Visit Florida
Where is it all rainbows, all the time.
Started up, went down, back up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1371
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1371
Welcome To Florida
We got the Florida sign. I stood there posing for so long waiting on the person standing behind me to leave that my smile turned upside down… We got our ferry ride in between Fort George and Mayport, FL and that photo, but struck out on the pier at Jacksonville Beach.
Today was National Donut Day and we started it we a free one at DD. Today is also the 70th anniversary of the Longest Day, AKA D-Day and we ended it by watching the movie The Longest Day.
Started down, went up, went down, back up, down again, up once more, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1369
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1369
Cannabis Cabana
A coworker asked today if were we going to go to Seattle this year. I said, “Yeah, it’s coming up soon.” “I’m going to have to be careful when we get back to not to have an accident at work though.” He asked, “Why?” “Because they drug test after an accident,” I replied. “Now that they have legalized marijuana for personal use in Washington state…”
I told him that I was of course kidding about the recreational marijuana use, because with just my luck, I would slip on some grease on the floor when we got back and end up unemployed. I think I’ll be waiting until I’m retried until I take a toking tour of the great northwest. This led to a nice little conversation about the state of medical marijuana and legalization.
Which gave me an idea for something to do during my retirement, I could get me a little plot of land out there in Washington and plant a small crop of cannabis plants. Then I would set up a roadside stand similar to the peach stands that are popping up all over South Carolina now and call it Cannabis Cabana. I’d use a striped canvas tent or something open with a thatched roof, prop up a surfboard or two for looks and I’d be in business. The staff, me, would be outfitted in a Hawaiian shirt with flip-flops. Slack key guitar and ukelele music would be playing softly in the background.
Replacing the F in FRS
Since my last, kind of negative, post about the Red Sox and their seven game losing streak, they lost three more games to make it ten games in a row down the tubes. But now it seems like it is time to replace that expletive that starts with an F with the word Fun because they have reeled off 7 straight victories.
In a nice bit of symmetry, the pitcher featured in that other post watching a home run hitter from the opposing team circle the bases, was today’s starting pitcher as well. His performance today was as different as could be from his performance was those 10 days ago, he dominated, 7 innings, 4 hits, striking out 12, walking one and allowing zero runs.
Being a fan of the team is fun again and I bet playing on the team is fun again too.
Started up, went down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1364
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1364
Phone Charger
Unlike the last time we went on a driving vacation, we didn’t forget the phone on our way out of town, we forgot the charger for this trip to Texas.
We were in Alabama or Arkansas or somewhere when we noticed that the cell phone battery indicator had only one of four segments of the battery filled in. At the next gas station stop I perused the typical spin stand of cell phone accessories looking for a Samsung phone charger. There was one on the bottom level in a dusty plastic clam-shell that was priced at $15, so I bought it, along with our usual assortment of snacks and drinks.
That night at the hotel I pulled the charger out of its plastic and hooked it up to the phone. The Verizon logo flashed on the outside display and then went off, so I assumed it was charging up. We thought nothing else about it until several days later when the phone wouldn’t turn on. I tried the charger again. I tried it both ways, wall socket and USB from the laptop. Each time I plugged it into the phone the logo would briefly come on and the display would then go black.
We were in Natchitoches, LA and they had a Wally World, so we drove across town to get a charger there, this time not only looking for a Samsung charger, but one that was advertised to fit a Gusto 2 (SCH-U365.)I couldn’t find one that listed our phone, but I did find that they had one of our exact model phone for sale for $11.88.
So for three bucks lees than the first purchase, not only did I get the absolute correct charger for our phone, I got a spare battery and in case I decide to kidnap a co-worker’s dead palmetto bug again I’ve got an untraceable to me burner phone.
Started down, went up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1363
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1363
Just Can’t Stop
After racking up about 560 miles on Saturday and Sunday chasing Motoring Challenges today we promised to just take it easy and not drive too far. And we didn’t. Our neighbor across the street is the wife of a local horse trainer, so when I saw her outside this afternoon I asked if she could find me a barn. When I explained what for for, she had just what I needed right up the street.
Because the Miata is only a two-seater I could only take her and not my usual photographer, so Vicky agreed to take the pictures. While we were messing around in the horse district I mentioned I also needed a horse track photo, so we went over to the Aiken Training Track. She suggested maybe parking on the track right in front of the gates and I thought that was an awesome idea. But as we got on some of the dirt approaching the track we could feel how soft and deep it was, so opted out on trying to drive on the track. It would have been extremely embarrassing to have to have some horses pull the Miata out of getting stuck. So I pulled up next to the rail on the grass. As it turns out the Horse Track photo required a sign, so good thing we didn’t get stuck for nothing. Maybe I will use the picture for a Sneak Peek entry.
The Purple Whale got a nice wash this afternoon and I gave The Emperor a sponge bath (AKA Mequier’s Quick Detailer) too. I also changed the Miata’s oil, after all with all this Motoring Challenge stuff we have traveled nearly 4,000 miles in the last couple weeks.
Started up, went down, still down.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1362
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1362
Was Clean
This is what the front of yesterday’s washed Miata looks like now. And look at those dead bugs! Any of them would be Big Bug Trophy winners. Where are these things when you need them?
So we slept in this morning, until 5:00AM, and had a nice breakfast at home before hitting the road. First stop was Denmark for an Art Gallery photo. We were in Denmark a couple months ago getting the “City starting with a D”, but ignored this South Carolina landmark because we thought the challenge wanted an Art Museum. Mr. Harrison paints rural scenes of barns with Coca-Cola ads painted on the side and I always wanted to commission one of those with a Miata in it. I’m sure he would laugh at the idea or offer to do it a price that even Warren Buffet would balk at.
From there we captured Olar for the City O, Hampton for the County H and Varnville for the City V. We now need just the Q to complete the City alphabet. Well, all except the X. The closest X town is Xenia, OH which is “only” 575 miles away. There are now only 5 County letters left, with F, K & Y obtainable. There is no X county in the US at all and the closest Z is Zavala County in Texas which is still 350 miles further southwest from Fort Worth where we just barely made it to last week.
We also snagged a vineyard in Ridgeland, SC, a cobblestone road and an island in Savannah, GA from the Destinations Column. This leaves only 12 left on that list and all look doable if only Donna and I can agree on exactly what constitutes a harbor…
If you could get every point available in the challenge you could score 201 points. After today we are halfway there at 100 points. My best guess for our highest possible score is 139 and that is going to take crashing 9 more car shows and a trip to Richmond, Va to a Moss Motors Facility.
Started down, went up, still up.
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1361
Miata Top Transitions since 10/24/08: 1361