damn, forgot the picture

Today was consumed by yet another yard sale - collecting cash for the fuel fund.
Driving across the country requires gas, duh.  And funds to pay for gas, double duh. Proudly, by off-loading stuff I've had in storage I've hauled in nearly a third of what I've budgeted for fuel.  Neat.

What was spectacular about today was all the crap I stuffed into Felix, boot to er almost bonnet to haul to the sale and then what I hauled to donate.   Darn it all!  I didn't take a picture.   Got to work on that reporting skill...

i need it to be quiet

Ever drive long stretches of road without any sound other than the wind rushing through the windows, the tires rolling on the pavement, the engine humming and those little voices in your head chattering to no one?   Me neither.

It's time to make play lists for the ride.  I've had several ideas ranging from soliciting the help of my music loving friends for sound tracks based upon each leg of the trip, to making lists of artists haling from the states we are rolling through.   Kind of a mixed bag thus far.   And what a lot of work!

Starting with the LA to San Francisco segment, I thought I'd make a compilation disc of songs that either mention California or Los Angeles in them.  At San Francisco I switch to bands from the Bay Area.   From San Fran to Reno I guess I complete the bands from the Bay Area tour.  But once in Reno I'm stumped.    What is the musical quality of Reno to Wendover UT?

How can I score the soundtrack to a road I haven't yet traveled?
I guess that's the million dollar question for today.

Something to sleep on...

luke, this is your fawtha...

no, I'm not spending $9.99 to give Felix the voice of Darth Vadar.   But I wish I could...

I tried today to use Team Garmin's Dave Zabriskie voice.  Talk about a lazy assed co-pilot!  Dave has no text to speech ability, nor does Mr. Vadar, which means all they can say is stuff like "turn here"  "in a hundred feet pull over for snacks"  "nice move asshole"  ok I'm making some of this up - but they can't call out street names as they are coming up, nor tell you the street name you need to turn on, it's all right left go straight - like we're playing some weird version of Simon Says.

Felix, I'm afraid is stuck with the voice of Jill.  For that matter so am I.  Her voice at least tells me where to go without me having to attempt a sneak read on the screen for a name.   Or feeling like the "right" I just took was really a "wrong".

day 59

and counting.

The nice people at MINI USA updated the rally sheet today with all the Rise and Shine locations and evening events.   Looks like the trip is going to be spectacular.  I'm excited to see that among the stops we will have the opportunity to drive the Bonneville Salt Flats,  visit the Historic Wendover Airfield and park a whole bunch of MINIs in front of the great state of Texas' capital building - watch out Texas, we know how to go big too.

 

and now some favorites from the past

I can't help get excited for this year's MINI Takes the States tour without hauling out old photos and memorabilia from past events. Being the nerd that I am, I'm still hanging onto my badges and buttons from MTTS 2010 and 2012.  Why? I don't know. It's like a kid/camp thing.   I've got this box of treasures I collected that to the rest of the world appears to be a few rocks and twigs - but to me it's a story.   A visual one.

MINIcross fun 

stacked up bonnets to boots, waiting to hit the road

yes, it's a cake

party at the House of Blues

milestone on the road - don't worry, I pulled off the highway to shoot this

support - notice how happy she is?

My favorite shot of trip - gotcha!

a clean car is a happy car

and for that matter, so is a blog.  Please forgive the visual throw up that has been going on for the last few weeks.  I was trying out different templates, finally arriving at this.
For now.

it's in the boot

To answer the question what's in the boot I'm going to show you how I plan to pack for 15 days of road travel here.  Actual clothing may vary.

Step 1 - make a list of clothes you think you need to take.  I will not bore you with my list - I've taken a photo of my possible road trip attire.  I recommend laying out your own selection on the floor or a large table.   Once you get it all in front of you it makes it easier to take some of it and put it back.

This is my current selection.

Step 2 - Pack it.  You choose how.  I like to use a combination of rolling clothing into bundles and laying some in garment cubes.   Note also that I'm taking along a second smaller carry all for toiletries and shoes.

 If you find yourself wanting to take too much, consider these travel storage bags which when air is removed compress a mound of clothes into a thin package.

Step 3 - Put it in the boot.  My cases fit along with a car care kit, some extra shopping bags, towels and surprises.   I still have room to put a few more things if necessary.  But my objective here is to travel lightly and not have to rearrange the boot every time I need to access something.





