Tag Archives: Cadillac

Back at tbbs WorldHQ

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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

  1. the estimated range provided by the car’s on-board instrumentation is correct;
  2. the miles to destination provided by the GPS is correct; and
  3. 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 Long and Winding Toll Road

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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-

Final Ride, Biker Edition

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The story of the Harley Hearse was picked up on the AP wire yesterday, and appeared on every news site I happened by. These conveyances are made by the Tombstone Hearse Company of Alum Creek PA, and feature a 19th century styled handmade coach, pulled by a Harley V-Twin trike. The hearse attaches to the trike via the 5th wheel method.

From Tombstone’s services menu:

At Your Service – With proper notification we can arrive at your service dressed in white tuxedo shirts, string tie, along with black pants, vest and shined boots with a single spur. We feel the uniform exudes nostalgic style and a sense of dignity and professionalism as we take the departed on their final journey.

I like the whole idea, even though I’m not a biker. Maybe enough to trade my final ride in the back of a Cadillac for such a send off. Not that I’m in a great hurry to ride in either anytime soon.

-k-

H/T Photo: Harris Funeral Home.

Click the photo to embiggen. New plugin via Yellow Swordfish. Thanks!
Plugin requires JavaScript’s being enabled. I go, kicking and screaming, into the 21st century.

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Search for America Tour, 2007, Leg 1

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Tonight finds SWMBO and I west of Nashville, on our way to Hot Springs AR. Normally, we would be in Hot Springs by mid-afternoon tomorrow, but we’re staying in Little Rock tomorrow night. Elder Daughter is taking the red-eye from California, and arrives on Friday morning. So, we’ll stay close to the airport there, and meet her flight on Friday. It’ll be nice to see her again, even though the purpose of the whole trip is a little bittersweet. SWMBO’s mom is beginning to fail noticeably, at least mentally, so this could be the last time they’re all together in some semblance of the way things have always been. I plan to consume my brother-in-law’s beer, watch his TV, and generally hang out.

There are no Buick fuel economy numbers to report; Avis was out of Buicks, so we were stuck with a Mercury Grand Marquis, a supposed equivalent. I made so many snarky comments about the Merc on the drive over that I feel like I’ve blogged them already. I will recognize the efforts of Drew, the Avis agent on duty at Dulles airport this morning. He turned over every Avis inventory for 30 miles in search of Buicks, to no avail. I appreciate his efforts; he did proffer a Lincoln Town car. I told him I’m a GM guy, and asked if they had any Cadillacs. Nope. If I’m going to go funereal when it comes to driving, make mine Cadillac.

The Merc accomplished one thing worthy of note; it maintained my no-fly streak. And that’s worth something, I guess.

-k-