best camping places near london image
Cristobal
Hello my American friends, I am currently planning a road-trip in your country, probably for May. My idea would be to fly from London (I am French, please dont hurt me ha ha, but live in the UK) to Houston, Texas. From then on, I would like to go to San Antonio, then along the Mexican border and then all the way up to Wyoming, then down again through Utah (and so on). I will be travelling with a friend. So here are my questions:
- what car would be ideal for such a trip?
- what places do you recommend in particular?
- what is the average price of gas right now? (to plan my budget)
- Would it be too ambitious to think about doing so much in about 20 days? Or should I plan for a longer trip?
- What are the best places to meet people and share stories? I am quite keen on trying to understand the local characters and people a bit more...
Thank you, any tips will be appreciated...
Answer
Hey friend,
First let me say WELCOME! Now to answer your first question..
1) The best car to rent (hire) for the trip would be either a "mini-van" or a full sized SUV like a Chevy Suburban, Chevy Tahoe, Chysler Pacifica, Fod Expedition and rent from a company like Alamo that has unlimited mileage and decent daily/weekly rates.
2) I would reccomend a day trip in Mexico in the border town of Juarez across from El Paso, TX. I have been there many times in my travels and it is a nice town. You should take the walking bridge and get something to eat in town from the restaurant but do not drink the water or allow them to put ice in your drink (made from the same water of course) The city of Juarez is about a million people and is very interesting and impressive once you get away from the immediate border crossing area. They have US styled streets and shopping malls which are easy to navigate and breath-taking spanish architecure in some areas.I reccomend seeing the Grand Canyon, I reccomend stopping to see the River Walk in San Antonio which is a "must see" if you are in the city. The "Ogden Canyon near the Resevoir" is beautiful. Another beautiful place to visit in Wyoming is Jackson Hole. It has great views, good camping and white water rafting.
3) The average price of gas now is about $2.20-$2.35 though in some areas it is lower like $1.89. I guess you can count the consumption in a full size vehicle at .17 cents per mile for the 1,500-2,000 miles you plan to drive.
4) Is it too ambitious to do it in 20 days? It depends on if you have to drive back to Houston which may add 2-3 more days on an already short trip. It would take 6-7 days to drive that loop you propose non-stop without even getting out to see anything. I would think you might want to spend about a night or two in each place for rest and the ability to see it unrushed. if you stop at 6 places that is about 12 days of solid sight seeing and leaves you only 8 days to drive the remainder and try to meet friends along the way. 30 days would be alot better in my opinion because sometimes you might want to stay in some cities longer than a day. Some can't even be seen properly in a day. What you are proposing is like driving from Spain to Finland and then down to Turkey and back to Spain. Its a long drive.. Take your time.
5) The best places to meet locals are outside the major cities. Small towns, talking to cashiers and gas station attendants. Stop at farms and ranches and talk to the people there. They may have never met someone from New York City let alone from France living in the UK. It could be the highlight of thier lives. people in cities tend to be tougher and more guarded and they may either see you as playing a trick on them or someone who they can play a trick on but in smaller towns the mentality is different.
Hey friend,
First let me say WELCOME! Now to answer your first question..
1) The best car to rent (hire) for the trip would be either a "mini-van" or a full sized SUV like a Chevy Suburban, Chevy Tahoe, Chysler Pacifica, Fod Expedition and rent from a company like Alamo that has unlimited mileage and decent daily/weekly rates.
2) I would reccomend a day trip in Mexico in the border town of Juarez across from El Paso, TX. I have been there many times in my travels and it is a nice town. You should take the walking bridge and get something to eat in town from the restaurant but do not drink the water or allow them to put ice in your drink (made from the same water of course) The city of Juarez is about a million people and is very interesting and impressive once you get away from the immediate border crossing area. They have US styled streets and shopping malls which are easy to navigate and breath-taking spanish architecure in some areas.I reccomend seeing the Grand Canyon, I reccomend stopping to see the River Walk in San Antonio which is a "must see" if you are in the city. The "Ogden Canyon near the Resevoir" is beautiful. Another beautiful place to visit in Wyoming is Jackson Hole. It has great views, good camping and white water rafting.
3) The average price of gas now is about $2.20-$2.35 though in some areas it is lower like $1.89. I guess you can count the consumption in a full size vehicle at .17 cents per mile for the 1,500-2,000 miles you plan to drive.
4) Is it too ambitious to do it in 20 days? It depends on if you have to drive back to Houston which may add 2-3 more days on an already short trip. It would take 6-7 days to drive that loop you propose non-stop without even getting out to see anything. I would think you might want to spend about a night or two in each place for rest and the ability to see it unrushed. if you stop at 6 places that is about 12 days of solid sight seeing and leaves you only 8 days to drive the remainder and try to meet friends along the way. 30 days would be alot better in my opinion because sometimes you might want to stay in some cities longer than a day. Some can't even be seen properly in a day. What you are proposing is like driving from Spain to Finland and then down to Turkey and back to Spain. Its a long drive.. Take your time.
