Walts Travelogue

[lance_s]

Well, heading home in an hour or so. Always a good visit out here. But, like vacations and other trips, it's always good to get home.

Well, kind of good. My furnace has died and apparently the broken part is no longer available. The furnace is 50 years old, so I guess it's time. But I also feel a bit trapped. This is an issue where it's hard to figure out who to deal with. I mean, I don't have a heating and cooling contractor on call, lol. So, the furnace won't come on. You look thru Yelp or whatever to try and find one who will treat you right. I pretty much don't trust anyone anymore. There are too many dishonest people out there who are just trying to rip you off. Not that a business on Yelp is bad. I guess if they've got good reviews....

So I gotta get home so I can spend $3100, lol. They're due tomorrow. And, yes, a furnace is a nice thing to have, even in El Paso, Texas.

Having to replace a furnace is never fun. But probably more tolerable in El Paso than in Ottawa. But if its given 50 years of service, it doesn't owe anyone anything. The bright side - the new one should be MUCH lower in operating costs.

[WalterB]

Probably so, Lance. I would hope that technology has advanced a bit since 1975, lol. The worst part? to me? Every time I now think of something from 1970, something makes me think, OMG! That was 50 FREAKING YEARS AGO! And I was right in the middle of that,

[lance_s]

Probably so, Lance. I would hope that technology has advanced a bit since 1975, lol. The worst part? to me? Every time I now think of something from 1970, something makes me think, OMG! That was 50 FREAKING YEARS AGO! And I was right in the middle of that,

You're only as old as you think you are. My granddad was 102 when he sold his house in England and relocated to India.

[WalterB]

That's right. Like they say, age is a number, not a mental condition.

[lance_s]

Hope you don't mind my co-opting your threat Walt. This post is amusing (well, ridiculous, actually) but hardly worth a new thread.

I have to make a trip to Sacramento in March, so I started some early flight planning. One of the online booking services proposed a return route that included stops in San Diego and Fort Lauderdale!! To get from Sacramento to Ottawa??

[WalterB]

I've heard of having to fly from El Paso to Houston to get to Denver. But yours is totally crazy. Will they offer overnight blankets and snacks? Maybe a pillow?

[WalterB]

I've been traveling and haven't said anything. But it's just back and forth to my son's in Arizona. Kind of familiar by now. Went out on Dec 29th and just got back yesterday. Two short trips turned into one long one. Then I'll leave again Wednesday heading to California for the X3 Convention. I should be able to make Blyth, Ca. to overnight. Then, heading home the 21st, overnight either Phoenix or Tucson. I've made it in one day before, but no need to rush it anymore, lol.

Easy to make really good time way out west here. 600 miles is a pretty easy day.

[rokkerr]

600 in a day ain't easy at any age...

[lance_s]

I've heard of having to fly from El Paso to Houston to get to Denver. But yours is totally crazy. Will they offer overnight blankets and snacks? Maybe a pillow?

I'm sure they will - for a fee.

[WalterB]

600 in a day ain't easy at any age...

600 miles at 60 mph is only 10 hours. These days a 70 average is closer. Some folks stop more than others, might even stop to eat. I'll just grab fast food and keep on moving. I'll usually combine a gas stop and food stop into one stop.

Being single, I'm usually on the road by 5. So, by 5 PM I'm done for the day and checked in. I usually leave my days pretty flexible. You never know when you'll see a road sign you want to investigate. That's how I found the Bonnie and Clyde massacre site.

Saw a sign on the freeway pointing a few short miles so decided to go see. The site is exactly 7 miles from the turn-off just outside Gibsland, Louisiana. They grabbed some food (some to-go sandwiches) and headed out. There's a marker at the site of the shooting. Next I went to the museum, One of the Texas lawmen involved in the massacre was Ted Hinton. His son, Boots was running the museum. There was a replica car there, and Boots let me sit in it and took a couple pictures of me (since lost.)

[Davest]

I agree, Walt. I drive from Raleigh, NC, to see friends in Erie, PA once or twice a year and that is almost exactly 600 miles. It is an easy drive as long as I have a good audiobook to listen to. Quick stops for gas and restrooms and the day day goes by pretty quickly.

[stickyvicky]

Safe travels Walt! I'll see you in LA! We are on the plane now!

[lance_s]

Safe travels Walt! I'll see you in LA! We are on the plane now!

With what is happening to planes these days, safe travels to anyone who's flying.

[WalterB]

Looking forward to it, Vicky. I'm gonna leave in the morning, try to have breakfast with friends if I can get going early enough. I should be on the road by 7:30. Forgot to gas up, so I'll stop for that. Worst case? Coffee, an egg mcmuffin and on the road by 7:30, lol.

[ErikB]

Safe travels Walt! I'll see you in LA! We are on the plane now!

With what is happening to planes these days, safe travels to anyone who's flying.

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[WalterB]

Well, finally made it to LA. Geez, I forgot how much fun it was to drive out here. I'm surprised I didn't have 6 wrecks and kill about 15 people, lol. And I only got lost twice, to the tune of about 20 miles.

Somehow, I was thinking this place I'm staying was a little nicer. But, really, it's mostly just a garden-variety motel. Nice enough, but so far I haven't seen any of the amenities they advertised. Meaning a nice dining area, I think I saw a restaurant and I thought a workout room and a pool. Oh, well, no biggie. I DID bring my trunks, tho, lol.

Could have been the last time I was out here, I don't remember. But, heading east, I left here around 4 or 5 AM. Probably 4. By 6 AM out here, the freeways are packed with folks going to work. I typically wake up around 4 or 5, so I'll pack early and leave early. I stayed in Blythe last night, so that's about 200 miles to here. LA traffic started getting heavy probably 100 miles from here. There are so many people in this area. So that was a good 2 hours driving on a 5-6 lane highway at 70 MPH. Oh, wait. We're slowing down to 40. Oops, speed up. Wait, there's an AH cutting in front of you. Hit the skids! This is more fun that ANY demolition derby, lol.

[TheShaft]

Well, finally made it to LA. Geez, I forgot how much fun it was to drive out here. I'm surprised I didn't have 6 wrecks and kill about 15 people, lol. And I only got lost twice, to the tune of about 20 miles, lol.

Somehow, I was thinking this place I'm staying was a little nicer. But, really, it's mostly just a garden-variety motel. Nice enough, but so far I haven't seen any of the amenities they advertised.

I’ll be hitting the road in the morning and probably get to my hotel around 12-1

[stickyvicky]

Wahoo! Party on Wayne!