Ode to Seattle Bus Tunnel

Buried beneath the bustling streets With your single focused mind Your people need no longer worry About delays, weather, taxi interference Where were you when I rode daily This vast city's bus system That sometimes feels so tacked on Almost as an afterthought You bring modernity to us To this already modern city And you promise us more modernity still When light rail graces your sterile halls

Wednesday May 21 2008

File under: transportation, poetry

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Greyhound Alternatives

I've mentioned before the qualms I have with Greyhound. While I appreciate the coverage they offer–bringing transportation to places that may have no other options–I've had enough bad experiences* to actively seek out alternatives. Until I started looking, I didn't even know they existed. "Bus travel" and "Greyound" were always synonymous in my mind. I was pleased to see that this isn't the case. On the off chance that you have some of the problems with Greyhound that I do, I thought I would share some alternatives I've come across. Megabus: Serving 3 different regions (CA,NV; Midwest; Northeast) with "low cost daily express bus service". Book early and you might only pay $1 for your seat*. Sample fare comparision: Megabus vs. Greyhound Chicago -> Cincinnati: tomorrow $37 vs. $46; a month from now $36 vs. $50 Bolt Bus: Serving DC, Philly, NYC, and Boston with inexpensive direct routes. They also do the ticket for a buck thing, if you book far enough in advance. Free WiFi on the bus is another perk. Sample fare comparision: Bolt Bus vs. Greyhound D.C. -> NYC: tomorrow $20 vs. $42; a month from now $15 vs. $34 Chinatown Buses: Chinatown buses started springing up as a cheap way for people (and wares) to get from Chinatown district to Chinatown district of major cities in the Northeast corridor. It has recently become a very popular way to get from city to city for anybody. With a straightforward loading process and very extensive schedule, this is the preferred method for many east coast corridor travelers. Sample fare comparision: NYDC Express vs. Greyhound D.C. -> NYC: tomorrow $20 vs. $42; a month from now $20 vs. $34 Concord Trailways: Serving Maine,New Hampshire, and Boston, this is a great example of a regional alternative. Benefits over Greyhound that I've personally experienced are movies on the buses and better connection/station location in Portland, along with saving a few bucks. Sample fare comparision: Concord Trailways vs. Greyhound Boston -> Berlin, NH: tomorrow $20 vs. $42; (4.5 hrs vs. 14 hrs (with two transfers)) These are a few alternatives I've come across in my travels. While I haven't ridden all of them, the ones that I have proved a better experience for me than GH. I don't always discount Greyhound because they occasionally have better rates or better schedules. I've found, though, that it is always nice to have options.

Monday May 19 2008

File under: travel, transportation

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on Tue 20th May, 2008 03:28 pm PDT soreyes said: Bus Simulator 2008 ... Your task is to gently, sensibly, and most of all legally, drive your bus from stop to stop, letting passengers off and on, and get this, without murdering even one of them. It’s weird and confusing. ... ************************ on Wed 21st May, 2008 08:02 am PDT Saxtor said: Actually, I played an earlier version of Bus Simulator. There were SO many things wrong with that game that it was briefly fun(ny) for reasons completely aside from what the developers aimed for. But once that wore off, it got tediously boring. ************************ on Fri 23rd May, 2008 11:58 am PDT Jule said: I took the Boston to New York Chinatown express for 10 dollars! Take that Greyhound! By the way, if you ever need to get from Olympia to Seattle, the city buses are just as fast and 5x as cheap! And you may see Wren... ************************ on Sat 31st May, 2008 07:55 am PDT Ryan said: Here's a cool alternative that runs through Pueblo, Denver, El Paso, Los Angeles, and into Mexico. http://www.eplalimo.com/ ************************

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Victoria Juggling Fest 2008

This past weekend, I made the trek from Anacortes up* to Victoria B.C. When I say "trek", I mean it. As is my wont, I decided to make the whole trip via public transportation: 6 buses, 2 ferries, and 10 hours*. It is good to know that it is doable, but I think next time, I'll look into carpooling. Anyway, the festival was great. It was wonderful to see all my old juggling buddies again and throw things at their heads. The public show had some very creative acts and kept me quite entertained. The whole Canadian spin on things (metric system, funny money, accents, etc.) gave the weekend a more adventurous aura. Yep, good folks and good fun–I can't think of a better way to spend a weekend. (The combination of my camera not taking good indoor pictures* and my laziness to attempt taking pictures led to only a few presentable shots of the festival: tall unicycle club passing and a gym of jugglers (taken at a non-optimum time because there were times when it was much hoppinger than this.))

