How do you stay awake (long drive)?

[KnottedYet]

How do you keep yourself awake and alert on long solo drives?

I play CD's and sing like a fool, drink Coke or Dr. Pepper, stop often at McDonalds for more pop and a walk and the bathroom (highway rest stops make me nervous when I'm driving alone) and sometimes *gasp* call someone on my cell and ask them to talk to me. I use a head-set, both hands on the wheel.

I do NOT use cruise control!

Oh, and I drive with the window open. That might give me lower gas mileage, but it's worth it to keep me awake.

I think it's easier to stay awake on a bike ride...

[Kalidurga]

I used to suck on fireball jawbreakers. Depending on the drive, though, you could go through quite a few of them, and that's a lotta sugar on the teeth. I've since switched to sugarless bubblegum. Blowing and popping bubbles definitely will definitely help to keep you alert, especially if you pop the bubbles real loud

[Grog]

I don't do long drives much, but I actually will alternate between cruise control and not most of the time. When I'm on cruise control I "dance" to the music and wiggle my feet around a lot (works better in some cars than others!!) and that definitely keeps me awake (and avoids putting my legs to sleep, and saves on gas). Then I'll get bored for a while and turn off the cruise control a bit.

Once I had two more hours to drive and the sun was going down and I was not feeling my best, I had a Red Bull drink (heavily caffeinated but interesting taste), a roll of gummy Sweetarts (happiness!) and cranked up the disco music. Boy those were two happy hours!!!

[mimitabby]

Every hour or so I get out of the car and jump up and down. When my kids were little, we played tag.

otherwise (clunk) I fall asleep!

[Nanci]

Eat munchies. Listen to Podcasts or books on CD.

[Xrayted]

How do you keep yourself awake and alert on long solo drives?

I play CD's and sing like a fool, drink Coke or Dr. Pepper, stop often at McDonalds for more pop and a walk and the bathroom (highway rest stops make me nervous when I'm driving alone) and sometimes *gasp* call someone on my cell and ask them to talk to me. I use a head-set, both hands on the wheel.

I do NOT use cruise control!

Oh, and I drive with the window open. That might give me lower gas mileage, but it's worth it to keep me awake.

I think it's easier to stay awake on a bike ride...

Did ya do my cards this morning or do you have a crystal ball too? Exactly what I did this morning on the way to my ride in DE. Except the McD's. Blech.
Yep, sang like a fool the whole way and drank a Pepper. Funny, I only started drinking those recently. Never liked them as a kid. I really wanted an A&W, but they only had diet. I was about to put the top down just to get enough air. Whew! Seriously sleepy for a while until I got my second wind.

[RoadRaven]

Put the air con on cold and blast it into my face in the summer

OR

Put the heater on (to my feet) and open the window so the cold air blasts my face

Eat dark chocolate... drink "V" (high caffiene energy drink)... play hard rock - loud

[CyclChyk]

1. stop for a hot big cup of java (caffeine)
2. Roll window down for air to smack me in face.

If neither of these work, I have been known to smack my checks.... no pain no gain, right?

[Kitsune06]

I revisit Marilyn Manson or Punk (Anyone remember Bad Religion?) and sing/shout/growl with it,
Pretend I'm racing...
drink redbull so I have to pee, then I'm *very* awake looking for rest stops
think about what I'll say when I get there (very time consuming and exciting/scary)

I used to do a 3 hr drive every weekend to see DGF when we were first seeing each other. I tell ya, 6pm after work was always way easier than 6am before work.

Have fun on your trip.

[Trek420]

Do all the above and if you get really tired pull over somewhere (very safe) and rest. Better late then get in a crash of some sort.

Drive safely.

[snapdragen]

I revisit Marilyn Manson

Mini drift: When my best friend found out I had Marilyn Manson cd's she said "Does your mother know!?!?" I was in my 40's at the time...

Back on topic: Knot - I usually have to stop somewhere for coffee and walk around a bit on long drives. Otherwise I get too sleepy.