The price of gas was cutitng into my fishing. Here is my solution:
I also have a trailer to pull my Kayak with on the bike. I have a gun/bow/rod rack for the handlebars.
I saved almost $100.00 this week by parking the cars and riding instead (when feasable). This is too cool.
I also think I’ve dropped about 10 pounds this week. It feels great. And good for the environment as well. Perhaps high gas prices are an opportunity, rather than a pain…
Glad to have another board member slamming down the pedals. I still ride more miles each year than I drive. But you do need to be extra careful out there.
Just yesterday I had a close " enough " encounter with a youngster who lost control of his pick up truck in a 50 - 55 m.p.h. zone.
He left the road way, drove over the curb, through the narrow green belt that separates a ten foot wide paved bike path from the roadway, through the bike path ( that I was riding on ), down the embankment, back up the embankment, back across the bike path.
Talk about jump starting your heart, I’m on a bike and here comes a swerving out of control pick up truck showing no signs of slowing down, heading my way. I’ve now slowed way - way down to a crawl and am looking for someplace to bail.
I’ve got a steep downgrade across dry grass and earth that terminates with a cyclone fence on my left and a narrow greenbelt and the roadway with passing traffic on my right. Not much of choice to make in the blink of an eye.
Still traveling in my direction, he heads back across the greenbelt and on to the roadway again. Where because of right front wheel damage he ground along the curb, the truck bucking back towards the bike path trying to jump the curb ( that I was still on ) and right on past me as he tired to make a get away.
If you’ve ever subscribed to the idea that " There’s never a Cop around when you need one " read on. By that time I was rider up and readying myself for a last evasive move. I pivoted on the pedals to keep squared up on him as he past me, within the width of the greenbelt. Suddenly a Folsom Police Department Pickup Truck coming from the other direction that had just crested the hill, had him in full view. They got him, fitted him with some lovely wrist jewelry and after a brief contact info swap with our guys in blue, I was back on my way.
No matter how careful we ride, we’re no match for an auto.
DaveE, as a retired LEO, all I can say is,‘’ Every now and then there is a little justice.‘’ Best thing is that you are not injured, I know there was a few seconds of Pucker Factor but you are okay and that is what counts. Those decorative bracelets are adjustable for a very fine fit. Y’all take care, John.
I went from an 8cyl to a 6cyl to a 5cyl and now have a 4cyl, I just bought a 1997 Toyota RAV4 4 door, 37MPG- it is in great shape and was a great price…
In some regards it sucks being retired on a fixed budget… maybe a part time job in in the works?
Our family rig (read as fishing/grocery/fly shop/everything vehicle) is a 6 cyl that gets a bit over 22 MPG. My 1973 Ford F-250 Camper Special sits in the yard because I can’t afford the 12 MPG it gets. If I ever need to tow Mount Rainier over to Idaho though, I’ve got the rig to do it.
Our rivers have been so high and off color due to rain and melting mountain snows have kept us off the water more than the high gas prices.
Our March fuel bill was $850…My favorite stream is 100 miles away at 7000’. I live at 280’ elevation…
If I was Lance Armstrong maybe I would do it, but I’m an old fat guy.
The gas prices have hurt me bad like everyone else, although like PALongbow says, the water has been high here in PA. I just read my notes and I’ve made only 16 fishing trips up to today. I justify my gas purchased for fishing because it’s my only hobby, vice, etc. The prices still have a negative impact, especially since I drive 250 per week to work. When the gas price settles to about $2.50 a gallon I can handle it pretty well.
I just ‘pay the piper’ and go about like before. I love driving my Dodge MegaCab too much to think of down sizing, not to mention any vehicle I got would cost me a whole lot more than the gas I buy for my rig, plus the otehr people riding in my rig love all the room and comfort. So, like I said, I just pay the piper.
I"m switching from a 460 V-8 pickup with camper (10 mpg) to a VW Wagon (diesel) pulling a motorcycle tent trailer (44 mpg). The former is still for sale and we are taking our maiden fising trip with the tent trailer ( Krumob Res.) next week.
Will a Chevy Volt pull itself up the boat ramp after launching a 16’ aluminum fishing boat? Better question is will a Chevy Volt pull the same boat down the freeway at the minimum speed required in most states?
I think I might be a bit confused, will a Chevy Volt even pull the boat out of the driveway?
I am just looking at the option to get a more efficient vehicle as suggested by the folks that are messing up the economy for all of us.
I drive a 3/4 ton van that gets 13 mpg around town, and 17 mpg on the highway. It’s my business vehicle so there is no way I could downsize it and still stay in business. Instead, I charge a $10 surcharge on every service call to cover the fuel increase. I’m not lowering my profit margin just because some idiots in Washington make lousy decisions that cause the world to get scared and jack up oil futures. If you want lower gas prices, fire your representatives in Washington who are making bad decisions that cause the prices to rise. Do this until we get common sense back in the majority, and not the minority where it currently resides.
Gas prices caused me to think twice about my recent trip, but then I figured I have only so many years left to complete my bucket list. I hauled my Aliner camper out to Bakersfield where it served as a great guest bedroom whle I visited a son and his wife and played with a granddaughter. Then it helped me tour the magnificent national parks and monuments in southern Utah on the way back to CO. The worst gas price I hit was $4.23 in Barstow. I think $3.75 was the lowest. The camper costs me 3 MPG on the flats. Lord knows what it does in the mountains. But you know what?
I am so happy I took this trip!!! I’d be happy at $8/gallon --though I would far prefer under $2. Life is too short to let gas prices get in the way of doing the things you love. I’d give up a lot of other things before I’d give up a trip like this one.
BTW, Bryce Canyon should be on everybody’s bucket list and there are spectacular Indian rock art panels 4 miles north of I-70 Utah exit 187, unmarked and unannounced until you get there.