Monday March 17 2008

File under: juggling, transportation

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on Mon 17th Mar, 2008 01:36 pm PDT Amiel Martin said: I'm pretty sure that you can take the ferry from Anacortes to Sydney which is a nice bike ride to Victoria ************************ on Mon 17th Mar, 2008 01:58 pm PDT Wren said: I did look into the Anacortes ferry, but it doesn't run off season. Lord knows that would have made the whole trip a lot easier. ************************ on Mon 17th Mar, 2008 02:05 pm PDT Saxtor said: What is Hillary Clinton doing to that poor boy in white?! ************************ on Mon 17th Mar, 2008 06:33 pm PDT dave said: oooh, i wanted to comment but everything i was going to say has already been taken. ************************ on Tue 18th Mar, 2008 12:20 pm PDT gretchen said: hey, i played a basketball tournament in that gym in high school! we lost. ************************ on Fri 21st Mar, 2008 12:08 pm PDT mandy said: it's like the Room of Requirement! (dorky Harry Potter reference, couldn't resist) ************************

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North Sound City to City Public Transportation Guide

It's been a year now that I've been without a car. And while Scoot Scoot gets me around, it isn't the most efficient thing for longer distance travel*, so I very often find myself on the bus. In fact, I'm getting to know the local area bus schedule pretty damn well–so well, in fact, that I often find myself acting as consultant to people who want to go from A to B under C circumstance. Fancy schmany public transportation districts have websites with trip planners where you can get routes to and from anywhere in the system without having special knowledge of which routes run when, where, etc. This is what I've set out to recreate for the transportation districts in our area. You select where you want to start and where you want to go and presto, this website lays out what routes to take, as well as helpful tidbits about schedule, price, etc. One thing that the site doesn't offer (yet) is a full timetable for each schedule. One reason is because to maintain a separate database for all these would be problematic. Whenever a company changed its schedule, things would be out of sync until I realized the problem. Another reason is because I am just one guy, and the prospect of doing a full blown trip planner (for free) was a little overwhelming. But despite the lacking time element, my hope is that this tool will help those who want to make inroads into public transportation travel but don't know where to start. Spread the word about North Sound City to City Public Transportation Guide.

Sunday March 9 2008

File under: transportation, coding

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on Sun 09th Mar, 2008 02:38 pm PDT lebn said: This is an awesome idea and service wren. I am one of your readers who started following with the dreamscience trip and have kept checking back. I think this idea has huge potential, there is such a lack of regional public transportation info that spans from system to system. Ideas for expanding the site, pushing it further south, ie to portland, integrating other transportation means beyond the bus (train, shuttles, migrant worker busses, etc).I don't really know anything about building a site like this, but I'm sure there are folks out there who would get into geeking out on something like this and helping (amiel?). keep up the good worklebn ************************ on Fri 14th Mar, 2008 07:15 pm PDT Ryan said: WREN, this is GREAT!!! ************************

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Public Transportation Excuses

I've had a very public transportation-y week. In all, I've ridden 6, count 'em, 6 public transportation systems (Island Transit, Whatcom Transit, Skagit Transit, Sound Transit*, Community Transit, and Metro Transit). In some of the downtime inevitably provided by traveling while not having to focus on the road, I started thinking about why people choose not to ride the bus. As kind of a response to some of those reasons, I wanted to share this anecdote in hopes of getting people to maybe reconsider their excuses. A few weeks ago, a friend was in visiting from out of town. Being that I don't have a car, all our motating* was either by foot or bus*. One particular bus trip got me to stop and realize how many of people's usual excuses we were defying. We were on a relatively unfamiliar system (we were in Bellingham, whose bus system I don't have much experience with), we were going shopping at the farmers market so had a couple of bags of groceries, and we were traveling with a 15-month old in a stroller. Even with all that, the trip went splendidly. Extra time provided by the bus schedule allowed us to explore the town more, the 15-month old really enjoyed watching out the window as the bus cruised along, and we got some good exercise walking to and from the bus stop. (p.s. I love public transportation.)

