East -> West Coast Drive, USA

AlokSriva · 5th July 2014, 08:13

Crazy as it may sound, am doing a solo 3000 mile drive from Princeton, NJ to Bay Area.

If solo wasn't crazy enough, how does a 4 day duration sound?

Had dreamed of doing a coast-to-coast and when this opportunity (relocation back to bay area) came by, couldn't have missed it for anything - not even the 2 last moment back-outs of prospective companions..

I know 4 days is way too aggressive and therefore, have tried to keep the night stays as flexible as possible - by not making bookings/reservations. The itinerary I have planned is -

East -> West Coast Drive, USA-route-details.png

Since I need to be home only by Sunday, 13th July, I have 2 days of buffer with me. If need be, instead of driving approximately 700 miles on the last 3 days, I might settle for 500 miles only.

Though I don't have time to enjoy anything enroute barring Sri Venkateswara Temple (Pittsburgh, PA), I am sure this would be one hell of a journey!

Thoughts/suggestions/inputs?

aah78 · 8th July 2014, 21:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlokSriva

Crazy as it may sound, am doing a solo 3000 mile drive from Princeton, NJ to Bay Area.

Hey AlokSriva, your cross country trip sounds like fun & should be exciting!

Since I'm replying 4 days late, just want to make sure you aren't already on the road before I begin blabbering.

Is it still on?

ApriliaNut · 8th July 2014, 21:33

Good plan... it will be a great experience. You will enjoy the changing landscapes of different regions on your route. Please keep posting updates on your trip with pics, of course.

I drove from NJ to SFO in 2001 and back from SFO to NY in 2003. I was on a tight schedule on both the trips(job change) and had to do them in 3 days each. It was a wonderful experience and enjoyed every moment of it. Only regret was that due to the time crunch I could not stop at quite a few places on my bucket list, that I passed by on the way.

Technocrat · 9th July 2014, 02:37

Sounds pretty interesting, hope you are taking enough breaks.

Btw which app(from screenshot) are you using for planning this trip?

AlokSriva · 9th July 2014, 09:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by aah78

Hey AlokSriva, your cross country trip sounds like fun & should be exciting!

Since I'm replying 4 days late, just want to make sure you aren't already on the road before I begin blabbering.

Is it still on?

Yes sir, it is very much on.. One day and 800+ miles down

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApriliaNut

Good plan... it will be a great experience. You will enjoy the changing landscapes of different regions on your route. Please keep posting updates on your trip with pics, of course.

I drove from NJ to SFO in 2001 and back from SFO to NY in 2003. I was on a tight schedule on both the trips(job change) and had to do them in 3 days each. It was a wonderful experience and enjoyed every moment of it. Only regret was that due to the time crunch I could not stop at quite a few places on my bucket list, that I passed by on the way.

Same here, time crunch :(

The only pics that I clicked today were at the SV Temple. Driving and clicking don't gel well in parallel - at least not for me..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technocrat

Sounds pretty interesting, hope you are taking enough breaks.

Btw which app(from screenshot) are you using for planning this trip?

Of the 14 hours that I spent on road today, 12 were spent driving, and 2 on breaks - bio, gas, lunch. Worked for me therefore, assuming it is sufficient. Don't want to pamper and spoil myself

This is from Garmin's BaseCamp application, where I did all the planning, routing and transfer of trip to my device. Also, there is a Garmin app using which I can have folks track me real-time on my trip - neat!

AlokSriva · 11th July 2014, 10:03

Drove 900 miles today (being the third day), am ahead of schedule, and clicked a few pictures too.. Hopefully I would be able to pen a travelogue soon. In the interim, here's a snapshot of the drive

JoseVijay · 12th July 2014, 00:17

Seems like you are having fun on this epic drive

.

And yes, we are waiting for a travelogue.

Jomz · 12th July 2014, 00:27

You guys need to up the speed.
It seems the record for this drive is 28 hours.

http://jalopnik.com/meet-the-guy-who...8-h-1454092837

amitoj · 12th July 2014, 01:37

You are living my dream, man!!
We need more pictures and details though!

ApriliaNut · 12th July 2014, 02:48

Good progress. where have you reached now?

Keep an eye on the cops as it is easy to loose your vigil on such long drives.
Just don't go too much over the limit, max 15. Usually, cops let long distance drivers off with warnings.

Though I was not trying to break any records, I was pulled over thrice, for over-speeding, on the way to SFO.

First in Illinois, next in Nebraska, then in Nevada. The first two cops let me go, the one in Nevada gave me the ticket.
On my way back to NY, I only got pulled over in Indiana and he let me go, too.

