Our dogs meeting up

[ClareMarsh]

Another thing to remember is that petrol in the UK is way more expensive than gas is over here.

This is actually a good point, a friend in Scotland was going to come visit me in Cornwall. The travel costs to do this were waaay in excess of flying to Amsterdam AND paying for accommodation

[JudyN]

My favorite part of it, in comparison to the beaches I'm used to, was ... the fact that the sand wasn't burning hot!

I can't see any UK seaside resorts using that in their promotional literature any time soon....

[gwd]

I feel impossibly far away from the members in the north of England, but I expect US and Aussie members would regard them as being a short car drive away

"The difference between America and England is that Americans think 100 years is a long time, while the English think 100 miles is a long way." --Earle Hitchner

[gwd]

A five hour drive is nothing to sneeze at, but it's not unheard of.

see, I've found that how far something is perceived also varies depending if you're east or west coast.

If we were to drive to see Jacksdad who is near my parents it would be 1200 miles one way or three nights on the road with Sandy!
And it is about miles to San Diego, California from Albuquerque.

really? I'd call 1200 miles a looooong one day trip.

a friend of mine is trying to convince me to go to Albuquerque with her for a 3 day show. from san diego, it's ~820 miles. or, ~12 hours of driving. we both considered that a 1 day trip.

the only time I've been fussy when driving is when i have to go though LA. i would routinely drive to santa Barbara and back on the same day. the awful part about the san diego to santa Barbara trip is that sometimes it would take me 4 hours, sometimes 7.......depending on traffic

[DianeLDL]

I just looked it up, and from Albuquerque to my town is 1,728 miles, or 26 hours of driving straight. It is just driving I-40 the entire time, though! North Carolina itself is a bit larger than all of England. (I'm located very near the capital city of NC, Raleigh.)

A five hour drive is nothing to sneeze at, but it's not unheard of. My sister and I were considering doing the 9-hour drive to Florida. (We still haven't made that trip. Mostly we want to go to Harry Potter World but why go to Orlando and not go to Disney World?)

Erica,

For some reason, when I was estimating mileage, I guessed the Raleigh area. We have been through there many times especially when we go by Quantico, Virginia or my cousin's in Norfolk, VA. We usually end up spending the night in Greensboro, NC.
Otherwise between our home in Maine and Albuquerque, we often pick up 81 in Tennessee and take that up through Pennsylvania and New York, etc.

It is about 3500 miles one way between our two houses (Albuquerque, New Mexico and near Bangor, Maine) and takes us from 8-10 days depending if we spend an extra night or two somewhere. (For those who are into mysteries, Bangor, Maine is the home of author, Stephen King. He is a really great guy and can find him in Burger King in his high school jacket.

gwd,

Yes, OH agrees that we avoid LA at all costs.

When OH lived and worked in San Diego, he would drive all night to visit his sister in Tucson. But, he was a federal special agent driving a federal (police undercover) vehicle and would go about 100mph to get there. (Long before I met him.) Also, back in the 1980s, it was nothing to drive between Camp Pendleton and San Diego. Last time we were together and visited, it took much longer and they even had traffic reports on the weekends.

The way we go to N. California is through Flagstaff, Arizona and Barstow, California and then usually a night in Gilroy so as to avoid the San Jose traffic especially during rush hour. And this is since Sandy came to us. Before then, it was more like two nights.

You are right about the distances and times between the Western US and Eastern US. I-95 has all these tolls and speed limits are low. In the west, I-40 is 75 mph speed limit but most do 80.

And from living in Israel, I know that gasoline or petrol is much more expensive in UK, Europe, and Israel.
But, there can be a huge difference from state to state within the US. California and Illinois are among the highest. Maine adds so many taxes that they are not cheap, either. It is really interesting when we drive cross country.

I have been to the UK a couple of times, mainly London. Although back in 1968, when I was in high school and traveled with my parents and family, we did take the train to a part of Wales. It was quite interesting. Also, later as an adult, took a tour to Stratford on Avon. Interestingly, all those years that I lived in Israel, I never got to the UK nor Europe. I was there for five years before visiting family in California.

