The official WT07 FAQ
When does the World Tour actually happen?
It begins on 10 July, and continues for somewhere between two and three weeks, though closer to two.
What makes it a World Tour, exactly, since you’re not leaving the States or anything?
Two things: it’s awfully damned long, and much of it is through relatively unfamiliar territory.
How long is “awfully damned long”?
I expect somewhere between 4000 and 4500 miles.
You’ve done this five times before. Why do it again?
Because I can. More to the point, it’s good for me to get out of town, and it’s good for my car to get a serious workout once in a while.
Will you be blogging every day?
That’s the plan, anyway. You can still read the reports from 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. (The 2006 version ended in semi-tragedy.) I have Wi-Fi capability, I carry a spare CAT 5 cable, and if all else fails, I have a dial-up.
What’s the shape of this year’s route?
It’s an irregular polygon.
How much of this is copied from previous World Tour FAQs?
Rather a lot, actually.
Is there any chance you’ll say “Screw it” and not go home?
I would have to be extremely fortunate, in the winning-lotto-ticket sense, or extremely smitten, in the “I’ve been waiting for you all my life” sense. Don’t count on either of these actually taking place.
How come it took so long to post this?
Two factors: I couldn’t reconcile my desire for a shorter Tour with the fact that I’ve seen most of what’s close by, and I have lingering concerns about my car, which has performed admirably on 400-mile days in the past but whose ailments, once manifest, tend to be hyperexpensive to cure.
What finally made you settle on a route?
An offhand (maybe) remark by Andrea Harris on this post:
It’s been this way all my life: no one comes to Florida.
I can’t believe you’d actually plan a whole trip over an offhand (maybe) remark.
That’s not a question.
mike »
8 July 2007 · 3:30 pm
Happy trails.
Mister Snitch! »
8 July 2007 · 4:59 pm
Bring McGehee, and rename it ‘The Fear and Loathing World Tour’. I mean, it’s not like Thompson is going to do one anytime soon. Or ever.
Gradual Dazzle »
8 July 2007 · 5:16 pm
I love road trips!!! Wish I could stow away in your trunk. :) Have fun!! And eat something interesting and different while you’re out. And tell us about it.
Andrea Harris »
8 July 2007 · 5:32 pm
Dare I… hope????
CGHill »
8 July 2007 · 5:52 pm
It’s not like you to be hopeful.
McNally and his pal Rand say it’s 1275 miles from here to Mausplatz. I figure I’ll hole up around Sanford or slightly to the south of there, on the sensible basis that getting too close to Reedy Creek is not wise.
McGehee »
8 July 2007 · 7:29 pm
Bring McGehee, and rename it ‘The Fear and Loathing World Tour’.
But I’m not Samoan.
Andrea Harris »
9 July 2007 · 8:18 am
Sanford is a lot closer to my crib than Dizzy World is! Note: if you can’t find anything in Sanford, I live in Altamonte Springs right off I-4 — I’m surrounded by hotels — there’s a Howard Johnson, a La Quinta, a Holiday in, a Great Western….
Kirk »
9 July 2007 · 8:52 am
Given that you’re bound south and east again, I note with only minor foreboding the possibility of this year’s route retracing the ill-fated steps of 2006…..Nah! Nobody would do that, would they?
CGHill »
9 July 2007 · 9:29 am
Well, yes and no: the road where The Incident occurred is being given a wide berth, and the first day’s stopping point has been changed from Texarkana to Shreveport.
Joel »
9 July 2007 · 9:01 pm
If I weren’t so bloody busy putting my house back together, I’d offer lunch if you made it all the way down to Tampa. At the very least I’d be happy to recommend some places worth visiting.
McGehee »
9 July 2007 · 11:33 pm
What are the odds of the Atlanta area being on the itinerary this year?
CGHill »
10 July 2007 · 8:06 am
Barring catastrophe, pretty darn good, actually.