Road trips : A metaphor for the journey of life!

There is something undeniably exciting about driving down the roads, with the wind in your hair, and the thumping of your heartbeat synchronized to the beat of your favourite song on the radio. Road trips help you immerse into the countryside, and experience it in a new way. In road trips, the journey is the destination. So in order to enjoy it fully, you need to prepare well in advance. Here is what you need to keep in mind:

1. Your car
Choose a vehicle suitable for the trip you have planned. Go for something reliable. A car you can handle with ease, and suitable for the terrain, is undoubtedly the best pick. The car is the most vital part of your trip, so be sure to choose something that suits you the most!

Clean the car thoroughly before starting on your trip – tissues, napkins, food wrappers, and other stuff is going to pile up during the trip. Hence it makes sense to get rid of all the junk beforehand, to make way for the new one! Keep some garbage bags to accumulate the trash. Also keep some additional bags for those with a queasy stomach, especially if you are travelling with kids. A sanitiser dispenser and an air freshener is also a must.

On a road trip, you will have to drive for many hours at a stretch. Taking turns to drive is the best way to break the monotony of the journey, and it can allow everyone to enjoy the trip. So make sure that there is a secondary driver in your group, who is up to the task!

Get your car checked out by your mechanic, before setting off on the trip. Check the engine oil and coolant levels, wheel alignment and the condition of tyres of your vehicle. A good idea would be to learn how to fix a flat tyre. Keep an extra tyre in the car at all times – you never know when it may come handy! You can also sign up for a road assistance service. Check out the services in the area that you are planning to visit, beforehand the trip. Crossroads is a road assistance service, which operates in Delhi area. Carnation also provides on road assistance services in many parts of India.

While putting the luggage in the car, try to keep the heaviest things as close to the floor of the cargo area, as possible. It will prevent your car from being top heavy. The lighter stuff can be placed on the top of the heavy bags, and the essential things are best kept handy, in spaces underneath the car seats. Also consider the positions of the passengers – those prone to car sickness need to avoid the back seat, while children tend to love window seats.

Many people prefer driving at night, maybe because the children are asleep, and hence don’t distract the drivers. But it is always better to travel during the day, as roadside assistance, medical and other facilities are readily available then. Make sure to start early in the morning, before the traffic piles up, especially on highways. The morning climate is generally pleasant, and watching the world slowly wake up is an ineffable experience. Daylight also gives a better idea about the quality of the roads.

Speeding is best avoided, even on empty roads; if the roads are unfamiliar, it makes for risky driving. Stay away from fast driving trucks and buses, and it is best not to get caught up in speeding contests and road rage.

2. Your group
Make sure your group members are compatible with each other. A road trip is a great way to bond with people, be it your friends or family members. Of course, the group dynamics changes, depending upon the members of your group, hence it is best to pick a route, and activities that will please all members. A spot of trekking will be a great idea, if you are travelling with friends, but a sedate walk might be in order if your parents are accompanying you.

When going on a family trip, plan the route keeping in mind your family members. Try to stop after every few hours, for bathroom breaks, especially if you are travelling with elderly people or kids. You can look up restaurants on your GPS or your map, to plan the stops.

Distribute the work! People get bored when they have nothing to do. So you can distribute the responsibilities – managing petty cash, navigator, photographer, storyteller etc.

3. Directions
Invest in a good map of the area you want to visit. Many types of maps are available in the markets, but go for the one that you can make sense of. You can buy maps and travel guides, like Lonely Planet or Rough guides. Bookstores, or online retailers, like Flipkart and Infibeam have a huge range of books on travel.

Alternatively, you can get a GPS fixed in your car. Smartphones have the GPS feature, so you can plan the route beforehand. But despite the GPS and your map, if you feel that you are lost, don’t hesitate to ask people! Local people are usually helpful, and some will even go out of their way to point you in the right direction.

While planning your trip, make a note of the night halts, and look up hotels or hostels where you can spend the night. If possible, book these beforehand. At the end of the day, you’ll probably be very tired to actively search for hotel, and will probably end up somewhere substandard.

4. Research
Do a general research of the area you are planning to visit. Outline the roads you are going to follow, possible spots and restaurants, where you can stop for bathroom breaks and grab a bite to eat, preferred night halts and scenic spots that you feel are a must-visit.

5. Food

The taste of tea, brewed in a tea shop propped awkwardly by the side of the road, is absolutely heavenly. As charming as the road-side dhabas are, it is a smart idea to keep a reserve of food items in the vehicle. It will serve you well on lonely stretches of the highways. Keep bottles of water and energy drinks, and try to buy juice boxes with straws. It will help you to avoid the spilling. Bite sized sugary or salty snacks are the best. You can opt for pieces of fruit, fruit roll-ups, energy bars. Sandwiches and paranthas are ideal meals, because they are easy to prepare, and easier to eat. Impromptu picnics are the best parts of road trips. You can pack lunch when leaving home and stop somewhere on the road – an empty field, beside a beautiful lake, to eat. You can keep a picnic basket at hand – with a reusable plastic sheet that can be spread on the ground.

Keep up your energy by snacking on healthy food. But try to avoid overeating and overdrinking, as it may lead to unscheduled breaks, and will throw off your plans.

6. Medicines and other necessities

Keep a small arsenal of pills with you. Tablets for motion sickness, paracetamol, throat lozenges are a must. Keep a comprehensive emergency kit, with tissues, wipes, sanitary napkins, bottles of sanitizer, sunscreen. Don’t forget to pack regular toiletries – toothbrushes, toothpaste, hair brush, shampoo and soap, and sanitary napkins. Even if you are not visiting the colder climes, keep some sweaters and windcheaters as a precaution. A light shawl is also useful, especially if you are travelling with kids or your parents. They will be useful if the weather turns inclement. Don’t forget to include a couple of flashlights and batteries, a swiss knife and cell phone chargers (including car cell chargers).

7. Documents
Tuck your Identity proofs and insurance documents in the glove compartment, as a precaution. Keep photocopies of all necessary documents. Carry a fair amount of cash, as in India, many places do not have facilities for debit cards. Memorise the pins of your cards if you need to withdraw cash, in case of an emergency. Keep smaller denominations handy, especially if you are going off the beaten path.

8. Games and music
Even the most beautiful of the landscapes may get dreary after a while. Learn the classic road trip games, like ‘I spy’ for entertainment in the car. Easy games – like counting signposts, twenty questions, and memory games are easy to play and do not require any boards or game pieces. Don’t forget to bring a selection of music too! Or else, you’ll be stuck like Ted and Marshall (How I met your mother), listening to the same song on repeat. Audiobooks are a great way to spend long hours, and are suitable for both, adults and children. Pack the favourite toys of your children in a separate bag, so they can easily play without you having to dig the toys out of your luggage.

Photography is a great way to document your journey. For the shutterbugs, make frequent stops to enjoy the natural beauty. The photos you click will be the fodder of nostalgic evenings years after the trip. So stop to watch an enchanting sunset, sit by the side of an idyllic stream, or meditate in a scenic clearing! For driving is after all a metaphor for the journey of your life. Make the most of it.

Image credits: Wikimedia commons: SnideRemarks at wikivoyage, Bimal K C, Gopal Vijayraghavan, Stig Nygaard