Ray D
Well-known member
Originally, I dismissed the idea, out of hand, as too dangerous for us to attempt. Decided I needed to reconsider as there are no really good alternatives.
From: Boise Idaho to Oklahoma City and return. Four or five days in O.K. City.
Purpose: Dani's mother, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She hasn't seen her in close to ten years. Time is short. Dani is going, come whatever, one way or another. "No" is not an option.
The RV is a Damon Challenger, 2005, all services done since new and no known problems. Recently winterized. Toad, if we take it, is a 2003, Suzuki XL-7, all services done and no known problems.
Dani is severely disabled and while she can get around, she needs assistance, including a wheelchair. (She is processing and waiting for more back surgery, at the VA Hospital system. Takes a while!) Jasper is her service animal, and he has to make the trip, if she does. So, which ever method of travel, there is a dog, Dani, meds and assistance stuff. Quite a load for public transportation. That's about as simple as I can put it, and leaving a lot out of the info in favor of brevity. I am also disabled, not a severely as she is.
Air: She can fly. Turbulance is quite painful, for her. Jasper needs to do the ordinary Dog stuff, at least every 4 to 6 hours. Not sure those needs can be met. She prefers to not do it, that way.
Amtrack: She's done that, but, again, there are the dog needs. Previous trips had glitches that were pretty difficult for her. They run late - sit long hours, broken down or waiting for tracks to clear - forget she is there and are difficult to find for assistance - etc. (Stranded her, forgotten, in Chicago, two years ago, on the way to St Louis. Don't ask how one gets stranded in Chicago riding between Boise and Missouri. They did it!) She prefers that to air travel. Actually, she gets a room, when on Amtrack, and greatly enjoys most of the trip.
Car: Can do, but presents volume problems for necessary equipment, meds, supplies, for a longer length of time. Also, some of the same weather issues as the MH.
Don't want her, nor for that matter me, driving in winter weather, and particularly in snow. Won't drive in snow, although she would. She fears nothing!
I see the shortest, fastest rout as over the Continental Divide through Wyoming. Been there, done that, in a car, in winter weather. It can be done. That was a younger man with no brains, but in good physical condition, last time long ago. About 1,500 miles each way. Last did it in May, 2003, in MH. Nice trip, then. Very nice weather, in May. Last Fall trip was in early December 91, a nightmare in a nearly new 4 WD Subaru. Survived the wind and snow, OK. I was a 56 year old kid, with no brains! :
If the MH goes, I go, also. Do I take the toad, or rent a car when we get there. Seems it would be better not to have the toad back there, anticiipating possible bad weather. I can afford to rent the car. Won't be doing side trips. Not sure the toad is a safety advantage. If I slide off, I take the toad with me. It wouldn't likely get us out of trouble, in that circumstance.
Is there a sane way to do this trip? Air? Train? Car? Motorhome? If on wheels, what rout?
Under these circumstances, what would you do?
Ray D :-\
From: Boise Idaho to Oklahoma City and return. Four or five days in O.K. City.
Purpose: Dani's mother, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She hasn't seen her in close to ten years. Time is short. Dani is going, come whatever, one way or another. "No" is not an option.
The RV is a Damon Challenger, 2005, all services done since new and no known problems. Recently winterized. Toad, if we take it, is a 2003, Suzuki XL-7, all services done and no known problems.
Dani is severely disabled and while she can get around, she needs assistance, including a wheelchair. (She is processing and waiting for more back surgery, at the VA Hospital system. Takes a while!) Jasper is her service animal, and he has to make the trip, if she does. So, which ever method of travel, there is a dog, Dani, meds and assistance stuff. Quite a load for public transportation. That's about as simple as I can put it, and leaving a lot out of the info in favor of brevity. I am also disabled, not a severely as she is.
Air: She can fly. Turbulance is quite painful, for her. Jasper needs to do the ordinary Dog stuff, at least every 4 to 6 hours. Not sure those needs can be met. She prefers to not do it, that way.
Amtrack: She's done that, but, again, there are the dog needs. Previous trips had glitches that were pretty difficult for her. They run late - sit long hours, broken down or waiting for tracks to clear - forget she is there and are difficult to find for assistance - etc. (Stranded her, forgotten, in Chicago, two years ago, on the way to St Louis. Don't ask how one gets stranded in Chicago riding between Boise and Missouri. They did it!) She prefers that to air travel. Actually, she gets a room, when on Amtrack, and greatly enjoys most of the trip.
Car: Can do, but presents volume problems for necessary equipment, meds, supplies, for a longer length of time. Also, some of the same weather issues as the MH.
Don't want her, nor for that matter me, driving in winter weather, and particularly in snow. Won't drive in snow, although she would. She fears nothing!
I see the shortest, fastest rout as over the Continental Divide through Wyoming. Been there, done that, in a car, in winter weather. It can be done. That was a younger man with no brains, but in good physical condition, last time long ago. About 1,500 miles each way. Last did it in May, 2003, in MH. Nice trip, then. Very nice weather, in May. Last Fall trip was in early December 91, a nightmare in a nearly new 4 WD Subaru. Survived the wind and snow, OK. I was a 56 year old kid, with no brains! :
If the MH goes, I go, also. Do I take the toad, or rent a car when we get there. Seems it would be better not to have the toad back there, anticiipating possible bad weather. I can afford to rent the car. Won't be doing side trips. Not sure the toad is a safety advantage. If I slide off, I take the toad with me. It wouldn't likely get us out of trouble, in that circumstance.
Is there a sane way to do this trip? Air? Train? Car? Motorhome? If on wheels, what rout?
Under these circumstances, what would you do?
Ray D :-\