Vacation - All I ever wanted

In about 10 days I leave on my annual solo road trip. This year in my adorable new PT Cruiser.
Apparently, most solo road trippers are women.

Of course, my family (of origin) thinks I'm nuts to be driving around by myself and having breakfast alone in truck stops. I have never felt unsafe though.

I grew up here in L.A. and spent a year in Israel where I took a number of solo bus trips. In both places I have been verbally and physically assaulted enough to eventually figure out how to handle myself. I also think now that I'm not 17 (or 27 - or 35) anymore, I'm not quite the target I used to be (this makes me sad - not because I'm not 17 - heaven forfend - but because the younger you are the more at risk you are and that women are at risk at all...).

I also look like I can take care of myself. I wear boots. I walk with purpose. Important when you are alone in truck stops. I don't want to give all truckers a bad name either. There are some mighty nice truckers out there. People who were home trained. Then there are some that just want to see your tits. And they think you should want to show them. I've never understood it.

Back to the good stuff. I've already started my pre-planning. Oh, how I love lists!!!

For the car:

• My iPod (as my Cruiser has a very fancy iPod jack!!!)
  
• Maps
  
• Water and snacks.
  
• First aid kit.
  
• Blanket and pillow. Just in case.

For the cabin:

• an electric kettle for making oatmeal in the morning and cocoa at night.
• a coffee mug for oatmeal and cocoa
  

For hiking:

• boots
• hats,
  
• scarves,
  
• gloves,
  
• thermal undies

For my head:

• my journal
• a good book or 3 (Lighthouse at the end of the world, Foreskin's Lament and something else...haven't decided yet.)
• a couple of knitting projects

The only thing I don't have yet...I'm actively trying to figure out a way to afford my dream camera before I leave. The old one - though she has seen me through the last 4 years - is not quite what she used to be.

Stops on the way:

• Cameron, AZ (part of the Navajo reservation. This is a new one for me. I have been wanting to stop here but haven't yet.)
• The Petrified Forest National Park and The Painted Desert - apparently this is super close to the Canyon and I've never seen it!!!
  
• Williams, AZ (home of the Red Garter Bed and Bakery - a former bordello and now a very sweet bakery/bed and breakfast)
• Kingman, AZ (there is one of the best thrift stores in the world - Bubbee's Goodz - owned by a big Jewish biker - I love this place. Also, there's a yarn store NEXT DOOR - but I don't really need anything here. I might just stop in to say hi to the nice biker dude.)
  

I will not have:

• cell phone coverage (for most of the trip)
• my laptop
• obligations
• a schedule
• a care in the world.
  

Have you ever solo road tripped? What did you love? What did you not love? Where do you wish you could go?