Down-time activity. What do you do?

Hi, also if in nashville ,tn, you can park at the ta there and walk over too the grand ole opera house and the wildhorse saloon and then walk the whole music distric, most time you can see all the performers on the sidewallks and it free,Everett

 

BB King has a blues bar somewhere downtown Nashville. I went there a few years ago. Stayed the weekend in Nashville and actually caught a football game. Got box seats at the 50 yard line. Catered food, a fridge full of beer and case of wine + 2 cheerleaders. New england Pats vs the Titans. Game was pretty close first half. I passed out somewheres in the beginning of the 3rd, and woke up with 6 minutes in the 4th. Vinny Testaverde was out doing relief work and throwing touchdown passes at will. Pats smoked the Titans.

 

I'm not a fan of big-city doings, and crowds make me vurra nervous. Up until my last year of OTR driving, I did my 'normal' routine, either sitting in the truckstop restaurant after dinner, reading a thick novel and sucking down iced tea, or sitting at the wheel of my truck, either reading or writing.
Then, I started carrying my bicycle inside the cab, front wheel detached, rear wheel in the floorwell in front of the passenger seat. The front fork rested on the front of my mattress. It only took about 5 minutes to haul the bike out and attach the front wheel, and I could ride away from the truck stop. I'm more fond of smaller cities and towns, usually without mass transit (which I can't stand anyway), and the bicycle is a really pleasant way to get around. My favorite was Georgetown, SC. I could leave the truck parked, and ride down by the harbor, or head over to a tiny little beach I found.

I'd get stuck in Bainbridge, GA frequently, sometimes for a few days, and I rode my bike into town to escape the truckstop food, finding stuff to do or even a park to ride around and relax in.

I don't know that I'll have time to do much with the gig I'm currently awaiting word on, but if/when I buy a truck later for OTR use, I'm really considering a folding boat, for to row around all the peaceful little ponds and waterways I see all over the place.

 

I've got a bike on the back of my truck- it will get you a lot farther than walking, though that can be pleasant too. There are a number of bike trails easy to get to from truck stops. The Internet can help here. Just search "bike path" and whatever city you're in. Buses are much cheaper than cabs when available. Rental cars are best for overnight trips, IMO. I'm also single and childless, so I take my hometime wherever I want. Sometimes I stay in the truck at night (saves a little money) other times I go out camping. I'm an outdoorsy girl, but there's lots I enjoy doing in big cities, too. I love zoos and aquariums. Some museums, like science centers or ones with old cars or planes. Really, anything you're into you can find out here.

 

A bike is very handy to bring along - You will notice bike paths along the big road in or near Hurricane, UT, Bakersfield, CA west of Denver, CO (Glenwood Springs, etc.) and lots of cities in OR. Ride across the Columbia River from Portland, OR to Vancouver, WA. In Tulsa, OK, you can "borrow" a bike (use a credit card, return the bike w/in 24 hours, no charge) and ride along the Arkansas River, go south, cross the RR tracks, go past a casino. Or go north for a longer ride. Just get off on Riverside off of old 66

 

the water at va beach is only warm in august. the rest of the time its cold..they have a great big ol lights display at x-mas time that goes almost the whole leinght of the boardwalk... its worth seeing

 

what do I do when I am in Va. beach?

I go to the airforce base and watch fighter jets take off. I never tire of that. You can park on a side street right at the end of the runway, they even have enough room for a big rig. (but I am always in my car)

 

I used to take alot of sidetrips. I am fascinated by military history, esp. old Naval ships. I have been to the USS Texas near Houston, USS North Carolina in Wilmington, USS New Jersey in Camden, and the USS Cod in Cleveland. I have ALOT more respect for the men and women who served our country after seeing how they lived! My GPS is primarily my tourist guide. When I see a layover coming up, I start looking for those types of things to do. I just wish I had my wife or kids out here to share it with!
I am trying to get a piece of wood from all the ships I visit so I can make pens from thr wood. (btw, I only get wood the right way, buy it or ask permission from the caretakers.) Almost all these boats are undergoing restoration projects. I make the pens and mail them back to the boat as donations. They can sell them in the gift shop or give them to former crewmembers

 

I was wondering if truckers brought along mountain bikes or plain 'ol street bicycles?