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I wish this was what I was talking about.

You know when you book a flight you’re always looking for the cheapest fare? The fare that you paid for the ticket this holiday season is not the price you paid to get you and all your LUGGAGE to your destination. I’m flying US Airways today to the east coast, and was charged $15 for my first bag and $25 for my snowboard bag. It used to be an all inclusive experience: baggage, meal, pillow, blanket, movie. Now I think I’ll probably have to pay for my meal too.

Gone are the days where flying was convenient and fun and hip. Those adjectives should only be used for flying privately.

I think I’d still rather fly Southwest and have fixed flying costs, instead of playing airline roulette with fares only to have to pay more money when I get to the airport. Previously I mentioned that Southwest had hedged their fuel for the year, I hope they are stocking up again right now.

Does anyone know of any gasoline for car hedge funds? I’d be a member of any club that would get me fixed prices on fuel for the next year or two.

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I finally decided I needed to get a set of wheels to replace my Toyota 4Runner that I sold in June. I test drove a Boreem Motosports (BMS) TBX 260 in Utah while I was on my road trip and really dug the power and look of the scooter. I know there are higher cc motors 500cc+, but I’m pretty content with this upgrade since my last scooter was 50cc! It will be nice to be able to go over 30mph for a change. Even when I’m on my bicycle, the times I’m over 30mph are rare!

Now you may wonder why I didn’t take my 50cc scooter with me on my road trip…. well lets just say it felt like deja vu! You must always check the oil in your car or motorcycle or scooter. PERIOD. I, like I did with my first car, did not check the oil. It locked up on me the day before I was supposed to leave and I was planning on taking it with me. Grrrr.

Once I got it unboxed and uncrated, I had to put on a few things: mirrors, windshield, install the battery, put in some gas, and CHECK THE OIL. Then it was good to go!

I forgot to take a picture of it all put together, so I’ll make sure I get one with me on it this weekend!

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Somebody braver than I on a downhill trail at Northstar.

Last weekend I stayed at Northstar Resort in Truckee, CA. I took the dogs for a hike on Saturday, and went biking on Sunday. They were having a race on Sunday, so that was pretty cool to see. I wanted to compare Northstar to the other places I had biked on this trip. Their website said they stopped running the bikes on the chair lift on September 1, so I was pessimistic that it would still be going. It was still going – I was really thrilled to get to enjoy Northstar this summer. I had been up two years ago and the jumps and technical ‘features’ had scared me out of my gourd – I stuck to the fire roads. This year, since Tamarack had shown me the way of the fun, I totally hit every type of trail I could find – Northstar has a plethora of choices. It was really fun, but a bit more rocky than Tamarack. I definitely understand the need for the extra suspension you get from a downhill bike – am I going to buy one? No. But I will rent one this weekend at Tamarack and see what it’s like!
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I’m out on my road trip, and I get this call:

“This is the office of Robert Gates – the Secretary of Defense. We’ve been reading your blog, and are aware that you’ve been getting denied for tours at several Air Force Bases. We’d like to offer you an exclusive tour of R-4808N, I’m sure you’re aware of what that refers to.”

Needless to say I was a little shocked. How do you respond to an offer to tour an Air Force Base that doesn’t exist? What’s the catch?

*Gulp* “Yes, I’d love to a tour!”

Exclusive photos and a description of my tour after the jump! (more…)

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The land yacht and the Milky Way in alignment north of Monument Valley.

I’m not sure if it is the lack of sky pollution (absence of city lights and accompanying smog) or being in sacred tribal land that has caused me to turn my eyes and camera towards the sky.

Either way I like what I’ve seen and captured. Gallery after the jump! (more…)

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