Saturday November 3 2007

File under: transportation

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on Mon 05th Nov, 2007 08:33 am PST trista said: i too love public transportation... and my univega. ************************ on Mon 05th Nov, 2007 12:38 pm PST Emily said: She really DID love looking out the window. The bus does make a mom a bit nervous, without the 5-point harness and all, but statistically I'm sure it was safer than most other forms of transport. Good times. ************************ on Mon 05th Nov, 2007 01:03 pm PST Sean said: I like to throw Max in the backpack and Jack in the Baby Bjorn so we can carpool on our segway. ************************ on Mon 05th Nov, 2007 10:15 pm PST Saxtor said: Is this Christen?! ************************ on Mon 05th Nov, 2007 11:45 pm PST Siri said: Hey--have you seen the new double-decker Sound Transit buses? Very London. (p.s. I also love public transportation--people watching at it's finest.) ************************ on Tue 06th Nov, 2007 08:25 am PST Wren said: Sean, I would pay one shiny dollar to see you laden with 2 kids on a segway. I would pay two shiny dollars to see Christen's expression when it happened. ************************ on Tue 06th Nov, 2007 08:52 am PST Saxtor said: They had the double-decker Community Transit bus for 3 weeks on the afternoon Seattle>Stanwood route that I ride. They have it jumping around routes for a year to see where it best fits, and then they'll order more. Personally, I got tired of it by week 2, since every day, the top level was some sort of "OMG ISN'T THIS SOOOO COOL!" party among the same handful of boisterous people. It is cool, but it seems like the novelty would eventually wear off after a couple days and you would go back to loudly talking on your cellphone... ************************

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Chuckanut Dr.

As summer is coming to an end, that also means an end to the [comfortable] scooter season. Time will tell if I am still able to use it as my prime form of transportation. It's been a fine run with the little guy. I often think back on some of the wonderful roads we've taken together (e.g. 395 and 1 as covered here before.) Recently. I was reminded of another spectucular road we have right here in the northwest, almost perfectly suited to Scoot Scoot. I've had occasion to ride it a few times recently, and I didn't think it was fair not giving it a shout out after calling attention to those other roads. Chuckanut Dr. from the Skagit flats to Fairhaven has got to be one of the best roads of all time. I happened to hit it as the sun was going down on a beautiful autumn day. Returning on a clear night with the moon reflecting off the water was just as spectacular. While traveling via a scooter immerses you in the environment all the more, the road is worth driving in a car as well. It's a road I recommend to friends visiting from out of town who are headed up to Bellingham, and it is a road to I recommend to all of you who might be passing that way.

Saturday September 29 2007

File under: transportation, Anacortes

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on Tue 09th Oct, 2007 10:08 pm PDT Emily said: I love Chuckanut Drive. ************************