Israel is so small, that it is an easy day drive to almost any part of the country. My friend there can never sit at home in the Galilee. One night in Tel Aviv, another in Jerusalem. And I just found out that they brought their dog with them when they moved back to Israel in the early 1990s.

Anyway, Judy, I don't remember hearing your story about taking off your clothes and jumping into a lake.

Diane

[JudyN]

Anyway, Judy, I don't remember hearing your story about taking off your clothes and jumping into a lake.

Here you go, Diane: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=12945&p=87271 Not something I'm planning on doing again! At least, not until the summer...

I've never been to the States, but OH once went on a business trip to Sacramento. On a day off, he decided to drive off towards the mountains he could see in the distance to see what they looked like up close. He drove... and drove... and drove... and they never seemed to get any nearer. It was then he realised that the scale of the place was very different to anything he'd encountered in the UK

My mum lives about 75 miles away, but we don't see each other that often as it feels like a long way. Though it does take just under 2.5 hours to get there as it's all down narrow roads through villages with 30mph speed limits.

[gwd]

Here you go, Diane: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=12945&p=87271 Not something I'm planning on doing again! At least, not until the summer...

hopefully there won't be a next time!!!! you also needed to make sure the teen wasn't underage. good lawd you don't want to have to register as a sex offender just because jasper is a boney boy and can't swim well!

that's too funny judy...........glad it all turned out well. you're correct however in that we occasionally have news reports of people drowning trying to save a dog caught in a rip. invariable they find the dog safe and spend days looking for the owners body.

[Sweetie's Human]

Judy, I hadn't seen that post before. Very heroic! And the teenager had a great story to tell his friends! I wonder if he went back with some of them the next day in hope of an encore performance .

Sweetie is also the wrong shape for swimming (not in the same way as Jasper, obviously!) so she's still learning to swim. OH waits on the shore and I wade out to knee depth with a pocketful of treats and call her. She's just now comfortable going out to her armpits, but will only do it for a treat. A few times I've carried her just out of her depth and held my hand under her chest as she swims back it. It is hilarious - just two little black ears and a little black snuffly muzzle above the water. The three of us look absolutely ridiculous. A few months ago a guy sitting on the park bench was watching and chuckling away to himself.

Anyway, one time we were out on a point of sand and she decided that straight across the little channel was the best way back to the shore, rather than walking back along the point... Thankfully, she didn't get far, but it dropped away sharply and I went home with wet denim shorts that day!

Judy, you write so well. I had the best chuckle reading that thread. I assume that's one of Jasper's adventures that would be earmarked for inclusion in his book?

[DianeLDL]

Anyway, Judy, I don't remember hearing your story about taking off your clothes and jumping into a lake.

Here you go, Diane: viewtopic.php?f=11&t=12945&p=87271 Not something I'm planning on doing again! At least, not until the summer...

I've never been to the States, but OH once went on a business trip to Sacramento. On a day off, he decided to drive off towards the mountains he could see in the distance to see what they looked like up close. He drove... and drove... and drove... and they never seemed to get any nearer. It was then he realised that the scale of the place was very different to anything he'd encountered in the UK

My mum lives about 75 miles away, but we don't see each other that often as it feels like a long way. Though it does take just under 2.5 hours to get there as it's all down narrow roads through villages with 30mph speed limits.

Judy,

Wow, just read not only your post but the responses. I am not a strong swimmer, but it is amazing what people can do in an emergency. I probably would have stripped down some as jeans can really weigh one down when wet.

You really have to include the story in your book. Yes, had me laughing, too, just imagining it.

