Hey lounge! What advice can you give?

[Lady Freedom Returns]

Things involved = 2 people, 1 three person tent, 2 backpacks, 3 changes of clothes each, somr food, and a laptop. Oh, and $300.

To and from= Springfield Mo to Tucson AZ

How= walking

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to help me with any knowledge or ideas that you can pass on to me for this adventure!

[ohiosmith]

1. Why the laptop?

[Lady Freedom Returns]

2. I keep asking Dave that.

He says we just do.

[ohiosmith]

3. Extra weight. Odds are, there will not always be a power supply.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

10. That is why, if he wants it, he is going to carry it!

this thing is old and heavy.

[ohiosmith]

4. Are you an experienced hiker? Have you mapped a route? When will you start?

[Lady Freedom Returns]

6. Had some (Dave's better), yes, and end of the week.

This will be the longest I have ever been on. Dave has been on longer.

[ohiosmith]

7. As stated in the following post, you are going to hit serious weather. I'd wait until spring.

Additionally, I'd do a few shorter trips to be sure that I wanted to take on one that could take up to two months or more.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

9. I'm in the weather most of the time anyway. Have been lucky to keep this laptop going.

Good thing that there are so many Wi-Fi signals and outdoor plug-ins. I have been homeless since May 2011 due to the Joplin Mo Tornado. Can't find work here in Springfield, had 10+ interviews, but no job. Dave has only been able to catch some temp stuff off and on. BTW-We are a bit chilly here tonight.

[Renew Deal]

5. Why?

Besides that, the laptop is heavy and you have to protect it from the weather. Maybe buy a cheap netbook?

Guns?

Change of shoes?

How will you protect from the different climates? There's a lot of weather in those states. There's a lot of weather in Arizona alone.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

8. No guns, to much legal issuse going though 5 different stats

he has Nikes sneakers and Redwing boots
I have New Balance and Redwing boots. Going with jeans all the way due to how well they wear and long sleaves for the shirts due to the sun and weather (lite) And we both have coats that are rain proof and two rain ponchos. We can always layer up.

[hay rick]

11. Cool.

How are you going to handle high country and the desert? Will you be avoiding Interstates? What route are you taking through New Mexico?

You have friends/family/prospects in AZ?

[Lady Freedom Returns]

12. Arizona is Dave's home State.

We plan on using the old Rt. 66 through New Mexico. My bigist thing is keeping away from the panhandles this time of year.

[hay rick]

15. Get your kicks

on Route 66. From the wayback machine:

Many versions of this old song. I like this because you can understand the lyrics.

[HeiressofBickworth]

32. I've done Route 66

in a car. The old alignment of the road is well-marked and you can get a guidebook to show the route. But holy cow, kiddo, it goes through some pretty desolate places -- no food, no water, no nothin'. For those stretches, be sure to take water! Water is heavy, but if you are in an area without it, the extra weight is worth it.

I would also suggest that you figure out if you will be traveling through parks. If so, consider getting park camping permit before you go. That way, you don't have to carry money for camping. When I was on the Route 66 trip, we stayed at parks and campgrounds -- they had showers!

I would advise AGAINST taking rides unless you can ride in the back of an open truck. Once you get inside a vehicle, you are at the mercy of the driver. Please be careful!!

[Kali]

13. lots of people walked here 100+ years ago

my concern is finding jobs in Tucson - AZ economy is in pretty bad shape still and even when good, a big chunk is a min wage service work (hotel, restaurant, etc)

good luck, though and yes head out soon - when the heat hits it is brutal (starts in April)

[Lady Freedom Returns]

14. Better than here.

And the dry heat will help Dave a lot.

[cherokeeprogressive]

16. moleskin n/t

[kaitcat]

17. Piece of plastic and a tin can.

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Water-in-the-Desert

Just in case you get stranded and don't have enough water with you.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

23. Good advice!

Thanks!

[HappyMe]

18. I don't have any advice.

Just stay safe & well.

[txwhitedove]

19. Does sound adventurous. Stay safe, take some sort of protection. Waterproof your jeans with

spray or in the washer stuff, it's easy and works great. Take a cell phone. Get a solar charger. Take some Sterno just in case it gets wet and you can't start a fire for dinner. Give us a quick update as often as you can on your journey.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

21. Will update as much as I can.

I just can't wait to get started. However must wait for the darn IRS to send me my refund so i can have the $300 to get going on.

[HopeHoops]

20. Don't get drunk in the woods and light your farts on fire while naked.

Other than that, you should be fine.

[ohiosmith]

22. Killjoy!

[Lady Freedom Returns]

25. But I can do it before I get drunk, right?

lol

[HopeHoops]

33. Well, yeah. Oh, and take a couple rolls of Scott's toilet paper 1000 ct. rolls.

You'll be glad you did.

[jorno67]

24. Avoid Texas

[Arugula Latte]

26. Hydrate frequently. Be very visible to vehicles. Test drive shoes before you pack them.

Oh, and have fun!

[Lady Freedom Returns]

27. Shoes are ready!

And I want to be very visible incase we can get a ride.

[riderinthestorm]

28. Do you have a hat(s)? Bandana? A small travel sewing kit for repairs, a small pocket knife, matches?

I always carry a needle and a spool of heavy duty thread, it comes in handy in all sorts of ways. If you can find one, and can swing it, one of those utility pocket knives are a godsend in so many ways. Keep your matches in a waterproof container.

I'm worried about you (my mom side is kicking in). Do you have a way to check in with us? Do you know anyone along the way? If there were an address of someone you knew along the way, that you were definitely stopping at, I'd mail you a case of granola bars and some cash that could be waiting for you part way.

I sponsored Bike For Peace, a cross country bike ride protesting the Iraq War for 5 years. It would be awesome if you can find bikes. It would make your journey go faster. That said, they used routes that had already been mapped by other fundraisers who had done similar cross country treks so they already knew where all the laundromats were, the shelters, campgrounds, free food (food pantries on the way that were open on the day they were coming through, or Salvation Army-type kitchens, or even friendly faces who would lend a hand). It made their journey much easier with that info.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

29. Hats, yes. Sewing kit, check.

Anyone in between, no. That why we need to get there because we do have family out there that can help once we are there. But till then we are on our own.

[riderinthestorm]

31. Oh lord, okay. Well, if you DO come up with somebody part way, please post it asap....

Being homeless means you've already got coping skills but those are for your area, you "know" your zone. So please hang close together and be safe. I'll be thinking of you! Please keep in touch and if you get into a jam, have your partner post here. DUers are all across the US, you never know who may step up and help....



...and take notes. You have writing skills. There's potential there for blogging about this as you go and maybe turning some of your journey to your advantage.

[WhoIsNumberNone]

30. Hats & sunscreen

And what's waiting for you in Tuscon? If it's not a friend's house with an internet connection, I'd suggest leaving the laptop and getting one of those crank radios. You'd get a lot more milage out of that than a laptop in the conditions you're anticipating. Also take a cell phone- or does that go without saying?

ETA: I've been looking over some of the other replies- is this a move, or just an adventure?

[Iterate]

34. Why not take bikes?

I don't have any advice really, as you've probably thought of everything already. But if you're going to stick to the road network anyway, I'm curious though as to why you don't want to pedal your way. It's half the time, an easier carry, and easier to plan nightly stops.

I'm probably out-of-touch in my thinking, as I remember old, solid touring bikes available for nearly free.