We've reached the point in the kidney donation process where I need to leave DC and drive back to Portland, OR for a few months so that they can gut me like a fish and get my sister the hell off of dialysis. To do so, I will be saddling up my slow, gay, hairdresser's car (the usual Miata jokes) and driving across the country in late-October/early-November...with DC plates.
My family is from Northern Nevada, Eastern Oregon, and Southern Idaho. I know how to drive low-key fast as blazes on the West side of the Rockies--assuming the plates don't get me trouble, I'm confident. I've also learned how to do that in the area East of the Ohio Valley--I've spent the past 25 years learning this region in a methodical, scientific fashion. If I'm honest with myself, I could've done the same in about 12hrs with the aid of 2g of PCP and an earnest desire to outrun the head snakes devouring my brain.
But I didn't know that 25 years ago, cut me some slack.
That leaves me with the Ohio Valley, across the Mississippi and the never-ending Plains, and up to the Rockies. What is the driving culture like out there? How do you go low-key fast between the Ohio Valley and the Rockies? And while I get a kick out of making fun of my hairdresser's car, it's the DC plates that worry me...you don't see too many of them West of PA.
The car is prepped with excellent Michelin all-seasons, <25K miles, regular maintenance has been performed religiously, and all fluids have been changed in preparation. The car is solid, it's the driving culture that I'm curious about. In my 20's I was pulled over twice and issued warnings, but I've never gotten an actual speeding ticket--I'm always pushing it, but never asking for it.
Any tips you have for going low-key fast across the middle of the country would be most appreciated. How much should I worry about the DC plates?
Thanks for your time!
My family is from Northern Nevada, Eastern Oregon, and Southern Idaho. I know how to drive low-key fast as blazes on the West side of the Rockies--assuming the plates don't get me trouble, I'm confident. I've also learned how to do that in the area East of the Ohio Valley--I've spent the past 25 years learning this region in a methodical, scientific fashion. If I'm honest with myself, I could've done the same in about 12hrs with the aid of 2g of PCP and an earnest desire to outrun the head snakes devouring my brain.
But I didn't know that 25 years ago, cut me some slack.
That leaves me with the Ohio Valley, across the Mississippi and the never-ending Plains, and up to the Rockies. What is the driving culture like out there? How do you go low-key fast between the Ohio Valley and the Rockies? And while I get a kick out of making fun of my hairdresser's car, it's the DC plates that worry me...you don't see too many of them West of PA.
The car is prepped with excellent Michelin all-seasons, <25K miles, regular maintenance has been performed religiously, and all fluids have been changed in preparation. The car is solid, it's the driving culture that I'm curious about. In my 20's I was pulled over twice and issued warnings, but I've never gotten an actual speeding ticket--I'm always pushing it, but never asking for it.
Any tips you have for going low-key fast across the middle of the country would be most appreciated. How much should I worry about the DC plates?
Thanks for your time!