Road Trip

Many of you will be hitting the road and let’s hope that’s all you hit as you venture out of Jasper County for the “family vacation.” Never fear, you have had plenty of practice just driving around here.

Obstacles in the road, let’s talk deer first. Most people outside of the “Deer Capital of Georgia” know these little Bambi’s around here, don’t leave home without their mother, sister, brother. Rarely do you encounter a deer walking in the road or running in front of your car without one or more waiting by the roadside. You’ve learned to slow down or even come to stop as the deer decide what to do.

Oh, you’ve had plenty of practice dodging animals and stuff in the road, squirrels, ‘possum, pigs, road ‘gators, lately real alligators, lumber, weekend bicyclers, cows(I once stopped for two moose in the middle of the road and called 911, they asked me what color they were. Really?), buzzards having lunch, car parts (bumpers mostly), one sock or one shoe, bags of trash, beer and soft drink bottles, a nice broom that I am still using.

Top Ten List of things to always bring or do on road trips:

1. Roll of toilet tissue, multiple uses, mainly trips to the bathroom in questionable gas stations,

2. Gallon of water, again, multiple uses besides drinking,

3. Backpacks for kids or you, snacks, magazine, drink, Prozac(just kidding),

4. Cracker Barrel map so you can know how many miles to the next one (get free map at CB),

5. First aide kit (alcohol wipes,bandages,pepto bismal tablets, eye drops, triple antibiotic ointment,

6. water bottle that fits in the cup holder,

7. cellphone charger,

8. flashlight,

9. a real road map,

10. If you rent car/van/hotel room, take pictures before and after (personal experience).

Now, go out there and conquer the road. Anyone can fly somewhere, but only the brave tackle a road trip.

Check Georgia 511 or WAZE for road hazards, construction, accidents.