The night before leaving on a trip- holiday, how well do you sleep?

Submitted: Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 19:55
ThreadID: 66355 Views:2842 Replies:15 FollowUps:11
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On the first day leaving home we always like to get going about 2am in the morning if going some distance, But can i sleep before hand ? very seldom!, toss & turn something terrible..LOL.

The cook usually does her normal thing and wanders around all night anyhow, and when we finally get going she nods off straight away, wakes up mid morning," Where are we"?..lol.


Cheers Axle.
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Reply By: Member - vivien C (VIC) - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:08

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:08
We used to be like that. Now we leave as soon as I get home from work. We drive for about three to four hours...until approx the time we'd be going to bed normally. We always book a motel so we just have to arrive, get the key and by that time we're tired, we've left on our trip so the nerves have been settled and we have a good nights sleep.

Viv
AnswerID: 351398

Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:29

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:29
Hi Viv

Our motel is usually on wheels behind us...lol

Have a catnap when where well on our way, But that night before, Probably been just worry, about things that are never going to happen...lol.

Cheers Axle.
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Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:52

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:52
We're a combination of the both of you......

We drag our motel around behind us too, but if we're going on a biggish trip, we tend to leave straight after work and drive for 3 to 4 hours. That gets us up into the Flinders or over to the Riverland (depending on which direction we're heading from here) and then I set up the camper (10 minutes tops)....... and either have a late coffee or beer, then off to bed by about 11pm.

Sleep like a top doing it that way and all refreshed the next morning.

It works for us..... everything is in the camper anyway; just pack a bit of food and clothes

Roachie
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Follow Up By: Member - vivien C (VIC) - Saturday, Feb 28, 2009 at 08:11

Saturday, Feb 28, 2009 at 08:11
Axle & Roachie,

I forgot when I answered "we always" that last year (alzheimer's is advancing) we actually didn't get the motel but set the camper up between Balranald and Ivanhoe...jumped in and had a good nights sleep. Prior to that, we "always" got a motel for the first night.

Whichever way - it still means that the anxiety of actually getting on the road has gone..all that pent up excitement has been put into motion and "we're off on the trip".

Otherwise we'd be tossing and turning all night at home just waiting for the clock to tick over to the time to get up and get going.

Just the same for those first 100kms or so the mind is racing ... what did I forget, is that noise normal, what's rattling???? But then in the morning it's up, up and away...heading into the great unknown.

Viv
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Follow Up By: Member - Sheepie (NSW) - Saturday, Feb 28, 2009 at 12:44

Saturday, Feb 28, 2009 at 12:44
Roachie: "That gets us up into the Flinders or over to the Riverland "

Oh, I wish - that sort of time out of Sydney, we're still IN Sydney! OK - slightly embelished, but you get the point ;) One of the advantages you guys have in Adelaide - it's so close to the best parts of the country :)
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Reply By: wendys - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:09

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:09
Separation anxiety? Reaction to pending change?
Seriously, knoiw what you mean. I always get anxious just before we head off - wonder why we are doing this, yet again, when it would be so much more secure to just stay home.
Then, once we are away, I never want to go home again, and hang out till the last possible day.
How crazy is that?
AnswerID: 351399

Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:31

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:31
Glad i'm not on my own!!!.hahahaha.


Cheers Axle.
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Follow Up By: Member - GREENDOG - Saturday, Feb 28, 2009 at 23:26

Saturday, Feb 28, 2009 at 23:26
I'll secound that hay it's a pain organising things,But jeez it's great to sit around a fire with a good bunch of friends a thousand ks from home hay.cheer's GREENDOG
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Reply By: Member - Footloose - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:14

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:14
I can really relate ! When the kids were small, all the little things that mum had to get ready meant that we weren't away until around 8...by which time I was ready to go back to bed again !
These days I'm up by 2 and gone by 3-4am.
AnswerID: 351401

Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:37

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:37
Ohhhhhh! Yeah!!, Back when the kids were little, The time we had the old valiant packed up the holiday time was near over!

hahahaha.



Cheers Axle.
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FollowupID: 619669

Follow Up By: curious - Saturday, Feb 28, 2009 at 07:21

Saturday, Feb 28, 2009 at 07:21
Footy, glad to see I'm not the only one who gets up and leaves at an ungodly hour of the morning. - Peter
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Reply By: Member - Uncle (NSW) - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:40

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:40
I think it must be a case of the body telling us it's excited about some R&R coming up. The night before we left on our recent 10 month journey..........wow that feeling was amazing, and yep, not much sleep for either of us!
AnswerID: 351406

Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 21:16

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 21:16
I can imagine what a feelihg that must have been..lol.



Cheers Axle.
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Reply By: Willem - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:53

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:53
Axle

These days I can sleep anywhere. Comes with age....lol

Saying that we normally get that geared up that we leave the day before and make camp somewhere along the route so we can get a headstart!

Another 90 days before we leave on our 3 month sojourn through the deserts.(No, I'm not counting ...lol)



Cheers
AnswerID: 351409

Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 21:09

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 21:09
Hi Willem,

90 days to think about the next 90!

