Well, everybody -- remember that journey I was talking about? It's about here. We pick up the van tomorrow and we set off across the land on Wednesday. I'm going to call to get my cable shut off and the box picked up today, and I'm going to try and schedule it for tomorrow. That means offline-ness starts then. That means that as of tomorrow I won't be able to provide support for a little bit. Luckily, the only thing I've had anyone request support for so far was the Dungeon Lighting Kit -- and that's for sale on DAZ, not here, so they provide support for that. This 'blackout period' will probably last a week, but maybe longer. Depends on how long until I am able to get things settled once I reach Portland. The trip plan goes as follows, I think: Philadelphia, PA (Start) I-76 Harrisburg, PA I-80 Pittsburgh, PA Cleveland, PA Toledo, OH South Bend, IN Gary, IN Chicago, IL Joliet, IL Davenport, IA Iowa City, IA Des Moines, IA Omaha, NE Lincoln, NE Cheyenne, WY Salt Lake City, UT I-84 Boise, ID Portland, OR If someone gives us a place to crash along the way along this route, you get a copy of all my stuff free. There will be four people, three cats, two snakes, a ferret and some rodents in tupperware that would be vying for a warm crash spot. Email me at dodger@dodger.org. Of course, not everywhere will be a place we really need to be crashing (for instance, it would be a bit silly to stop and sleep in Harrisburg, PA). For the rest, I don't know the times we'll arrive, only that the estimated trip-through is 48 hours and we have two drivers to trade off. Regardless, a travellers' waymeet is always welcome and we have no lembas. B^) The trip's going to be a pain, since the bank decided to charge me overdraft fees for about ten dollars worth of overdrafts while a grand deposit is pending. In other words, I've been charged $245 in overdrafts because the bank is slow. Needless to say, after all the money shuffling that must occur to get the money into the account it needs to be in to rent the van, I'm closing the account and re-entering the wonderful world of cash (I have a bank in Portland, and it's a Credit Union so they screw members less often than a bank screws customers). I think fter all the expenses are covered, I'm going to have about $200 (then we can only cross our fingers we'll get the deposit back). And so we begin this great Quest for the West Coast, leaving behind the dark myres and hills of Darkest Pennsylvania for the grand Elfin mountains of the Cascades and Tir Tairngire -- a journey of nearly three thousand miles. (We actually measured it out and thr trip is roughly equivalent to travelling from Seattle to Nicaragua. Is that scary or what?) So it begins. grabs his staff and travelling cloak

Good Luck!! and have a safe trip but most of all have fun. I hope everything works out for you.. I am in Maryland so I am not along your travel route.

Good journy to you and best to you and yours. I did a very similar trip only west to east when I moved from Calif. to East TN, six years ago. I still have the nightmares ;) At several points it will seem like it will never end but it will, I promise :) Tonymouse

One of us needs to check our maps. I thought Cleveland was in Ohio (unless there's another one I don't know about). Have a great time!

Good luck on your adventure! Never forget the awesome restorative power of a well-timed PB&J sandwich and clear the trash out of the front seat floor area each time you stop--it'll make you feel lighter, honest :) We did a several thousand mile, 2 month trip around the great national parks of the west last fall and those two tips above are part of the wisdom we distilled out of all those hours spent in a fully packed SUV together ;) PS We're still married!

Good luck! Unfortunately, I'm way off your travel itinerary, so all I can do is send good wishes for a safe trip. I hope your cats quiet down after the first few hours. (Cats and cars do not go well together.) ;-)

Good luck Dodger, and have a safe trip. I too, am not on your Itinerary, but will be sending good thoughts and prayers to you, your family and all the critters. (: Genny

Good luck Dodger! Drive safe, and watch the speed limit. It's a pity that gas prices are so high right now.

Too bad you aren't passing further south. We've got plenty of room. Drive safe, man. We'll see ya on the other side.

Yup, meant Cleveland OH (though I think there is a Cleveland PA, which I don't know if it's on the path -- hell, there's an eyerything PA. There's a Denver PA even). Gas prices may be lower by the time we're on our way. Remember the last war with Iraq? Thanks for the support, all. Thgeisel, looks cool! Thanks for all the tips! Though I don't think anything will make the van feel lighter considering how much we'll have packed into it -- all my and Audrey's wordly posessions except those which we give away or bin in the next day, plus all of our animals, including a rather large constrictor. B^) We'll be packed pretty tighhtly (no one else seems to be grasping this, but once we pack the van it will be apparent and I'm sure some things will be unpacked and parted with finally)

Bon Voyage, _dodger. If you want the van to be lighter, why not fill the tyres with helium? :) Good luck, mate.