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On Open Letter to Greyhound

Dear Greyhound Inc., I've been a customer of yours for several years. You always come through in a pinch, even if it isn't the best deal or the most convenient travel experience. But a bad options is often better than no optional at all, and I appreciate the service you provide. In my years traveling, I've noticed a few things that I wanted to ask about and a few possible suggestions. I would love to see you become a viable travel option for everyone, not just the bums and winos. My first question is this: How do you manager to get at least one crazy person or drunk on every bus? Do you focus your advertising campaigns at half-way houses and mental facilities? Is there some sort of discount that you don't offer the general public? Or maybe it is just the camaraderie they feel with the Greyhound employees. Do you keep a staff of these folks on call in case a legitimate crazy doesn't show up? If so, where can I find the application for this position. I do a great crazy. That brings me to my next question: Do you offer performance benefits on an inversely proportional basis? There must be some incentive that gets your employees to be so indifferent. I've never seen people on duty be so unconcerned with getting the job done properly and in a timely fashion (besides road construction crews, of course). I know this may sound like a new idea, but it is actually well accepted in the business world today: reward employees for performance rather than the lack thereof. With this simple change in policy, you might find that buses will start being on time, facilities will start to resemble a place you wouldn't be afraid to take your mother, and people won't be so horribly belligerent from having been treated so poorly. Who knows, you might even become a company your stock holders wouldn't avoid like the plague. With a little work and thought, I'm confident that you can be a company with the value and reliability that will compare with, say, Guatemala's bus transit systems. But I will say this: I've never seen a live chicken on any of your buses.

Tuesday July 24 2007

File under: transportation, open letter

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on Tue 24th Jul, 2007 07:10 pm PDT Sweet Julie said: Wrenny, Wren, Wren... is there something you would like to share about a 'greyhound experience'? Were you only a 'homeless person' (we don't call them bums) when collecting cans? Hmmmm.... So did you make it to Vegas?! ************************ on Tue 24th Jul, 2007 08:13 pm PDT MOM said: Ouch, Wren! Isn't this a wee bit harsh? What other affordable options are there for travel? I'm with you on the state of the bus stations comment (I am the mother you would take there, after all). But I have to say I'd pack me a flask of single malt to make it through one of those diesel-fumed rides--so I guess I'd likely be one of those folks you're complaining about. ************************ on Tue 24th Jul, 2007 11:11 pm PDT Saxtor said: I'm with Julie, there is definitely a story behind this....DISH DISH DISH*! ************************ on Wed 25th Jul, 2007 06:24 am PDT Chris said: Having spent a couple 30 hour bus rides with the good people of Greyhound, I heartily agree. Plus, the problem with no assigned seating and nowhere else to go like on a train is that there is nothing you can do when four truckers with about 5 teeth between them corner you and want to tell you all their life stories. This happened last time ( a long time ago I'll add) and I almost just said "You know what, please stop talking, you're not intersting and you smell", but then I realized the only thing worse than being stuck on a bus with drunk, unintelligible, beligerent hill-billies is being stuck on a bus with drunk, unintelligibale, beligerent hillbillies with a grudge and plenty of stops out in the desert in the middle of nowhere. God bless Guttenberg, never would have made it otherwise. ************************ on Wed 25th Jul, 2007 10:45 am PDT Antonella said: I was truly shocked when I read this blog, Wren. I though you were accepting of everything, even the stinky and hairy. I am proud to say, I know a few of these "crazy people" who gratefully ride the Hound. Hey, maybe I am one of THEM! I have taken a trip or two on the rolling ride... not in my right mind... not knowing or caring who I was, where I was, or where I got off. I admit this wild ride to break the STIGMA that "those people" are real people, like me- your friend. They are not from another planet and deserve respect, even if they get on your nerves! It is time to throw away the judgment and righteousness. You think this blog is funny, but it doesn't feel good to me! ************************ on Wed 25th Jul, 2007 11:56 am PDT mandy said: this is exactly why i like to ride the bus! haven't you read haunted by palahniuk? didn't you know the new clean is dirty? the new social climb is the social dive? who wants to be perfect when you could instead provide spice to the life of a fellow public transportation rider? i like hanging around crazy or drunk people, it's sort of a reality check. but seriously, if you are going to send a letter to greyhound, maybe you should wait a couple of days after writing this one and re-think your approach cuz if you really want it received well & have your complaints addressed, try a little less scathe, you've done it before ************************ on Wed 25th Jul, 2007 03:06 pm PDT little adiantum said: perfect. you are not rackin on the bums... you are celebrating them... while just happening to mention that if greyhound would change their "marketing approach" they may actually create the growing customer base they are looking for. Then we would have more crazies as well as more options.... and eventually maybe even a chicken! ************************ on Wed 25th Jul, 2007 05:10 pm PDT Nesbitt said: So Greyhound stinks...we have the Chinese bus in the east...it has its own quirks. Could we discuss Amtrak? I have beefs with them. ************************ on Wed 25th Jul, 2007 07:05 pm PDT Emily said: I'm wondering if maybe arriving in a city like Las Vegas at 3 AM maybe, just maybe, had something to do with your busmates this time around..... ************************ on Wed 25th Jul, 2007 08:59 pm PDT MOM said: Thank you Antonella and mandy. I was afraid this was turning into an Elitist blog hang out but you both have given me hope. So I ask all of you...who is the PUBLIC in public transportation? The mix is what it is all about, celebrate it! ************************

