Road Scrabble

 Here is a game that Ann Marie and I often play when we are on the road. It is much like the “License Plate Game”, where you attempt to accumulate as many different state plates as possible, this game uses the basics of the board game, Scrabble.

    It is extremely easy to play and you can make up your own rules if you want to. No dictionary is needed. Here is the way we play it.

Using the three letters on most Pennsylvania license plates, we have to come up with a word using those letters in the same order as they are on the license plate. (any state will work as long as there are 3 letters on the plate) Some license plates just can’t be done.

    The letters don’t have to be in contact with each other, just in the same order. License plates with an “s” at the end are very easy because by adding an “s” to something, you’re pluralizing it. “R’s” at the end of the sequence are easy also by adding “er” to a word. The same as the rules in Scrabble, we don’t use proper nouns. Occasionally we will keep score using the numbers on the Scrabble tiles.

The numerical values of the tiles are;

Q & Z’s are 10 points

J & X’s are 8 points

K’s are 5 points

F, H, V, W & Y’s are 4 points.

D & G’s are 2 points

And all the rest of the letters are 1 point.

(If you are a regular Scrabble player, you already knew that.)

    We normally don’t bother with scoring, we just shout out a word as the car goes by, then another and another, until the car is gone or another one comes into sight. I often find myself doing it when I’m alone in the car. I’d like to think it helps keep our minds sharp. (and my mind can definitely use some sharpening!)

    Watching the license plates going by makes us notice vanity plates more often. They sometimes need a bit of brain power to figure out also!

    Here are a couple examples…

Happy, Hippy or Harpy are all good.

How about Lighthouse?

Shock or Showcase.

Oh, there’s a winner!

   

    And so the game goes on, until one of you gets tired and quits or you just forget about it and enjoy the sights you’re passing. You might want to try it on your Labor Day trips…