I think you'll like Oregon... Possibly the most beautiful place I've visited and it was quite sad to have to leave. Try to make it out to the coast if you can, you will not regret it. PS...be sure to pack lots of film. Have a safe trip.

Well if you were heading a little further up, into Washington, I'd offer you a place here. I know you'll like the area there. I've got a buddy who lives down there, and it's just a nice place to be. Take care man, and have a safe trip!

Rodents in Tupperware! hahahahaaaa..... Well if you drop by Stockholm Sweden, drop me a line! :] Fish

Carry plenty of drinking water... and another bottle with washcloth for scrubbing the face. You'll feel a lot more alert on the road for dashing water on the eyes. Stopping the car and running around it a couple of times also gets the blood moving and oxygen back into the brain. Who cares if you look like Keystone Cops? You'll improve your odds of arriving safely. And, if you can afford it, get a bottle of vitamins. Being packed into a car for a week is going to be stressful, and you don't want to be sick! May fortune favor you! Carolly

Have a great trip! And welcome to Oregon! Melanie

I'm gonna get a jug of water -- like 2 gallon or something. I'm not driving but I will try to get the drivers to do that, thanks Daughter of Hawks! Just to clarify, I'm moving back to Oregon. I moved out here in 2000 for a 70K programming job, then the dot-com crash happened and since I'm on unemployment, I may as well be somewhere I enjoy being! Life's too short to live in Philly!

I'm nowhere near your path, unfortunately. And my home isn't easily accessible from the main roads, anyway. Safe journey.

I thought for sure Little Dragon was going to post Mapquest and all the locations of Ihops on your route. :P dodger hope ya have a safe trip.

Infidel! I'd list the Stuckey's locations instead.

If there were any. I understand that they've practically disappeared by now.

Well, Stuckey's has more representation than Wags' nowadays. I have heard rumours that there is one Wags' somewhere in Florida. Maybe. But that may be urban legend. This is probably the last post. Then I am off. It's ten and the cable guy comes between 8 and 11 so in the next hour he should be here to take away the boxes. I'm off to the bank for the wire transfer to the driver's account, however. And other stuff. The music rises

Happy Trails! I'll say a prayer that you make the trip safely and have some fun on the way. :) Jay

mmm....I think I can help you with lodging in Nebraska when you make your way here. I'll drop you an e-mail in a minute.

Dodger, when you get to Toledo, you'll be an hour south of me :-) Unfortunatly, that's as close as you get :( Watch out for the buckeye bears some of them like to get sneaky at times.

Hey, have a great trip and welcome to the Pacific North West! Your going to love it on the left coast. ; ) I'm right up the road from you in Seattle. If you come up be sure and stop by to say hello. Oh, and check out Powells book store in Portland, it's excellent! Positive traveling energy to you.

Oooohhh!! I could live in Powell's book store. You could browse in that place all day! :) Melanie

LOL! You probably could live in Powells! It's big enough that they probably wouldn't notice you still in there when they closed up for the night. hehehehe

Wow it that the truth! :) That's why it's called Powell's City of Books. It takes up an entire city block with 3 floors! Melanie

Re, Powells: Yep, you could live there but you'd have nothing to eat but biscotti and nothing to drink but coffee. I imagine you'd eventually have to leave to go spange at the seals. B^) I made it.

You made it! Does that mean you've arrived? Congratulations. I'll bet you're tired but relieved. Melanie

Yup, I am here. Of course, now I have nothing to do right now (and I can't work on anything because my power supply melted during the trip, so my computer is inoperable now). I am bored. In Portland. Actually in Hillsboro at the moment. At my wife's parent's house. Down near the Orenco stop on the Max blue line. My wife, Audrey, and our friend Chrissy/Ruggdlilfox, who came with us for the road trip, are both downtown hanging out with one of Audrey's gutterpunk friends.

Great! Well, I hope you get your computer up and running soon. My sister lives in Tigard, which is in the saem general direction as Hillsboro. Let me extend my welcome to the Portland area to you and Audrey! Melanie