Storm2K Travel Contact Buddies
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 5:03 pm
Okay, gang. I'm trading out my sand-filled beach towel for a heavy coat and gloves as I pack up and get ready to head to frosty KY for Christmas. I was just wondering, for my sake and for the sake of other Storm2K family members who will be traveling long-distances this holiday season, would some of you be willing to serve as Storm2K contacts during our travels? I'm hoping to find a couple of people along my route who are familiar enough with the area to offer weather and detour advice, should the need arise. Obviously, I won't have a computer on my trip. So, the only ways I'm going to know what the weather is like is by what I see ahead of me and what I hear on the radio. The problem with radio stations is that if you're not usually a listener in the area, you're not going to know the best ones to tune to in whatever region your driving.
My trip is a little under 1100 miles. I'll leave Galveston bright and early on Saturday morning, taking the ferry across to the mainland and then heading through Beaumont to I-10. I'll drive through LA then head north on I-55. From there, I'll drive the longest part of the route (over 300 miles) all the way through MS to Memphis. At that point, I'll head eastward on I-40 for almost 200 miles. Then near Nashville, I'll take I-65 north until I hit the Bluegrass Parkway, which takes me to it's origin 70 miles away near the Versailles/Lexington line. From then on, it's pretty much clear sailing.
I've been watching the weather forums, but as we all know, nothing is really certain when it comes to the weather. I've seen the horror stories of travelers stranded on the highways in snowstorms and thankfully, I've never experienced it first-hand and pray I never have to. I'm packing a blanket, food, and some other emergency items. I just got my oil changed and my tire pressure checked. The spare in the back is fine. And I always try to keep my tank half-full. I'm prepared as much as I hope I can be. But if anyone who lives a couple of hours or so from anywhere along my route would care to volunteer a phone number just in case I run into some kind of mess and need to call someone who knows the area and knows what detour I should take or what the weather will be like ahead of me, I'd appreciate it. Maybe someone in mid to northern MS and maybe someone in TN? I already have numbers for friends here in TX in case something happens between here or through LA. And most of my family is in KY, so I'm cool there. It's just the in-between areas I want to cover.
I have a main contact buddy here just so I can check in when I get there and check back in when I get home, since I won't have email. I suppose this is sort of following the same protocol as with the Storm2k evacuation check-ins. Don't feel you need to volunteer your information if you are uncomfortable giving your number to someone you don't know. I hope this can help other members who are traveling now and at other times throughout the year.
My trip is a little under 1100 miles. I'll leave Galveston bright and early on Saturday morning, taking the ferry across to the mainland and then heading through Beaumont to I-10. I'll drive through LA then head north on I-55. From there, I'll drive the longest part of the route (over 300 miles) all the way through MS to Memphis. At that point, I'll head eastward on I-40 for almost 200 miles. Then near Nashville, I'll take I-65 north until I hit the Bluegrass Parkway, which takes me to it's origin 70 miles away near the Versailles/Lexington line. From then on, it's pretty much clear sailing.
I've been watching the weather forums, but as we all know, nothing is really certain when it comes to the weather. I've seen the horror stories of travelers stranded on the highways in snowstorms and thankfully, I've never experienced it first-hand and pray I never have to. I'm packing a blanket, food, and some other emergency items. I just got my oil changed and my tire pressure checked. The spare in the back is fine. And I always try to keep my tank half-full. I'm prepared as much as I hope I can be. But if anyone who lives a couple of hours or so from anywhere along my route would care to volunteer a phone number just in case I run into some kind of mess and need to call someone who knows the area and knows what detour I should take or what the weather will be like ahead of me, I'd appreciate it. Maybe someone in mid to northern MS and maybe someone in TN? I already have numbers for friends here in TX in case something happens between here or through LA. And most of my family is in KY, so I'm cool there. It's just the in-between areas I want to cover.
I have a main contact buddy here just so I can check in when I get there and check back in when I get home, since I won't have email. I suppose this is sort of following the same protocol as with the Storm2k evacuation check-ins. Don't feel you need to volunteer your information if you are uncomfortable giving your number to someone you don't know. I hope this can help other members who are traveling now and at other times throughout the year.
