Family Travelling to Seattle

**97guns** · 01-13-2016, 01:14 PM

Have a safe trip!

**tripods68** · 01-13-2016, 01:17 PM

Originally posted by 97guns View Post

Have a safe trip!

Thanks 97guns....!

**Drake3287** · 01-13-2016, 01:32 PM

If your coming from California just make sure you have snow chains, I'm sure it's dumping snow heavily on I5 near Shasta and the Oregon boarder.

If you have your kids with you maybe you can make a couple of stops while your up there. The air museum just south of Seattle and of course the Boeing factory tour are great side trips and maybe even a little educational.

**ua_guy** · 01-13-2016, 01:36 PM

Are you coming up I-5?

The Siskiyous are always hit or miss. If you haven't done this trip before, go prepared...food, water, warm blankets, etc. I've been stuck in closures due to snow and big accidents before, one time camped out in my old Ford Focus for about 18 hours in 30 degree weather until the freeway opened. Talk about a miserable trip.

The weather looks rather wet/gray here in Seattle for the next week, at least. That's to be expected this time of year.

**tripods68** · 01-13-2016, 02:49 PM

Originally posted by ua_guy View Post

Are you coming up I-5?

The Siskiyous are always hit or miss. If you haven't done this trip before, go prepared...food, water, warm blankets, etc. I've been stuck in closures due to snow and big accidents before, one time camped out in my old Ford Focus for about 18 hours in 30 degree weather until the freeway opened. Talk about a miserable trip.

The weather looks rather wet/gray here in Seattle for the next week, at least. That's to be expected this time of year.

North bound I-5 is our route from Sacramento. I've been monitoring the weather every hour. So far rain no snow. But I'm concern the Siskiyou area, high mountain elevation, wet slippery road. I don't have chains now but I'm prepared to buy , if required be along the way, stop for breaks every 3-4 hours.

We've taken this route during the summer, first time winter. So I'm mentally preparing the driving rain conditions with light snow in the mountain. Should be interesting trip.

**snafu** · 01-13-2016, 07:24 PM

Confirm everyone has a auto plug for their phone. To keep Murphy's law away, I suggest a container of large garbage bags as they concentrate warmth and keep torsos dry went used to replace rain poncho, a bag of bread bags and elastic bands to keep feet dry, hats and gloves/mitts for everyone [heat is lost through head] too easy to aquaplane into a ditch. A box of breakfast bars takes very little space to keep hunger at bay. Children's movies & games on phones or laptops.

**tripods68** · 01-13-2016, 08:24 PM

Originally posted by snafu View Post

Confirm everyone has a auto plug for their phone. To keep Murphy's law away, I suggest a container of large garbage bags as they concentrate warmth and keep torsos dry went used to replace rain poncho, a bag of bread bags and elastic bands to keep feet dry, hats and gloves/mitts for everyone [heat is lost through head] too easy to aquaplane into a ditch. A box of breakfast bars takes very little space to keep hunger at bay. Children's movies & games on phones or laptops.

Snafu.Thanks for the tips. We're still packing, got the kids winters clothes, jackets, water-cooler, snacks, blankets, winter gloves/hoodie, chargers/macpro. Driving our Odyssey w/nav and entertainment we got that covered.

**Claudia Bob** · 01-14-2016, 12:04 AM

Family Travelling to Seattle

Originally posted by tripods68 View Post

I wish it was a vacation. But its not.

Yesterday, we found out my wife's Uncle died. Long story short, we are driving instead of flying because my wife's parents and brother-in-law wants to come and they couldn't afford to pay for their airline ticket. My kids school are notified. We are packing tonight and leaving Thursday early morning to go to Seattle about 750 miles trip.

I'm kind pump to travel up there during winter but the snow might be a different story...

Hi, forget about what might happen during winter. Just enjoy and have a safe trip!