So what's in your boot?

friendly reminder

Planning takes time.  It takes energy.  Let alone money, worry and lots of naps.   So with this in mind, I made a new desktop screen to keep me focused on what's important.   (I lifted the words of this  "to do list" from Marc and Angel Hack Life)  Enjoy!

Tomorrow I'll show you my plan for packing the boot.  In the meantime, sleep well and get ready for the rewind!

anything you can do I can do better...

Former Chief Skirt of the MINIskirts reminds me today of a clip showing how to change a tire, well sort of.  I like the can do spirit.   I'd make my own video, but I'm camera shy.  So here for your viewing pleasure, how to change a tire:

are we there yet?

Tonight's post is dedicated to boredom.  And trying to figure stuff out.  And making things up as you roll along.   All good really.

The bowling shirt showed up today along with the 2-way radios and a long slinky knit dress that feels so good I think I may begin living in it.   The shirt needs to be tapered and a fake name embroidered on the front [isn't that how bowling works???? with an alias???]; the radios are being charged up and then I need to find a child under the age of 10 to show me how to work these things; the dress needs nothing, it is perfect [and hidden in the closet between the winter coats to keep me from making it a permanent second skin].

I'd take photos tonight, but in addition to being bored, I'm feeling lazy.  This writing stuff is one tough gig...

Things I'm mentally mulling over - car clubs; a car is an extension of one's personality; some of us need more attention than others; some of us use this need to post TMI on Facebook; some of us can't say anything nice; mainly the whole world is a bucket of freaks and geeks - even the so called famous are weird.

history and humor

First some history.   As today marks 66 days to the road trip, yes, a few words about Route 66.

Spoiled as I am living here in the land where this fabled road ends I realized I don't know much about it.   Having driven on portions of what once was the "Mother Road" of America I decided to brush up on my history.   This is a brief summary of what I learned:

Affectionately known at times as the Main Street of America as well as the Mother Road - this highway was the quickest year-round connection between the Midwest and the Pacific Coast.  It opened in the mid 1920s and was decommissioned in 1985.   Parts of it were actually destroyed, paved over, even donated to museums.  However, preservationists have worked diligently to preserve the history of this great road and to help the numerous businesses that popped up during it's heyday that still exist along parts that are still accessible.  The route begins in Chicago, IL  and ends in Santa Monica, CA.

Immortalized in song, literature, television and film - Route 66 lives on in the hearts and imaginations of anyone prone to adventure in an automobile.

Speaking of adventure... The MTTS rally guide notes that we'll be motoring on a stretch of the historic route from Saint Louis to Chicago.   WEEEEEEEE!!!!

And now for today's humor news.
A fellow motorer on Facebook found a clip and posted this of the Trunk Monkeys.  This just needs to be shared.  (I can't stop laughing each time I watch it.)

MINI Takes the States participants are now considering another form of this species hereby  called the Boot Monkey.   Large vehicles, mean drivers and the po po beware.
Boot Monkeys, in addition to being protective of their MINIs and loyal to their pilots are rumored to be extremely fun, silly and mischievous.

edited from earlier post today

practice practice practice

For today's installment of Felix gets ready to Go All the Way we find Felix's owner (that's me) looking at 2-way radios, paying a visit to the LA Zoo, having lunch with a dear friend, doing a test packing of the boot and finally visiting her 83 year-old neighbor for a cocktail and some conversation.   It has been a busy day.

In case you haven't figured it out, all days leading up to launch here are just a warm up for the on-the-road-reporting.  I admit, I'm a lazy writer.  If not faced with a deadline, wait wait - if faced with a deadline I will procrastinate until the zero hour of publication.   So this is my attempt at doing a little every day, getting a groove on so to speak so that when MINI Takes the States finally arrives I don't get lazy and not tell you all about each days adventures as they happen.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not going to do any real time reporting ala Twitter - ok maybe at a road stop or two.  But for the most part, after the day is over, just before bedtime I'll share a story about the days adventure(s) here.

In the meantime, I'll try to entertain you as best as I can...

liar liar pants on fire

or  part 2 of random stuff - so my mind, filled with the latest images of Don Draper (thank you Mad Men Season 7) and a desire to ask NPR what's up with their recent love affair with Louis CK (I love him too, but in a more train wreck fascination way) - it completely slipped from my noggin that I had been crowdsourcing tablets today.

