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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThere was a time in my life when road trips felt like competitive events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Six hundred miles? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s make it eight hundred. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bathroom break? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hold it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sleep? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That sounds optional. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I used to drive like a man trying to personally defeat geography. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coffee in one cup holder. Beef jerky in the other. Windows down. Music up. Absolute confidence in decisions that now sound medically questionable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And honestly? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Somewhere along the line I realized something important. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Almost none of my favorite road trip memories came from the miles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They came from the pauses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The roadside diner with suspiciously excellent pie. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The old guy in a bait shop explaining fish behavior like he was discussing international politics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tiny harbor town where absolutely nothing happened for two hours and somehow those became the best two hours of the trip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Funny what stays with you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not interstate exits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not average speed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not how fast you arrived. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just moments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s what road trips become after sixty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or at least what they SHOULD become. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because eventually you stop trying to prove you\u2019re tough enough to drive twelve straight hours fueled entirely by caffeine and stubbornness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You start wanting to actually enjoy the trip instead of recovering from it afterward like you survived a natural disaster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Honestly? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s a pretty good trade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Twelve-Hour Driving Days Are A Young Person\u2019s Terrible Idea <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Could I still drive twelve hours if absolutely necessary? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Probably. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Would I enjoy it? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not remotely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fatigue sneaks up differently now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At twenty-five you get tired and bounce back after sleep and greasy breakfast food. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At sixty-plus, exhaustion lingers around like an unwanted houseguest eating your snacks and ruining your mood for two days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These days I aim for realistic driving days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Four to six hours actually DRIVING feels about right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Notice I said driving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not total road time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Huge difference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because road trips include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bathroom stops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coffee stops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stretching. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Construction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Getting lost despite GPS confidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking at antique stores you absolutely did not plan to stop at. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A six-hour drive can easily become an eight-hour travel day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And honestly? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s perfectly fine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The goal isn\u2019t speed anymore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s arriving without feeling like your spine needs counseling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stop Treating The Destination Like The Only Thing That Matters <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This is the mistake a lot of travelers make. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything becomes:
\u201cGet there. Get there. Get there.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile they\u2019re flying past little towns, lakes, diners, bakeries, and weird roadside attractions that would\u2019ve made the trip memorable in the first place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Road trips NEED reasons to stop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A scenic overlook. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A harbor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A bakery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A lighthouse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A little downtown with flower baskets hanging from lamp posts and a hardware store that somehow still exists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those are the places that stick with you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I once stopped in a small Wisconsin town because I saw a sign advertising homemade pie. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That was the entire strategy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pie. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turned out to be one of the best stops of the whole trip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Life occasionally rewards bad nutritional decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your Body Has Opinions Now <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Strong opinions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Especially about driving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve learned my body likes mornings better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Morning Otis is optimistic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Focused. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reasonably pleasant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Late afternoon Otis starts looking for coffee and muttering about traffic engineers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Know your best hours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some people drive great early. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Others prefer slower starts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t force yourself into somebody else\u2019s rhythm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Travel should work WITH your body whenever possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not against it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At this age, fighting your own energy levels usually ends badly and involves gas station aspirin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stretch Before Your Body Starts Filing Complaints <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s something nobody tells you when you\u2019re younger: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The human body absolutely hates sitting still too long. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Especially after sixty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Long road trips can turn hips and knees into bitter enemies if you\u2019re not careful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So stop regularly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Walk around. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stretch. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roll your shoulders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Look at something besides the back of a semi truck. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You don\u2019t need a gym routine at a rest stop. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You just need movement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ten minutes walking around can completely reset the next couple hours of driving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The body likes motion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even when it spends half the morning complaining about motion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Comfortable Cars Beat Fancy Cars <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
