Road Trip
By dorannmwin
@dorannmwin (36392)
United States
April 8, 2013 3:51pm CST
This past week I had a friend of mine that had found themselves in a really bad place when they were out of state for work. It ended up that they did not have money to eat because the people that they were working for were supposed to be purchasing two meals a day for them and also providing a hotel room and they quit doing it because of another person that they were working with.
Well, he asked me if I might be able to help him out a little bit and I will because I know that he will pay me back and also because of the fact that I cannot stand to see someone suffer in that way. I told him that I would bring some money to him. The drive that was supposed to only take me four hours ended up taking six hours and I ended up falling asleep for a little bit in their room.
For me, this was a lot of fun because I got to go somewhere that I'd never been before. However, I really do wish that I hadn't had to be in a hurry to get home because I didn't get to see anything in the city that I went to except for a gas station and a hotel room. I do hope that I will be able to go up there another time when I've got more time and I can see some of the sights and sounds of the city.
Am I the only one, or are there other people here among us that enjoy taking road trips? Would you rather fly or take another mode of transportation to get to a place that is kind of far away? What is the most interesting place that you've had the opportunity to unexpectedly visit?
1 person likes this
21 responses
@ShyBear88 (59347)
• Sterling, Virginia
9 Apr 13
I don't mine road trips depending on how long the road trip is. Right now I'm on a 16 hour one. With my brother and my parents. Oth of my kids came sign me. Husband is jommdoea week.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
16 Apr 13
Oh, there would be no way that I would be able to do a straight through trip like that. However, given the circumstances of the trip that you had to take, I can see why it was necessary to do it that way.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Apr 13
16 hours really is a long time. I certainly hope that you are not planning on driving all of that straight through. Have a good time with your trip either way.
@ShyBear88 (59347)
• Sterling, Virginia
10 Apr 13
Yes we do plan to drive straight there. Been in the car for a while now and still driving at this moment and have bother 2 hours to go. We need to get there fast because my grandfather passes away in Tuesday and we have till Sunday to do the angraments and my parents are the souls guardian of this things and setting up things.
@missybear (11391)
• United States
10 Apr 13
I love just getting out of town for the heck of it but i don't have a car so I have to rely on friends to see if they want to go somewhere, but couldn't you just wire the money?
@missybear (11391)
• United States
16 Apr 13
It is nice to get out of town sometimes, change of scenery is nice
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
17 Apr 13
Agreed, I only hope that I have the opportunity to really enjoy it the next time that I leave my area.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
16 Apr 13
In retrospect, yes, I could have wired the money, but that didn't dawn on me at the time. Oh well, it was good for me to get away for a while.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
9 Apr 13
I hope that you will go back to that place and have a lovely time sightseeing. I finally passed my practical driving test in February 2010. I have a car which I love to drive. Last summer I drove from North Somerset to Cornwall. I had looked up which gardens were worth visiting. I have always fancied going to St Ives so we had a day trip to there. I always plan where to go and get there. My favorite way to travel is by train. I have to fly on plane if I am going to a long haul destination.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Apr 13
At some point in my life I would love to have the opportunity to travel by passenger train. However that is not a mode of transportation that is really all that readily available where I live.
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
8 Apr 13
Aww, that was so nice of you to do! I would do the same thing, except I don't have a car anymore. I'm hoping to purchase one this year...it's a long story which I won't go into, lol! Anyways, I'm sure your friends were so happy!
I hope you do get to go back there...maybe you can take a friend with you and spend a weekend there just for fun..or somewhere close by to this. I used to love doing crazy stuff like that.
I remember years ago, when gas prices weren't so high, we used to go just for long rides on a Sunday. We'd end up in all kinds of different places far away from home, mostly country. I loved doing that, especially when you can come across a little cheese store or vegie stand.
When we used to go camping we'd be driving around the whole country town just seeing the sights. We even visited cemeteries that were soooo old, and then go through the little towns and stop at some of the antique stores...so much fun!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Apr 13
I am planning on trying to make a weekend out of it the next time that I have the opportunity. You see, his older sister is one of my closest friends and she has been invited to go up there and visit as well and seeing as how she doesn't have a car it would be logical for me to go with her and we could share our own hotel room.
1 person likes this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
10 Apr 13
That sounds like a perfect plan. I hope you have fun and enjoy yourself. It's always more fun with another person too. 