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Bike Portland!

Portland likes bikes. Or at least they recognize the value in accommodating and encouraging them. I've never seen a city that is as bike friendly as Portland is. There are bikes racks in front of most establishments, often overfilled. I even saw a neighborhood that blocked off a parallel parking spot and filled it with bike racks so the sidewalk wouldn't be clogged. In the space it takes to park one car, there was space for over a dozen bikes. There is space for bikes on the buses and the MAX (the light rail public transportation), also often filled. But what has impressed me most about the biking scene in Portland is the number and quality of bike routes. In my short time in Portland, I've probably ridden over 50 miles. The difference riding on designated bike routes makes is huge. Often these routes are on lesser traveled residential streets so you don't have to contend with traffic. When the routes do follow major roads, there is a lane set aside for you, painted and everything. Every time the route makes a turn, there are signs pointing the way and updating the distance (and estimated time) to the major landmarks. And for people not terribly familiar with the area, there is even a route planner. All the encouragement and accommodation seems to be working. You see bikers everywhere you go, ranging all the way from spandex clad aerodynamic racer types to little old ladies with their groceries. Seeing all these cyclists is so inspiring to me. Whether it is their intention or not, the positive environmental impact of pedaling across town instead of pedal-to-the-metalling across town is huge. I count my miles bicycling among my favorite experiences here in Portland. It kept me in shape, showed me the city, and saved the planet all at the same time. Yes, I agree with sentiment often heard around the city, on billboards, bumber stickers, and store windows: Bike Portland!

Sunday July 22 2007

File under: travel, transportation

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on Sun 22nd Jul, 2007 07:55 pm PDT Jule said: I once biked the Portland marathon on a single speed beach cruiser. Everyone else was running and I do believe they were a little jealous! Actually, I biked the side streets shouting encouragement to a running friend. And I agree, Bike Portland. ************************ on Mon 23rd Jul, 2007 05:08 am PDT Chris said: Yeah, they've got some good routes here, but none of them go where I need to get to. I've biked to work pretty much every day for the last two years and I've got to say the main depressing thing I see is the lack of helmets. I just don't understand the mentality, unless you have the good fortune of running into a corner marshmellow outlet, pretty much anything you hit is taking you down. My favorite is this guy who said they were too expensive - as he was sitting on what had to be a $1,000 bike. I give up, I don't get people. ************************ on Mon 23rd Jul, 2007 10:42 am PDT gretchen said: i'm with you chris. the no helmet thing kills me. another awesome pdx bike trick the kids like to play is the 10 p.m. bike ride with no helmet, no light, no hands! so frustrating. i don't want to name any names, but somehow some of our friends have fallen in with this crowd(ANDREW and PER!!)...very disappointing. ************************ on Mon 23rd Jul, 2007 03:46 pm PDT per said: some oblivious little old lady opened her taxi cab door directly into my ring finger the other week. helmets make sense cuz that's where our precious grey matter resides, but man, I've had the need for gloves, and a harnessed dive n' roll, far more than the need for a brain bucket. screw helmets, car owners should be arrested and tried for raping the environment and destroying our cities. peace. ************************ on Tue 24th Jul, 2007 08:27 pm PDT Andrew said: seatbelts? seatbelts are for nerds lady! and this ain't no nerd taxi! ************************ on Wed 25th Jul, 2007 08:22 am PDT whuppin stick said: does this mean you aren't in anacortes and don't want to help me make a photo collage of the island today? ************************

