Ok... Some folks are more sensitive than others to motion sickness, but the Dragon and many of the other roads in the area can upset even the most iron-stomached of us. Passengers are especially prone to nausea. A few tips: 1: eat light! Heavy meals and twisties don't go well together. Greasy foods aren't great, either. I keep fruit, nuts and granola bars handy for quick snacks. 2: drink light! I crossed the Dragon at sunrise on time, after losing (badly) at beer pong the night before. That was not one of my most pleasant drives. Lots of water (not right before heading out) will help you feel better as well. 3: look ahead! The driver should already be doing this, but the passenger would be well advised to do the same. It helps to resolve the confusion between the brain and the inner ear that causes motion sickness. Looking sideways at the beautiful scenery is awful. 4: Sea sickness meds make me a bit sleepy (a very bad thing if you are driving), but I love an acupressure solution called SeaBands. I normally wouldn't have tried these things, but the sailing community swears by em. After 3 trips to MOTD, so do I. $10 for the pair (I found mine at Walgreens next to the Dramamine) and they just fit around your wrists. No meds, so they are good for as long as you don't lose them. These replace the ones that normally live in my glove box.
I may get a couple of those. I have chronic vertigo, they may be helping on the drive down- too long in the car isn't good.
My Daughter suffered horribly through the Dargon on a rainy/foggy evening run after a too long day on the road from Birmingham Al. The Dragon is now on her bucket list, but not the good kind. I hope to get back there again, but without kids (and in daylight).
This does seem to be the case. I met a fellow last year at the parking area, near the bottom of the Dragon. He said the MINI belonged to his wife, but she got so car sick on the first run, she told him to go drive it a few more times, so she could say it had been on the Dragon. :lol: Jim
Two years ago on our trip down to the Dragon my Daughter and I stopped at the Sonic in Johnson City Tenn. for lunch. Hamburger and Onion Rings. 3 Hours later as we were arriving at Fontana :eek6: Not Good!! And another thing. Don't get behind those big road bikes:frown2:. The ones that just about idol through the curves. All your breathing in is their exhaust. That will do it also.
As one with more than 10,000 miles at sea on small boats, I can attest to the benefit of the wrist bands. They work well, especially in conjunction with Ginger root (Ginger ale will work). I have seen this combo work for many chronic motion sick people. As a last resort, eat a Hershey's bar. It won't stop you from getting sick, but it tastes as good coming up as it did going down!
I've never lost my lunch when driving, but I do have to stop at the overlook to let both my brakes and stomach cool. I have no idea how passengers take it.
I have heard a lot of things to try for motion sickness, but never sticking a Hershey bar in your ear. What do I know, it might work. :cornut: Jim
My Daughter has been conditioned over the past 4 years. But she has asked me to pull over a few times. She did request that I get her a 4 point harness so that she doesn't get thrown out the window:yikes:
Something else that helps tremendously, stay hydrated ! Not just the day of, but the weeks leading up to the dragon, make sure you drink more then enough WATER. Good life habit to adopt anyways if you havent already.
I used to have this problem when I lived in Sandy Eggo, as long as I was driving my boat I was fine, when I let someone else take the wheel invariably I was calling Ralph and feeding the fish over the side in just a few minutes! The solution was easy, I just always drove the boat! I was the passenger in a Classic Pickup on the Dragon - even took some short vids - and never had a problem, but we only ran it a couple of times....I guess it's different for me on the road as compared to the ocean. Getting stuck behind diesel pickups on the road will make me want to hurl tho....must be something about the diesel fumes. I'll bet getting stuck behind a "Hardley Ableson" would have the same effect. Here are those short vids I took... [ame=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3390437821971343276]On the Dragon[/ame] [ame=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4891311756899071081]On the Dragon II[/ame]
:cornut: One can get a "Transderm Scop" patch from their health care provider. It sticks to the skin behind the ear and lasts 3 days. It works. Jason
I took Dramamine right before I took the ferry over to Catalina one summer, all I wanted to do all day while I was there was sleep! The next time I put out to sea on a big boat was to watch the America's cup defense, we were out all day and I had the Scop patch on - it was great! No sickness, no sleepyness - that's the ticket! Of course, I wasn't trying to navigate 378 corners in 11 miles either!
I've heard that the trick to using scopolamine (or any med while you are driving) is to try it out well in advance. Don't make your first run on the dragon your first time on the med.
^^^is true. Do some research before going this route. My posts are usually pretty sarcastic, but I'm serious on this one.
I never even thought of this and now you guys have me worried! I've never gotten motion sick on anything... boats... roller-coasters... riding passenger in some auto-crossing events...
