The List

Now that we've got an idea of our route, we started planning things we need and things we have. Here's what we have so far:

Stuff We Have
Tent
2 Sleeping Bags
2 pillows
Guitar
Camera
Video camera
Laptop
Clothes
Coolers (2?)
Flashlight
Extra blankets (2)
Can opener
Shoes – sneakers, flip flops
Bandanas
Sunglasses (maybe 2 pairs)
Stove (from grandparents)
Water jugs (several)
Pocket knife
FIRST AID kit!!
Battery powered lantern
Rain gear (poncho, umbrellas)
Matches (waterproof case)
Extra tarp for underneath tent
paper plates/bowls/cups/silverware (Have mess kits, they save on waste)

Stuff We Need
Cell phone adapter for car
Case of water bottles
FOOD!
-soup
-cereal (Golden Grahams, Cheerios)
-grapes, apples, bananas? (maybe fruit cups)
-carrot/celery sticks
-cereal/m&m mix (trail mix)
-bread
-salt/pepper/ketchup/mustard/hot sauce
-garbage bags
Pots/pans (frying pan, pot, extra pot to boil water)
Paper Towel rolls (3? Use as napkins and to clean up)
Bug Spray
Suntan Lotion
CDs/music
Books
Chapstick
Cleaning supplies
Extra batteries
Duct Tape (small repair kit?)
MAPS


As we accumulate our supplies, we're going to keep them in a box in the basement :-D

-KB

Why we chose this route...

Here's a clue:





We're both HUGE Jack Kerouac fans (the beatnik author), and this is the route he took while hitchhiking across the country in the 1940s, which inspired him to write On the Road. Our northern route pretty much mirrors the one he took. We changed up the southern route in order to see the Grand Canyon, parts of Texas and Oklahoma, and of course (being musicians, we can't miss these) New Orleans, Nashville, and the birthplace of Dave Matthews Band - Charlottesville, VA. We're hoping to catch a concert or two during our trip, but that depends on our financial status and timing. We'll see!

-KB

Rough Draft

Taa daa - The map! We're going to AAA to get some more advice on this, so it might change slightly, but this is the basic route we will be traveling. We're missing some of the northern states, as well as part of the east coast, but we're on a budget and a schedule, and this route will take us through:
Pittsburgh, PA
Cleveland, OH
Gary, Indiana
Chicago, Illinois
Des Moines, Iowa
Omaha, Nebraska
Denver, Colorado
Laramie, Wyoming
Salt Lake City, Utah
(going over the Rocky Mts, driving through Yosemite Nat'l Park and Death Valley)
San Fransisco, CA (and the gorgeous West Coast and Pacific Ocean!)
Las Vegas, Nevada
Arizona (and the Grand Canyon)
Oklahoma City, OK
Dallas (and Katy!), Texas
Baton Rouge and New Orleans, LA
Jackson, Mississippi
Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee
Roanoke and Charlottesville, VA (visiting the bar that Dave Matthews Band got started in, as well as Dave Matthews' vineyard!)
Washington, D.C.
Baltimore, MD
Philadelphia, PA
And of course, home - Trenton, NJ

-KB

Map

Here's an attempt at creating a map/plan. The goal is to cross north through Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, etc. Then we'll spend a weekend in San Fransisco, then travel back through Vegas, Dallas, New Orleans(!), Nashville, Charlottesville, then back home.

http://travel.yahoo.com/trip-view-2164423-roadtrip_2010



I also found a website that seems to be pretty helpful for planning roadtrips:
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/

-KB

Step 1: Planning

Hello!!! We've decided to go on a cross-country road trip this summer. We're starting in NJ, driving to San Francisco, CA, then taking a southern route back to NJ. This blog is to help us document our travels, starting with the planning process. Once we begin our trip, we'll periodically upload pictures so you can see all the neato things we encounter :-D

-KB