Kaye’s Corner: Travel Tips

MEEKER | After four weeks on the road, including incredibly fun and very frustrating moments, we have these tips to offer for travel 2021.

• Take your mask – Many places strictly enforce mask wearing including restaurants, groceries, and retail places. Covid restrictions are not rescinded everywhere.
• Add to piggybank – Gas is outrageous along with all tourist destinations. Hotels, restaurants, etc. are making up for losses from last year. Plan to spend more.
• Make reservations – You, along with millions of Americans, are on the road again. In our experience, campgrounds are totally booked and popular restaurants offer long waits if you haven’t reserved.
• Be patient – It’s summer and highway construction is underway everywhere with slow-downs. Lines exist at every check-in place, store, and grocery. You aren’t the only one out there.
• Appreciate travel companions – Most trips mean remarkably close living conditions and long days along with unexpected hiccups. Accept and love your travel mates through thick and thin.
• Take extra – To the degree possible, pack extra meds, food, clothing – whatever you rely upon for substance. Many everyday items are still in short supply or quickly sold out in tourist places.
• Tech savvy – Don’t forget your phone, e-reader, or laptop chargers. Your phone may be using remote searching, or you might use Google maps to extreme as I do that drain a cell battery.
• Use your maps – If you’re in remote, hilly, or less inhabited place your cell phone may have little to no connection. Also, Wi-Fi connections although promised by many establishments, are slow and testy. For navigation, be prepared with old fashioned maps.
• Get local info – We found an extremely helpful Chamber of Commerce in Bandon, Oregon, who gave us all kinds of suggestions, detailed local maps, and brochures. From that one stop, we discovered many adventures we might have otherwise missed.
• Weather extremes – On our trip it could be hotter than Hades or totally rainy or extremely windy. We’ve experienced varying weather conditions of all kinds from hot to cold. Be prepared.
• Make friends – We’ve chatted with so many kind people and added to our trip by meeting people from all walks of society. Reach out, even if it is a short-term connection.
• Camp chores – Travel means condensed conditions whether it is a car, motel, tent, or RV. Thus, every day means packing and stowing stuff for the next adventure. Plus, there’s always clean up or fix up so allow for these tasks too.
• Relax – No matter the conditions, take time out to relax and refresh. You don’t have to go see something new every day. You are on vacation. Rest! Relax! Enjoy every moment.

By KAYE SULLIVAN – Special to the Herald Times