New car time!

So...after driving my amazing silver 2003 VW Jetta TDI Wagon for the last FOURTEEN YEARS / 202,000 miles (I bought it in 2006 with 92,000 miles on it, and it had 294,125 when the new owner drove it away) it was time to get something a teensy bit newer. I'd been watching the market for the used TDI's that were the "Turn-Ins" after the VW emissions scandal in late 2015 on all the models with the 2 liter diesel engine. Basicly, everybody who had one of the 'cheater' cars had the option to take some money from VW and keep their car, AND get it de-tuned to fully meet the US 50 state emissions, OR you could turn it in for a sum based on how many miles it had when the scandal began and the year and trim/model of your car.

Jeannie had a 2014 Passatt TDI that she got as a 1 year old car for a FANTASTIC deal, and she opted to keep it. It's a truly great car, even after the emissions recalls from the cheating scandal were performed (it went down from 150hp/310 ft lbs of torque to 140hp/300fp torque). A noticeable blip in the power, but nothing huge (as compared to my anemic 03 wagon....a 1.9 liter engine with 90hp/150ft lbs torque). Sure, my old wagon was a truly great car (best I've ever had) but as to power/acceleration, it was no ball of fire. In fact, when you were doing 55 or more and hit the gas to pass someone, the car actually talked back to you, saying "uhm ...are you talking to me?? You want to do WHAT? PASS this guy? Yeaaaah....so how much distance do you have, cuz it had better be a lot!".

I test drove a 2014 Jetta TDI SportWagon back in late March. I would have bought it but the dealer (who shall not be named....Murrieta Mitsubishi, you lying cheating scum of a dealership!) advertised the car on Autotrader.com, and liking what I saw and the price, I took Jeannie with me and we drove almost 4 hours south to test drive, and buy it (had the checkbook with me). Got there, drove it...immediately noticed the wheels had been changed...in the pictures and the description it had the alloy 17" wheels...but now it had a set of 16" steel wheels. I pointed that out right away...before I drove it. It was fine, we went inside and I said I liked it and will take it IF they would put the alloy 17" wheels back on (saw them on a different Jetta wagon that was a lesser model that didn't come with them...somebody swapped them). The dealer rep came back with their offer-sheet, and lo and behold it was OVER $3000 more than listed on Autotrader! I asked what the "Dealer installed Options" that were the over-advertised-cost items, and was told it was stuff like "diamond coat" paint-sealant, and a few other things like that which I did not want (nor could be verified it was actually on the car). AND they were only going to give me $500 for my old TDI (which I knew was worth a lot more than that). I said I didn't want the "options", and was told they are already on the car...so I asked if they are not optional why wasn't that listed in the Autotrader ad, and was given a lame excuse...so we picked up our stuff and walked out and drove my old car home.

I was pretty ticked (having wasted an entire Saturday, driving a total of 8 hours, and over half a tank of diesel), so I did make sure to find time and give my review of their pathetic 'tactics' to get more money out of people on both Facebook and Autotrader.com. I got at least 2 emails in the coming weeks asking if I was still interested in the car...THAT was pretty funny! I replied each time that  I wouldn't buy a car from them after what they did to me if they gave it to me. And they stopped emailing me finally. However, that turns out to be the best thing that could have happened. I couldn't find any more Jetta Sportwagons that were equipped as I wanted, so begrudgingly upped my field to include the 2015 model year (where they changed from a Jetta to a Golf Sportwagon). The 2015 year has a new engine that gets a few more mpg than the 2012-2014's (I think the Jetta was rated at 42hwy and the Golf was 44hwy). They both have the same power/torque as Jeannie's Passatt after the emissions de-tuning. And the 2015's are when VW added all the fancy schmancy safety stuff...the all-around distance monitoring thing that beeps if there is anything in your way, AND they upgraded the stereo with new software and WAY faster booting-up than the 2014 system in Jeannie's car. AND, I did get the optional Fender fancy-schmancy stereo system, which I wanted.

