Off to a start

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step”, words famously said by Lao Tzu, the ancient Chinese philosopher. Well, I believe that the ‘single step’ he was referring to is planning. With the New Year off to a great start, long weekends are bound to crop up in a month or two and what better time to plan a road trip. Since this is your first road trip, we don’t want to take any chances do we? So, we have here a few tips you could keep in mind while hitting the road in your car.

You could divide your planning into two parts:

A. Pre-planning

B. While on the road

Pre-planning

As part of pre-planning here’s what you need to keep in mind:

i. Roadside assistance

Upgrade, or at least, revise the documents to see whether your car will be able to get help in case of accident or a breakdown. You don’t want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere with a pile of metal and no way to get home. Plus think about the extra cost it will incur.

ii. A visit to the mechanic

You do not want to spend sightseeing the inside of a mechanic’s shop for the major part of your trip, so let your mechanic go over the car to see if it can handle the long haul. Check hoses, pipes, parts, engine bay, wheel realignment, tyre changes, oil and coolant levels, AC, fixing a chipped windshield and checking the clutch and brakes.

iii. Itinerary for the road

Time is of the essence on the road, especially if you intend on sightseeing and relaxing at your destination. You do not want to be weary and sleeping off the exhaustion in a hotel. Chalk out the number of days/hours you want to be spending at a particular place and stick to the schedule. Plan ahead about the route, places and things you need to see/do on your trip, your detours and stops; check for opening and closing time of roads, dams, places etc…

iv. Money matters

Look out for cheap hotels and practice frugal dining. Indian highway food is cheap and delicious. Also, pack well, so that you have water bottles, towels, extra food supplies, fuel cans in case you plan on not having many pitstops or if you get stranded. Have at least one credit card for emergencies, as well as small amounts of cash. Refrain from carrying valuables or a bucket load of gizmos. Store them in safe places like the boot or in the glove compartment or create nooks that only you can spot easily.

v. Get familiar

If you are driving a new car or a rental car make sure you know how it works. Familiarise yourself with the parts, the features and functions before getting into the driver’s side. Take tips from seasoned travelers, especially people who have gone on the route before you. Don’t wait for trouble as it comes to put things to use.

Dos and Don'ts

On the road

B. Things to keep in mind while on the road

i. Rest well:

Before the beginning of a trip, rest well and get a goodnight’s sleep. You also need to eat properly to keep your energy levels up.

ii. Breaks:

You may want to pull a straight-six hours or a straight-eight on your trip, but don’t be too adventurous. Take decent amount of breaks, change the pace, drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated, get out of the car to avoid cramps and boredom and enjoy the scenery. Avoid late night driving as much as you can for a first trip.

iii. Be Weather wise

Keep your eyes on the road at all times, but have one eye on the skies as well. Weather could play a spoilsport, so plan your stops or scout for shelter beforehand. Don’t try to outrun the weather.

iv. Entertainment

Don’t forget to pack for what you need when boredom sets in. Have a stack of CDs, pen drives with music, a portable movie player, books, games or anything that will keep you from getting weary. If this does not work, try karaoke.

P.S: There is a first time for everything and why not let it be the best. But be ready for those spontaneous moments, a detour on the road, a local recommendation – they make for wonderful stories and memories.