Votes mostly for the iPad mini.  A view voices of reason going with use what you're familiar with in computer operating systems.  And of course several smart ass comments (data to throw out).

My neighbor lent me a Galaxy Tab to test drive - which I'm typing this on now.

Hope to test an iPad as well.  Then find someone with a spare tablet I can borrow for the trip.

Complete test drive findings in posts to follow.

random stuff

I got nothing today for this 68th day to departure.

Check back tomorrow.

run flat run!

It appears today's burning query involves whether to keep the run flats or ditch 'em.

As Felix doesn't have this issue, I'm happy with my new Michelin Pilot Sport A/S3s.  But I've noticed that many owners of models that come with run flats and/or do not have the silly donut spare are on both sides of the fence on this.

The advice goes from carry an inflation kit, enjoy your ride you'll be fine, to ditch those shoes and get regular tires.   

For my own tire safety I'm having the spare checked prior to departure.  I'll make sure I can change a tire.   Also both my brother and my tire guy suggested I carry one of my old used (but still tread worthy) tires along for the ride - this has been cleaned and swaddled in a tire carrier bag - it will sit in the back seat for the duration of the trip.

Motor on.

what to wear...

There have been several posts and questions on the MTTS 2014 group Facebook page regarding packing for the trip.   What luggage fits in the boot?  Is there an ideal ice chest to carry snacks?  Where do you put your co-pilot when 99 Bottles of Beer gets old and the sound of their voice makes you postal?... (kidding on the last point).

Which made me think hmmm, what to wear...

Now I imagine a guy, a guy packing for a road trip would put on a pair of those baggy shorts, his flip flops or a pair of Converse and a T-shirt.  Throw on a baseball cap.  Toss a change of underwear, maybe some socks, a pair of jeans, his toothbrush and some deodorant in a gym bag and off he goes.  Road adventure.

But a woman - well we take a decidedly different approach.   We need "outfits".  With shoes and matching handbags.  And accessories.   Repetition is allowed but must be camouflaged with the use of scarves and hats.  [notice the plurals]  And although I can say proudly that I have traveled 3 times abroad with only a carry on bag,  road trips alway give me pause.  Why?  Because suddenly there is the possibility of turning the car into a closet on wheels.    Even a MINI can be stuffed with more things than one might imagine - that back seat is roomy right?  This is dangerous.    I know this because I once took a weekend trip to Palm Springs with more shoes than I could possibly wear in a week - with 3 wardrobe changes per day and room for a costume malfunction.

So in the days ahead I will ponder what to wear, what to pack and what to leave at home.  I'll make lists, do a test packing.  Take some stuff out.  Put some stuff back.  Ultimately aiming for that one carry on that fits in the overhead compartment boot.

Oh, and I'll try to be a man about it.

and on the 71st day...

the MINI gods said, "Buy a bowling shirt! - You will be visiting the temple of the ball called the National Bowling Stadium and you mustn't look like a goof."

Who am I to argue with car gods or goddesses?   Besides I suck at bowling so I figure maybe looking the part will at least divert some attention away from this fact.    I picked out a nice red and black shirt with this logo on the back.

Ya, I know - classy.  Hey it's a nod to the first MINI car club I joined - the MINIskirts and a little homage to where my ball will be seeing the most action.  Remember, bowling isn't my thing.

Plans are to embroider my initials on the front and maybe add a Felix the Cat patch to a sleeve ('cuz this is all about Felix really).   If I can find any checkered ribbon or material I might even add a stripe on it.  But then let's not go crazy just yet.

72 days to blast off

Meant to get this published when it was 75 days to MINI Takes The States 2014 - but something else got on my agenda...

So let's see - on the travel prep list, new tires purchased - check;  mechanic lined up for oil change and last minute repairs - check; hotels mostly booked - check; loose idea of music for the road - um not there yet; packing, nope; flight home, still up in the air; car transport - waiting for the magic 45 days out...

If you're wondering what all this is about I recommend you go here http://www.minitakesthestates.com
to get the quick run down on this cross country road trip adventure.

I'll be writing about the planning for the trip and then motoring and blogging my way across the United States - 15 cities, 15 different beds, 18 states, lots of MINIs, new friends, and some crazy car adventures.

Please join me and Felix (he's the MINI).