Things to do IN the car.....

So this week on my trip from Mississippi to Washington I managed to find my way into the traffic backup from an accident on I-10. At first, I thought it would just be a little while.....but much to my dismay I sat there for 6 1/2 hours. AHHHHH!!!! Thank goodness I had an Ipod that I found out I could play a card game on and I happened to have a magazine in the car to read but otherwise....What do you do in a situation like that?? I also had two dogs in the car....which thankfully I had a gallon of water for all of us...But maybe we should all pack a "survival kit" for the car to keep as we travel....Any ideas?? I also had an extreme need for a rest area which I was brainstorming how I was going to handle that in the front seat of my car...?!? No bushes on the side of this particular interstate....I thought about Sandra Bullock in that movie where she ran down the road and used some strangers RV. Believe my it crossed my mind more than once.....

As a traveler that drives to every assignment, I have just about mastered the highway tricks. 

I have a large truck, so along with being filled to capacity with all my belongings, I have everything I could need for any unexpected stops. I also really hate to stop between gas stations or when I need food, so being a guy, I keep my trusty empty gatoraid bottle should my Red Bull work its way through my system (you ever tried urinating while passing a semi at 65 on the interstate?). FYI, they do also make a female urinal should the situation arise, but I would suggest using it in a non-moving auto.

I also have a stereo with CD player, HD radio, terrestrial radio, Sirius sat. radio, a USB and aux input (for MP3 player) and a DVD player. You should never watch DVD's while driving!! That said, a few episodes of Seinfeld at 3AM can be just the thing to keep you awake on a lonely interstate.

That is also a fine time to be driving. Certainly I can understand that not all females wish to be out on the road at those hours, but if you are stopping at large truck stops with tons of people around, you should be fine. I also dont want to start a whole NRA debate here, but I do prefer to carry protection with me if I am driving at night.

You should also carry a AAA card and cell phone should you have any trouble while on the road. Most basic plans are less than $50 a year which is a small price to pay for insuring you have resources available should you have problems. Also consider the time of year in which you will be traveling. Blankets and warm clothes are needed for winter travel and plenty of water for warmer weather.

I had a two-part column in Healthcare Traveler Magazine last year that detailed more on making cross country trips. If you'd like to take a look, the first can be found here in part 1 or the second in part 2.

Hope these give you some ideas on surviving those long trips.

David Morrison
Author: Travel Nurse's Bible
david@travelnursesbible.com

there's a device called a she wee

I live in Iowa and work mostly in Illinois, winters can be feirce!  I travel with a box in the trunk containing, my insulated overalls, boots, gloves, hat, shovel and cat litter. Cat litter is for traction in snow, i've not yet used it  for myself but I've dug a couple of other people out. (use the cheap cat litter, clumping stuff dissolves,  useless.)
               Oh, and in  the car I've listened to a ton of books on CD, public libraries will lend them out and you can return them to ANY library, it's a great resource.