About 2.5 years ago I went through RV Driving School and since then have helped on many of our long driving days. I tend to drive in the less congested areas, have improved at driving the 6% grades, etc. I drive through smaller cities such as Reno or Tucson. However, Dale continued to drive through cities such as Seattle, Sacramento and Phoenix. Today was an entirely new challenge that wasn't even planned.
We had a 350 mile driving day and had switched off a couple of times. Somehow I found myself behind the wheel as we went from US 395 to I 15, I 215 and then onto I 10, all in very heavy traffic in the SoCal Region. Yikes!! It wasn't bumper to bumper, but moving fast with tons of little cars who think those of us with heavy vehicles can stop on a dime. Sheeesh. Happy to say we made it through safely, no new dings on the RV/Truck, no new gray hairs on Dale, etc. He did tell me at one point if I needed to pull over and switch drivers, he would drive. Hmm, pullover where? 3 to 5 lanes of traffic on some of it, 6% downgrade on I 15 with 4 lanes of traffic, nowhere to safely make the switch. So I "white knuckled" it and feel a bit silly that I'm so impressed with what many of you would consider a minor accomplishment.
Next challenge? We're setting up cones in Quartzsite for me to practice backing, need to be somewhere that we know I won't run over anything!! LOL, might be buying new cones after that.
Barbaraok said
08:20 PM Nov 5, 2016
Isn't that a fun drive. I also ended up doing that portion last month. Didn't realize just how MUCH traffic is on that route down to I-10 and it does MOVE at a very rapid clip. Next time I think we will just go over to Barstow and cut down. Lots of construction south on US 395, didn't realize so many people have moved out to that section of desert. Don't worry, you will do fine with the backing up - it is just a matter of practice.
Barb
Someday said
12:50 AM Nov 6, 2016
Way to go Ruth! We all need to be able to take over from our SO's if heaven forbid the time ever requires it as necessity or to extend our times on the road.
I must confess, I absolutely detest driving our MH, but I do it and have done that and our huge 5er for many years including towing double horse boxes behind the MH for 4 hours with a friend of my daughter's mother onboard going through narrow coned areas for miles. Guess I must have done an OK job cos she complimented my driving at the end of it and said she never could - plus the bonus was the horses came out the other end not quaking (LOL).
About 2.5 years ago I went through RV Driving School and since then have helped on many of our long driving days. I tend to drive in the less congested areas, have improved at driving the 6% grades, etc. I drive through smaller cities such as Reno or Tucson. However, Dale continued to drive through cities such as Seattle, Sacramento and Phoenix. Today was an entirely new challenge that wasn't even planned.
We had a 350 mile driving day and had switched off a couple of times. Somehow I found myself behind the wheel as we went from US 395 to I 15, I 215 and then onto I 10, all in very heavy traffic in the SoCal Region. Yikes!! It wasn't bumper to bumper, but moving fast with tons of little cars who think those of us with heavy vehicles can stop on a dime. Sheeesh. Happy to say we made it through safely, no new dings on the RV/Truck, no new gray hairs on Dale, etc. He did tell me at one point if I needed to pull over and switch drivers, he would drive. Hmm, pullover where? 3 to 5 lanes of traffic on some of it, 6% downgrade on I 15 with 4 lanes of traffic, nowhere to safely make the switch. So I "white knuckled" it and feel a bit silly that I'm so impressed with what many of you would consider a minor accomplishment.
Next challenge? We're setting up cones in Quartzsite for me to practice backing, need to be somewhere that we know I won't run over anything!! LOL, might be buying new cones after that.
Barb
I must confess, I absolutely detest driving our MH, but I do it and have done that and our huge 5er for many years including towing double horse boxes behind the MH for 4 hours with a friend of my daughter's mother onboard going through narrow coned areas for miles. Guess I must have done an OK job cos she complimented my driving at the end of it and said she never could - plus the bonus was the horses came out the other end not quaking (LOL).