AlokSriva · 28th August 2015, 12:55

I completed the journey safely and without any incident. Since I was between jobs, life took over and I completely missed coming back to this thread to thank and update folks.Sincere apologies..
Thanks to #ish (http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post3789038), I was reminded that I too undertook something similar last year

Had clicked few pictures, shall be uploading them soon.

5th July 2014, 08:13	#1
AlokSriva BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Fremont Posts: 486 Thanked: 72 Times	East -> West Coast Drive, USA Crazy as it may sound, am doing a solo 3000 mile drive from Princeton, NJ to Bay Area. If solo wasn't crazy enough, how does a 4 day duration sound? Had dreamed of doing a coast-to-coast and when this opportunity (relocation back to bay area) came by, couldn't have missed it for anything - not even the 2 last moment back-outs of prospective companions.. I know 4 days is way too aggressive and therefore, have tried to keep the night stays as flexible as possible - by not making bookings/reservations. The itinerary I have planned is - Since I need to be home only by Sunday, 13th July, I have 2 days of buffer with me. If need be, instead of driving approximately 700 miles on the last 3 days, I might settle for 500 miles only. Though I don't have time to enjoy anything enroute barring Sri Venkateswara Temple (Pittsburgh, PA), I am sure this would be one hell of a journey! Thoughts/suggestions/inputs?
	(5) Thanks

8th July 2014, 21:33	#3
ApriliaNut BHPian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: New York Posts: 32 Thanked: 34 Times	Re: East -> West Coast Drive, USA Good plan... it will be a great experience. You will enjoy the changing landscapes of different regions on your route. Please keep posting updates on your trip with pics, of course. I drove from NJ to SFO in 2001 and back from SFO to NY in 2003. I was on a tight schedule on both the trips(job change) and had to do them in 3 days each. It was a wonderful experience and enjoyed every moment of it. Only regret was that due to the time crunch I could not stop at quite a few places on my bucket list, that I passed by on the way.
	() Thanks

9th July 2014, 02:37	#4
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,770 Thanked: 2,705 Times	Re: East -> West Coast Drive, USA Sounds pretty interesting, hope you are taking enough breaks. Btw which app(from screenshot) are you using for planning this trip?
	() Thanks

11th July 2014, 10:03	#6
AlokSriva BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Fremont Posts: 486 Thanked: 72 Times	Re: East -> West Coast Drive, USA Drove 900 miles today (being the third day), am ahead of schedule, and clicked a few pictures too.. Hopefully I would be able to pen a travelogue soon. In the interim, here's a snapshot of the drive Attached Thumbnails
	(2) Thanks

12th July 2014, 00:17	#7
JoseVijay BHPian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 993 Thanked: 481 Times	Re: East -> West Coast Drive, USA Seems like you are having fun on this epic drive. And yes, we are waiting for a travelogue.
	() Thanks

12th July 2014, 00:27	#8
Jomz BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Detroit, MI,USA Posts: 834 Thanked: 335 Times	Re: East -> West Coast Drive, USA You guys need to up the speed. It seems the record for this drive is 28 hours. http://jalopnik.com/meet-the-guy-who...8-h-1454092837
	() Thanks

12th July 2014, 01:37	#9
amitoj Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Windham, NH USA Posts: 3,406 Thanked: 3,499 Times View My Garage	Re: East -> West Coast Drive, USA You are living my dream, man!! We need more pictures and details though!
	() Thanks

12th July 2014, 02:48	#10
ApriliaNut BHPian Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: New York Posts: 32 Thanked: 34 Times	Re: East -> West Coast Drive, USA Good progress. where have you reached now? Keep an eye on the cops as it is easy to loose your vigil on such long drives. Just don't go too much over the limit, max 15. Usually, cops let long distance drivers off with warnings. Though I was not trying to break any records, I was pulled over thrice, for over-speeding, on the way to SFO. First in Illinois, next in Nebraska, then in Nevada. The first two cops let me go, the one in Nevada gave me the ticket. On my way back to NY, I only got pulled over in Indiana and he let me go, too.
	() Thanks

28th August 2015, 12:55	#11
AlokSriva BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Fremont Posts: 486 Thanked: 72 Times	Re: East -> West Coast Drive, USA I completed the journey safely and without any incident. Since I was between jobs, life took over and I completely missed coming back to this thread to thank and update folks.Sincere apologies.. Thanks to #ish (http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post3789038), I was reminded that I too undertook something similar last year Had clicked few pictures, shall be uploading them soon.
	() Thanks