What an opportunity - a day ON the track.

Hi everyone....

What an amazing opportunity. Although I think I was the only one there for the track, and not the cycling, I still tried to fit in as much as I could. Now, I haven't seriously ridden in a LONG time. This wasn't necessarily the best time to start - that 180 feet in vertical change (all within about 3/4 mi) doesn't sound like much, but it kills you at the top. Now, that being said - its pretty cool to know that first hand.  I wish I'd been in a motorized vehicle (and to tell the truth, one day I will be. The track can be rented in a myriad of ways... oh yes, one day - you will be mine...)

On the Starting Grid

I did however want to show my day at the track, because it was pretty much the whole reason we stayed through this week. Once I found out there was a twilight bike ride (which the track does once a month, all year long, FYI) I had to go be a part of that. Trust me, I scouted ways to sneak on the track at night just to walk it (strictly and expressly forbidden) - had an opportunity just today to just point the van at the track and drive it on  (skirting arrest and jail), but I so much enjoyed my time here that I wanted to get out there and feel the raceway...  The pic here is my Trek parked in the grid, at the start line...  big smile.

View of the right turn
out of 'The Corkscrew'

The biggest part of my day was riding the corkscrew, which I did twice (a third time, without a motorized escort, was NOT an option).  The first time through, I didn't stop - I pedaled through the entire 2.238 miles of the track one time around.  It nearly killed me, and my lungs are still recovering, but it was absolutely worth it.

"The corkscrew" is probably the defining feature of this track, and I'm betting its very tough to drive.  You crest a hill, take a 110 degree left (turn 8), and an 80 degree right (turn 9) all while dropping 60 feet in elevation which, at speed would take just about all the grip out of your car, all within a few hundred feet of track....  Fortunately on a bike it wasn't quite like that, just fast as can be.  A fun leaning turn.  OR two.  Then it leads you out down a couple of sweeping turns and straightaways...  until you come around the big corner to the finish line...  and start the circuit all over. I have video, but right now its so shaky its not worth showing...  that, and the breathing coming up the hill makes it sound like I'm near death....

Here are my various pics from the corkscrew. The first one is probably worth enlarging (click it).

PANO - a little rough, but you get a sense of it (and I loved taking it.)

I'll leave the blog with a few additional photos. Pit Row, and the Straightaway between Turn 3 and 4 (which I learned wasn't even there until after 1995). The track seems to have gone through a lot of changes over the last 55 years. At the end, a little background (no wonder my Dad revered Laguna Seca - it was conceived during his time of driving really, really great cars)...

Pit Row - it seems every good Laguna Seca video starts
with one of those doors opening, just check youtube...

The Pedestrian Bridge into Turn 4

"The vision for Laguna Seca developed out of the fabled Pebble Beach Road Races. During the 1950's, some of the world's best sports car drivers tested their skills on the roads winding through the Del Monte Forest. The races brought prestige, fans and money to the Monterey Peninsula. But, within a few years, the event had grown too big, and the cars too fast for the open road. The races needed a new home. Rather than see the event, and its fans and financial impact, go elsewhere, a group of local business people came up with an idea - build a permanent, world-class race track.

They founded the Sports Car Racing Association of the Monterey Peninsula (SCRAMP) on November 1, 1956. The charter for the non-profit group explained its mission, to "benefit local charitable and non-profit organizations and to promote the economic vitality of Monterey through the encouragement, solicitation, organization, sponsorship and perpetuation of motorsports events in the vicinity of the Monterey Peninsula." SCRAMP went right to work. The group leased Fort Ord land from the United States Army, and within a year the track was finished. On November 9, 1957, Pete Lovely won the first race at Laguna Seca.

In 1974, the Army transferred ownership of the 500-plus acre parcel containing the race track to Monterey County. At that point, the facility became a public recreation area under the jurisdiction of the Monterey County Parks Department. Despite its unusual arrangements, the race track has always been managed by one proprietor, SCRAMP.

SCRAMP has progressed from producing a single sports car race to promoting five major world-class motorsports events each year featuring national and international motorcycle racing, the Monterey Historic Automobile Races, NASCAR stock cars, Le Mans sports cars and the CART FedEx Championship Series." -- http://jimturley.tripod.com/laguna.htm

Oh what fun... it is to ride...
(I'll finish this thought when I have a gas pedal and a brake...)

We made it.

Sorry for the delay in posting, but we had a long couple of days. I just wanted everyone to know that we made it to our destination in CA, and we're planning on being here for awhile. We still need to turn the trailer around, get things set for the duration, and all will be well. I'm hoping that we'll be able to get all that set tomorrow.

