Convoy 2KX

• The Idea. Why are we doing this?
• The Plan. What to expect.
• Thoughts to Think. Make your preparations.
• About “2KX”. An explanation.

Update: 2010 February 2

Alan Chafin (a.k.a Skywalker) is looking for someone to ride shotgun with him. If you don’t want to drive solo, you can split the car expenses with him.

The Idea

’Way back in the mists of time — the year 2000 C.E., to be specific — an intrepid group of fellows attempted to re-create the cross-country trip that was described in the song “Convoy”. These three hearty men began near Shakytown (a.k.a. Los Angeles, California) and, in the space of five days, traveled nearly three thousand miles to the Jersey shore, avoiding bears, potholes, construction zones and traffic jams — despite their unintended separation between Gallup, New Mexico (or Shamrock, Texas, depending upon your point of view) until a happenstance reunion near Breezewood, Pennsylvania.

All three of these fools are contemplating another attempt at this coast-to-coast run, to be undertaken in the late Spring of 2010. Details will be provided as planning progresses, assuming that the parties involved do not come to their senses and abandon this project. The current route is planned to be from Santa Cruz, California to Cape May, New Jersey. Yeah, it’s not the “classic” route, but have you ever tried driving on a freeway near Los Angeles?

So if you have been thinking about an excuse to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, in five or six days, along boring stretches of Interstate highway, and experience the shock of paying for 6000 miles worth of gasoline, please pencil in the first two weeks of June (6 through 12, just for the main event) for the vacation (ha!) of a lifetime.

T.A. (Alan) Chafin — the same guy responsible for plotting Convoy 2000 — is once again planning the route. Contact him if you might be interested in joining us in this endeavor. Convoy 2KX is expected to take place during the first weeks of June.

The Plan

In Convoy 2000, ten years ago, the route that we drove was essentially the same route that was described in the song “Convoy”. This time we’re taking a different path.

June 6: We depart our starting point in Santa Cruz, California. That night, we’ll stop in Rachel, Nevada, home of the famous Little A’Le’Inn, and the doorway to Area 51.

June 7: saddle up and ride to Ouray, Colorado, the home of the person responsible for C.W. McCall, Bill Fries!

June 8: a day in Ouray. Maybe you can drive the Black Bear Road. And, if we can persuade him, dinner with The Man himself.

June 9: back on the road, heading to Dodge City, Kansas.

June 10 through 12: pedals to the metal as we head east to the Jersey shore, crossing the finish line in Wildwood, a resort town on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

Thoughts to Think

You may not want to drive from your home to Santa Cruz, or drive home from Wildwood. Consider flying to Santa Cruz, renting a car, driving to Wildwood, then flying home. There are many airports near these cities.

Wildwood is a resort town. Think about taking a few days off to lie in sun.

Our stops along the way will be planned. We’ll make allowances for plenty of rest, refuel, food, and motels.

Bring your cell phone; and if you have one, a CB radio. We’ll have a lot of time to talk on those long drives.

About “2KX”

Remember Y2K, the alledged apocalyptic doom for computer-based devices? The abbreviation “Y2K” comprised “Y” for “year”, plus the SI unit prefix “k”, meaning 1000; “2k” would indicate a value of 2000. Therefore, “Y2K” represents “Year 2000”.

Playing on that abbreviation, and mixing the Roman numeral “X” (for 10), “2KX” equals “2010”. Hence the name for this journey, “Convoy 2KX”.

One nitpick: the abbreviation for ‘kilo’ should always be ‘k’ (lowercase). There is no SI prefix of ‘K’ (uppercase).