**QuarterMillionMan** · 01-14-2016, 01:11 AM

750 miles, golly that is a long haul. I just returned from a Los Angeles to Las Vegas trip and back (300 miles each way) and I'm exhausted from the 5 hours of driving each way. I do it alone. Hopefully you'll have reinforcement drivers. The main thing is to drive safely and arrive safely.

**QuarterMillionMan** · 01-14-2016, 01:53 AM

Some advice for vehicle preparations for long road trips. I do all of these things on long trips myself. You don't have to do all that I do but doing just some of it might save you a lot of headache later.

1) refill your windshield washer fluid (it sucks when you press that button and it is bone dry). And check your wiper blades and replace if needed.
2) check your tire pressure (especially your spare tire). I bring a small 12 volt compressor as well. I keep a small floor jack and cross bar too.
3) top up your engine fluids (oil, power steering, transmission, etc.)
4) Bring extra water for your radiator (I admit this is going to the extreme but you never know). I bring 2 empty milk containers full of water just in case.
5) Bring tools. I bring 2 tool boxes full of tools.
6) If possible bring spare radiator hoses, belts, etc. A busted radiator hose is easy to fix having to unfasten only 2 clamps and especially the top hose, the bottom hose can be more problematic.
7) I also bring hand towels, tarp to crawl underneath, magnetic key holder, etc.
8) Clean your battery terminals by unfastening and rinsing corrosion from terminals with plain water. I do this about every 6 months anyway.
9) Clean the inside of your windshield. Seeing clearly helps a lot. When I see people driving with dirty windows I know they can not see clearly, it has glare and blind spots.

**ua_guy** · 01-14-2016, 08:34 AM

Originally posted by tripods68 View Post

North bound I-5 is our route from Sacramento. I've been monitoring the weather every hour. So far rain no snow. But I'm concern the Siskiyou area, high mountain elevation, wet slippery road. I don't have chains now but I'm prepared to buy , if required be along the way, stop for breaks every 3-4 hours.

We've taken this route during the summer, first time winter. So I'm mentally preparing the driving rain conditions with light snow in the mountain. Should be interesting trip.

I might suggest buying chains before you go, just in case, unless you have an AWD/4wd vehicle. In most cases they won't let you over the passes without them if there's any snow. Trying to find a reasonably priced pair of tire chains in places like Weed and Grants Pass are pretty much impossible, because everyone's got the same idea--buy a pair of chains to get over the passes.

I think Les Schwab has a return policy on chains...if you don't use them, you can return them.

Even if the weather just says "rain", I'd go prepared. I try not to get *too* preachy about it, but it's only because I've been that unprepared guy before. Never again!!

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 01-14-2016, 10:49 AM

What sort of car are you driving? Without AWD it might be impossible over the passes.

**tripods68** · 01-14-2016, 07:37 PM

Update: Roseburg Oregon 7:33 pm

After 435 miles of driving it continuously rain. Got ticketed after Siskiyou mountain for speeding coming down the mountain. Cop got behind behind me. Stupid me was talking politics, got distracted for bit. Surprising the road has been good with little traffic. Another 4.5 hours to go. The Honda is strong, tires no problem, got all the fluid top, oil and fluid change before we left this morning.

Gas spent so far. $56.00

Not awd. Front drive only

**ua_guy** · 01-15-2016, 09:02 AM

Originally posted by tripods68 View Post

Update: Roseburg Oregon 7:33 pm

After 435 miles of driving it continuously rain. Got ticketed after Siskiyou mountain for speeding coming down the mountain. Cop got behind behind me. Stupid me was talking politics, got distracted for bit. Surprising the road has been good with little traffic. Another 4.5 hours to go. The Honda is strong, tires no problem, got all the fluid top, oil and fluid change before we left this morning.

Gas spent so far. $56.00

Not awd. Front drive only

10-4, good buddy! Sounds like a decent trip so far (except for the ticket! -blah)

Family Travelling to Seattle