Help me move across the country?

[TurboKinny]

I am moving from Washington State to Maryland next month, and I'm driving! Woohoo!

Unfortunately I'm a broke grad student who can't afford hotel rooms, so I'm going to be sleeping in my car. Unless, that is, a few kind CoGers would be willing to lend a couch or spot on the floor for me to crash on. I hate even asking, but I can put my dignity on the line long enough to have a place to sleep.

Good weather in CO plan- I still need somewhere between Denver and Cincinnati, as close to the middle (Kansas City) as possible:
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/turbokinny/TKmap2.jpg

Bad weather in CO plan- I need somewhere around Salt Lake and around Albuquerque:
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/turbokinny/TKmap.jpg

Also, if everyone would keep their fingers crossed for me for good weather and no problems, I'd appreciate it :)

XOXO :)

[ShivaX]

I find your choice of stopping points odd.

If you need a place in Northern Iowa I can hook you up since my parents have some currently empty apartments, but thats about it.

[TurboKinny]

I find your choice of stopping points odd.

If you need a place in Northern Iowa I can hook you up since my parents have some currently empty apartments, but thats about it.I'm unwilling to drive across the northern half of the US with all my belongings in my car, and I divided the trip up as evenly as possible into manageable chunks.

[GrenMag]

Those western stops look about right to me -- the last time I did a speed run between Springfield, MO and Portland, OR those are roughly the stops I made. Minus Tulsa, of course.

I'm assuming you've already got someplace to crash east of the Mississippi planned out -- Preferably around Indy or thereabouts (Columbis-ish) , as Indy is around14 hours from Tulsa if you don't stop. If you try to stay south, you're looking at an even longer drive.

[TurboKinny]

Those western stops look about right to me -- the last time I did a speed run between Springfield, MO and Portland, OR those are roughly the stops I made. Minus Tulsa, of course.

I'm assuming you've already got someplace to crash east of the Mississippi planned out -- Preferably around Indy or thereabouts (Columbis-ish) , as Indy is around14 hours from Tulsa if you don't stop. If you try to stay south, you're looking at an even longer drive.I'll be spending a couple days in Cincinnati to catch up with my old friends, and then making the hop to Baltimore.

[GrenMag]

I'll be spending a couple days in Cincinnati to catch up with my old friends, and then making the hop to Baltimore.


Excellent. I love visiting that town. And Baltimore, too, for that matter.

[DeathtollWRX]

wouldn't be easier to send you some paypal funds so you can get into a motel? Isn't it dangerous sleeping in your car?

[Troggles]

I find your choice of stopping points odd.

If you need a place in Northern Iowa I can hook you up since my parents have some currently empty apartments, but thats about it.

Where at in Northern Iowa? I know quite a few people up here looking for a place to live. Might be able to help them out.

[Krispy]

Try this site out: http://www.couchsurfing.org/

I have a friend who has used it before throughout America and Europe and offers his home so I know it's legit and the people involved have always been very kind.

Where in Maryland are we moving to if you don't mind me asking?

[zarathstra]

Where in Maryland will you be living? I grew up in Baltimore/Glen Burnie.

Unfortunately, I can't offer you a place to stay. I have the space, but unless you plan to detour to Atlanta, I can't help you out :)

[rein]

You should post a map of your route so we can better determine if we will be of help or not. I know you posted general spots of interest but you might be able to flex things a bit if you get some offers for free crashing spots.

Please be careful if you sleep in your car. I know some Walmart stores offer free overnight parking for RV's but I don't know if it applies to cars. You might give a few that are on your route a call. At least they are well lit and usually not isolated. Free clean bathroom too.

[Generation ABXY]

Ah, sorry I won't be able to help. Once you get to my neck of the woods, you're there (that and - Huzzah! - my rental is finally taken).

Still, best of luck with the journey and all. :)

[TurboKinny]

I'm moving to Baltimore, near Towson. :)

A map is a good idea! I'm already set in Cincy, but anywhere along the way would be great.
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll275/turbokinny/TKmap.jpg

[TurboKinny]

Try this site out: http://www.couchsurfing.org/

I have a friend who has used it before throughout America and Europe and offers his home so I know it's legit and the people involved have always been very kind.I've heard of the website, and I'll be hitting it up if I need to, but I wanted to start with people I "know" :)

Please be careful if you sleep in your car. I know some Walmart stores offer free overnight parking for RV's but I don't know if it applies to cars. You might give a few that are on your route a call. At least they are well lit and usually not isolated. Free clean bathroom too.I will be, don't worry. A Texan knows how to handle herself ;)

[ShivaX]

Where at in Northern Iowa? I know quite a few people up here looking for a place to live. Might be able to help them out.