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Rust In Peace

Good cars—I mean cars that we really love—don't come along very often in our lives. It is with great sadness that I had to let Marilyn go this past weekend. She lived to a ripe old age of 309,811 miles. Now she has gone to a better place, the vehicle donation program at KUOW. Hopefully someone out there will find a use for some of her parts, so she can continue to live on in one form or another. But instead of focusing on the sad, let me look back on the good times she provided. We shared accomplishments,setbacks, learning experiences, and confusion. She took me on adventures and was always patiently waiting for me when I came home. Marilyn, you will be missed.

Monday April 16 2007

File under: transportation, pics

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on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 02:48 pm PDT Saxtor said: A great eulogy for a great car! It should also be noted that the fourth BdW post was about the car. God speed old girl! ************************ on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 03:27 pm PDT Andrew said: I spent more than a few hours in that car, and I must say, each was an adventure in it's own right. She shall be missed. ************************ on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 04:20 pm PDT Nesbitt said: Sad. RIP. ************************ on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 08:08 pm PDT Doubting Mom said: In all honesty I admit that at 250,000 miles with white smoke billowing out her tail pipe I was a non-believer. Marilyn, you have proven that trust alone can make a car go. Wren believed in you to the end. ************************ on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 08:24 pm PDT Jule said: I would like to advise the members of KUOW not to take any part of the car involved in steering. Marylin, I love you, but talk about a speed shudder! You couldn't look out the rearview mirror, and that wasn't cause she was missing one! It is good to know she has gone to a better place. RIP ************************ on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 08:27 pm PDT Jule said: whoa! new background for the title of BdW? what gives? ************************ on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 08:27 pm PDT Jule said: whoa! it changes all the time! ************************ on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 08:53 pm PDT Saxtor said: Also, since Wren likes statistics, lets take a look at Marilyn's sordid, dirty past. If Marilyn averaged 30mpg (research shows 27/33mpg city/hwy) she slurped down 10,327 gallons of sweet Middle Eastern nectar in her lifetime. That's a whopping 56800 pounds of carbon she pumped into the ol' atmosphere! This sounds like a lot, but here is where it shows that Marilyn was an extraordinary car, and Wren an extraordinary car-owner. According to EPA statistics, the average car pumps out 11,681 pounds of carbon per year (at a conservative 12,000mi/year @ 21.1mpg) which means it would take the average driver less than 5 years to generate as much carbon as team Marilyn/Wren. ************************ on Mon 16th Apr, 2007 08:59 pm PDT Saxtor said: (although, much like our parents used to drink soda with real sugar vs. today's high fructose corn syrup, Marilyn likely drank mostly North American oil in her early days) ************************ on Tue 17th Apr, 2007 11:37 am PDT Sean said: I gave Marilyn sugar once. Only the best for Marilyn! None of that high fructose corn syrup garbage. ************************ on Wed 18th Apr, 2007 07:05 am PDT Nesbitt said: By the way Wren, Honda is still kicking. ************************ on Wed 18th Apr, 2007 09:47 am PDT Wren said: I was thinking of Honda when I wrote this. I remember the jump starts they shared back in the good old Bates' days. ************************ on Wed 18th Apr, 2007 02:56 pm PDT Deanna said: Marilyn, there is a huge void in my heart(and behind my house) We will miss ya! ************************ on Thu 19th Apr, 2007 08:54 pm PDT Siri said: I think Elton John said it best in the song "Candle in the Wind":"Goodbye Norma Jean,Though I never knew you at all.You had the grace to hold yourselfWhile those around you crawled. . .And it seems to me you lived your lifeLike a candle in the wind,Never knowing who to cling toWhen the rain set in.And I would have liked to have known youBut I was just a kid.Your candle burned out long before,Your legend never did."Get it? It's a Marilyn Monroe reference. RDRR. ************************ on Fri 20th Apr, 2007 07:26 am PDT me said: where will the random drunk guy crash now that she's gone? ************************ on Wed 13th Jun, 2007 07:43 pm PDT Auntie Rose said: Wren'Thanks for taking such loving care of Marilyn. She was so good to me and to you as well.I have never had such a fun time in a car as I did with Marilyn. She was always ready for any adventure, thats why I knew the two of you would be a perfect match. DOn't evben be thinking that you are getting my HYbred TOyota Hylander any time soon however >Love Ya like family, oh thats right you are family. :) ************************

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Scoot scoot scoot!

