Doing my first long journey (548m) on Monday - advice?

[RedMogg]

Drove Edmonton, Alberta to Vancouver, British Columbia (a little under 800 miles), in an average of -22 (C), in a Nissan Armada (5.7l V8 with Superchip) in a little over 14 hours (and $600 in fuel! )...
Other than tyres, oil levels and wiper blades (essential for flurries), we pretty much packed & left. Couple of bottles and snacks, plus numerous bathroom breaks and stretch-stops (I have a spinal injury, so these were needed!)

The only thing I would say is don't forget your sunglasses - especially in winter. The low sun, when it makes a rare appearance, can really screw up your momentum!

 

[pepsilol]

I doubt you'd need warm clothing in Iran, granted!

What's the crap though? Advising what appears to be an inexperienced driver to take breaks? Good clothing given the time of year & where he's going? Breakdown cover? What?

I'm struggling to see the crap advice in this thread tbh.

Pfft, wake up, roll into the car, keep the clothes in the boot and drive in your boxers and t-shirt...

 

[pastymuncher]

Main thing is to drive according to the conditions. Yesterday was -7.6 degrees (even at mid-day) and the roads were quite poor. It's warmed up dramatically overnight and is 2.5 degrees at the moment. Heavy wind and rain is forcast for the weekend with a chance of snow early in the week. Keep an eye on http://trafficscotland.org/index.aspx for traffic updates. The live traffic cameras are useful as well.

 

[Howard]

Remember 50mph in the inside lane, 60mph in the middle lane, 70mph in the outside lane.

 

[Minxy]

I used to do High Wycombe to Edinburgh and its a dull journey until you get up to the border pretty much, then the scenery becomes more exciting. Watch the countryside change colour the further north you get too.

As others have, have plenty of stops, make sure the car is fit for the journey and take some supplies with you just in case you get caught out. Breakdown cover is important too. Try not to clock watch or it will feel like its taking forever.

 

[Griffo]

Remember 50mph in the inside lane, 60mph in the middle lane, 70mph in the outside lane.

Howard!

 

[randomshenans]

Get in. Foot flat.

 

[Howard]

Howard!

Couldn't resist, sorry

 

[pugheaven]

Make sure you have the Ricky Gervais and Karl Pilkington Pod Casts on mate, that journey will fly by!

 

[NathWraith]

Remember 50mph in the inside lane, 60mph in the middle lane, 70mph in the outside lane.

Ha 45MPH for maximum ECO mode y0!

 

[BennyC]

Not sure if it's already been suggested but I'd take a decent coat and some emergency supplies (food/water) should you find you get stuck in the middle of no where and have to wait hours for the RAC/AA.

I always keep a decent coat and some waterproofs in the boot.

 

[TheVoice]

Ha 45MPH for maximum ECO mode y0!

Haha, I think that'd double my journey time!

That said, I'm in no mad rush to get there, a nice steady speed will be a bit more relaxing, cost me less fuel and cause me fewer potential problems.

Not sure if it's already been suggested but I'd take a decent coat and some emergency supplies (food/water) should you find you get stuck in the middle of no where and have to wait hours for the RAC/AA.

I always keep a decent coat and some waterproofs in the boot.

I'll have all the clothes I own in the boot, so I should be sorted.

 

[NathWraith]

I'll have all the clothes I own in the boot, so I should be sorted.

All of them? Are you running away?

 

[TheVoice]

All of them? Are you running away?

Pretty much, I'm moving to Scotland. My stuff is being collected on Sunday, then I'm driving up Monday, getting there for Tuesday afternoon when my stuff arrives.

 

[pastymuncher]

Come February, when the temperature really drops you are going to be thinking what the hell have i done!!

 

[MissChief]

Keep an eye on your mirrors. Dont be the fastest car on the road and when safe to do so get into the inside lane. The further north you get the quieter it will be. Also look a few hundred yards ahead and see the slower vehicles and check your mirrors in plenty of time to make your move. Nothing worse than having to brake sharply when you cant pull out safely.

 

[Matt82]

An emergency can of relentless as tiredness can come out of no where in my experts.

I phone charger

 

[Tesla]

I find 3 hours is about my limit without stopping. My ass goes numb about then and motorways become very monotonous.

 

[TheVoice]

Come February, when the temperature really drops you are going to be thinking what the hell have i done!!

Haha, quite possibly! High Wycombe always seems to get particularly cold anyway though, and so far the temps up there have mostly been higher than down here. Needed to escape this terrible town anyway, and this was a good option!

I phone charger

iPhone charger won't do my Galaxy S2 much good. But yes, I'm going to go looking for one tomorrow.

 

[tigerstyle]

iPhone charger won't do my Galaxy S2 much good. But yes, I'm going to go looking for one tomorrow.

Don't buy the cheapest charger, get something semi decent, had to use a mates one the other day with my S3, it's output was so low that it didn't even charge the battery at all, just kept it at the same % (I had the screen on all the time for the nav) tbh I think it even dropped a few % and this was over a 3 hour drive!

And for the drive, just keep your eyes open, you'll soon feel the rhythm of the road, just make sure you rhythm isn't way over the limit, you'll find yourself slowly speeding up as the journey progresses.