Charles City. Basically about 45 miles N of Waterloo or so.
30 some miles S of Mason City.

Almost close to something, but fairly far away from everything.

[MrBibbz]

I'm way to far south for my couch to be at you service

[Aggort]

Hey Kinny I check ed out your map and you'll actually drive right next to my place. And when I say right next, I mean literally about 100 yards away from I-70, in Ohio! If you happen to need to stop here, Shannon and I would be gracious guests!

EDIT: Ah I just saw you're set in Cincinnati, so I doubt you'd to stop here, but hey if you'd need a bite to eat I know a perfect place we could meet up! Oh and when you see signs for St. Clairsville and maybe even see Bridgeport High School on your left, you know you just passed me by!

[Purple Santa]

I would of loved to offer our sofa bed (you might have some company of a few cats though. They love to sleep on that bed) but we're at the end of your destination. Have a safe trip...

[Kelegacy]

You can stay at out place in Maine. A bit out of the way, though. :)

A trip that long, I'd have to find a place to shit each day, at least once--that would be my biggest concern. Using a rest area or really public toilet would not be in my itinerary.

[TurboKinny]

I'm going to keep a list of all you guys offering me places outside of where I'm going *this* time and call you up when I'm heading to conferences ;)

A trip that long, I'd have to find a place to shit each day, at least once--that would be my biggest concern. Using a rest area or really public toilet would not be in my itinerary.Did I mention I want to be able to check my email? Plus I'm a girl, we don't shit :p

[Scull]

You can crash at my place in Boise if you want.

[Kelegacy]

First off TurboKinny, are you single? Because if you are, some of the guys here might be more encouraged to let you sleep over. :)

[Generation ABXY]

First off TurboKinny, are you single? Because if you are, some of the guys here might be more encouraged to let you sleep over. :)

If CoGers were honestly holding out for sex, I'm not sure they'd be terribly concerned with your qualifier, Kelegacy. ;)

[Vermillion]

I would think that being a girl isn't even a qualifer for some...

[Kelegacy]

I would think that being a girl isn't even a qualifer for some...

Or human/humanoid.

[Bingley Joe]

If you feel like giving your route a more Tim Burtonesque squiggle and legging it up over Lake Superior, say, you're welcome to stay with us on your way back south :)

[wyeast]

I'm nowhere near the route. :(

[Frohike]

Going to totally miss me, South Bend, Indiana. But if you ever happen to swing that way, my door is always open.

[Smoof]

If you want to go through Denver instead, my fiance and I have a spot on our couch.

[rein]

Or human/humanoid.
HEY! That's getting personal.

Sorry TurboKinny but you are heading a little to far north to make it close enough to me.

As for the shitter, just in case ;), like I said earlier look for Wal-Mart or other large clean retail chains along your route. In my somewhat limited experience (I hate to leave my little loads in public restrooms) most large retail stores have cleaner bathrooms than fast food joints.

I have to admit, this sounds like fun. I might look into planning a trip next summer just to travel in my car. It's been so long since I have driven any distance without having to adhere to a strict schedule.

[Kelegacy]

As for the shitter, just in case ;), like I said earlier look for Wal-Mart or other large clean retail chains along your route. In my somewhat limited experience (I hate to leave my little loads in public restrooms) most large retail stores have cleaner bathrooms than fast food joints.


Good gravy, my super Wal-Mart has probably the dirtest bathrooms I've ever been in. The store itself isn't too clean either. Since Target moved in, I don't go there very often. Target is like the creme de la creme of department stores for me

But the shitters...man, our Wal-Mart is just atrocious. If there isn't piss on the seat or floors, there are logs in the toilets that are unflushed or clogged, or shit splatters on the seats or undersides. It's disgusting. You can catch staph or an STD just by walking past the bathrooms.

[Frohike]

Good gravy, my super Wal-Mart has probably the dirtest bathrooms I've ever been in. The store itself isn't too clean either. Since Target moved in, I don't go there very often. Target is like the creme de la creme of department stores for me

But the shitters...man, our Wal-Mart is just atrocious. If there isn't piss on the seat or floors, there are logs in the toilets that are unflushed or clogged, or shit splatters on the seats or undersides. It's disgusting. You can catch staph or an STD just by walking past the bathrooms.

I'm going to go ahead and say that gas station toilets are the worst. I remember going to one where someone actually shit in the sink because I guessing the toilets were all fucked up...