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
16 Apr 13
It is just a matter of everything falling into place for that plan to work out. I'm looking forward to it none the less.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
9 Apr 13
I love road trips. I think that a road trip is a great way to explore an unknown part of my own country or different country. If I want to visit a country that is very far away from my own country I choose to fly because it would take too much time to travel by car. When I visit another European country I sometimes chooose to fly to save time (if I am only able to travel for a short time) but when it is possible I prefer to travel by car or by train. My husband and I plan a road trip in Sweden, Norway and Finland in the future. Those countries are close to our own country and we would be able to sail to Norway and cross the bridge between Sweden and Denmark when we return.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Apr 13
I know that I won't be able to get there by car, but one of the places that I most want to visit in the world is Germany because of the fact that my husband spent 12 years of his childhood living in Germany. We will obviously fly to get there but then rent a car and visit all of the places that he remembers from his childhood.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
14 Apr 13
In my last job, I got to go to different suppliers to resolve quality issues. Although most of these suppliers are in small towns, or suburbs, they were actually close to big cities that had different tourist attractions. My problem going to these cities were always time. I never really got to go to these attractions to enjoy them. It was mostly the supplier, the hotel, and the airport where I would buy the souvenirs.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
16 Apr 13
That is sad that you didn't have the opportunity to visit the different big cities. I'm really looking forward to getting to go back and have the opportunity to see the sights and taste the tastes of the city. The differences in foods really are one of the reasons that I like to travel.
@ibuemma (2953)
• United States
9 Apr 13
It is a lot of fun visiting places that we've never been before. Road trip? As long as I have enough time, money, and thank God for GPS! plus, I would love to have another person(s) that can take turn to drive. Depend on where the area. Some places you can only go with airplane, so flying it is. Taking train sometimes fun too. Most interesting place that I've had opportunity to unexpectedly visit is Seoul, South Korea. We just realized that the lay over was about 14 hours! So we got out of airport and just browse around Seoul.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Apr 13
When I went to Italy as a teenager we had a 12 hour layover in Zurich, Switzerland and we did take advantage of that layover to visit and explore the city. I'm glad we did that too because it really was one of the most beautiful cities that I've ever had the opportunity to visit.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
9 Apr 13
i used to love going on road trips before i became disabled. now it freaks me out to get away from home. i wish i could go back to the days i did. before hubby passed away, we used to go some place out of town to see new things at least every couple of months. so where did you go?@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Apr 13
I went to Detroit. I'd never been to Michigan before and so I was able to mark a state off of my list of states to visit and I got to help out someone that I dearly love as well so that all made it worth it to me.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
9 Apr 13
That was a very ice gesture to make. I may have to do a similar one on Thursday as my GF needs chemo and no means of getting to the city. That will be a is hour round trip for me and I know it is too much for me really but she has no one else to do it.
I love travelling and going places. I have flown to N.C, and travelled by road down to Tennessee and to Georgia etc. I like going by plane to reach and then by car. I try to get info first on the place to see what os worth seeing or else I will just wander around.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Apr 13
If it wasn't for the fact that I needed to get back home and I'm also pretty much a small town girl, I would have taken some time for myself to enjoy all of the sights and sounds before I returned home.
@randylovesdar (4932)
• United States
9 Apr 13
In August Randy, my brother Mike and I will be taking a road trip to Idaho this summer. I know gas prices may be high, but it will be Randy's class reunion and we want to see two of his aunts who are turning 89 years old. That is nice that you are able to help your friend out and am sorry that the job did help them like they were promised.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Apr 13
I feel terrible for him that his job has not been working out the way that it is supposed to be working out. I do know that he is right on the brink of quitting and I have to say that I wouldn't blame him at all for it if that is the decision that he ends up making.
@doggydimon (1369)
• Philippines
9 Apr 13
I enjoy road trips! Before I used to travel around the city just glancing on every corner every weekend when I have lots of time to kill time. We usually do road trips to towns near our city. Some of them are just 2-4 hours away. I tried doing road trips that are too far away. It is exciting but tiring especially when I am the driver. My longest road trip was 600 kms away from my house. It was an unforgettable experience. That journey supposedly would take us only 10 hours but since it was a holiday, it took us 15 hours... We had to sleep over at a home stay in some town near our destination since all hotels were fully booked.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Apr 13
Well, they told me that it was only going to take me about 4.5 hours to get there and it took me closer to 6.5 hours because of construction and such. However, I do think that it was a pretty good experience and it was nice to get to see my friend if even for just a little bit before they had to go to work and I started my journey home.