The Nissan will have a shine on it by then,.hahaha.

Should be a great trip

Lucky Bugger!.

Cheers Axle.
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FollowupID: 619672

Reply By: Isuzumu - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:56

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:56
I have to leave the afternoon before, pick up the Boss from work, usually around 3.30pm travel for a couple of hours and then camp up. If I have to leave the next morning I too cannot sleep properly either, and find that the first day is a waste, stopping all the time for a rest. We do not have any children though.

Cheers Bruce

PS only six weeks till Easter and another adventure....lol
AnswerID: 351410

Reply By: kcandco - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:59

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 20:59
Hi Axle

After many restless nights sleep I have found out what works well for me. I don't worry too much about the sleep the night before. But I make sure I get a really good night's sleep the 2nd night before. This way, the body and mind are still reasonably sharp. Even if I am a bit tired, the excitement takes over and its not so bad. I have used this not only for travelling, but for competition (sports) as well.

cheers Kc
AnswerID: 351411

Reply By: Steve - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 21:43

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 21:43
haaaaa - excellent thread

I'm always like a kid on Christmas Eve

I like the idea of getting on the road for a couple of hours the night before. Must try that one - sounds a bit like having access to the Christmas stocking before the main thing next morning to keep yourself in check.

:)))

AnswerID: 351417

Reply By: Member - Rob S (NSW) - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 22:11

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 22:11
Hi Axle
Don't you just hate that.
As some of the others have said
If possible I try and get going after work and knock over 300klm or so the first night and give the driving lights a good work out.
This also saves having to drag the cook and the kids out of bed at the crack of dawn, and save the lengthy discussion as to why they have to get up so early.

Rob.
I only ever made one mistake
and that's when I thought I was wrong!

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AnswerID: 351420

Reply By: gke - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 22:16

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 22:16
We're different. Being retired takes a lot of the pressure off. Take off when ready on departure day and go about 25 kms in opposite direction and camp ! Spend the afternoon going through everything and sorting and checking. Next day back past home and drop off excess stuff and occasionally pick up something we need. Check house and finally depart fairly relaxed. Try not to go too many hours before stopping. Always have short days - easy to do when travelling solo. Graham.
AnswerID: 351422

Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 22:22

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 22:22
Hi All

We have the van ready to go at a moments notice, clothes ect
are allready in it ,the fridge is allways going so the Cook fills it up
with food ect, the cupboards are packed with goodies, the Engel
in the truck is allways going with Beer in it, I allways service the
Toilet each time we return from a trip, so thats ready, I fill up the
water tanks the day before the trip, and I fill the truck up with
Diesel the day before we leave, I hitch up to the Caravan before
we go to bed, so we dont disturb the neighbours when we leave
at roughly 4-am in the morning, and I sleep like a baby, and our
kids are all grown up (in there 30's) so we dont hear that constant
ARE WE NEARLY THERE YET lol lol.

Cheers
Daza
AnswerID: 351424

Reply By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 23:25

Friday, Feb 27, 2009 at 23:25
Hi Axle, yeh know what you are saying, but since we have retired we seem to go on a lot of smaller trips in between the bigger ones so it has become a regular thing to be 'leaving the next morning' small trips we go when we are ready, usually around 8am but the bigger trips it is up about 4am and very little sleep the night before.

Cheers

D


Simba, our much missed baby.

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AnswerID: 351439

Reply By: Richard W (NSW) - Saturday, Feb 28, 2009 at 08:23

Saturday, Feb 28, 2009 at 08:23
My vehicle is always packed and ready to go as well.
No room in the garage for all the stuff. LOL
Love retirement.
Used to have an uneasy nights sleep before a trip but home these days is just an extended stopover. ;)
AnswerID: 351453

Reply By: Member - Paul W- Esq (VIC) - Saturday, Feb 28, 2009 at 09:16

Saturday, Feb 28, 2009 at 09:16
The cook usually sleeps OK but i dont, if the alarm is set for 3AM i am up and buzzing around at 1AM, thats if it is an interstater but if its not we leave after work, drive a few hours and set up/unlock the mobile motel (C/T or caravan). Mmmmmmm good on YA! i think i need to go on a trip now----- where can we go--------hhmmmmm hahahaha
AnswerID: 351460

Follow Up By: Member - Axle - Saturday, Feb 28, 2009 at 10:39

Saturday, Feb 28, 2009 at 10:39
Pretty keen to get going myself Paul!, when i get this V8 sorted.


Cheers Axle.
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FollowupID: 619725

Reply By: Member - Sheepie (NSW) - Saturday, Feb 28, 2009 at 12:50

Saturday, Feb 28, 2009 at 12:50
I find I usually have to resort to drugs ;)

Always have that problem the night before, whether it's just a work day trip down to Melbourne, or the night before a three-week drive. A couple of painkillers the night before usually helps a bit.
AnswerID: 351490

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