel is that we are super comfortable in my truck, have our snacks and drinks and each others company. We listen to audio books, music, sing old hymns and hold hands. Just being on the open road is a vacation for us. And on top of that, I would rather die than fly. My new motto. |
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Post by instymp on Jul 27, 2019 16:54:11 GMT -5
If I only had back the hours I spent behind cane trucks in Louisiana and hay trucks in Arkansas.The only reason that I still drive to travel is that we are super comfortable in my truck, have our snacks and drinks and each others company. We listen to audio books, music, sing old hymns and hold hands. Just being on the open road is a vacation for us. And on top of that, I would rather die than fly. Sorta like me with logging trucks in the mountains of NC. And what is it with people camping in the passing lane of major highways?? |
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Post by pepesdad1 on Jul 27, 2019 17:51:48 GMT -5
My grandfather had a Model A Flatbed truck.It didn't have any doors on it..That was way before seat belts..That is he had it until he ran it off the road and got thrown out of it..Soon after that he had a car. I have a trailer which was once the back half of a Model A flatbed. The original bed, axles with diff, wheels. Here is the interesting part. I once had to remove a few bolts to repair something. Using the correct eight sided socket and a breaker bar, I was sure the threads would strip or the bolt head facets would mash into round. Nope, that bolt was so hard, it came right out with a bit of fine rust. We knew how to make steel in those days!Better get yourself some Kroil...penetrating oil that breaks rust like it was sawdust...ask Josh about it!! |
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Post by toshtego on Jul 27, 2019 18:32:41 GMT -5
I have a trailer which was once the back half of a Model A flatbed. The original bed, axles with diff, wheels. Here is the interesting part. I once had to remove a few bolts to repair something. Using the correct eight sided socket and a breaker bar, I was sure the threads would strip or the bolt head facets would mash into round. Nope, that bolt was so hard, it came right out with a bit of fine rust. We knew how to make steel in those days!Better get yourself some Kroil...penetrating oil that breaks rust like it was sawdust...ask Josh about it!! I have used penetrating oils before. Kroil is a new one to me and so I will check it out. Thanks for the tip. |
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Post by oldcajun123 on Jul 27, 2019 18:39:24 GMT -5
Kroil is the best, saw what it could do at the plant, machinists best friend!
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Post by pepesdad1 on Jul 27, 2019 19:21:29 GMT -5
Thank you, I knew if Oldcajun used it, it had to be one of the best.
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Post by trailboss on Jul 27, 2019 20:17:33 GMT -5
If you buy Kroil, they have had this offer on the net for a long time, cheapest way to buy it I believe. www.kanolabs.com/google/ |
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Post by Rattlesnake Daddy on Jul 27, 2019 20:18:26 GMT -5
I recently turned 45 and am starting to feel it. Used to average 25k a year. A quick overnight trip from Atlanta to New Orleans was a common occurrence. I just completed a cross country move from the SF Bay area, through Nashville, and up to New Hampshire. After all is said an done it was a little over 11k miles in 5 weeks. there was a time I would have thought nothing of it, but this time it took me a bit to recover.
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Post by pepesdad1 on Jul 27, 2019 20:36:33 GMT -5
If you buy Kroil, they have had this offer on the net for a long time, cheapest way to buy it I believe.www.kanolabs.com/google/That offer is one heck of a bargain!! Stuff is amazing and if you have the need....this is the stuff that will meet your needs |
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Tosh, Elfidos story reminded me of my Mother’s Brother, big sugar cane farmer, drove tractors all his life, after cane season he would drive his 6 cylinder Chev in town for a game of Bouree, Cajun Poker. He would drive the 8 mile trip in first gear, engine and transmission whinnying, his buddies would ask Fernand why don’t you shift that car, he would answer First is good enough for me.. 
