I only meant to stay a while....

[dolari]

One thing I have issues with with most of these map systems is that they completely decide that US Highways just don't exist. Granted, Interstate Highways are nice quick ways to cross the country. I love them, I use them, they're great. ZIP ZING WOOSH.

But, when you get something like the google route above, it leaves you scratching your head. Going from Austin to Victoria means going to through Kansas?! Why is that?

Cause the maps don't give you options for "most direct route" or "avoid highways" or "include US highways" in their searches. So, I drew a Great Circle route (for you non geography majors, it's the shortest distance between two points on a globe), and then plotted a new course to Salt Lake City from Austin, just for giggles that was closer to the routing I wanted.

The bad thing about Google was, anytime I picked a set of cities too too far apart. it'd completely go bonkers, and throw me somewhere WAY out of the way (I have to go to Dallas to get to Albuquerque?) So I "creeped" along and patched a route closer to what I wanted. The results?

Great Circle Route: 1840.73
Google Route: 2523 mi (1 day 12 hours)
Jenn Route: 2328mi (1 day 18 hours)

Okay, the US highway route is 200 miles shorter, and five hours longer. But I think it'd be worth it. I've traveled across country four or five times now, each time, getting on a freeway when I woke up, and driving till I got tired (San Antonio to State College in that kind of driving? 1700 miles in 1 Day, 10 hours (two of us did it in 22 hours, when we only stopped driving to switch drivers and go to sleep)).

But I didn't really SEE anything. Just drive drive drive drive. The straighter route I'd take would take me right through the Rockies in New Mexico and Colorado, and the deserts of Utah. And I could SEE things. I could stop when something caught my eye without ever worrying if a cop was gonna drive up behind me and say "Get movin, kid."

All this is just wishful thinking. I love my Blue Beastie truck, but I just don't think she'd survive the trip. She did her marathons a few years back and is still a good sprinter, but a marathon at her age? Not likely.

Although if Gas becomes a serious problem, just driving it might be a pain. If that happens then I think I'll just go for broke, do the Great Circle Route and tunnel my way to Emily.

One day, though. One day. :)

Comments

[kisai.livejournal.com]

It's probably cheaper to fly. If you don't have a job and no money they might not let you through customs. X_x

[jenndolari.livejournal.com]

Oh, this isn't for a long time yet.

The plan:
Get a job.
Flying visit to Seattle/Victoria (Early 2006)
Get a new vehicle (Mid 2006)
Driving Move to Seattle (Late 2006)

Everything after that is up in the air. If I were to move to Canada, it'd prolly be Vancouver, and wouldn't be till at least 2007.

Got a long way to go yet....

[lisalees.livejournal.com]

I grew up in Oklahoma, had an aunt in San Antone, and later worked for NCR in Kansas. I know the first part of that Google route is a recipe for falling asleep at the wheel!

[jenndolari.livejournal.com]

I drove across Ohiop twice all up I-71. Talk about your long boring drives....