[cp#]

E1ABR4UpDSU

[rein]

Good gravy, my super Wal-Mart has probably the dirtest bathrooms I've ever been in. The store itself isn't too clean either. Since Target moved in, I don't go there very often. Target is like the creme de la creme of department stores for me

But the shitters...man, our Wal-Mart is just atrocious. If there isn't piss on the seat or floors, there are logs in the toilets that are unflushed or clogged, or shit splatters on the seats or undersides. It's disgusting. You can catch staph or an STD just by walking past the bathrooms.I agree about Target. I freaking love Target!

That being said, I live in Wal-Mart capital USA. Maybe that helps. Then again, there are many wal-Mart stores even in my area that I have never stepped foot in. Now that I think about it, someone was shot and killed at a Wal-Mart not far from where I work. Hmm... OK Turbo, look for Target stores on your route. :)

[TurboKinny]

If you want to go through Denver instead, my fiance and I have a spot on our couch.I thought about going through Denver, but the mountains make me nervous. :(

I have to admit, this sounds like fun. I might look into planning a trip next summer just to travel in my car. It's been so long since I have driven any distance without having to adhere to a strict schedule.Unfortunately this isn't my first long drive- I did Ohio to California just 6 months ago, then Cali to Montana and back, then Cali to Washington. I had company on those, though.

The WireHate you. I'm already refusing to watch the show until after I've lived in Bmore for a while :p

[Zero]

If you were to take 412E from Tulsa into Fayetteville, AR and then up 540 to Joplin, you could crash with my girlfriend and I.

[GrenMag]

If you were to take 412E from Tulsa into Fayetteville, AR and then up 540 to Joplin, you could crash with my girlfriend and I.

If you were to do that, you'd be better off heading over to US65 an rejoining 44 at Springfield. I've driven both in the last year or two and 65 has become a better option -- at least in my opinion. The half day detour for a safe, comfy place to sleep would be worth it either way, though.

[TurboKinny]

I edited the OP: as long as the weather is good, I'm going to go through Colorado to save me a day of driving. Thanks for all the offers so far, I've PMed those of you with spots along my routes :)

[Matthias]

I'd offer you a bed and some wifi if you were going through the Austin/Houston/College Station area, but that's way out of your way. As it stands, I might be able to make a few phone calls to find you a place in Albuquerque, but I'm not sure how willing people would be to house a friend of a friend. Let me know if you need it.

[TurboKinny]

I'd offer you a bed and some wifi if you were going through the Austin/Houston/College Station area, but that's way out of your way. As it stands, I might be able to make a few phone calls to find you a place in Albuquerque, but I'm not sure how willing people would be to house a friend of a friend. Let me know if you need it.Thank you! I'll let you know. Also, where in that very large area of Austin/Houston/College Station are you actually located? ;) I'm presenting at a conference in Houston in April.

[miah]

You're always welcome to crash at my place =)

[MagGnome]

Good luck on your trip! :)

[Matthias]

Thank you! I'll let you know. Also, where in that very large area of Austin/Houston/College Station are you actually located? ;) I'm presenting at a conference in Houston in April.

My permanent house is in Northeast Houston, and I attend Texas A&M in College Station; CS is halfway between Austin and Houston, and only 3 hours south of Dallas, so it's generally only a bit out of the way of anyone passing through Texas.

As for April, let me know when it comes closer- there's a good chance I will/can be in town, and either way I'm sure my parents won't mind taking in a friend. They were big fans of random road trips when they were first courting.

[boratika]

Well if you somehow find yourself 15000 miles off course and on the other side of an ocean you don't remember crossing, then, you know, I'll totally put you up for an evening.

[yeti]

And if you ever feel like going as far away as you can before coming back then you're always welcome here in sunny Dunedin, New Zealand. :) Same goes for any CoGers.

[civil]

Awww, you guys are lonely in your little penal and colonial colonies, aren't you?

[TurboKinny]

Well if you somehow find yourself 15000 miles off course and on the other side of an ocean you don't remember crossing, then, you know, I'll totally put you up for an evening.

And if you ever feel like going as far away as you can before coming back then you're always welcome here in sunny Dunedin, New Zealand. :) Same goes for any CoGers.:D Yall just made me giggle at 7 in the morning. Well done!

[Doogie2K]

You're going in precisely the wrong direction for Calgary, but what the hell, I'm sure we have a chair open for a night.

[inmostlight]

Do you have a place to live lined up in Maryland?

[TurboKinny]

Do you have a place to live lined up in Maryland?I do :) Sight unseen, but I've talked to the roommates and I'm excited.