Archive for December, 2008
Filed Under General
We have a route. We have TWO GPS devices (just hope they don’t give us conflicting directions!) We have advice from a good friend…and we have a book!
Yep, our good friend Tammy Warnock (check out her website) and her husband Michael have offered us great guidance as they are very familiar with that part of the country. So, if it’s a success, it’s thanks to them!
I also found a book on my bookshelf that I had forgotten about. Laurent Martres’ Photographing the Southwest – Volume 2: A guide to the natural landmarks of Arizona will be our “print” guide.
Now, aside from that I’m just hoping Chris keeps the car on the RIGHT side of the road!
Filed Under Madness
Actually we don’t have any. Sponsors that is. Not for want of trying – Jésus has been out at all hours tramping the streets of Houston with his begging bowl and pack of brochures – but to no avail.
So we had to invent some.
You may feel they are suspiciously similar to certain real organizations or companies, but that is merely an illusion, I assure you. This blog and the UnHipRoadTrip itself are entirely paid for by private donations (i.e. us).
Maybe we can get a bail-out from Chrysler for driving one of their Similars…
Filed Under General
So I have successfully negotiated the minefield of vehicle rental and obtained the use of a Jeep Liberty for the UnHipRoadTrip.
And it’s a big thank you Dollar Car Rentals for offering the best deal and also having the same kind of SUV that I drive at home, which is reassuring. I always find getting into a rental car a bit disconcerting as the controls are always reversed from my own car, so I start by putting the ashtray into reverse gear and lighting up the road ahead with the windshield wipers.
Actually, the rental details say the vehicle is a “Jeep Liberty or Similar” – I hope I don’t end up driving a Similar as I’ve had bad experiences with them in the past. I think Similars are made in one of those factories that used to turn out tanks for the Red Army – the view of the road ahead is through a narrow slit and you turn left or right by pulling on a lever and having your passenger lean out of the appropriate rear window.
We shall see. Maybe the 2008 model year Similars have had a facelift and an engine and gearbox licensed from Volkswagen – so perhaps I shall be pleasantly surprised…
Filed Under Random Thoughts
I expect plans will change, but the official intended route is now available for your perusal – click the big button marked “The Route” up above…
Jésus is navigating since he figured out the route and so I can blame him if we wind up stranded in some canyon in the hills buried under a snowdrift. 
I’m sure it won’t come to that…. we will have GPS. And if I see penguins I will do a U-turn and ask for directions.
Filed Under General
It’s all going awfully well. 
We think we have a route (well, Mr. T does, at least – I have no clue), and we almost have a vehicle. We’ll be travelling in style (I hope) in some kind of SUV so that we can make intrepid detours off the highways into uncharted territory…
You would think that figuring out vehicle rental would be simple, but no.
There are different rates depending on whether you rent from a concession at the airport, or elsewhere in town, which means I’ve been calculating whether it’s better to stay somewhere near the airport so I don’t need a car to get to and from the first and last hotels of the trip, or rent at the airport and drive further out of town to somewhere cheaper.
Plus there are deals on websites like Expedia, and discount codes to try. Plus you have to figure out if taxes are included or not.
So far I have six sheets of paper covered in notes….
But fear not – we will have wheels – hiking is not an option!