I bought a scooter. I've been toying with the idea ever since I got back from Asia (and well before (*cough* Honda Spree (twice))). After spending a lot of time looking through craigslist and the classified, I wasn't finding what I wanted. Through persistence, however, I found a place in Bellingham that had what I wanted: low(ish) size and power, non-automatic transmission but no clutch, decent gas mileage, and decent top speed. All of these came together in the Yumbo C110. As the dealer tells it, this an replica of the old Honda Cub now made by some Chinese company. The speedometer and odometer are both in kilometers and the owner's manual is obvious translated, but both are no hill for a stepper. Now all that's left is for me to get a motorcycle endorsement on my license and I'll be good to go. (Oh, and don't worry. I got a good helmet too.) For those gearheads out there, here are the specs: YUMBO - C 110 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS * Engine type 4 stroke, single cylinder, OHC, horizontal Displacement 107 cc (6.53 cu in) * Bore X Stroke 52.2 x 49.5 mm Compression ratio 8.8:1 * Cooling air Starter system Electric and kick * Transmission primary: 4 speed gearbox secondary: chain and sprocket * Power 7.5 HP @ 8000 rpm * Engine Lubrication by wet sump and oil pump Spark Plug NGK CR7 HS or equivalent * Width 675 mm (27 inch) Height 1040 mm (41.0 in) * Wheelbase 1215 mm (48 in) Length 1945 mm (77 inch) * Dry Weight 90 kg (198 pounds) Front suspension Telescopic, hydraulic shock absorbers * Rear suspension hydraulic shock absorbers Front brake hydraulic disk * Rear brake drum & internal expanding shoes Wheels alloy type * Tires front: 2.50" x 17" / rear: 2.5" x 17" Ignition type CDI, 12V * Fuel tank capacity 4.5 liter(1.18 gal) Clutch multi disc wet in oil, semiautomatic

Tuesday March 6 2007

File under: transportation

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on Wed 07th Mar, 2007 05:53 am PST Chris said: Nice, I'm all for the two-wheeled transportation. I tried talking Jenn into a motorcycle with a side car for Jonah and the dogs, but for some reason she thought the minivan was more "practical". ************************ on Wed 07th Mar, 2007 05:56 am PST Andrew said: big deal. i bought a helicopter yesterday. quit bragging. ************************ on Wed 07th Mar, 2007 09:07 am PST jenelle said: might i recommend some riding chaps for those nekked shanks? ************************ on Wed 07th Mar, 2007 09:14 am PST amanda said: air cooled? that should make the summer days even warmer, well, on top of your hot ride. i love the electric and "kick" start. no mention of the oil warranty, man, good thing i'm paying attention! ************************ on Wed 07th Mar, 2007 03:34 pm PST gretchen said: i like the front basket. ************************ on Wed 07th Mar, 2007 03:42 pm PST Wren said: I wanted to get some streamers for the handle bars too, but they were out of stock. ************************ on Wed 07th Mar, 2007 11:26 pm PST Horge said: One tip, though: If you put baseball cards into the spokes, don't expect that cool sound you get on a bicycle; instead you get that crying sound as you realize you accidentally stuck in your $2.35 million Honus Wagner card. ************************ on Fri 09th Mar, 2007 06:44 pm PST Sean said: I'll trade you this Cal Ripkin jr for Omar Visquel ************************ on Sat 10th Mar, 2007 03:00 pm PST Andrew said: I've got the Carl Yastrzemski with the bushy sideburns. ************************

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