OFF THE BEATEN PATH

In a road trip, the heart of the journey, is you, the driver.  No matter how well you’ve planned (think maps, gadgets and itinerary) and despite having the most thoroughly curated list for your comfort, nothing beats being in your best shape right before the ride. Simply put, you’ve got to take care of yourself too. Being in the right headspace clears your thoughts, helps you focus better and spells the difference between tedious and relaxed. 1\. Pit stops are a must\. As a rule\, I usually take 10 to 15 minute stops for every two\-three hours of driving\. Whether you need a bathroom break or just want to stretch your legs a little\, it helps to have reliable go\-to places like gasoline stations which have since evolved into commercial centers with the usual convenience store and food outlets\. 2\. Your posture\, please\. As the driver\, your seating position must be tiled for maximum blood flow\, so sit straight\.  I remember a few years back\, a driving instructor referred to a “Pinoy Playboy position\,” which is not as naughty or comfortable as it sounds\.  The less suggestive version means that the backrest is tilted almost 50 degrees\, with your arms stretched out\.  Definitely not the driving position you want to be in if you’re driving several hours of the day\, right? So\, sit straight and listen to your body\. If your legs feel numb\, take a quick break\, stretch and adjust your position\. 3\. Audiophiles\, hear me\. What’s a long drive without good music? A good audio system with a killer playlist is the silver bullet that will keep you awake and sane when the drive gets to be excruciatingly boring \(and it will\, trust me\) and when you have a companion who asks without fail and with grating consistency\, “Are we there yet?” 4\. Seat to it\. Never underestimate the value of a good seat cushion that literally cradles your butt and back\.  For the back rest\, I use a mesh cushion because it can get pretty hot and the last thing that I want is sweat running down my back even if the aircon is on full blast mode\. 5\. Don’t binge\. Don’t starve\. Eat moderately\. You don’t want to be running from one bathroom stop to another\. Neither do you want a stomach growl in the middle of nowhere\. The key is to eat right\, not too little and not too much\. And if you can avoid it\, stay away from the adventurous delicacies unless you are certain that there is a clean and functioning bathroom near you\. 6\. Sleep right\, don’t snooze\. I can’t emphasize this enough\.  Don’t even attempt to drive if you lack sleep and if you are halfway between dreamland and road trip mode\. If you lack rest\, go get some sleep and push your schedule back a little\. Caveat to those who park for 15 or so minutes to take road side naps\, be very careful\. Best to do this when you have a companion \(who can also switch places with you\) or when you are absolutely certain that you are parking in a safe place\. 7\. Nobody does road trips when they are tipsy\, drunk or nursing a nasty hangover\. Enough said. I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from readers who have long planned their road trips (albeit mentally) but who now have at the very least, a practical take on road trips. It’s not for everyone, I know. But it sure sounds inviting to those who want the spontaneity of travel without the pocket-burning expense and the hassle of long queues (think immigration lines at NAIA 3 during peak hours). Three articles past and I hope that my readers will indulge me some more with this last statement. It is never just the ride. Call it what you want, but every road trip is a journey that we must all take, for whatever ails us in life. Peace out. Off the Beat: Sharing a medley of remixed classic slow jam songs from the 80’s and 90’s. Playlist: 1\. Let Me In \- Mike Francis;  2\. Don’t Make Me Over – Sybil; 3\. Without Love \- Donna Lewis; 4\. I Don’t Want To Wait \- Paula Cole; 5\. They Take My Heart Away \- Clair Marlo; 6\. The Hurt – kalapana; 7\. Sway \- Bic Runga; 8\. Never Never Love \- Simply Red Visit the link below to listen: [https://www.mixcloud.com/goyolarrazabal/goys-mix-230613-slow-80s/](https://www.mixcloud.com/goyolarrazabal/goys-mix-230613-slow-80s/) #SuroyPilipinas