We are underway- a day late.

I didn't get everything done I needed to yesterday, so I couldn't post. But I did fill up the van.

19.4 gallons @ $3.99 a gallon.

Today's mileage: 2.86 miles. We went to the library today, and as Will is still in his walking cast, it's a bit much to ask him to walk that far. Tomorrow's planned travels: none. Will ride my bike to the post office to drop off a book that needs mailing, but that's it.

From Today's Detroit Free Press

Well now. Yeah yeah, I know ya just can't get everywhere ya need to by bike, foot and roolerblades. But driving less and combining trip surely can't hurt ya that much. And I still think everyone in the oil business is still going to be making money (except for Leon, who owns my station- I think I'll use some of my gas savings to but more of the big bottles of Frostop root beer).

To see the discussion about the really cool 'toon, go here.

Less than a month!

Well, I've been using this tool to figure out the distances I've traveled and am building up a listing of distances to most of the local haunts. So far, I've been riding about eight to nine miles a day running errands and whatnot on my bike. I think I'm going to start haunting garage sales until I find a second (or more!) hand bike for myself. The mtb I'm using is stuck with the shifting harware stuck on the cogset, laeving me only the chain ring. I think a nice cruiser, perhaps with a basket. (There is no sense is making due with less if I'm only going to blow it on a new bike. Unless it's carbon fiber or titainium.)

Also, this saving on gas has already had one payoff: MORE FOUNTAIN PENS!

Slack festival!

Have I been amiss in my postings or what?

Not that there has been all that much to report. I did drive to Science Olympiad on Saturday, and the hardware store monday. (I needed peat moss for the garden and the bundle wouldn't fit in the bike trailer).

I've gotten a couple of nice notes from the folks at edenbee. I guess some other folks would like to try this as well. It seems to be a pretty even divide between:

1. Folks who want to reduce their fuel use and don't mind saving money
2. Folks who want to save money and don't mind cutting their footprint.

If ever there was a case of two different purposes blending nicely, this is it. (Or, if you are a writer like me, you see a nearly perfect example of a "religious war" breaking out and demanding to be parodied.)

The Drama Continues...

Still trying to sort out just how long I can make this last. I've been logging my miles driving to get some sort of an estimate. If I really try, I can probably get my mileage down to about 40 per week. That would definitely help, and if I can get the kids all riding, we can probably shave that down even further.

I was talkingabout it with my neighbor the other day, and he was wondering if by doing this, I was hurting the car companies. Now, as I live outside Detroit, this is one of the serious local topics. Well, we did lease a new van last year, but it's not like we are anti-car or anything like that. (Trust me, I'm a car guy, even though I can do little more than rotate tires, change oil and filters and give it a bath from time to time.) But there's not a ton of reason to just go out and spend on something (car, gas or whatever) just becasue you can. I'm trying to be a better long term citizen-saving for kids' college-retirement-a really cool bicycle; I'm sure I'm not going to be getting a visit from the oil companies heavies. (Though Fox News, with having to fill a whole day with drama, may just send a camrea crew, call me a Democrat and then blame me for inspiring terrorists around the world.)

G-Day -51

I'm thinking this will take a bit less time than I thought. If I can stretch a tank for a good 5 weeks, I think I'd be doing pretty well. IF I went absolutley nuts, I might get a bit more, but I do have to admit the following:

There's at least one or two 40-50 mile trips to D-A Scout ranch for the Cub Scout fishing derby and one or two other 20+milers for scouts.

I can try to work in summer programs into the plan. If the kids find stuff that is close to the house, that would be better, but I'd sacrifice most things for a really good summer scientist program or something like that.

Time will be an issue. I have the unbridled luxury of working from home, but swim lessons and things like that may not always be under bike friendly conditions. But I will always try to combine trips, and trips to the Farmer's Market (about 20 miles round trip) will be used as needed.

More to follow...

Hey, and here it is.

I've been flogging this address at folks who I've written to before. Several authors who's books and other work I admire, the Top Gear lads (hey, I love cars but just want to save some cash), most of my friends and the like. I've heard back from some folks, and have had one suggestion to try and start a movement. I don't know about that, but who knows, maybe I can find myself vilified on talk radio and parodied on Colbert.

G-Day -52

Just continuing to plan and see what the estimated mileage is going to be. I'm going to tune up the van this weekend (oil change/ air filter/ rotate tires), and then see what some of the base line mileages to the places I go frequently are.

Library: 1.4 miles
Nino's (Fruit market): 1 mile
Walgreen's and Coffee Hut: 0.75 mile
7-11: 0.5 mile
Kroger/Kmart: 1.1 miles
Now, most of these are easily in bike range once we get Alex on a 2 wheeler. And then the trailer can be used for just cargo. Five of the big paper bags from Nino's, seven regular grocery bags and perhaps some large boxes. And library books!

I also need to make sure I don't have to do a ton of running for the garden. We're expanding it to take over the sandbox and some of the old areas we haven't done much with lately.

Update later!