[Bapu]

For Ladakh, i'd say get a DVD copy of "Riding Solo to the Top of the World" by Gaurav Jani and show it to your family the matter would be sorted out. I've tried it and it works very very well. But then, why would you want to visit Ladakh in your car... Do it on your BIKE!!!

Generally, what the family is most worried about is our safety. Helps big time when your friends who might be accompanying you are known to your family and your family is comfortable with them.

For getting your Wife along, the easiest way is to start making small trips till she is comfortable for a longer one. Also, get other couples along so that the drive doesnt become boring / tiring and your wife is comfortable too.

For rides where the wife is not coming along, make sure you patch up with a naaish trip with the family before or after the trip.

Hope that helps..

[pramodkumar]

I have done a 3000KM raod trip before 3 months so let me add my 2 cents. My case is little different as she knows i am a good driver(i have done a delhi hyderabad all alone in my esteem in 30 hours some 2 years back), so she uses tactics like its gonna be a lot of money, recession, leaves the list goes on. There are 2 options here.

Option 1: The sentimental route:- the below dialouge is a direct lift from an animation movie but works wonders, first you need to tell her what this trip means to you then, say this "Honey in every marriage you get one chance to say, "I need you to do this with me". It works :-).


Option 2: Every Sunday just disappear, when she asks about your whereabouts tell her you are on an OTR with friends, then after some time tell her you and your friends are going for a Leh trip (all guys trip, no kids and wife), if i have my calculations right she will come with you insted of letting you go with friends.

You can use a combination of option 1 and 2 in the order mentioned. Dont try this in the reverse order as this might lead to some head serious injuries.

Pramod

[amohit]

Get the lioness to taste some blood..err I mean teach your better half driving, then

1. Find out what type of places she likes to visit ie. temples, nature outings, forests, lakes
2. Google like crazy for anything of her interest in 100 kms radius, cover them, then 200 kms radius...and then finally 2000km radius.
3. When going on drives, and when your better half is not driving, make her read the printout of a travelogue for that place (worked very well for me on hampi trip).

Regards,

[rranjith_kum]

Originally Posted by amohit

Get the lioness to taste some blood..err I mean teach your better half driving, then

Wish things dont change too much and she is very interested in driving and you have to sit beside all the time

[Pragmites]

@Advait
Most suggestions here are very good. However, encourage your better half to drive only if:
-You like being navigator/photographer
-You don't mind being asked every 5 minutes "Aren't you tired? Should I drive now"
-You subscribe to the view that rear view mirrors (internal and external) are purely ornamental.
-You do not panic when brakes are sparingly used ( read slammed)
-You want to increase the life of your turning indicator bulbs

[aneeshanand]

very well

my wife is afraid of sending me alone with the car, because, she is afraid of my speed...

When we are in the car, if I do an overtaking, ho, i think its her driving from the navigator seat... !!! She cries like "Look, theres another car coming in.. watch for the riksha, somebody shouting on us keep down.."

he he.. its common for all the newbiees, i hope, and I'm sure she will take the wheel one day, and I will do the same that day

[mohang_j]

Originally Posted by theMAG

The "better half" should not have any physical discomforts on long drives. If she's of the type who is prone to bio-mechanical pains/motion sickness upon longer drives, then every other point becomes moot.

+1 to this. Comfort of the family members should be at first priority and always makes or breaks your trip. (ask me how i know)

[carboy]

Originally Posted by amohit

1. Find out what type of places she likes to visit ie. temples, nature outings, forests, lakes

2. If she likes forests, drive her to a forest.
3. Leave her in the forest.
4. Drive to Leh or wherever.
5. On the way back, pick her up.

Step 5 is optional.
YMMV.

[sammyboy]

Originally Posted by carboy

2. If she likes forests, drive her to a forest.
3. Leave her in the forest.
4. Drive to Leh or wherever.
5. On the way back, pick her up.

Step 5 is optional.
YMMV.

Ha ha ha that was a good one.


I would say take her to a Tbhp family meet the next time it happens.
My wife drove a tractor in one meet and met a few bhpians. Now she is able to relate to the "teambhpianism" I portray all the time.
She has always loved driving so thankfully going on long drives etc isnt an issue at all though.

[vsh]

if you really want to drive to leh, first put your wife's parents there, arrange atleast a month stay for them. then your better half will take you to leh!!!

[vinaydas]

lol pramod you used the line from the simpsons
well i dont have any experience in this matter and neither am i married

[kingvikz]

Iam single and have not made full use of it, untill now.
Two years ago when I wanted to buy a jeep, my dad scoffed at the idea while my mom gave full support. When i checked out few jeeps and zeroed in on one, she personally came by and approved it. She said it gave her good vibes. However over time she became skeptical and gave me two ground rules - No OTR driving, No might driving. I agreed. Atleast I had day time jeep driving.

One night i broke the rule and took the jeep out at night, a maruti 800 brushed against my jeep, no real damage my end except for a scratched fender while the 800 guy lost a wheel cover. The news was kept confidential. That incident kept me from breaking any more rules. Last thing a guy wants to hear is the "I told you this would happen but you never listen" statement.

Now Mom has moved out and I have a new place and the jeep to myself. Strangely now I dont have time for OTRs due to work and 50% of the night driving has resulted in some repairs.

Unlike the jeep's repairs Im not too concerned on this front. Mom and my relation does not depend on jeeps and ground rules. Similarly, I dont know what life has in store under marriage section, but the jeep stays as thats one relationship i wouldnt want strain

[aneeshanand]

Originally Posted by kingvikz

Iam single and have not made full use of it, untill now.

Gooood boy

and the rest of the post, proved you are again a good boy !

[kingvikz]

Originally Posted by aneeshanand

Gooood boy

and the rest of the post, proved you are again a good boy !

Its not difficult to become bad after being good.

[MexXxentric]

Originally Posted by aneeshanand

very well

my wife is afraid of sending me alone with the car, because, she is afraid of my speed...

When we are in the car, if I do an overtaking, ho, i think its her driving from the navigator seat... !!! She cries like "Look, theres another car coming in.. watch for the riksha, somebody shouting on us keep down.."

Ha ha I had same experience.
I asked my wifey to shift the gears when asked for. As a budding driver, she took the task with great enthusiasm &
Now she seldom gets distracted by the chaos on road