The first Search For America Tour for 2008 has reached its conclusion. My little bride and I arrived home, happy but tired, yesterday afternoon. We quickly scooped our gear out of our rental Cadillac STS, and headed to the airport to return our beautiful Capitalistic Rental Car. It was an awesome ride, V8 powered so it had some balls, but got an incredible 27 mpg highway.
The biggest mistake I made was choosing the “bring it back empty” fuel option, for a princely $71.00. It cost us $55 at our most costly fill-up, and we left about 100 miles of petrol still in the tank. The bring it back empty option results in some sphincter-tightening moments when you see the LOW FUEL light, and fervently hope that
- the estimated range provided by the car’s on-board instrumentation is correct;
- the miles to destination provided by the GPS is correct; and
- that you haven’t botched up the math in figuring how much gas you need on the next stop.
So next time, we’ll stop by the overpriced Exxon station right by the Avis return.
And, as if to welcome us back home, a Ford Excursion showed considerable reluctance to let us merge onto the Dulles Toll Road on the trip back from the airport. My little bride was driving, and gave the Ford driver a gesture expressing her undying gratitude for his behind-the-wheel courtesy. I trust no diagrams are needed to convey the essence of the gesture.
But the Ford driver actually did us a favor; his self-centered rudeness proved that we are back where we came from, and not with the friendly Midwesterners with whom we spent the last several days.
-k-
The Search for America Tour finds us in Fremont IN, safe, but tired. This particular SfAT is powered by Cadillac STS, a firehouse red, Northstar V8 powered Capitalistic Car if there ever was one. Man, I can’t believe the instrumentation on this rig. A variably heavy rain fell as we navigated the Pennsylvania Turnpike; the wipers were smart enough to adjust their speed, based on the amount and density of the rain that was falling. Impressive. XM radio and On-Star are in the package, along with several buttons I haven’t pushed yet. Gotta save some fun for later.
We left from Virginia, through Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, on into Eastern Indiana. I never realized that the majority of the miles would be travelled on toll roads. From the Dulles Greenway to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, to the Ohio Turnpike, to the Indiana Toll Road, we’ve been on them all. To the tune of 25 bucks or so thus far. I never have much nice to say about Maryland, but it was the only state where a toll collector’s hand wasn’t out. I don’t mind toll roads on principle; I don’t like the Jersey walls, and the lack of predictable eateries in the “service plazas” resulted in a degradation in the quality of our migratory foraging. So much so, that I’m contemplating missing the toll roads altogether on the return trip; this at a cost of 70 miles, and an hour of drive time.
Ohio was beautiful; there was some amazing rural scenery I’d love to have photographed, but no place to get off the road to take any pictures.Hopefully the southern route will render some photo ops that we can seize.
On to Chicago tomorrow; we’re 150 miles out, and trying to time the trip to miss the worst of the congestion on the Dan Ryan. If that’s possible.
-k-
Tomorrow, we head west and a tad north towards Chicago. We’re visiting a college bud of mine, and his little bride.
Whilst there, we’re planning on attending the first night Nextel Sprint Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway.
Like every trip, getting the electronics and spare batteries packed is always the biggest challenge. That’s done, and we’re down to skivvies and toiletries.
We are, in other words, ready to roll.
Updates to follow from the road.
-k-
I never knew this, but shipping items via UPS immediately after a long holiday weekend can be a pricey proposition. I just got back from Office Depot, where I returned an item to QVC1; a set of wind chimes to be precise. I think we paid around $20 for them; when they arrived, one of the tubes was detached, and there was no clear way to reattach it.
Anyhow, the cost to return them to the Rocky Mount NC returns center was a princely $16. I did a double-take, the Office Depot guy showed me the screen, and printed the label. It was then I noticed that it was being returned 3-day select. When I pointed this out, I was told that with a 3-day weekend, there was this backlog, and that 3-day select was the only option available; this is UPS’s way of clearing the jam. And then there’s that cost of fuel thing.
So, henceforth, I’ll keep this in mind when shipping items post-holiday. Whether or not the policy has any merit, it is what it is. You can’t fight Brown.
-k-
As is becoming our custom, my little bride and I spent the Fourth with our friends in West Virginia. The grilling was done just as the skies opened to a steady rain. So the party moved indoors, and didn’t miss a beat. After the serving of the Independence Cake1, most of the local revellers went home.
That left our host and hostess, her daughter and SO, my little bride and me, to reduce the beer and liquor supply, so as to prevent its spoilage. The rain stopped, we went back out on the deck with our libations and had a great view of fireworks . We also solved the country’s energy problem and mortgage ills, amongst other pressing items.
I only wish someone had taken notes, so the results of our round table could have been preserved for posterity.
Safely back at tbbs WorldHQ, we’re now putting the finishing touches on our plans for the Search For America Tour, 2008, Chicago edition.
-k-
Here’s a powerful post from downsizedc.org that I’d give my left one to have written.
… On July 4, 1776, 56 men stood up and agreed to pay the price for our liberty.
They had spirit.
The politicians who walk the halls of Capitol Hill are home in their districts now. They’ll ride in parades and give speeches in front of flags. But the symbolism is distracting. These men and women are NOT what America is all about. They are not leaders. They are not special. Frankly, they don’t deserve the attention they’ll get, because unlike the 56 men who birthed our country, they’re not willing to pay a price for liberty.
They lack spirit. They are either fear-peddlers or just plain afraid.
Some have profited, politically, from a campaign of fear. They’ve expanded their power and the powers of their partisan allies through a sustained campaign of intimidation, both of their opponents and their constituents. This deceitful campaign is called, “The War on Terror.”
Others have cowered, politically, appeasing the fear mongers, in order to gain re-election.
Amen. Remember this come November.
-k-
Larry Harmon, who made clowning a business, has passed away at age 83. Mr. Harmon wasn’t the original Bozo, but entertained a generation of kids by licensing the Bozo name and likeness to local TV stations nationwide. Now, 50+ years later, Bozo is still a national icon.
So, RIP, Bozo. Rest in the knowledge that through your efforts, the name Bozo lives on. I deal with Bozos every day, none of whom wear clown suits. More’s the pity.
-k-
Man found in WI basement covered in BBQ sauce
This guy could be a candidate for Marylander of the year, if he weren’t in Wisconsin. Since this article isn’t from the AP, I’ll liberally quote copy.
A couple telephoned police in the middle of the night after finding a man in their basement covered head to toe in barbecue sauce.
“He told the officers that it was urban camouflage,” said the homeowner. The homeowners say they woke up to whistling sounds.
The husband grabbed his shotgun and headed toward the basement where he found the sauced-up intruder. He held him at gunpoint until police arrived.
The guy told officers he covered himself in barbecue sauce because he wanted to hide from the government. He now faces burglary charges.
No mention of the brand or source of the sauce. I devoutly hope it wasn’t Pigman’s. I’m definitely on board with the hiding from the government part, though.
-k-
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