Roadtrip Roundup: Best and worst drives
My favorite drives by far were the open US or State roads in the west (not so much the Interstates). Oftentimes we were the only ones on the road, but even if there were other cars, we all just went at our own pace. Importantly, the very most favorite drives were in daylight.
Note to others planning roadtrips: it might save time/money to do sightseeing by day and the drive at night. But you become drained, and also a bit stressed because you it doesn't feel as safe. And most of all: the scenery along the way is as much a part of the sightseeing as the destinations themselves.
Tied for least favorite drive: San Antonio to Marfa. It started out great: open road, not a lot of other cars. And this cloud we were driving into seemed sort of cool and fantastical, like we were flying to Nausicaa. Instead, it became a harrowing drive, because the winds got to 60-80 mph and we passed by a huge pile up of big rigs in the opposite direction. And a lot of it was at night. And we scored the worst mileage in the history of the Prius.
Tied for least favorite drive: Monument Valley to Petrified Forest Try Number 1. The navigation system suggested this as a short route, and were were like, okay. It turns out that it was unpaved! Sometimes it was packed dirt, sometimes gravel, and for a short bit, it was these two inch pieces of sharp red rock (picture below). We kept going for about 10 miles, since we saw other cars, and signs for school bus stops - surely it must end soon! But when we looked into the distance and saw it continue, we turned back and chose a different route.