Seeing family has been great, and leaving Iowa to make this trek, only to beat Kim and Julie here by a few hours has been a little surreal. Good times have been had the last couple of days, and I can only think they'll continue as we settle in and spend some quality time here.

Jill's going to post sporadically this next couple of weeks, and I'll put stuff up here and there between work hours, so please allow us a little down-time to recover from the cross-country trip. I think this will be a good stop-over and a nice rest. Catch-up is the name of the game for the next week or so - after that... we'll see. :)

Cranberry Bogs

I had looked at this view several times in Google Maps, and thought it might help all of you readers out there to see how big the cranberry is a part of this part of the country. The map is satellite view of a small portion of where we were (blue dot). This part of the map was pictured in fall, all those red fields are about to be harvested, likely recently flooded cranberry bogs. If you go look at google maps now, and pull back outside of this, there will be bunches of similarly shaped green fields, which must have been taken in the summer, then merged with this other satellite image area. Anyhow - if you go and zoom at the right level, you'll see why this area lives and dies by the cranberry harvest, and just how much land we're talking about. Pretty wild. Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=plymouth,+ma&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=64.113178,79.189453&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Plymouth,+Massachusetts&ll=41.922972,-70.769806&spn=0.12006,0.154667&t=h&z=13

Route Map

I google mapped our route and thought I'd share it with everyone. I'm planning on updating it regularly, with current locations and the next planned destination, when possible.
The 'trips' are approximate, but the locations are as drilled-down as I can make them. This is both for us and posterity; who knows if the girls will want to stay in the same spot? ;)

If you want to take a look, you can check it out here: CLICK.

Being "Seasonal"

So one of the most fascinating things to me of late has been the people who are "seasonal". We've seen a lot of it in the last couple of campgrounds, particularly Chincoteague, New Jersey, and here in Connecticut. A seasonal person is someone who buys the lot on a monthly (or longer) basis, pays a monthly (or however the campground breaks it up) fee, and then usually pays for their electrical needs on a metered basis.

They usually have very set and elaborate spreads. I've taken some pictures of what we've seen (shown) and its all just very interesting to me. These people decorate their 'space', put gravel into their campsites, even build decks and sheds - and some never, ever move their trailers. Those probably pay a yearly fee to be where they are and its clear - they don't plan on leaving. I thought - why would anyone do that? They aren't there all the time and they are paying for space that they don't use except for XYZ time... and then I got it. Its simply a second house - a vacation house. You pay taxes, nominal utilities, even a mortgage for a vacation house when you aren't there. Instead of having a million dollar vacation house, why not have a $20,000 vacation house and do with it as you please? In fact, I talked with people the other night that bought their trailer for less than $4K, and have lived in it full-time/seasonal for 10 years... The fees for the campsite have to be cheaper than taxes and homeowners fees. In fact, you could do it in a different place every year, just number the boards on your elaborate deck, take it down when you leave and put it back up at your next location. Take 2 days to construct something that will be there for four months - easy! Even better - you could have 5 places in different locations for the price of one normally priced house... starting to look pretty good, huh?

In reality, I'm thinking that when we're done - if we ever "finish" this trip - that this might be a great way to go. Find a lake, get a good spot, build a deck and a screened porch. Travel up on the weekends and have a place that is pretty much like a condo, in the woods (or wherever), with plenty of sleeping quarters and a place for any other RV friends to meet as well... Everyone wins, and for a reasonable price :)

And they're off.....

Today is the first day I feel like we've finally started our adventure. All that before - that seemed to just be preparation. I'm finally finished cleaning, doing chores, and basically flogging my guts out working to get going... Last night, I actually got to do nothing but listen to music and drink beer.
As you can see, leaving was no easy task. When they paved the road at the farm they raised the height of it about 4", at the same time the wires have drooped over the driveway over the last several years. I called about getting it fixed back in April, and still can't get anyone that knows anything to talk with me. So - I made up my own solution with some scrap boards and two 16-foot 2 x 10's. It worked like a charm and though you can't see it, we cleared by a couple of feet. Yahoo!
Then off to the Horse Park we went. Even though I knew I still had a day of work to do, it was a good thing to get on the road. I slept better, I feel better, and I'm more social and happy than I've been in awhile. I think Jill likes the change. :) Yesterday for me was a final day of working through the stuff and I was able to make the progress I needed with no distractions or trouble. I threw out BAGS of stuff, donated some really, really nice electronics and the truck is so full that I can't see out of it, but at least now we are all in one place -- with all our stuff in one place as well. The next couple of days will be spent organizing tools and supplies, and going through the stuff in the truck. I have evenings free now - I can do that!

