My first trip was anything but smooth. During the month I was away, I dealt with a dead car battery three times. I ran out of gas in the mountains where there was no cell service. I rescued turtles and other animals from the middle of the road. Although I made many mistakes, I returned home having learned much more.
- Always get gas before you’re down to a quarter tank: Some areas don’t have gas stations for miles. It is also common to lose service and not be able to use maps to locate the nearest gas station. If you are one to let your tank go to E or worse, wait for the light to come on like I sometimes do, I would recommend carrying an extra can of gas.
- Bring a battery charging pack: One of Silver’s many quirks is her battery. Although she has improved significantly, there were times when her battery would die unexpectedly when we first started traveling. When you’re in the middle of the woods, with no cell service and no one around who can help with such issues, it’s essential to be able to resolve these problems yourself. However, don’t worry too much. I’ve had help from both nearby campers and park rangers when I needed it
- Water, water, and extra water: Water is essential. It’s your best friend for cooking, cleaning, and staying hydrated. Whatever amount of water you think you’ll need, double it to be safe, and always make sure you never run out.
- Download maps: It is common to lose service in national parks or while camping in the woods. To help you find stores, gas stations, and future destinations, I recommend downloading maps of the surrounding area beforehand. There may also be times when you need to plan your day while you’re out and about, rather than being settled at your camp, due to service interruptions. I have AT&T, and while I occasionally have service, it is often lacking.
- Be prepared for a lot of work: While this may be a vacation, it won’t be like a traditional getaway. If you’ve ever been camping, you know it requires a lot of effort. You’ll need to set everything up and take it down when you’re ready to leave. This includes preparing your food, gathering any cooking utensils, and cleaning everything afterward. On top of that, there’s the constant driving, searching for places to stay, and engaging in various activities.
- Bug spray, lots and lots: In some areas, mosquitoes were the size of my hand. Archie is also a tick magnet, even with his medicine, so be vigilant about insects and other wildlife common to the area.
- Be friendly and always talk to the locals: Every area is different, and Google won’t always warn you about every little thing you might need to know. When I was in Texas, a kind woman at one of the restaurants told me to be careful when staying in Palo Duro Canyon due to sudden, dangerous flash floods. These can occur even with small amounts of rain, and I never would have guessed this in the desert area I was staying in.
- Watch the weather: This goes along with my last point. Different places can experience weather different from what you might be used to. Be cautious of the location and time of year. Be mindful of varying altitudes. Have clothing for all weather. Keep an eye on alerts, including fire bans in the area.
- Self-defense: This one is a given, especially if you are a female traveler like me. Archie is my number one self-defense. If anyone comes too close to the vehicle, he definitely makes himself known. Although Archie looks like the sweetest boy to me, when he is barking at a stranger, I can see why it makes people think twice. If that fails, I always have my taser, pepper spray, pocket knives, and before I left, I went to get my permit to carry. This made me feel so secure when sleeping in my car.
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