To all Texans (TOD Carabug thread)

[mardee]

OK, looked at the map....if y'all are leaving around 8 am from the Best Western, that means I have to get up way too early to meet in Nashville to join the Friday morning bugavan. What time do you think you'll be in Memphis on Thursday?

[salsa-man]

Originally Posted by mardee

OK, looked at the map....if y'all are leaving around 8 am from the Best Western, that means I have to get up way too early to meet in Nashville to join the Friday morning bugavan. What time do you think you'll be in Memphis on Thursday?

Myself, connieray, Cameron_Talley, and Hestersu are staying overnight in Little Rock Wed night. We will be waiting Thursday morning for SixChuter (John) to meet up with us in LR which I think he said somewhere around 10 or 11 AM. It's 2 hours to Memphis from LR so based on that I suspect we'll be passing thru Memphis around 12 or 1 PM. John, what are your thoughts on this?

[SixChuter]

Originally Posted by salsa-man

Myself, connieray, Cameron_Talley, and Hestersu are staying overnight in Little Rock Wed night. We will be waiting Thursday morning for SixChuter (John) to meet up with us in LR which I think he said somewhere around 10 or 11 AM. It's 2 hours to Memphis from LR so based on that I suspect we'll be passing thru Memphis around 12 or 1 PM. John, what are your thoughts on this?

I agree Mark. We should hit Memphis between 12 and 1. Hopefully we'll roll into Murfreesboro around dinner time.

[D2Beetle]

Originally Posted by SixChuter

I agree Mark. We should hit Memphis between 12 and 1. Hopefully we'll roll into Murfreesboro around dinner time.

It is about 4 to 4.5 hours from Memphis to Murfreesboro, give or take any traffic issues.

[SixChuter]

Originally Posted by D2Beetle

It is about 4 to 4.5 hours from Memphis to Murfreesboro, give or take any traffic issues.

This should give us time to settle into the motel before we go grab some dinner. Thanks!

[mardee]

Is everyone staying at the Best Western in TN?

[Cameron_Talley]

Originally Posted by mardee

Is everyone staying at the Best Western in TN?

As far as I know, yes:

Best Western Chaffin Inn
168 Chaffin Place
Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37129
(615) 895-3818

[salsa-man]

Originally Posted by mardee

Is everyone staying at the Best Western in TN?

I believe so. I've not heard of anyone staying anywhere else.

[mardee]

Thanks! I'll let y'all know what we work out!

[salsa-man]

Dang! I can't wait for April 28 to get here! I have to warn everybody - normally I am not a huge picture taker. But on this trip, I am going to be a picture taking fool!

[mardee]

Glad I've got company on being so excited!!!!

[SixChuter]

I thought I might mention something about communication among the carabug. Some of the folks who are joining us may be new to the hobby of running down the road in a glorious line of beautiful little NBs.

If you have an FSR (family service radio) please charge it up and bring it along. It is a great means for car-to-car communication.

It's almost April!

[salsa-man]

Originally Posted by SixChuter

I thought I might mention something about communication among the carabug. Some of the folks who are joining us may be new to the hobby of running down the road in a glorious line of beautiful little NBs.

If you have an FSR (family service radio) please charge it up and bring it along. It is a great means for car-to-car communication.

It's almost April!

Yeah I've been meaning to ask about car-to-car comms and how its done. Will have to go shopping for a FSR.

[Cameron_Talley]

Originally Posted by salsa-man

Yeah I've been meaning to ask about car-to-car comms and how its done. Will have to go shopping for a FSR.

Most of the time I see them as "FRS" radios. Search FRS Radio on amazon and you'll find a ton of results.

I think I have a few extra FRS radios if someone needs one! I'll have to check. I kept one in the old car for a long time and I know it has battery corrosion, so it might be trash. I have another set of rechargeable, but not sure if they hold power or not--it's been ages since they've been charged.

I prefer the ones powered by AA or AAA batteries--if they go dead you just pop some new batteries in there!

[hestersu]

It's actually called an FRS radio. Almost everyone involved with Roswell has at least one of the radios. I have 3 myself. A lot of us have the Motorola brand. 2 of mine are FRS-60 models. I've had them for 10 years or so. These are good for about a mile or a little better if we are out in the open, flat ground of the south western US. For a more mountainous, tree-lined area, they may not have that much coverage. I noticed during the Route 66 trip that we had more communications issues in Missouri where there were more mountains. It doesn't matter since you just relay communications if we have a lot of separation.

My other one is supposed to be good for 3 to 5 miles. I don't think it is.

Get what you can afford and buy extra batteries or have a car charger.

The standard channel is Channel 6. The Motorolas have the ability to use sub channels within a channel. Non-motorolas may or may not have that ability. We generally only used the standard channel and nothing fancy.

