Today I wanted to touch on a few things that I learned on my last trip across America. If I stop and think about it there’s a lot of things I’ve learned that I find helpful but they might seem a bit eccentric or a little over the top. Some of it might come from my old boy scout days and some of it , are the things I do to make myself feel more comfortable and awake. Of course anyone who’s about to embark on any road trip from a couple hours to weeks should always make sure their vehicle is in proper running condition. If nothing else make sure your tire pressure is where it should be and if you’re not sure it’s usually on the drivers side door on a sticker somewhere. Another thing most of us don’t think about is having a full reservoir of window washing fluid. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in the middle of know where when all of sudden a swarm of bugs end their life on my windshield. It’s not only bugs but road grime, bird poop or weird liquid coming out of the back of a tractor trailer. It can be just about anything you can think of so just make sure to fill the wiper fluid up while you’re looking at your belts and hoses.
On the inside of the car I have a little obsession that I passed onto my son and that’s napkins. I know that sounds crazy but over the years I’ve learned that sometimes you just need a napkin handy. I’ve noticed that as I travel from town to town occasionally new places will make me sneeze. One of my son’s friends was teasing him about all the napkins he had in his car when they hit a bump and his friends drink spilled all over the floor. My son just looked at him and said,”You’re the reason I keep all those napkins!”. Of course he was joking but he got his point across. Staying hydrated is another lesson I’ve learned, not only does it help you stay alert, it makes you stop every few hours to pee! I usually buy a case of water and keep two bottles in my cup holders. If you have a double insulated travel cup fill it up with ice and have cold water. I find ice cold water to be more refreshing and most places with a soda fountain don’t care if you fill up your cup with ice. Food is also something I bring with me because I’ve found stopping for a quick bite in a fast food joint usually leads to me getting sleepy about an hour after I eat it. As strange as it sounds eating healthy food while driving helps to keep me awake, so I like to chose things I can eat by hand. I bought a smaller really good ice chest (Yetti type) that keeps ice for 24-48 hours. I’ll stock it with fruits like apples and grapes. I wash and cut celery and put that in a bag. I love celery and peanut butter as a road snack. You can also pack jerky or sliced salami and cheese as a quick protein pick me up. If you plan ahead you can save a lot of time and money. Then when I get to my destination I’ll treat myself to a nice dinner. I’m not advocating that you eat and drive that might be dangerous, you know what’s best for you. Of course you know I’ll stop to eat if there’s a place I really need to try. I learned a lesson on this trip that you have to call ahead even at 7am for a breakfast burrito! My friend Gail’s son lives in Las Cruces, NM and told me a place called The Shed had great food. I thought I’d order a burrito while getting gas and pick it up in 5 minutes and be on my way. However, the best laid plans…. the delightful woman on the phone said it’ll be about 20-30 minutes is that ok? I had 11 hours to drive that day and I just couldn’t wait that long. So now I know call at least 20 minutes ahead of time while on the road!
One thing you’ll also learn as you get out on the road is that you’ll see the same cars over and over again, even as you stop , they’ll stop elsewhere and you’ll catch up to them. Some of them are not very good drivers and if they stick out as such while on the highway be sure to stay clear of them. I was somewhere in Texas and the highway had become 2 lanes and the terrain began to get hilly. So naturally the Semi-trucks with heavy loads are starting to go slower up the hills. Inevitably you’re going to get another Semi that doesn’t want to get stuck behind the slower truck, so they pull into the passing and are still much slower than the cars. This starts to make a huge line of cars in the passing lane who can’t actually pass. Many times I have seen impatient people passing on the shoulder. Those are ones to stay away from. On this trip I was in a line of 5 cars trying to pass a Semi-truck while waiting for another truck to move over so we could move on. Directly behind me was another semi-truck and in front of me a driver in a Mercedes. The Semi behind me kept getting really close, so close at times all I could see was his grille in my rearview mirror, so I closed the gap between me and the Mercedes inching up trying to give myself a little buffer in both directions. When the Semi in the passing lane finally got over into the driving lane, the line of cars did what your supposed to do in the passing lane, they sped up and began passing the two Semi-trucks in the right lane. All the cars except the Mercedes . The Mercedes driver was going almost the same speed as the Semi’s we all were trying to pass. The truck on my butt got closer so I pulled closer to the Mercedes. At some point the driver of the Mercedes must have looked in his rear view mirror and had a little freak out! He pressed on the gas just enough to get past the 1st Semi-truck in the right lane then with maybe 6 inches to spare he decided to pull in front of that Semi-truck! Then the driver of the Mercedes only got half of his car in front of the truck before doing a totally bizarre move, he jerked his wheel to the left and went all the way onto the median and slammed on his brakes. I really don’t know what happened or what was going through his mind at that moment. All I knew was I had a huge truck behind me and one beside me as we all narrowly ended up in a deadly accident. I put my foot on the gas and got the hell outta Dodge, so to speak. I kept looking in my rear view for the driver of the Mercedes because I thought I must have done something to upset him. I can only guess what would make a person do something so irrational, when all it would have taken was for him to speed up and pass the truck safely. So you just never know what you’ll encounter on the road.