That is why when we visit my parents who have a swimming pool in the ground in their backyard, we keep Sandy on leash. Reading Emmabeth's discussion if dogs who naturally have what it takes for good swimming, I do not think a skinny, shirt hair chihuahua even with long legs and barrel chest would make it in the pool. Besides with my dad's dislike of Sandy, the last place he would want us to teach him to swim would be the pool. (And the feeling is mutual. Sandy barks at him every time he hears my dad yelling at me.)

One day, when I was barely walking and living with my parents, the gate had someway gotten open and a golden retriever (never seen the dog before so had no idea whose it was) fell into the deep end of the pool. Just at that moment the guy who took care of the pool had arrived and he was able to help the dog from the edge of the pool get out. What made it dangerous was that they had one of those flimsy covers over the pool and if the dog had gotten underneath it, he would have had problems coming up for air. Here I was in my bathrobe and walker, and the pool guy came just at the right time.

Another story, where the dog was the heroine, happened to my Weight Watcher leader years ago. (Reason that she joined WW to lose weight. She had a two year old and a new baby. While she was changing the baby, her dog came running in (Lassie style to get her to follow). She went outside and somehow her toddler had squeezed through the iron fence around the pool and was in the water and definitely was drowning.

While she was fumbling to get the gate open, their dog, Bella, jumped over and into the water. Bella was able to get her body under the toddler to keep the boy's head above water.
In the meantime, my leader was able to get in and with the dog's help pull her son out of the pool. I think the neighbor called 911 while she performed CPR. Thank God that her son not only lived but had no problems from having been oxygen deprived.
But, my leader realized that due to being so overweight, she nearly lost her son and lost weight and became a leader.
And Bella became the heroine of the year and went on the local TV shows and got some medal.
Bella is no longer alive as this was in the 1980s, but that was one story my leader told all the time.
So, obviously Bella was one if those natural swimming dogs.

And as far as Sacramento is concerned, I could see OH driving probably on interstate 80.
My sister used to live in the foothills if the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the ones your OH was trying to get to. If he had made it through the mountains, he would have ended up in Reno, Nevada. The route is very famous as the Donner party got stuck there in a horrible winter snow storm and ended up cannibalizing those who died. Donner summit could easily have snow in July. We have photos as kids throwing snowballs while wearing shorts. By the way, in the winter, where my sister used to live was the spot where everyone has to put on snow chains during storms.

Diane

[Nettle]

Apart from fuel costs, the big problems with long-distance (to us) drives in UK are bloody awful signposting (never been replaced since taken down during WW2 - you can't rush these things) and very few comfort stops. As you get older, the last is very important.

[jacksdad]

a friend of mine is trying to convince me to go to Albuquerque with her for a 3 day show. from san diego, it's ~820 miles. or, ~12 hours of driving. we both considered that a 1 day trip.

sometimes it isn't the miles, it is how long it takes to get there. There are commutes in the SF bay area that don't get talked about in miles, but time to travel. the roads are so packed that just a handful of miles can take hours.

I actually live on the coast just a little south west of San Jose, but work in San Jose. When my wife broke her ankle a couple years ago I would drive her to work on our side of the hill (there is a "hill" aka small mountain between us and San Jose), then turn around and have to drive back to my work in the opposite direction. with no traffic, maybe 1 hour one way (remember have to go up and over a small mountain and only have 2 lanes one way with lots of twist and turns). about 40 miles distance.

When you tossed in go to work or go home commute, I was spending 6 hours a day driving. it would take maybe 30 minutes to get from where I work to the freeway change to get my wife, then sometimes 2 hours or more to go 10 miles.

the only time I've been fussy when driving is when i have to go though LA. i would routinely drive to santa Barbara and back on the same day. the awful part about the san diego to santa Barbara trip is that sometimes it would take me 4 hours, sometimes 7.......depending on traffic

When I used to get down to LA more regularly to visit family in the Torrance area, it often felt it took about as long to get from my house to the highway 5 and highway 405 exchange as it took to go from there to Torrance. And that leg was the short one. The 405 is probably one of the worst drives anywhere. it is always packed 24/7/365, and packed would be an improvement when you get to the section that passes the LAX airport. gets worse there.

