OFF THE BEATEN PATH

After numerous requests from readers to complete and exhaustively discuss my carefully “curated” tips from road trips that have led me to exciting adventures and minor mishaps, here comes the third in a series of guides that hodophiles could learn from and improve, tweak or customize. Revenge traveling has gotten our airports extremely busy, crowded (and yes, sometimes without electricity), so I have chosen to engineer my own trips with friends who appreciate the beauty of long, uninterrupted drives that take you to places unknown and often under the popular radar. So there. You’ve gotten the vehicle sorted out, and planned your destination.  You also have the clothes to wear for your road trip.  Now comes the part on what you need to pack and bring. 1\. Navigation tools\. Travel enthusiasts used to bring folded maps\, and store them in the glove compartment\.  Now\, there are navigation tools easily accessible through smartphones or tablets\.  Just a reminder\, though\. Waze and Google maps are popular apps which people use now\.  But it never hurts to ask a reliable local if you feel  lost or unsure\.  I’ve read one article where someone drove into a river\, by blindly following directions on Waze\.  So do ask because nothing beats an on the ground expert to lead the way\. 2\. Prepare a backpack\, carry\-on or luggage\. I prefer to bring a luggage which I usually bring as handcarry luggage\.  Easier to tug along \(instead of a container or large luggage\)\. 3\. Store items in ziplock bags\. Group items into ziplock bags\, then label\.  It makes it easier when pulling stuff you need from your luggage\. 4\. Rain protection\. You never know when it’ll rain so best to be prepared at all times and seasons\. 5\. Compression socks\. If you plan to drive all day long\, it’s best to use compression socks \(yes\, the ones that come highly recommended during long haul flights\) to help promote blood flow to your legs and feet\. 6\. Pillows\. For passengers who like to rest during the drive\, having a not so bulky pillow makes it more comfortable\. But remember\, a pillow is no replacement for the safety of a seat belt\.  Aways wear your seatbelt\. 7\. Clothing\. No need to bring your entire closet but instead\, pack light\, easy to wash and comfy clothes especially when it gets too hot and humid\.  As for me\, it’s always shorts\, some dry fit shirt and sneakers\. 8\. Toiletries\. Aside from the usual\, best to include wipes\, hand sanitizer or alcohol\, insect spray \(or patches\) and sunscreen\. 9\. First aid kit\. Imagine being stuck in a place with no nearby drugstore\. 10\. Charger\, cables and powerbank\. “Low batt” is a real hassle\. So I make sure to bring a charger and put it in a ziplock bag with several micro\-USB\, lightning and USB\-C cables\. You don’t want people arguing over who should use the charging cable first\. 11\. Flashlight\. Always have a spare in your vehicle\.  I suggest using the new full charged rechargeable flashlights\, in case of emergencies at night\. 12\. Swiss army knife or a multi\-tool\. You don’t need to be a McGyver but it always helps to have one just in case\. 13\. Thermal blanket\. I keep two in the vehicle\, in case of emergencies\. 14\. Travel games and toys\. To keep the young \(and not so young but bored\) passengers busy\. 15\. Reusable shopping bags\. All purpose\, wet and dirty clothes\, storing and anything really\. 16\. Garbage bags\. Care for the environment\.  Don’t throw stuff on the road\.  Put your garbage in a plastic bag\, and properly dispose when you stop or reach your destination\. 17\. Snacks\. Preferably healthy snacks \(and I mean preferably\)\, to keep you filled but not overstuffed during the drives\. 18\. Spare set of shoes and slippers 19\. Spork\. Countless of unplanned gastronomic adventures\, having a spork made a world of difference in eating comfortably\. 20\. Duct tape\. The magic tool for many\. Quite a lot, right? I’ve been told that the attention I devote to road trips is directly proportional to my love for the ride, but that is really how it’s been for me after tedious days of lawyering.  At the end of a long week, all I want is to drive, listen to great music and say, rest at last. \*\*\* Off The Beat: Sharing a mix I did last week. A trip back to the 80’s.  Playlist: 1. Been Around The World - Lisa Stansfield; 2. True - Spandau Ballet; 3. Safety Dance - Men Without Hats; 4. Cruel Summer – Bananarama; 5. Everyday People - Arrested Development; 6. Rump Shaker - Wreckx-N-Effect; 7. Jump Around - House of Pain; 8. Drop It Like It's Hot - Snoop Dog. Visit the link to listen: [https://www.mixcloud.com/goyolarrazabal/goyos-mix-230606-classics-rb/](https://www.mixcloud.com/goyolarrazabal/goyos-mix-230606-classics-rb/)