After that fiasco I was so happy to see the sign for Abilene. I guess it was my childhood but the town of Abilene always conjured up images of cowboys and herds of cattle and tales of the Wild West. I couldn’t wait to get to my Air BNB and start exploring the food scene. I wish I had known beforehand and could have planned to visit the Perini Ranch Steakhouse, located in Buffalo Gap Tx, about 30 minutes south of where I was staying. Joe Perini has cooked steaks for many presidents going way back and has also won a James Beard Award for American Classics. Another lesson learned you need to make a reservation at the Perini Ranch Steakhouse at least a week in advance. Another local place I was told was great is Joe Allen’s BBQ in Abilene. Joe Allen’s also has a long history and is where the “locals ” go for BBQ. I too went to Joe Allen’s and thought it wouldn’t be so busy as it was a Tuesday night at 7pm. However I learned another lesson, Joe Allen’s doesn’t take reservations and is packed even on a Tuesday. I couldn’t find a seat except at the bar which just didn’t appeal to me. So I went with place C another town favorite Betty Rose’s. It was getting late and I was road weary , I was so happy to see they had a drive-thru window. I ordered a chicken and rib combo complete with all the fixings and headed back to my cosy remote Air BNB place, that was tucked away on a farm a mile or so on a dirt road far away from all the noise and excitement of the highway.
I love Texas Hill Country style BBQ. The dry rub is heavy on the black pepper and the sauce has slightly more vinegar and cayenne. I’m a firm believer that you usually end up where you’re supposed to and I’m sure glad I ended up at Betty Rose’s BBQ. The place was a typical BBQ joint but had a covered outdoor patio where I live singer was playing his country songs. If I wasn’t so tired I think I would have stopped in to listen while enjoying my food. This was BBQ done right. The ribs and chicken both had the pink ring which is a sign of good BBQ. I liked how the ribs still had texture even though they were tender. The chicken wasn’t dry and the dry rub gave it that famous Hill Country zing. The sides were also exactly what you’d want, they complemented the meal and even though it was late in the day the cornbread was still moist. For me that was a perfect ending to hectic day and well deserved rest on a very peaceful plot of land in the middle of Texas.
Thanks for sticking with me through the end. I’m sure I’ve missed other road tips like having a thermos of hot coffee or tea with you for the much needed caffeine boost or making a playlist of your favorite songs to belt out along the road. If you have any tips and tricks you’ve learned from your road trips please share them with us in the box below. If you ever get to the Perini Ranch Steakhouse please take pictures and tell of your experience! Until next time Boone Appétit!
What a wonderful post, Charlie! Filled with tips for travel and good eating. I’m glad that crazy Mercedes didn’t lead you into a ditch! Yikes!
When I’m on the road, I like to bring healthy foods in a small cooler, too. Food on the road can be hard to come by, expensive, and unhealthy. Not to mention all the time it takes to find a place. Not fun if you’re trying to get to a destination by sundown! I generally save my stops for rest-stops and maybe a coffee break.
Hey, just had a thought: maybe your column should be called “Travels with Charlie, version 2!” lol!
Safe travels!
Thanks Jenn, I’m so glad you liked the post and that you too carry some healthy food for road trips. It’s amazing how little adjustments can make the world of difference in travel. I like your idea, it’s certainly something to consider!