Rules of the Road 2016

Just finished the Rules of the Road for 2016.  These rules have changed little, except for my dogs' names over the 16 years since I first created them for my first road trip, with Sonntag, in 2000. Because my daily routine and settings change 100 percent starting on day one of these trips, I find it helpful to write these rules down. When I do, I follow them pretty closely, maybe 99 percent of the time.

1	Plan and prepare thoroughly before I leave.
2	Plan and prepare for contingencies before I leave.
3	Do not set off until fully prepared and rested.
4	Getting home safely is the goal of the trip
5	Turning back is always an option.
6	Don’t leave Donner unattended.
7	Exercise Donner every day.
8	Know here Donner is at all times.
9	Keep Donner safe, secured and under control.
10	Let Donner have fun.
11	Keep Donner clean, dry, comfortable, and healthy.
12	Blame nothing on Donner.
13	Drive safely; Don’t drive when tired; Obey the law
14	Drive only a reasonable distance each day.
15	Don’t drive after sunset.
16	Observe daily schedule closely
17	Get on road early, efficiently each day.
18	Use the break-camp and pit-stop checklists religiously.
19	Stay on schedule, but reserve the right to change it.
20	Meet and enjoy people along the way.
21	Retire early; get a good night’s sleep; get up early.
22	Exercise every day.
23	Eat healthy.
24	No drinking except a daily glass of wine.
25	No pipe-smoking on roof rack, in tent, in Defender.
26	Stay clean, dry, comfortable, and healthy.
27	Protect your eyes.
28	Put everything in its place.
29	Keep the tent clean, organized and tidy.
30	Leave campsites better than I found them.
31	Keep the Defender clean, organized, tidy, maintained.
32	Plan the day’s goals and the remaining trip daily.
33	Keep a daily journal.
34	Update the blog daily.
35	Read every day.
36	Enjoy the moment.
37	Act smartly, intelligently, safely, esp. on roofrack.
38	If there’s a problem, fix it; prevent it, move on.
39	There’s a solution for every problem so don’t give up.
40	Don’t blame anything on anyone, including myself.
41	If something is important, do it now!
42	Help others in need.
43	Don’t take any unnecessary risks.
44	Respect nature.
45	Keep the right views thoughts, words, and actions.
46	What you do not pack, leave at home.
47	Do it right the first time.
48	Do what is right.
49	Use the iPad to supplement my brain, not to replace it.
50	Us the GPS to supplement my brain, not to replace it.
51	Know where I am and where I am going at all times.
52	Follow these and other rules religiously.