[Adam]

Howdy,

What is your favorite method for staying alert on a long drive to the trail? I find that some chewy candy helps immensly if my eyes get heavy. Talking to truckers is also good. But of course nothing beats a good nights sleep :lol: Suggestions?

Adam

 

[BillAmigo99]

Reading the Cannonball race book by Brock Yates, several times racers mention Vitamin C tablets as an old racing trick for the enduro races. That and a thermos of good strong coffee! Take orange juice, or apple (I think it's supposed to be better for waking up). Yes, take a nap a few hours before going. Vivarin (coffee in pill form, really) works very fast for me and has done the job in a pinch. Pull over if you need to, only takes a second to get in a bad wreck, and a 10 min power nap won't kill your time and will do wonders.

 

[wareagle]

Redman Gold Blend!!

 

[backspur]

Here is a tip I learned from an old truck driver. Roll down the driver's side window. Now, take out a $100 bill and hold it flapping in the wind. See how long you can stay awake then.

 

[surrealist]

I used to listen to comedian CDs to stay awake and pass the time on long road trips. Music, while great can put you to sleep. Once I was driving all night into the morning, I was tempted to pull on the side of the road and take a 10 minute nap, but the fear of being car jacked prevented that.

 

[iterrill]

Well, I used to drive a rural paper route all night, 6 days a week. My problem was staying awake during the day! :roll: :lol: .......Seriously, Good old swing and rock and roll music played loud. Also helpful, roll that window down and get some air in your face. AND, this sounds silly, but it works temporarily, give yourself a slap in the face....not a pinch, but a good hand slap. It doesn't last real long, but it does work. Also wipe your face with a wet washrag. Still, the best thing was real good fairly loud rock and roll, swing and Tony Bennett now and then....and, COFFEE......Have driven back and forth across the US a dozen times or so, so I'll add one last thing - it's best to have someone along with you, if nothing else, they can keep talking and asking question or telling good stories.....and switch off on the driving. All the ideas everyone has listed are good, how bout trying all of them!

 

[sailingoncheese]

sunflower seeds. just roll down the window and put a bunch in your mouth. mabey its the ffact that im doing something, shelling the seeds then spitting them out also the window being down i think will help.
-brian

 

[TROOPY]

RED BULL, GATPRADE, and a ton of cigarettes ~ thats how I did the 16 hr drive from FL to MD last November, but if you are really tired and alone just pull over and sleep. Late is better than not at all! :lol:

 

[No_Cure]

A trick that works for me is................... get a soft drink with alot of caffine. Like Mellow Yello or Mt. Dew , get a 12oz can Not the 20oz simply because you can not drink it all quickly. Then after you drink it........power nap for 20 mins. No more , no less. This WILL wake you up. The power nap is a good refresher. And it takes the caffine 20mins to get into your system. So after you wake up from the power nap you body is now using the caffine and you will feel pretty good. This trick lasts for about 2-4 hours depending how much caffine you intake on a daily basis. If your a big soft drink drinker thin this might not work as well. Maybe a 1-2 hour trick . It actually takes 12 hours for caffine to leave your system.