Ben’s Road Trip

So I just finished a road loop around the lake. It is almost maybe starting to feel like I’m supposed to be out riding those things again. Nice little 12.6 mile loop tonight. Hopefully I can step it up a leetle on the weekend.

Did a combo ride (by two counts) today around Standley lake. Combination of dirt and roads - also combined two different rides I do in the area. Josh and KT joined me for the fun.

At the top of Lee Hill Rd. on my bike. Fourth or fifth ride this year - OUCH! Map to follow shortly - I hope I make it back over old stage

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I was looking for a regular picture of a target - you know, like the the logo for the store.  Then I found this mixed in with the scandal about how they are “misusing” social networks, blogosphere blah blah.  However I found/borrowed this pic - it makes me smile.  Poor little kid though - I hate when that happens.

So - tonight I got the “upgrade” to the free drink section on my flight home. Before the booze set in I began to wonder, “I wonder if my peeps would sponsor my drinks like a benefit ride/run while I fly home”. It must have been a rough week So what’s the word? If all the proceeds go to charity who would sponsor me at the $1 per drink on my flights? I could setup a paypal payment method to make it easy, announce when I get the free drink upgrades, and give a count of how many at the end of the flight. Those so inclined could drop the appropriate # of duckets (aka dollars) via paypal, and they would find their way to <insert charitable cause here>. Currently my flights are about 4 hours long, and I’m at drink #6 (switching to jack and coke after they ran out of vodka tonics - my bad :). So, you could get yourself on the hook for about $6-7 bucks on a good flight for me - woooooohoooooo!!!!!! Lemmie know your thoughts. I promise not to end up in AA as a result of this Comments encouraged!

OK - I hate the traditional Ford Taurus.  So much that I added it to the cars I will not drive with Hertz.  Someone told me the new ones are “comparable” to the new Ford Edge (fun to drive).  That someone is mistaken.  I will admit the “new” Taurus is a dramatic improvement from the traditional ones that resemble a sperm whale.  I was kinda fun to drive.  Reasonable pickup (not reasonalble to put it in the “fun to drive category”), cornered well and wasn’t terrible in the fuel consumption realm.  Had the boyz and I had a desire to head into NYC this weekend we could have easily fit 6 into the thing.  Once I am confident the old Taurus’s are out of service with the rental companies, perhaps I will remove it from my “do not drive” list.

Fun to drive.  Takes lotsa gas, not easy on the pocketbook.  It was nice to be able to see out of the car, the traffic in front of in front of in front of the car in front of me.  I really wanted to drive over a bunch of curbs, berms and off road obstacles but lack of opportunity prevailed.  Definitely have one again as a rental, not sure I would own one personally.  Did not have an mp3 player input.

OK, ok.  I’m waaaay behind in my car reviews.  Bleh!  I was really sick a couple weeks ago and as a result, uninspired.  I had an Impala that week.  For a big boxy sedan, I kinda like the Impala.  I probably would not own one myself, however, I enjoy them more than most of what Hertz sees fit to inflict upon me.  Good pickup, cab forward, plenty of room if you gotz passengerz.  Did not seem to consume a horrible amount of fuel and it cornered very well.  If they give me one again, I won’t ask for another car and add it to my “I won’t drive this” list.

Last week’s car was the Toyota Prius.  I had high hopes since my mom drives a hybrib and raves about it.  I’ve even driven her car and it was pretty cool.  I did not enjoy driving the Prius.  And the gas mileage was not so stellar.  The onboard monitoring system had the average at around 37 mph.  Come on - a Honda Civic was getting this 20 years ago and it’s more fun to drive.  Sorry, but I can’t dignify this review with a picture.