A Little Saturday Potpourri
I’m going to exercise a bit of escapism. My head is spilling over with the latest AI, crazy politics, outrageous taxes, and overly aggressive doctors who want to test for every possible eventual health issue. Enough! Leave me alone!
Why is it no one in today’s society can leave well enough alone? Why do they have to be such busybodies? Can’t they tend to their own issues? If people would work on getting their own shit together, things would automatically be better for everyone. Stop looking at what’s in my bag and take care of your own!
Okay, I got that off my chest. Next!
I’m finally readying my book, on the trials and tribulations of my company, TTF Aerospace, for publication. I’m going the self-publishing route, as I’ve grown impatient with the predatory practices of the hundreds, if not thousands, of companies out there trying to take advantage of hopeful authors. The traditional publishing route is a possibility, but it has exhausted my patience. Who knew publishing a book could be such a long trial of tribulation, one that has made the writing the easiest part of the journey.
The book, Tango, Tango, Foxtrot, explores the wild, high-wire act of starting an aerospace company, all the while recounting colorful characters, betrayals, felonies, outrageous successes and painful lessons. If you like true rollercoaster stories, it’s a bit of a hoot. I’ll keep you posted for its debut.
Okay, enough of that. What’s next? How about cars. Being it’s getting on towards the end of spring, I have a definite pent-up desire to get out for a few driving events. We’re already set up to do Monterey Car Week this year, for the first time since 2021, I think. I heard it continues to grow. I don’t know how that’s possible – the last several times I was there it was already gridlocked to get anywhere.
If it’s as bad as they say now, this will probably be our last time going – unless we opt to leave the fun cars home next time and trundle down in the SUV with the e-bikes on the back. I really think that would be a smart move – e-bike everywhere. How ironic – going to arguably the world’s biggest car show on a bike – an e-bike no less. Haha. They might even take over. How funny would that be!
Our last trip to the national parks, this time at Utah’s Big Five, e-bikes were everywhere. Hundreds of e-bikes wherever we went. Every tourist equipment place is renting them. The NP Service is busy building bike paths all over the place to accommodate them and get them off the roads. I was honestly shocked at how many there were. And I thought we were being clever by bringing our own. Well, we were – just not as clever as I thought.
Our e-bikes, being of the high-performance variety, stimulated conversation everywhere we went. We were asked at least half a dozen times a day about them. Admittedly, they are pretty cool looking, and they have great range, torque and speed. I blogged about them in Epic Experience Found on Common Ground last year.
Made by Vintage Electric in Santa Clara, the founder was a motorcycle and mountain bike racer until injuries forced him to reexamine such occupations. So, he set out to build e-bikes modeled after the roaring 1920s board track motorcycles. If you’ve never heard of board track racing, look it up. These guys were the definition of courageous – or crazy – I’m not sure which.
Well, this seems to have morphed into something more about e-bikes than cars. How did I manage that? Surprisingly, I have to admit they both have their place. Not sure I ever thought I would say that. Both are great fun in my book. But I’m still looking for that car fix of a long, scenic, backroads drive. Who’s got a full tank of gas?
Oh, I guess that’s another sore point at the moment, isn’t it? So much for escapism…
