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Even at 84, Willie Nelson still spends about 150 days a year on the road (again). At the helm of the Honeysuckle Rose, his tour bus, are Gates “Gator” Moore and Tony Sizemore, who’ve split Willie’s driving duties for nearly 40 years. Calling from a hamburger joint in Nebraska, they offered their tips on driving without GPS.
Unplug
GATES: Don’t be afraid to override the GPS. We did it last night. We’ll go 30 miles out of the way to bypass a city we suspect will have heavy traffic by the time we get there.
Use the Numbers
TONY: For interstates, generally, north–south routes have odd numbers, growing larger from west to east. East–west routes are even, getting bigger from south to north. That’s not the kind of thing you’re gonna learn from GPS.
Prepare to Overshoot
TONY: If I know I have to get off on Omaha Street, I study the map for street names just beyond Omaha. That way, if you see ’em fly by, you say, “Oh, I missed it, I have to go back.”
When all else fails, FAKE IT
GATES: If you’re lost, keep it to yourself. Act confident, even if you’ve got no idea where you are. Make a couple turns, make a few educated guesses, and more often than not you’ll come out all right. If somebody asks why you’re late, say you rerouted to avoid construction. Either way, you’ll come out smelling like a rose.
Ask for Directions
TONY: I’ve never been afraid to call ahead. But asking for instructions is an art.
GATES: People say, “Head out on Main.” Which way is out? Or, “Hit 27.” Hit it how? Insist that they be as specific as possible.
Use Billboards
TONY: Even with GPS, read the signs. It’s always nice to see “Holiday Inn, Exit 81,” when that’s your Holiday Inn. And if billboards are advertising the city you meant to leave behind, you know you might be headed the wrong way.
When I ask for directions, people want to help. No one asks why I don’t just use my phone.