These can be bought at Radio Shack, Best Buy, Target and the like. I have no idea what they cost. They usually come in two packs. If you have a co-pilot, buy 2 so your co-pilot can join in on the fun. If you are solo, bring 2 in case someone loses one, doesn't have one or yours dies.

Please remember to bring a current insurance card and emergency cash to cover a tow if something happens.

Remember to bring your camera or two, chargers, batteries, laptops, probably a jacket and maybe a ball cap. Sunglasses, comfortable clothing, money and a good attitude. It looks like we will have some challenges with the rock slide. The current info looks like US129 is closed at the Foothills Parkway at the TN state line. I don't know what route we were planning on using to get to Bryson City but we will probably need to look at it before we leave Murfreesboro.

We will get to drive at least some of the Dragon for sure. The good news is we will get to do it twice - once up and then back to the south because we can't go around the slide. I realize TDOT is letting a contract this week but I would bet they don't get it cleaned up before we get there. I suspect it will be more towards the end of May or even June. Apparently there is some unstable rock still above the road that will need to be stabilized and/or removed. Even if the road itself is cleaned up, the situation up above the road will keep the road closed at the TN line until it is safe.

It's still going to be a great trip.

[salsa-man]

Originally Posted by hestersu

It's actually called an FRS radio. Almost everyone involved with Roswell has at least one of the radios. I have 3 myself. A lot of us have the Motorola brand. 2 of mine are FRS-60 models. I've had them for 10 years or so. These are good for about a mile or a little better if we are out in the open, flat ground of the south western US. For a more mountainous, tree-lined area, they may not have that much coverage. I noticed during the Route 66 trip that we had more communications issues in Missouri where there were more mountains. It doesn't matter since you just relay communications if we have a lot of separation.

My other one is supposed to be good for 3 to 5 miles. I don't think it is.

Get what you can afford and buy extra batteries or have a car charger.

The standard channel is Channel 6. The Motorolas have the ability to use sub channels within a channel. Non-motorolas may or may not have that ability. We generally only used the standard channel and nothing fancy.

These can be bought at Radio Shack, Best Buy, Target and the like. I have no idea what they cost. They usually come in two packs. If you have a co-pilot, buy 2 so your co-pilot can join in on the fun. If you are solo, bring 2 in case someone loses one, doesn't have one or yours dies.

Thanks Susan for that information. I think I know what they are now. I saw an entire section of them ranging from a few miles to over 25 miles at Fry's Electronics in Austin a few weeks ago. I'll have to make another trip up there soon.

Originally Posted by hestersu

Please remember to bring a current insurance card and emergency cash to cover a tow if something happens.

Excellent advice. I splurged for a premium AAA membership last month.

Originally Posted by hestersu

It's still going to be a great trip.

Yes, it is!

[hestersu]

How much was the AAA membership and for how long? I've thought about this.

I need to check my radios. They were kind of weak last year for Roswell. It may be time to replace mine.

If anyone has a navigational device, I suggest you make sure you know how to use it and bring it. I have my old 2007 model TomTom that I will bring if I don't have a new one before we go. The maps are from 2008 so they are not current for new construction. It saved me several times on the Route 66 trip. My nickname became SuSu.

If you are an AT&T customer, we should have good cell phone coverage (not 3g) in Bryson City. We will have spotty or no coverage on the Dragon itself.

[salsa-man]

Originally Posted by hestersu

How much was the AAA membership and for how long? I've thought about this.

Annual membership. $106.00 I believe. Covers me as a driver - so all my cars are covered. Comes with one 200mi tow and unlimited 100mi tows. Figured if Farrah breaks down, that should get me to the nearest VW dealer (since she's still in warranty).

Originally Posted by hestersu

If anyone has a navigational device, I suggest you make sure you know how to use it and bring it. I have my old 2007 model TomTom that I will bring if I don't have a new one before we go. The maps are from 2008 so they are not current for new construction. It saved me several times on the Route 66 trip. My nickname became SuSu.

If you are an AT&T customer, we should have good cell phone coverage (not 3g) in Bryson City. We will have spotty or no coverage on the Dragon itself.

I have more GPS devices than any one individual should have - TomTom, Magellan, DeLorme'. But I could toss them all and just use the most awesome electronic device I have ever purchased - my Motorola Droid phone. This device is unbelievable. Traffic, construction, whatever, it will tell me whats going on up ahead. Oh, I have Verizon - 3G just about everywhere including Bryson City.

[salsa-man]

Its time for an update -

[vwgary]

I love the maps Mark. Looks like the folks from Texas are going to have one long first days drive. I noticed the east coast, Florida & Georgia folks weren't represented tho on this iteration.