cancel
Showing results forย 
Search instead forย 
Did you mean:ย 

Fighting off boredom on the road

Kittykath
Explorer II
Explorer II
We just returned from a quick trip 4 hours west. While we found things to chat about, there were plenty of long, boring stretches of roads, and not much scenery besides fields. We are traveling with no kids either and are new to driving longer distances. Looking for ideas to pass the time.
57 REPLIES 57

stickdog
Explorer
Explorer
doxiemom11 wrote:
We pull a trailer with our motorcycles on it, so I tag behind in our jeep. I am busy driving, so no time to be bored.


We do somewhat the same, I pull the 5th wheel and DW follows in our grocery getter. We did store it last summer on our Alaska trip that was the first time in six years on the road that we rode together towing. She enjoyed watching the scenery and not the back end of the 5th. We have many through the windshield photos.
9-11 WE WILL NEVER FORGET!
FULLTIME SINCE 2010
17 DRV MS 36rssb3
17 F350 King Ranch CC DRW 4x4 6.7 4:10 B&W hitch
John
โ€œA good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.โ€ Lao Tzu

JimBollman
Explorer
Explorer
I think most of our methods have been covered - All our audio sources of entertainment have been converted to MP3 and put on thumb drives since our two travel vehicles both will handle thumb drives now. Thumb drives are cheap enough we split stuff into categories. We do audio books, Old TIme Radio and Podcasts. I download a bunch of interesting Podcasts when they get released and stack them up for future trips. When all that fails and we haven't stopped at something interesting along the way we talk to our GPS. We switched to GPS that you can give vocal commands to about 7 years ago and would never own one without that feature now. The voice recognition is ok but it makes lots of mistakes so we ask it to find things and see how it screws up the names. You'd be surprised at how long you can laugh at a GPS. Our is called Veronica.

mabynack
Explorer II
Explorer II
Padlin wrote:
We use the IPOD loaded up with some interesting podcasts and a couple long audio books. We listen for a couple hours at a time. Don't know that I'd be concerned about 4 hours, but it works okay driving cross country. It does take some time at home hunting down and downloading good podcasts.


Great idea. I hadn't thought about books on tape.

Mr_Beebo
Explorer
Explorer
Talk radio, podcasts streamed from your phone thru your radio, yes old radio programs; anything that causes your mind to actively listen or think.
2010 Rockwood Roo 23SS
2009 Silverado 2500 6.0

Padlin
Explorer
Explorer
We use the IPOD loaded up with some interesting podcasts and a couple long audio books. We listen for a couple hours at a time. Don't know that I'd be concerned about 4 hours, but it works okay driving cross country. It does take some time at home hunting down and downloading good podcasts.
Happy Motoring
Bob & Deb

W Ma.
12 F150 HD SCAB EcoBoost LB 4x4
14 Escape 5.0 TA

doxiemom11
Explorer II
Explorer II
We pull a trailer with our motorcycles on it, so I tag behind in our jeep. I am busy driving, so no time to be bored.

Deb_and_Ed_M
Explorer II
Explorer II
Well, hubby is a "Car Guy" - so we invariably have thousands of things to talk about as they pass by....LOL! Good music is a must. We tend to stop at Scenic or Historic turnouts, and then discuss the hardships our forefathers endured to settle this amazing country, as we travel on in comfort.....

Or "plan". Last year, as we drove to Florida, Ed asked "have you ever thought about buying a place to snowbird in Florida?" By the time we actually arrived in Florida, we had a complete list of what we wanted/needed/hoped-for; we sampled different areas and found the one we love; and looked at ONE condo that met all the items on our list and bought it....LOL!!

Granted, that's rather drastic - but maybe you just want to remodel the bathroom ๐Ÿ™‚ The point is - you pretty much have a captive audience. There's few distractions. And if you simply drive for several hundred miles in silence - that's OK, too.
Ed, Deb, and 2 dogs
Looking for a small Class C!

tatest
Explorer II
Explorer II
I think a lot about farming, what I am seeing and how things are being done. I stop in many of the little towns I go through, take some pictures of what I see special locally.

But I try to stay off the Interstate highways through most of the middle of the country, but even that driving is not necessarily boring. With all the bad driving in heavy traffic on these highways, sometimes just staying out of trouble is exciting enough. I think a lot of the bad behavior might have to do with what other drivers are doing to distract themselves from the important task of heads up driving.

Thinking more about this, my wife and I talked, while she still lived. We talked about anything and everything, or nothing. She was good at this. She could also listen to my random thoughts, which is talking about nothing. Probably what kept us together 40+ years was never being bored with conversation. It could get us across 2000-3000 miles of empty ocean, you think farmlands and plains are boring scenery, try water.

Since she died, I still talk to her, though you might think I'm talking to myself. She doesn't answer, I can take that as listening quietly. When This moves todaydreaming, time for a rest stop, which can be interesting.

We got through some long sections with music. Since she's no longer here to change CD's, when I want music it means stopping every 45 minute to an hour so I can safely do that myself. Making those stops breaks up the boredom too.
Tom Test
Itasca Spirit 29B

FULLTIMEWANABE
Explorer
Explorer
When driving alone have the music cranked up and get weird looks from all those passing me as I'm playing the imaginary drums, Oboe or guitar whilst bopping and screeching at the top of my voice in my seat (windows closed!!). When with hubby typically we go through fits and starts = lots of chit, chat about anything and everything, from family and friends, through to what we are seeing, where we are going and what to do and where we've been. Spend a lot of time laughing about crazy previous trips and things we've done "remember when ......."

When conversation dries up typically put on the music and if it gets too monotonous (rare now we aren't racing to any place and take the roads less travelled rather than the highways = stopping and starting a lot at little towns or attractions), take a break have a cuppa and some cake and get outside for a few minutes.
It Takes No More Effort To Aim High Than To Aim Low - Reach For The Stars

Kittykath
Explorer II
Explorer II
I do have Audible already on my phone, and a bluetooth speaker. Now to find a book that won't be too much of a distraction to the driver. Comedy perhaps?

TenOC
Nomad
Nomad
Check out a good audio-book from your library and play it. Depending on your radio you may need to "rip" it to MP3. Lots of free how to rip programs.
Please give me enough troubles, uncertainty, problems, obstacles and STRESS so that I do not become arrogant, proud, and smug in my own abilities, and enough blessings and good times that I realize that someone else is in charge of my life.

Travel Photos

mabynack
Explorer II
Explorer II
๐Ÿต

jplante4
Explorer II
Explorer II
mabynack wrote:
I like to take a nap. It's very relaxing for me, but drives my passengers nuts.


When I die, I want to go in my sleep like my dad did, not in a screaming panic like his passengers.
Jerry & Jeanne
1996 Safari Sahara 3530 - 'White Tiger'
CAT 3126/Allison 6 speed/Magnum Chassis
2014 Equinox AWD / Blue Ox

Jim_Shoe
Explorer
Explorer
I have an XM/SKYFI Radio that fits in a holster and plays through my existing radio speakers. I have holsters for the unit in my RV, Jeep Toad and Daily driver. Lots of stations to pick from just by pushing a single button, and since its satellite radio, you don't have to search for a new station every 50 miles. Or listen to mouthy DJs talk between songs if you just want music. The biggest bonus - I bought it when they first hit the market years ago and opted for a lifetime subscription. They don't sell those anymore. I've certainly gotten my money's worth.
Retired and visiting as much of this beautiful country as I can.

mabynack
Explorer II
Explorer II
I like to take a nap. It's very relaxing for me, but drives my passengers nuts.