On all the searches I had done the Golfs were around $6000 (or more) than the Jettas. I just wasn't going to pay that much for 1 model year newer, but then I found one in Tempe Arizona (at a dealer) on Autotrader, fully equipped with everything I wanted above and beyond the base-model (17" alloy wheels, sunroof, Fender stereo), and it was only $3000 more than the Jetta I almost bought! It only had 38,000 miles on it, and had a clean Carfax report. After talking with the dealer a few times I told them I'd take it. He mailed me the forms to sign, I mailed them back w/ a cashiers check for the full amount, and the day he got the package in the mail he sent the title in for the ownership change (in AZ they do that at their DMV)...and a few days later it was on a truck to CA (he arranged that, as they do a lot of internet business and ship a lot of vehicles all over the country).

In all honestly, I did NOT want a black car, but color was my least critical requirement, and this was in every other way exactly the car I wanted. And now that I have it, I LOVE the color! (Jeannie's Passatt is also black, and yes, they are hot in the sun). Anyway, here are a few pictures I took today.

 It is WAY more sporty than my old 2003...no wonder they call it a "SportWagon"!

I knew if I got a black car that I did NOT also want a black interior (my old Jetta had black leather...and boy, getting in and sitting on a HOT black leather seat that has been in the sun really gets your attention!). Thankfully this one has "corn silk" or something like that. It's not white...tho it kind of looks it in the pic...it's more of a beige. 

 Soon after I got it I installed the "Muddy Buddy" rubber cargo-area covering, and also the jail-cell cargo area pet-containment-system that sits above the rear seat backrests. I need to be able to haul the monsters when we go for walks and such, and do NOT want dog-hair everywhere! It also keeps them contained so Abbey isn't continually trying to crawl into the front seats. And it's great for my bike hauling too! I fold down the wider back seat (on the right in the pic) so that it's flat, and then the bike rear-tire slides under the cargo retractable cover and pet containment bars, and lies there on it's side. My Mt bike is a 29'er and is pretty large with it's huge 2.6" knobby tires, and it fits fine (the road bike isn't nearly so large so easily fits). This car is definitely a bit bigger than my old wagon.

It's got all the bells and whistles that I can think of that new cars have...backup camera, fog lights (which I will actually use, as Vandenberg is covered in fog about 200 days a year when I go into work in the dark) and it even has the night-time turning-lights (when you turn the steering wheel to turn in the dark or turn on your turn signal, a light way low on the corner turns on lighting up the entire turn). Never had that on a car before, it's pretty neat actually! Oh, and the Fender stereo is XM capable, so I was able to transfer my subscription over. Really love the stereo! I figure if I'm going to spend so much time inside, might as enjoy it as much as possible!

And so...this is my car (I HOPE!) for the next decade/plus. I truly hope it's even close to as good a car as the Jetta was. On a sad note, yesterday (Saturday) I sold the Jetta. It was truly the best car I've ever had, never stranded me, and hey....48mpg lifetime average! The new car has the 6 speed automatic transmission (with paddle shifters if you put it into sport mode, which I don't see ever needing). I will really be glad for the auto tranny when we leave here (after I retire in a few years). My Jetta was a 5 speed manual (I've had manual trannys in almost every car I've ever had), which was fine here with no real traffic to speak of...but I certainly can't have that when we move to Richmond...HUGE traffic in the entire DC area (traffic...YUK!) Technically it's already 5 years old, but with only 38,000 miles on it, seems more like it's only 1 or 2 years old. And it was really in new condition...so to me it's my NEW car! And how EXCITING! I haven't bough a car for FOURTEEN YEARS!! And while I do feel bad about my old friend Mr. Jetta, every time I drive this car I smile, as it's just so AWESOME!! And when I step on it to pass (or even just accelerate fast cuz I feel like it), there is no "you talking to me?" going on...this car GETS IT ON! That 300ft-lbs of torque are a lot for a passenger car. And I haven't even chip-tuned it yet..which I will probably do when the warranty ends...yes, it's still under warranty...VW extended them after the scandal). After the tune it will be up to 180hp and 350ft-lb of torque...that will be HUGE!! I'm quite afraid I won't be able to constrain myself and keep my foot off the accelerator...it will be like a rocket-ship with that power and torque. I get all giddy thinking about it after 14 years of "you talking to me?" And it still gets 44mpg, and IF I can keep my foot out of it, will get even more after tuning! Yes, that's a few less mpg than the Jetta...but this car is SO MUCH MORE FUN to drive! (and it's bigger and heavier). I'm envisioning myself pulling a little trailer when we are in Richmond...we have a deal that during the winter I will take my bikes and drive south to "try out" different areas to see what the winters are like....Jeannie needs to work 5 years after I retire so I will explore. Instead of hotels or renting a room, I think a small trailer to pull with me and I would be fine. I've lived in much smaller spaces before (I did 7 years on Surveillance ships after I retired from the Navy...boy, those staterooms were TINY!)