I'm finding that I'm much more physically active out here. Because I don't have pressing things to do at all hours, I've been walking a couple of miles a day. Once I get the bikes in shape I'll bike a lot as well. I wish I'd had it ready to ride here at KHP, but first things first. There's time for that. Today Erika and I went on a nice walk just the two of us. I think it made a big difference in her day - she loves one on one time. We also had a nice walk all five of us and got to watch some polo practice (which I'm sure Jill will blog about tonight). All in all a good day, with a good day of work as well. I'm going to like this life I think.

Tomorrow we are off to Louisville for me to do some much needed maintenance on servers and to visit some long-time friends. I'm doubtful I'll get to hang out too much, but the girls and Jill will get to, and that'll be good for them. After that I think we've got a couple of days reservations in Bardstown - a town which I pretty much know nothing about. We still don't know what's up with the 4th (can't find a place), but things will work out somehow, somewhere - that's kinda how we're being about this trip. No need to panic - worst case is a night in a parking lot and driving early the next day. No worries!

Article: Things every traveler should do

I ran across an article out of Real Simple, and thought I'd post it here to keep it in mind for when we hit the road. Though I've taken out a few that didn't make sense for our particular US trip, I thought it entirely appropriate:

Things every traveler should do

Visiting a new town is like having a conversation. Places ask questions of you just as searchingly as you question them. And, as in any conversation, it helps to listen with an open mind, so you can be led somewhere unexpected. The more you leave assumptions at home, I've found, the better you can hear whatever it is that a destination is trying to say to you.

Savor every moment of your first few hours

First impressions really are worth a thousand others. I often scribble a hundred pages of notes when I visit somewhere new. But then, when I get home, it's always the first page or two -- the taxi ride in from the airport, my first foray out onto the streets -- that captures something vivid and essential before my ideas and prejudices begin to harden.

So stay away from e-mail, the news and anything that reminds you of home and just soak the place in.

Embrace the prospect of being a tourist

Some snooty types will tell you that they're "travelers," not tourists. But if being a tourist means wanting to see all the attractions that make a town unique, then what's so bad about that?

Take the three-hour city tour on your first day in Atlanta so you know where things are and what you wish to return to. When traveling abroad, visit the shops recommended by tour guides, if only to see what's available from people who speak English. Don't be shy about asking a local stranger how to find the national museum; she may just offer you a guided tour along the way.

Run an errand for a friend

She's asked you to get, say, macadamia popcorn on Maui or to track down that wise monk she once met in Phnom Penh. The very search for what someone else wants or values (and it doesn't really matter what it is) will lead you to places you would otherwise never see.

Take in a performance or a sporting event

A ball game or a symphony is transporting and doesn't require you to speak the language. And watching opera in Beijing or soccer in Rio will be nothing like seeing opera or soccer at home. It would take a mighty effort to get me to "Swan Lake" in Santa Barbara. But put me in Beirut and I know it will be a night to remember.

Check out a bookstore

It's a great way to learn about the interests of the locals. On almost any street in New Delhi, for example, a bookshop is bulging with works on palaces, textiles, spirituality and the Kama Sutra; in Salt Lake City, the offerings are somewhat different.

And in a store like the independent-minded Elliott Bay Book Company, a local institution in Seattle, you'll find a universe so compendious that it seems to be an anthology of the city's distinctive grace notes. Poking into even the smallest of these places not only opens a new door to a city but also offers the promise of a good read to keep you company at night.

Ride a bus to the end of the line

It isn't wise to do this everywhere, but riding the bus to even the next six stops can be useful. At the very least, you'll see something of the city, get a front-seat view (literally) of what the Romans do in Rome and end up in surprising destinations. I did this in Miami once and found myself in a spicy part of Little Havana that nobody would have mistaken for South Beach, and yet it seemed to capture the essence of the city.

Read the daily newspaper

Almost every big city anywhere has an English-language paper, and even papers you can't read will startle you with their pictures and their different types of tiny print. Whether it's pages of "matrimonial" ads in The Times of India or headlines in the Key West Citizen (300-POUND MAN SMASHES HEAD IN WALL), newspapers always tell you much more about a place than they think they're telling.

[http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/traveltips/06/25/travel.pointers/index.html]

Where do you Thrive...

Jill found a note that I wanted to publish here to show it to the world, and to give a little insight as to our trip and the many reasons behind it. I like what he has to say, and I think that's going to be a large part of what we are doing. I've seen this first hand over the last year or so, and I'm even more keen to watch for it in others now. There is something about being happy where you are bringing a sense of happiness to other aspects of your life.

So, without further ado and no more gilding of the lily...