I do not care how impressive the vehicle looks if climbing into it feels like entering military training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Comfort matters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seat comfort especially. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Easy entry and exit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Climate control that doesn\u2019t require an engineering degree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Road trips are different after sixty because the vehicle becomes part of your physical well-being. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You spend enough hours inside it and suddenly little discomforts become major personality traits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A smooth comfortable ride beats flashy wheels every single time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not even close. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Road Trip Snacks Prevent Regret <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This is practical wisdom earned through experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hungry travelers make terrible decisions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You wait too long to eat and suddenly a gas station hot dog starts looking emotionally reasonable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s dangerous territory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now I pack snacks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nuts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cheese sticks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crackers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Protein bars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fruit sometimes if I\u2019m pretending to be responsible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Especially important if you\u2019re managing blood sugar issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A small snack at the right time prevents a lot of problems later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also prevents buying mystery sandwiches wrapped in plastic beside windshield washer fluid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flexible Plans Make Better Trips <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This one took me years to understand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leave room for change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe you find a lake town you love. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe the weather turns beautiful somewhere unexpected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe you\u2019re simply tired and decide staying an extra night sounds smarter than pushing through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rigid schedules squeeze the life out of road trips. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of the best moments happen because plans changed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Honestly, that\u2019s probably true about life in general too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
GPS Is Helpful. But Sometimes It\u2019s Clearly Insane. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Technology\u2019s wonderful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mostly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But GPS occasionally develops deeply questionable ideas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve been directed down roads suitable only for tractors and emotionally unstable raccoons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One GPS once confidently instructed me to turn into what appeared to be a cornfield. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another tried routing me through a closed logging road. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m not saying ignore GPS. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m saying use common sense alongside it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Technology helps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Human judgment still matters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For now anyway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Weather Deserves Respect <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Road trips and weather have a complicated relationship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Forecasts lie sometimes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Especially near water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check weather regularly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Be flexible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is absolutely no prize for driving through dangerous conditions just because \u201cthe reservation\u2019s already booked.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The hotel will survive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lake will still be there tomorrow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your safety matters more than keeping a schedule. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back Roads Tell Better Stories <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Interstates are efficient. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back roads are interesting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s the difference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back roads show you: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fishing towns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Old barns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tiny diners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Family businesses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Churches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Farm fields. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
People actually living their lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You notice things traveling slower. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s one of the gifts of aging honestly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You stop racing past life quite as much. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And some of the best road trip moments happen where there wasn\u2019t even supposed to BE a moment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just a random stop that somehow becomes memorable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Travel Companions Matter More Than The Route <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A good road trip companion isn\u2019t somebody perfect. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s somebody who stays reasonable when things go sideways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Missed exits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Traffic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wrong turns. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rainstorms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hotel mix-ups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eventually something will go wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s guaranteed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best travel partners laugh about it instead of turning the car into a courtroom drama. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Humor matters on road trips. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A lot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Otis\u2019s Roadside Wisdom <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you find yourself rushing through a road trip\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
ask yourself why. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The harbor isn\u2019t leaving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mountains aren\u2019t going anywhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pie shop will still exist twenty minutes from now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slow down enough to notice where you are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s usually where the good stuff lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Final Thoughts <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Road trips after sixty aren\u2019t about endurance anymore. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They\u2019re about enjoyment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The goal isn\u2019t to cover more miles. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s to collect better moments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Better conversations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Better scenery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Better stories. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Drive realistically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Take breaks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stay flexible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Listen to your body before it starts yelling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And don\u2019t be afraid to pull off the highway when something interesting catches your eye. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because the older I get, the more convinced I become that road trips were never really about the destination anyway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They\u2019re about the little unexpected moments between Point A and Point B. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And honestly? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those moments are usually hiding somewhere just off the next exit. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Older I Get, the More I Realize Good Trips Start Long Before You Turn…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":545,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deals-here.com\/dougsdigitallibrary.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/560","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deals-here.com\/dougsdigitallibrary.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deals-here.com\/dougsdigitallibrary.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deals-here.com\/dougsdigitallibrary.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/545"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deals-here.com\/dougsdigitallibrary.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=560"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/deals-here.com\/dougsdigitallibrary.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/560\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":562,"href":"https:\/\/deals-here.com\/dougsdigitallibrary.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/560\/revisions\/562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deals-here.com\/dougsdigitallibrary.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deals-here.com\/dougsdigitallibrary.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deals-here.com\/dougsdigitallibrary.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}