Hi List! My two cents on traveling in groups to Pigeon Forge: Carry Walkabout-type walkie-talkies for the road. (Almost all brands can talk to each other, but watch the sub-frequencies--the cheapies can't do these.) Why? It's easier to pick up joiners along the way without stopping. Your driving will be far more organized, safer, and your blood pressure will thank you. Instructions and distress calls are instantly heard by everyone. (Much easier than cell-phones, unless you have one continuous humungous conference call and stock in the phone company, I suppose.) Radio groups can quickly degenerate into a hairball if everybody starts gabbing, so some airwave protocol is useful: ** Pick a duty pig. They take all the calls and manage chatter. The DP calls for frequency changes if you get interference. ** A freq list is heaven-sent if you become a lost duckie. ** When you call, first state the name of the person you're calling and then state your name; avoid hurtling over the cliff of confusion. ** Push the mike button one second before you talk, and don't let go till you're done! (The neighborhood kids often trip on this one when attempting covert super-soaker operations, much to my advantage. All I have to do is listen for the What-Whats and point the garden hose at the noise.) ** Two people cannot talk at once. Just think of passing messages through a tube when using radio and all will become clear. ** Your mother told you not to interrupt. Good advice, unless it's immoral, illegal, or dangerous. See ya at PF. --Ray 10693 and counting. To address comments privately to the moderating team, please address: moderators@xxxxxxxxxxx For more info on the list, tech articles, cars for sale see www.dmcnews.com To search the archives or view files, log in at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmcnews/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: dmcnews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/