Today, June 08, 2009 • Michael Davis

Comedian Patton Oswalt gave a commencement speech to his former High School where he told the story of man who told him about the 'Five Environments'. The story resonated with me. I grew up in San Diego, a lovely city that most people would feel lucky to live in.. I hope it makes sense to you too.

"There are Five Environments you can live in on this planet. There's The City. The Desert. The Mountains. The Plains. And The Beach. You can live in combinations of them. Maybe a city in the desert, or in the mountains by the ocean. Or you could choose just one. Out in the plains somewhere, perhaps.

"But you need to get out there and travel, and figure out where you thrive. Some places you'll go to and you'll feel yourself wither. Your brain will fog up, your body won't respond to your thoughts and desires, and you'll feel sad and angry.

"You need to find out which of the Five Environments are yours. If you belong by the ocean, then the mountains will ruin you. If you're suited for the blue solitude of the plains, then the city will be a tight, roaring prison cell that'll eat you alive.

"He was right. I've traveled and tested his theory and he was absolutely right. There are Five Environments. If you find the right combination, or the perfect singularity, your life will click... into... place. You will click into place."

Europe bound?

Last night I was watching Bourne and thought, you know - if we can do the RV in the US - we could really do that in Europe too. That movie shows an awful lot of fantastic sights and scenes and things that I would very much like to see.

I'm sure there are some logitical problems, but that's a good two years or more away, and we'll have to see how everything shakes out between now and then. I am however pretty certain that if we can do it here, we can do it there.

If we were to do it, I'd have to do a lot of research about vehicle length, width, fuel, types, etc. I know that there are differrent laws over there and I'm not entirely keen on all the hoops we'd probably have to jump through, but it'd be worth it if I can put up with it and keep the right attitude.

Personally, I'd like to see all the different things that Europe has to show me and my family, and I'd like to learn and teach the cultures and heritage that the area would have to offer. I could see a good amout of time in Western Europe, and while going into Eastern Europe would be interesting, it would all depend on how much time we wanted to spend. If I think it'll take a long time to move around over here, I can imagine how much time it'll take over there.

I suppose our primary countries would be: Italy, Spain, France, Germany (I mean - the autobahn in a 450 towing 40' of house... oh yeah!), the Netherlands, Denmark and I'm sure England/Ireland/Scotland would all be something to do. Secondary trips could include Monaco, Iceland (I've always wanted to go), Moscow (maybe a weekend trip), and Sweden/Finland/Norway just to see what that area is like. We'd need our passports in hand, that's for sure.

Worst case scenario is that the girls would all be much older, and could understand that they need to survive with less space. We could just sell the rig over here and buy something more suitable to life over there - we'll see. I'd think that over there I'd be very, very interested in a class C or A. Maybe by that point I'll have won the World Series and no longer need to work... HA!

Home away from Home

ehhh.... A good background book I guess, but not much in the way of important fact-gathering information on two fronts. First, we aren't European, and second, I'm not planning on going out to grab a VW bus anytime soon.

Overall not a bad read, just very clearly slanted toward the Euro sector - to the point that all the big RVs are called 'Americans'. Its also got more info on VWs than a non-amour would ever really need. Clearly the authors/editors/publishers have a thing for them. I mean, I understand they have a place in the history of motorhoming, but like 30+ pages?

I guess the best to takeaway from the book is that Camper Vans and the lifestyle have been around for a very long time (talk of motorhomes back before Model Ts) - its inherent in human nature I guess. They told some stories about why people did what they did, and mentioned that the largest growing segment of the market as of that writing (~2005) is 35-54 year-olds.

The other noteable - you aren't truly a part of the RV lifestyle unless you visit Quartzsite, AZ in January. Apparently the town is mecca to snowbirds, growing to over a million people in the 4 months of true winter. RV's as far as the eye can see...

--R.

Google Earth - the greatest thing ever.

I don't know what people did before google earth. For this trip I plan to use it in a myriad of ways, but for now it is all about the planning. This allows me to 'pin' every destination that we think we might want to see, and then fly around it to see what's close to what. Best of all it is not only portable, it can be manipulated by both of us, either on the same map or independently so we'll be able to really put on there everything we want to do.

Right now I have many different categories (I'm sure Jill will set up more, and we'll break some of these out further...) including:

• Places we've lived
• Family
• Friends
• Places of Interest
• Must see Campgrounds
• Restaurant/Food Shops to check out
• Strictly for the Kids
• Museums
• Factory Tours
• and of course - Card Rooms

I'm hoping that when we get this thing moving we'll be able to port our current location to a website so people can see what we're doing and where we are. there are a couple of programming solutions out there right now, but within another year I'm guessing there will be a perfect solution. Very exciting!

--R.