OK...gotta scoot. We are starting our packing...we fly to Virginia on Wednesday for a week...this trip is actual vacation (this is in lieu of Oktoberfest, which was canceled). I think we fly into Raleigh/Durham...it's going\ to be interesting...kind of scared to be flying commercial right now... but we have masks AND face-shields, and a bunch of sanitizing wipes and gel. Oh...speaking of Covid...I was tested a week ago today (still don't have my results back...just checked...they said 4 to 6 days, but the lab is swamped apparently). I'd think tomorrow or Tuesday at the latest...honestly I'm expecting it to be negative...but after the trip to FL I wanted to know.

Later Gators! Have a great week, and stay safe!

Return to normal?

So... I'm home and watching news again (mostly because Jeannie watches news). During my entire trip I didn't watch or listen to ANY news...it was AWESOME!

A common theme I keep hearing is about when we will return to 'normal'. I've heard lots of discussion on that but nobody is telling the real truth (referring to time I mean). Sure, the hard truth is there will be no normal until there is a widely available (as in world-wide) vaccine, OR, when nearly the entire planet has had the virus. Those are the only 2 scenarios that will allow the world to go normal again.

So...taking the vaccine off the table for the moment, being as we have no idea if an effective vaccine will EVER actually be available...(as there certainly is no guarantee that will happen...look at aids), let's just do the hard numbers.

I just looked it up...so far the US has had 3.78 million "confirmed" cases. The United States 2020 population is estimated at 331,002,651 people at mid year according to UN data (from the internet). Now I will also take a huge leap here (due to the current highest estimated number of asymptomatic covid cases being at 45%) and say based on that figure (and I will even go a bit further and add 5% to it to make it an even easier 50%) then there have now been 5,670,000 cases of Covid-19 in the US, out of the total population of 331 million. That is only 1.7% of our population, and just to be generous (and make it easier as I am SO not a math guy) lets call it 2%. I figure we have been actively dealing with this since the beginning of March, which gives us a total of about 140 DAYS that our country has seriously been trying to slow the spread of the virus. 

Given the rate of infection over that time, and IF there is never to be a vaccine, and assuming roughly the same transmission rate would continue, then we would need 13,720 more days for a 100% infection of just the US...which equates to 37.5 YEARS.

Yeah....have you heard ANYBODY talk about this (other than yours truly)?? This is a truly tough call here...what to do. We have already tanked our economy, putting countless people out of work and WAY TOO MANY small businesses out of business, and spent MANY TRILLIONS of $ that we don't even have...and we currently have LESS THAN 2% of our country so far that have had it. 

The big question (the herd of elephants in the room) is where to go from here. We OBVIOUSLY can't continue doing what we are doing...(social distancing, and businesses either completely shut down or running at fraction of their necessary capacity). How long do we keep this up? That is the unanswerable question that will dominate the near future, as this is an election year. As typical in politics, this will be THE dominant factor in the election. The orange man is SO not doing a good job, but on that point, what would a good job be considering what we know? Congress is actually in control of a LOT of what is always blamed on the sitting President. So taking the lame efforts currently in play from the top, what should Congress be doing? HOW do we deal with this? I honestly don't know, other than that what we are doing, while slowing the transmission rate (which was actually teh goal from the start) is killing us as a country and the world as well. There is a lot of seemingly right things that could be done here.