They have since moved to another part of LA, did a quick google map and I estimate about a 400 mile drive to their new place and google maps claims about 5 1/2 maybe 6 hours. the reality is, highway 5 has gotten SOOOOO busy that it would probably take closer to 10 hours depending time of day and what day of the week you go.

I actually made my house to the wharf in Torance in a 5 speed ford escort 2 door hatchback (so not a very powerful, speedy car) it about 5 and 1/2 hours once. but only once, hit the traffic perfect, but this was about 15 years ago. lots of changes in traffic volume.

for those not familiar with highway 5. it is the main and "fastest" highway to move north / south in California, but it is only two lanes each direction. I believe there is some exception to this in LA, and probably up in major cities in Oregon and Washington. highway 5 runs boarder (Canada) to boarder (Mexico) north/south.

we have two other highways that run north south, the 99 in "eastern" California. But it doesn't run the whole state boarder to boarder. It splits from highway 5 at the "grapvine" just north of LA, and reconnects just below Redding. Runs through a lot of farm land, has lots of cross traffic. I haven't traveled all of it, but visually, nicer than 5, but SLOWER.

The other highway that we have for north/south is the "pacific coast highway" that is a mix of California highway 1 and US highway 101. spends a lot of time on the coast, very scenic, and if you have time a much more enjoyable trip in my opinion than highway 5. 5 from SF to LA is probably the most boring road, not very scenic but it is fastest of the 3 choices. the speed is do to flat, "strait", and no cross traffic. traffic that needs to cross it either goes under or over so as to not disrupt the flow of traffic on 5. the other two, you actually have stop signs and lights that break up your travel.

long winded, sorry, but all that to say this. In California we don't always measure in miles, sometimes time to travel is more relevant. and time to travel is not always determined purely by distance. rather volume of cars, trucks, type of road etc.

[jacksdad]

Maybe we just know each other's dogs so well we can imagine what would happen: Poppy would boss everyone around,Ted would behave perfectly but Clare would turn scary if anyone's dog bounced on him, Jasper would steal everyone's lunch and rip Breeze's whatsits off to save Minkee making the decision of if/when to neuter, Womble would sink his teeth into someone's ankle and not let go, everyone else's dogs would hide in terror, I would rip my clothes off and jump into a lake, and then all the humans would hide in terror.....

you know, I think you summed it up pretty darn accurate. I would toss in that Nettle's dogs would probably sit there an just shake their heads at all the crazy dogs and people.

[gwd]

The 405 is probably one of the worst drives anywhere. it is always packed 24/7/365, and packed would be an improvement when you get to the section that passes the LAX airport. gets worse there.

it was the 405 that I was talking about when I typed my comment. I had to travel that from the 405/5 split, all the way north (past LAX) to the 101. there were times on that drive where I totally understood road rage and how someone could grab a handful of lapua rounds and start looking for a clock tower.

[DianeLDL]

The 405 is probably one of the worst drives anywhere. it is always packed 24/7/365, and packed would be an improvement when you get to the section that passes the LAX airport. gets worse there.

it was the 405 that I was talking about when I typed my comment. I had to travel that from the 405/5 split, all the way north (past LAX) to the 101. there were times on that drive where I totally understood road rage and how someone could grab a handful of lapua rounds and start looking for a clock tower.

OH and I agree about the 405. Avoid if possible. A friend of ours and his wife left LA to live in Flagstaff. Every time they return to LA to visit family on a Saturday and Sunday, they remember why they left.

Nothing like being stuck in traffic going no where and the kids start screaming to use the bathroom, he said he started bringing containers for the kids to use in the car. A bit different for adults, though.

Yes, that is one of the things that lead to road rage. Problem is more cars, more people, and same 405 road.
If OH had to take the drive, it would be at 3 am.

Diane

[jacksdad]

..... grab a handful of lapua rounds .....

I am impressed you are that specific ... you are just full of surprises