While I did drive from northeastern PA to southern CA (due south until a right turn somewhere below Atlanta, then due west), I think I might instead win the prize for the longest road trip without a good reason. And I have at least two for your consideration:

1. State College, PA - Punxsutawney, PA
Mapquest says this is only 80 some miles, but we went much further than that. We knew it was west so just made every turn to the west. We were lost for most of the 5-6 hour trip. And it was at night ... in the winter ... over snow-covered mountains ... with 5 people packed into a beat-up Subaru ... all to see a rodent get pulled out of a hole. Yes, it was for Groundhog's Day.

2. State College, Pa - Harrisburg, PA
Again 80 some miles ... at night ... in the same beat-up Subaru ... all because my roommate wanted a "really good cup of coffee" which we ended up getting in a gas station at around 5am somewhere in the state capitol, turning around and driving back to Penn State, getting there just in time for mid-term exams.

It may be for life experiences like these that I feel qualified to write up quests and adventures for GM events.

My parents took me on road trips when I was little. We'd spend two weeks every summer camping our way hither and thither across the country.

We'd visit POI's and NPC's... er, I mean national parks and relatives.

When I was nine years old my father the used car salesman took me on a trip from Houston to Fresno in one of his lot's cars.

We stopped everywhere along the way.

It was two weeks of driving all over the desert that in retrospect was almost magical.

My dad, who I did not grow up with, was an interesting character. He had engaged in much of the grey side of the law all throughout the desert southwest. I met more shady characters and genuinely good people in two weeks than I met in years afterward.

We visited remote mountain towns in west Texas, drove all over his home state of New Mexico. He introduced me to all of the indian reservations he lived on as he moved about when he was young (as far as anyone knows, we don't have much indian blood in us, but he liked the people there).

I saw the touristy stuff like Hoover Dam, and saw caves, roadside attractions, airshows...

We picked up a couple of female Swedish hitchikers near Tuscon. Looking at my old pictures of them, I can see why my dad picked them up. I don't remember both of their names, but I remember one was named "Fried." They were both just above 18.

We went from there to Vegas. I'll never forget my disappointment in not getting to go to the casinos (back then, Vegas was NOT a family place like it is now).

I remember being impressed with things most people don't care about, like the Salton Sea and the Great Salt Lake.

It was on this trip that I saw snow for the very first time.

California was fun - I realize now we drove through the town I live in now going north along the coast.

It was also the first time I had ever seen the ocean.

All too soon, we dropped off the hitchikers near L.A (on the way back south), made our way across Death Valley (where we had to pour 7-UP on the overheating radiator), and came back home to Houston.

My father died the next year. I didn't know it (being so young), but I think he knew his time was coming, and wanted to show me a little of his life before he passed on.

I think about him a lot when I'm in the desert. And when I'm driving for a long time.

o
A

Indeed. Although before that I lived in Massachusets, Hawaii, and Virginia (of the three, I was so young I only remember Virginia). Still I spent many years in Lititz, PA before moving out here.

It has been about 2 years since I moved to California, and I have to say I abolutely love the Vista/Carlsbad area.

The longest drive I did was from Lititz, PA to eastern New Jersey to see my girlfriend at the time. I really don't like driving, especially long distances, so that is my longest so far.

-- Jansan

Pittsburgh, Pa to Carlsbad, Ca i think it was 1600 miles exactly if i remember, it was fun, but i think ill stick to flying for now on

Heh. Well, I say speed drive, but really, we would have been breaking laws for going too slow. We had a POS car that we hitched up a Uhaul thing to with everything we owned packed in it. So the back of the car was practically dragging the ground....we lost a hub cap in the first 200 miles...and the oxygen sensor went out before we left, so we were running through a tank of gas every 150 miles. Going up hill was a true battle for the car.

I guess it all added up to 'We need to get there as soon as possible'.

It was very comical!!!

My longest would be from the Tennesee Virgina border to San Diego. And I made the road trip twice in 2 months.

Drove out the first time and took our time, 7-8 days to see some sights on the way.

We flew back to Tn about a month later, packed up the rest of our stuff, and drove out again, this time in speed mode. We drove from Tn to San Diego in 48 hours, no joke. Taking turns driving and one stop in New Mexico to sleep in a hotel room for a few hours during the day.

I would not do that again.

Lititz, PA to Carslbad, CA. Haha, a fun drive but not one I would feel like doing again anytime soon.

I left at 3 PM on Tuesday and got here at 3 PM on Thursday, but I didn't break that many driving laws, I don't think so anyway.

And yes, Wilbur Chocolate and Sturgis are all fine and good, but what's better than some authentic Amish shoefly pie?

[quote=Glip the Gnome]There's actually two other Lititz natives at Sigil currently as well.


And I moved here from right next door in Ephrata
I miss the Green Dragon on Fridays for cinnamon rolls.

There's actually two other Lititz natives at Sigil currently as well.




Wilbur was pretty cool, I was always partial to the Sturgis Pretzel Factory though. Still order pretzels from there, in fact!