One of the biggest changes we cold make is to do our best to shelter the highest "at risk" category of people...(the elderly and those with any conditions that make them more susceptible to catching it) and pretty much open the world back up for the rest. But by doing that you are basically taking away THEIR rights by denying them the same rights and privileges as the non-at-risk folk. But that would surely be the easiest way to get some semblance of 'normal' for most of society...you just need to take away a smaller groups rights in the name of protecting them. 

Obviously a vaccine is what the world is desperately counting on, and SOON...as it will be the only real way I can see to get us to normal again.  In the meantime, what do we do? Continue as we have been? At what point do we give that up (if the vaccine ends up being years or longer down the road)? 

I sure don't know the answers here...I feel more like Gilligan (on Gilligan's Island) in the one episode where Gilligan was agreeing with everybody ("the Skipper is right....oh yeah, the Professor is right, yes, Mr Howell is right. Gilligan, everybody can't be right. You know Skipper, you're right!"

Pretty much in the big scheme of things, this isn't really much different than a bad Influenza season....every year the flu kills millions. Why is this SO different that we (the world) have been willing to financially wipe us out? I don't even really know the answer to that, other than politics. To have ignored this and let it wash over the world, well, I can only say that THIS one is different...I don't recall a bad flu season EVER wiping out the big cities ICU's beyond capacity, refrigerator trucks parked outside for the bodies (I saw on the news this am that Houston has trucks parked and ready much like NYC was using during their tidal wave of sick).  And the potential of this virus (when you react bad to it) is worse IMO than even a bad flu...it KILLS even younger people, does some pretty bad things to many that survive (brain/heart/lung damage and more). I just know that I get my flu shot every year, hoping the CDC did a good job with their magic 8 ball as to what versions of the flu to add to the next years concoction....some years are better and some are worse. But no flu season that I can recall was like this. 

Which brings us back to the question: what SHOULD we (and the world) be doing that we aren't, and what should we NOT be doing that we are? How do we ever dig our way out of this?

I liken this entire nightmare scenario we are currently living in to the fictional Star Trek Kobiyashi Maru test that they put all future Commanding Officers thru, to see how they handle a "no win" situation. (am I a total sci-fi-geek? Obviously the answer is YES). 

So...the floor is open. What do we do? How do we forge our way forward? All I truly know is that I'm very glad that I'm NOT the one people are counting on for answers. And sadly, as has been the case for a VERY long time, the very people we truly NEED to step forward and lead us are too smart to do that to themselves and their families, and we are stuck with the B team (or worse) leading us.

Wow...sorry...this post got kind'a political, as I've sworn not to do here...but I guess it can't be helped here as this entire scenario IS political, like it or not. Every single bit of anybody in the news biz has their own agenda. It sure would be nice to have good old Walter Cronkite back...just give me the news and let ME make my determination as to what to make of it. Yep...those days are REALLY long gone. 

Anyway, that's all for now. Chime in or not...this is as much me ranting to feel a bit better about things (best not to keep stuff locked away but to talk about it and bring it out in the open) as anything. 

And away we go...into the bright blue yonder of our future. At least, I sure hope it's bright blue...doesn't look that way right now. Looks more like a Florida thunderstorm from hell.

My local hikes, and the MAIN topic: Prison food

Before I get into my topic of prison food, Ive finally learned how to take and incorporate pictures into my All Trails hikes that are saved online...so here are the last few that Ive done (inside the hike you can click on a picture and then go thru them all...each little red dot along my route is a picture, hover over one and click on it and it will open), along with seeing where I hiked in a birds-eye-view topo. I honestly have no idea what you will see when you click on one of the links (when I click on one my hike comes right up, but All Trails knows my laptop and that I have an account, so I cant say for sure it will look the same to everybody else). Saw two black-bear cubs on today's hike...didn't see mamma tho....took a few pics and then got out of there, cuz where there are cubs there is a mamma, and I didn't want to meet her.

29 June hike

30 June hike

1 July hike

2 July hike

4th of July hike

So pretty much here on travel its like I am living like I am in prison while on travel (on purpose mind you). Its work-release...I go to work, then back to my prison-cell, except when Im shopping for groceries or hiking (don't get to do too much of that). And using the hotel hot-tub (when no one else is around)...don't think there's too much hot-tubbing when in prison (however, it is a salt-water version instead of chlorine...hooray!)