5) The best places to meet locals are outside the major cities. Small towns, talking to cashiers and gas station attendants. Stop at farms and ranches and talk to the people there. They may have never met someone from New York City let alone from France living in the UK. It could be the highlight of thier lives. people in cities tend to be tougher and more guarded and they may either see you as playing a trick on them or someone who they can play a trick on but in smaller towns the mentality is different.
What 15 items would chris need to live in the book Into the wild?
Caitlinn
The book is by Jon Krakauer. Chris McCandless or also known as "Alex". I was wondering if NYONE has any good ideas for this. Thank you
Answer
1. A guide... more than one... guides on food-gathering in that area (a resource guide) and a guide on weather patterns there at the time (like a farmer's almanack).
2. Some money... it's always better to have some than none at all... for use to hire a helper (like transport across a river, or a team)... to even use for kindling if needed.
3. Better equipment... including boots, gaiters, clothes, a survival blanket and a first aid kit... a hunting knife...etc.
5. A system for heat... whether a small propane stove (not sure if he had one) ...and most certainly a small hatchet for firewood.
6. A map... a map of the entire area he hiked, specifically of the highest and lowest points of the river nearby, including several places to cross it in nearly any weather... a map he didn't have that could have saved him.
7. A hand-cranked radio.... such a device could have warned McCandless of many things about the immediate future... weather, who might be nearby, etc.
8. A small ham-radio... any system to send out a strong message that the young man needed help... even a survival whistle... and/or a strong flashlight with extra batteries... and/or a mirror to catch the reflections of the sun in intelligent ways....
9. A means to hunt and fish... he didn't have to use a gun... but snares and a fishing line may have helped him tremendously... and knowledge about how to use them.
10. A sleeping bag for trekkers... a water-proof and cold-resistant bag...one that's also discouraging to bugs and other interlopers.
11. Ways to cook food... snared, fished or gathered food... a hibachi... any heat source... plus a cookbook on how to prepare food caught or gathered in the wild there.
12. Common sense... if all the locals (even just two of them) met near an area meant to be hiked... all advise a person not to so with the equipment seen... or during that season... use common sense and their advice.
13. A team... one does not need to hike in the wilderness with a team... but it's by far better to have some team (even two people) know exactly where one will go and the route one will take to get there... they can camp elsewhere... even fairly far away... but some team with a time-table and equipment for help if needed... and it was needed.
14. Another book... the cookbook regarding what is gathered or hunted... or of the adventures of John Muir, Jack London and others... not one by Kerouac, etc....
15. A steady light source... a closed (and light-weight) hurricane lamp... a miner's lamp worn on the head like a hat-band... any non-electric device for constant light... with any batteries needed for any light that requires long use of batteries.
1. A guide... more than one... guides on food-gathering in that area (a resource guide) and a guide on weather patterns there at the time (like a farmer's almanack).
2. Some money... it's always better to have some than none at all... for use to hire a helper (like transport across a river, or a team)... to even use for kindling if needed.
3. Better equipment... including boots, gaiters, clothes, a survival blanket and a first aid kit... a hunting knife...etc.
5. A system for heat... whether a small propane stove (not sure if he had one) ...and most certainly a small hatchet for firewood.
6. A map... a map of the entire area he hiked, specifically of the highest and lowest points of the river nearby, including several places to cross it in nearly any weather... a map he didn't have that could have saved him.
7. A hand-cranked radio.... such a device could have warned McCandless of many things about the immediate future... weather, who might be nearby, etc.
8. A small ham-radio... any system to send out a strong message that the young man needed help... even a survival whistle... and/or a strong flashlight with extra batteries... and/or a mirror to catch the reflections of the sun in intelligent ways....
9. A means to hunt and fish... he didn't have to use a gun... but snares and a fishing line may have helped him tremendously... and knowledge about how to use them.
10. A sleeping bag for trekkers... a water-proof and cold-resistant bag...one that's also discouraging to bugs and other interlopers.
11. Ways to cook food... snared, fished or gathered food... a hibachi... any heat source... plus a cookbook on how to prepare food caught or gathered in the wild there.
12. Common sense... if all the locals (even just two of them) met near an area meant to be hiked... all advise a person not to so with the equipment seen... or during that season... use common sense and their advice.
13. A team... one does not need to hike in the wilderness with a team... but it's by far better to have some team (even two people) know exactly where one will go and the route one will take to get there... they can camp elsewhere... even fairly far away... but some team with a time-table and equipment for help if needed... and it was needed.
14. Another book... the cookbook regarding what is gathered or hunted... or of the adventures of John Muir, Jack London and others... not one by Kerouac, etc....
15. A steady light source... a closed (and light-weight) hurricane lamp... a miner's lamp worn on the head like a hat-band... any non-electric device for constant light... with any batteries needed for any light that requires long use of batteries.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
No comments:
Post a Comment