@averygirl72 (37845)
• Philippines
9 Apr 13
Road trip? It's really fun as far as I remember. Sight seeing especially if I'm not from that place. Travelling along the expressways on bus or SUVs it's so great. Cityscape, it's beautiful. Go to provinces see wide ricefields it's nice. I also love walking than taking a ride on a jeep but most people will take a ride even if they can just walk. When I walk on our street, village I see a lot of things.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Apr 13
When I'm in a town that I don't really know I really do like to have the opportunity to walk around and really get a feel for that place in the world. In this situation it wasn't possible for me, but I know that I will have that opportunity at some point in the future.
@missjahn (4574)
• Philippines
9 Apr 13
i love road trip or land trip riding a bus. when i went to manila few years ago alone or with my sister, i had a land trip. i had so much fun. i am fond of watching nice views and scenic beauties this country possess. and i love the experience as well. love the air, the weather, the seas, the trees, mountains and the people you have known during the time of the trip. one time, we went to davao, a half day tour, we only rode a motorcycle; and wow! i love the views and the experience. we had our lunch and dinners to a place where we can pass and just stop and eat there. i guess, before the summer ends, we will be going back in there once again. i am now is excited :) love it
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Apr 13
I've had the opportunity to travel by bus several times in my life and though I have to say that it was nice to have the opportunity to visit places that I might not have had the opportunity to visit otherwise, it is not my favorite mode of travel because it is crowded and generally uncomfortable in my opinion.
@joizee (502)
• Philippines
9 Apr 13
The Philippines has a lot of hidden heavens that are enchanting when you finally set eyes in it. On time my friends and I went to Taytay Falls in Majayjay, Laguna to experience icy cold waterfalls. On the way there, we went along an extraordinary river. Its water is so blue and so clear that rocks underneath can be seen in detail (no exaggeration). I've seen blue-watered river before and with amazement, we went down to that river and decided to spend summer there instead. That was unforgettable.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Apr 13
It sounds absolutely beautiful the river that you had the opportunity to visit. That sounds to me like something that I might like to have the opportunity to do at some point in the future. There are so many beautiful places and countries in the world that I would love to be able to visit.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
8 Apr 13
I love road trips..spontaneous ones to boot. My daughter and I used to do that alot. We didn't have a destination alot of the time...just got in the car and drove. Some of those little trips were the best ones I have been on.. Hopefully the problem with your friends will iron itself out.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Apr 13
I'm pretty sure that the problems that he has been dealing with are something that will be able to iron themselves out and probably has by now, I need to call him tonight and check up on him.
For me, driving is one of the best kinds of therapy and I will just get in the car and drive when I'm feeling down and depressed.
@silverfox09 (4708)
• United States
9 Apr 13
Good thing you did for your friend , we all need help at times in different ways .
Do I enjoy taking road trip ? I absolutely do , I love being in new places , seeing new people and even acting differently lol . I do enjoy flying but I live on a island so that is not necessary when going from one end to the next , the best experience is driving and just seeing all the people in every town and they all dress differently .
One of my favorite place here that I was only able to visit once is a small local town in Trelawny, the town is so small and different from what I am used to but I still never get to see it I just drove through .
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Apr 13
I would do anything that I could for my friends if it is something that I am able to do. That is just the way that I was brought up.
Flying is great when you are going a very long distance, or overseas, but when I'm not traveling more than 500 miles, I don't have any problem at all with driving.
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
9 Apr 13
That is awesome that you could help him out! My husband has gone out of town for work before and they would pay per diem, food and hotel costs. It's messed up that they said they would and then didn't. But I'm glad you were there to help! =)
My husband and I used to drive around a lot just to get somewhere we have never been before. It was lot's of fun. Haven't done that in a while since money is so tight right now, and the gas prices...
@Rick1950 (1576)
• Lima, Peru
8 Apr 13
I think that travel on the road is more interesting than to fly, because you can stop where you want and you have more time to enjoy the trip. I visited the countryside at a town that is 100 miles away from the city where I live. It was a nice place with much green and some typical restaurants. In another occasion I was driving with the car and suddenly i arrived at a marvelous beach.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Apr 13
Where I was driving during the night, it was harder to see many of the things around me. However, I did think that it was really neat to have the opportunity to see the skyline of two major cities by night and that is something that not everyone has the opportunity to see.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
9 Apr 13
It would have been really nice if I would have had someone else that would have been able to do at least part of the driving, but it didn't work out that way at all for me this time.