So other than the fact that I can come and go in my rental car whenever I want, go to restaurants (not that I do) whenever I want, go hiking and hot-tubbing, make unlimited calls on my cell phone (at least until I run out of minutes on my tracfone), and surf the web and order from Amazon or eBay whenever I want on my laptop in my room, my life on the road right now is exactly like Im in prison.

I think the biggest difference between my life and prison life is likely my meals. Being as Im on use-it-or-lose-it per-Diem, Im living pretty high-on-the-hog right now...I figure being as Im in self-imposed-prison I might as well live the best I can...and that includes buying groceries that I wouldn't normally buy at home. And for some reason Im taking pictures of my meals...(is that odd? I think it might be).

So....without further adieu and for your viewing pleasure, a photographic expose of prison meals here in the Boulder CO Residence Inn work-release prison.

 Ordered delivery from BJs Brewhouse/restaurant. Ribeye steak, garlic mashed taters, broccoli, Sriracha grilled brussel sprouts, and chicken tortilla soup. And a creme-soda float. All dropped off right at my hotel room door by door-dash (I think that's what its called).

 Tonight's dinner selection: steamed king crab legs, broccoli with cheese sauce, sweet tater with butter and brown sugar, pineapple slices, a fresh salad w/ Blu Cheese dressing, and a yogurt. 

 Buttered corn, sauteed (in butter) scallop pieces, pineapple slices and a salad (and yogurt).

 Sweet potato w/ butter and brown sugar, grilled ribeye steak, broccoli with cheese sauce, and grilled chinning squash. And a yogurt.

 Delivery order (from BJs again): Garlic mashed taters, double-thick bone-in grilled pork chop, sriracha grilled brussel sprouts, and chicken tortilla soup.

 Grilled lobster with melted butter, grilled corn, grilled sweet tater (butter and brown sugar are coming soon).

 This was at IHOP...spinach/mushroom omelette with pancakes and coffee. IHOP has really upped their game...it was awesome!

 T-bone steak, grilled corn and sweet potato (and salad waiting up in the room).

 The other T-bone (was a twin pack), zucchini squash and lobster (and salad). The ol surf n turf!

 Tonight's fare was grilled teriyaki/garlic salmon, grilled corn, sweet tater w/ butter n brown sugar, and salad...and a beer. YUM! Prisoners getting beer, awesome!

 Grilled corn, ribeye, bacon wrapped scallops, zucchini squash...and a beer.

King Crab (grilled) w/ butter (of course), grilled buttered sweet tater w/ brown sugar, and a nice salad. And the brown stuff in the glass is Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha (Iced Espresso). That is what I have when Im working a night shift and cant have a beer (its been in several other dinners but I forgot to list it). Prison life isn't so horrible...other than stepping out of your life for a period of time.

Just thought Id toss in this pic of prison life here at the Cape (and thanks Susie for letting me know NBCSN is broadcasting old stages of le Tour)...this is a selphie from this morning (Friday).

Stage 14 from last year, ON the Col du Tormalet...woo hoo! Racing! (even old racing). Awesome to hear Phil and Bobke...I should have known right away it was last year cuz Paul wasn't with Phil..but my brain was still foggy at this point in my first cup of coffee in my Residence Inn prison cell here in Florida.

While Im at it in the updating mode, here is the last prison food pictures (from Florida):

 Sushi from Thai Thai (I love sushi!). A Rainbow roll, AND...

 The REST of my first nights dinner here...the Sashimi dinner...MMMMMM! (or as they say, whatever floats your boat!) HA!

 2nd nights dinner: the Sashimi dinner (again) and a Dynamite roll. Did I mention that I love sushi?

 Parmesan crusted grouper with jasmine rice and asparagus. And a beer. TASTY!!

 This is a Lobster roll (top) and a Rock and Roll (bottom). MMMM!

 Tonights dinner selection: Blackened Sea Bass w/ Jasmine Rice and Asparagus. MMMM!
OK...Im off to work now. Last shift here in FL, then Sunday we fly HOME!!! HOORAY!!!