I'll get straight to the bottom line - this year's Havasu Havoc State 2 State Cruise and Show marked the first time I've ever driven my truck out-of-state.
Yes, I drive it every day to work and have taken it on a few somewhat lengthy trips. But in general, when I go far away, I'm usually a passenger in the gangster family van.
I'm happy to report that my truck ran well and smooth for all 682 miles, and that overall we had a safe trip.
Here are a few observations I have about long-distance trips:
1. Starting a 7 hour journey home starting at 5PM on day 2 of a show is kind of a bummer. Why? The show's over, so that's a bummer, and you're just worn out! I would have preferred a good night's sleep at a local hotel.
2. Following a body dropped Hardbody for hundreds of miles that is spewing out fumes and black smoke eventually makes your eyes water and your head feel weird.
3. On that same note, following a body dropped Hardbody for hundreds of miles at 60-65 mph in the middle of the desert makes for stellar gas mileage.
4. When on the road for that long, your musical preference can go full circle - crazy stuff when you're fresh and pumped up and others are near, classical stuff when you're tired of songs with screaming, love songs as the sun sets and you're all alone in the middle of the desert, thinking of that guy or girl, and straight in to rap when you hit the gas station and there's a chance someone might overhear what's playing. C'mon, I know you know what I'm talking about.
5. Tiredness is hard to combat. I tried the self-slap, and decided this probably looks crazy from outside. I noticed that I became afraid...of myself...and begged myself to not raise my hand to strike my face, again. Windows down, windows, up, music louder, etc. - the results last only seconds. The only thing that woke me up was when I hit a big bump and something in the rear dragged. You know you're tired when: the Hardbody loses its license plate, right in front of you, and you can't recall exactly when it happened, even though you KNEW it was going to fall off; your switch-hitting ability becomes impaired, resulting in airing up when you meant to go down, and trying to drive without airing up at all, and not knowing what in the world is wrong with your truck.
6. If you have no air conditioning, and are planning on doing some desert driving, I would suggest having some sort of drinkable liquid on board. I snatched a bottle of water during an on-the-road window-to-window exchange, but really, it's easier to just have your own. Full blast vent just isn't the same as full blast AC.