An alternative to satellite radio if you like are audio books.  I listen
to these almost exclusively.  You can get cassettes, CD's or download
MP3's.  Whatever your preference.  They really help make those long
interstate miles go by much quicker.

Also, I would suggest something like a Tom-Tom for a nice easy-to-use
GPS guide.  Anything that says "Magellan" is junk.  You should also get
an Atlas from Walmart.  Personally, I prefer to stay at the Flying J
Truckstops on my long hauls like that.  If you can afford a hotel room,
by all means do it.

Notebooks are getting really cheap.  I would go with something that has,
at least, 2 GB processor.  The Dell has a nice 13.3" notebook and the
battery life is really good.  Be sure to get a backpack or some kind
of protective case for whatever you get.  And it's your call on whether
or not to go with XP or Vista operating systems....

--- On Wed, 8/13/08, Ryan <easywind1975@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:

> From: Ryan <easywind1975@HOTMAIL.COM>
> Subject: Re: Advice needed for cross-country trip
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2008, 4:01 AM
> Ellen,
>
> Let me second or third the notion of satellite radio
> service.  I bought it
> for Stern and quickly fell in love with it even if Stern
> wasn't on the air.
> News at your fingertips always, traffic and weather for the
> larger metro
> areas, I've used these channels a few times now to
> avoid accident scenes in
> Philly and DC.  The music selection is great too, I'm
> referencing Sirius but
> I can only assume the content on XM is comparable.  $13 a
> month you'll be
> hooked!
>
> Ryan
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ellen" <elleninoregon@HOTMAIL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 10:53 PM
> Subject: Advice needed for cross-country trip
>
>
> The short story is this: I'm planning on quitting my
> job the first part of
> October, and embarking on a cross-country trip to see all
> my relatives.
> This trip will take me from Oregon to Minnesota, Michigan,
> Ohio, Kentucky,
> Texas, California, then back home to Oregon.  About 6000
> miles in all.  I
> don't have any particular time schedule.  I have a
> pension, and will look
> for more satisfying work when I get back home.  Lola (with
> just under 53,000
> original miles) will make the trip.  I have AAA plus and
> sufficient funds
> should anything go wrong on the road.  I guess my question
> is logistics.  I
> don't have a laptop currently, but I see the need for
> one.  A wireless
> internet service?  GPS?  What else do I need to know?  This
> is all new
> ground for me.  Anyone who has done this, please let me
> know what worked,
> what didn't work, what you wish you had known.
>
> TIA,
>
> Ellen & Lola, '85 Vanagon ASI       Don't wait
> for a light to appear at the
> end of the tunnel; stride down there.....and light the
> bloody thing
> yourself.' ~Dara Henderson
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