In November I posted a question about deciding where to move. Well, we decided - western Washington. Now after 35 years of marriage, we'll be making our first major move - meaning it's a long way (2000+) and can't all be done in a few pickup loads. We'll rent or buy a box truck, plus we'll have a car and small pickup to drive (not towed). I'd appreciate suggestions about running our little caravan, planning stops, etc. We don't usually travel in the summer but this trip may have to be in July or August. Is it necessary to book motels ahead? How can we make sure our belongings are secure at night? And then there are the two cats....Help!!

Thanks.

Planning your stops ahead and security go hand in hand but when I travel, I like to stop when I feel like it. I don’t like “Pushing On” just because I have a room several 100 miles ahead. When you feel like you’ve had enough, that’s when I would stop.

Next, on the security side, when you make advance reservation, you don’t know what the area is like until you get there. My Dad always told me “If you see truckers parked there, the area will be “Reasonably safe and the food will be “Reasonably good. A empty lot means they’re closed or there is something wrong.

When you plan your stops ahead you don’t get a chance to look the place over. In most cases, where there is one motel, there are more. Depending on the area, if you avoid the weekend, you will miss the family travelers. If your travels are during the week though, you run in to the business travelers. That is where you may want to plan a little ahead. On the weekends, avoid tourist areas.

Look for motels with large, well-lit parking lots. Park in a very visible, high traffic spot. I like motels that I can park right out side my room. One trick a trucker told me was to back up to another truck or a wall. Had to get in the back that way. Hard to do, but works, unless they take the whole truck. Remember, locks only keep honest people out. If I want in, I will get in. There isn’t a padlock made that I can’t pick with my LARGE bolt cutters.

I use a lap top pc running a GPS travel map. It shows most resturants and motels as well as local points of interest. Now you don't have to spend a lot of money ($80-100) on the GPS but you should at least get the pc map ($25) program. If you know where you at, you can quickly locate points. You click on an icon and will even give you phone number. MS map even shows exit numbers and will give you direction between two point. Well, actually, if I put in several points, it will map them all. Even give me an estimated travel time. I use a "Power Converter" to run mine on the cars 12 volts.

But please, do take your time and have a safe move.