I planned a 3 day road trip. Day 1 would be Houston to Las Cruces, NM. Day 2 would get me to Ontario, CA and day 3 would allow me to arrive in San Francisco at about lunch time for the best chance of a parking spot close by.I had carefully planned this in my usual obsessive way counting miles and landing in spots that had pet friendly accommodations, close by the interstate, with a stress on cheap. I chose La Quinta, which turned out to be a great choice.
Day 1 I left at 3:30 am and immediately turned around before I even got out of the neighborhood forgetting a multitude of things including Buck's food bowls. I made it to Bucky Beavers before sunrise, and spent $6.20 on two apples, 2 slices of cheddar cheese and a large coffee. It was easy and I was on cruise control. I was unfortunately only getting about 220 miles a tank....this was going to be expensive.
By the time the sun rose I could see the shadow of my roof cargo bag flapping in the wind. I pulled over twice to tighten everything down hoping to reduce drag and increase mileage. It didn't work.
Trying to find somewhere for buck to blow off some energy I peered over the edge of every overpass that resembled a water crossing looking for water or a river. I finally found some at the Pecos and we pulled off highway and put it into 4x4 and rolled down to the river weaving between thorned mesquite shrub. The river was low and stagnant on the edge. He barreled into a clean opening and to my horror started lapping up water in his mouth as I scolded him to stop it. That stop didn't last for long for my paranoia and I made him eat radishes and clean water before he got back into the truck. I don't know why radishes I just did.Cruise control kept my truck in overdrive and rather than the electronic fuel control just staying open it would get me to speed, let off then force my engine to overdrive to catch back up again. By the end of the day I had a voice telling me that my tire pressure was creating drag and I maxed my tire pressure up near 40 psi and quit using the cruise control. I doubled my mileage. Feel like a schmuck for wasting money first day....and bite me Toyota. The EFC is this 4runner has always bothered me compared to my trusty 2nd gen.
I made it to each hotel stop by 4:30pm each day. We had time to lug everything inside, go for ashort walk, get a shower, grab some food and pass out. Up and out of there again by 4:30am. About 12hr hr days for 2 days in a row.
Both La Quintas were incredibly clean. Good smelling rooms, with fluffy down bedding.
Less than an hour out of Las Cruces I get to my first border patrol stop. it was like passing over the East/West German border in the 80s. Spotlights on the road, shining on incoming vehicles, dogs on long leads jumping and circling at every car that passed. It was other worldly and made me paranoid even though I had nothing to be paranoid about.
Although I wasnt speeding much, Trapster, the Android app saved me at least twice warning me of upcoming hiding spots. Day 3 however I threw caution to the wind and sped my ass through California. I might have gotten a photograph ticket on the highway. /shrug.
I made it to destination at 1pm and miraculously the parking spot on the curb directly in front of the house was open. I hyperventilated while I unloaded my life from the car and spent the rest of the day feeling unusually high and disoriented.
Both La Quintas were incredibly clean. Good smelling rooms, with fluffy down bedding.
Less than an hour out of Las Cruces I get to my first border patrol stop. it was like passing over the East/West German border in the 80s. Spotlights on the road, shining on incoming vehicles, dogs on long leads jumping and circling at every car that passed. It was other worldly and made me paranoid even though I had nothing to be paranoid about.
Although I wasnt speeding much, Trapster, the Android app saved me at least twice warning me of upcoming hiding spots. Day 3 however I threw caution to the wind and sped my ass through California. I might have gotten a photograph ticket on the highway. /shrug.
I made it to destination at 1pm and miraculously the parking spot on the curb directly in front of the house was open. I hyperventilated while I unloaded my life from the car and spent the rest of the day feeling unusually high and disoriented.
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