It didn’t come as a surprise, but when our third
snowstorm of the season bore down on us it was the third such event for the
month of October. Thi latest snowstorm followed the absence of any snow in September
which was a little out of the ordinary. However, plans had been in place for
Margo and me to drive back to the Bay Area to attend a symposium and the sight
of snow falling a matter of days before we planned to depart was a little
unnerving to say the least – what would it be like up in the mountain passes
that stood between us and sunny California?
As we had only just returned from our week long trip to
Washington DC, it would also represent an opportunity to sample both coasts of
America even as it meant adding five thousand plus miles to our cars’
odometers. All the same, it meant not just a change of clothes but a change of
vehicles. We enjoyed the time spent in the all-wheel drive Jaguar F Type, but
for this trip we opted for the Range Rover. Though we had to be judicious with
what we packed in the small spaces provided by the Jaguar at least the Range
Rover had a back seat so space didn’t present the same issues as we had
experienced with the Jaguar.
Colorado’s climate is well documented, but all the
same, it never ceases to amaze us. Blink and the weather changes; prolong your
stay for twenty four hours and you might experience all four seasons. By
way of explanation, when we left it was following a morning that registered
just 6 degrees and yet, when we returned it was back up to balmy 72
degrees - all measurements in Fahrenheit.
Colorado’s front ranges are considered high plains with much of it better viewed as high desert – there is next to no humidity and when the sun comes out, the rays simply slice through whatever snow was left lying on the ground and within a day there is little evidence of any prior snowfalls. So it was when the day came to depart for the Bay Area, the temperature was still very cold but the roads looked clear. Just as we left, the first of the early morning golfers were back out on the course!
Unfortunately, Wyoming apparently didn’t read the memo concerning imminent sunshine. As we crossed the state line driving northerly on Interstate 25 (I25) blowing snow whipped up by fierce
We have now nicknamed our Range Rover, “Pumpkin” and for obvious reasons. As this was the time for Halloween it seemed more than appropriate. Orange and black – you can’t get anything more traditional than that when celebrating Halloween.
Parked just off the intersection between I25
with I80, temperatures well below freezing and so many miles yet to travel it
was all rather ominous and as many winter crossings as we have done in the past
twenty plus years, no two crossings have ever been the same. Hold on tight;
stay focused; drive to the conditions and at all times concentrate on
situational awareness as there is a steady lane full of big-rigs alongside you!
And it was tough going for an hour or two until Laramie, Wyoming, had well and
truly faded in our rear-view mirror.
Margo and I have often used our time on the road to
discuss everything from the latest technology offering from HPE or the newest
feature introduced on its NonStop servers to the color scheme for a guest
bedroom. Furniture too always generates a lively discussion as in the two years
living in Windsor and far removed from the times in our Niwot home, we have
moved from over-the-top Province (with a dash of Tuscany) to urban modern where
functionality and flow have prevailed. No conversation these days concerning
décor touches the flamboyant but rather, hones in on the overall integration
with the look-and-feel we had pursued from the very beginning. Imagine a cross
between a high-rise condo and an owner’s balcony stateroom on a cruise ship!
Yes, we got it!
By the time we crossed into Utah the weather had turned
in our favor. There was no more blowing snow as we enjoyed extended periods of
sunshine that stayed with us all the way to Burlingame, California. This was a business trip after all but time away from the desk (and the keyboard) means time to simply muse on events happening all around us. As for the
traditional conversations they too took a turn as we examined, a little more
objectively, the business relationships we have developed over the past decade.
The major reason for us stepping back from our track day outings (having now sold
the RV, trailer and track Corvette) was driven by the desire of Margo and me to stay in business. We have some very
serious obligations to a number of major technology companies and should there
have been an incident on track that might have interfered with delivering on
our promise then our outlook for the future may not be as rosy as we might have
imagined.
Cars have played a dominant role in posts to this blog.
Indeed, shortly after creating the blog posts we realized that featuring cars was
central to growing the readership – people we know and with whom we work have
shown an interest in knowing more of what we do in our spare time. For many of
them, taking time out to drive their cars and to enjoy roadtrips was part of
who they were; cars were never our hobby as I am often reminded, but rather
represented an extension to our family. In all seriousness, over the years, we
have viewed our cars as others would their children and as sad as that may
appear, it has its upsides.
While cars and children generate the same demands –
they need to be fed, housed, bathed when new and yes, taken for a “walk” every
now and then cars don’t make all that many onerous demands. Dashboard lights
tell us today when we need to replace a tire even as another gauge warns us
that shortly, we will run out of gas. I guess you could argue that children can
make similar pronouncements; feed me and yes, I need new shoes!
It’s hard to say whether or not we truly have put our
track days behind us. Every time an email promotion of one event or another
arrives I tend to wax morosely. Yes I can get a tad cranky as I know that it is
completely out of bounds to consider taking any of our current cars to the
track – oh, the downside of switching from a Capital Expense (CapEx) to an
Operational Expense (OpEx), if you like, as we no longer purchase but lease.
Essentially we have copped to a consumption-priced model – paying a flat fee
for a service that in turn, allows us to consume or enjoy (however you prefer
to call it) them on as casual a basis as you can imagine. While our business
continues to bring in the bacon (or should I say, the gas) this will remain the
model for some time, but it doesn’t lessen how cranky I can feel. Then again,
there’s a reason why the community so often tells tales about cranky old men –
I wonder if it has anything to do with confiscating their horses?
And so the conversations continued as we drove deeper
into the arid space that fills the spaces in between the Rockies and the
Sierras! If it’s cars and crankiness and even customizing the new home that
frame more than one conversation there is one other C-word that enters the
conversation as well – cruising. For the past couple of winters we have jumped
ship, literally. In the winter of 2017 / 2018 we sailed to Hawaii and then in
the winter of 2018 / 2019 we flew to Australia where we sailed to Tasmania and
then to New Zealand. With winter fast approaching where will we winter in 2019
/ 2020? Our friends already have inkling as to what might transpire but it’s a
plan that for now is very much a work in progress. More importantly perhaps are
our plans for the winter of 2020 / 2021 as there are places we haven’t visited
in such a long time where we do need to make a return visit. But only, of
course, if I stay off the track and can keep writing.
Our trip across the western half of America drew to an
end. Crossing San Francisco’s famous Bay Bridge – renewed in recent times and
gone are the memories of the lost spans following the earthquake of 1989.
Driving into the Bay always brings a smile to our faces as Margo and I have
many fond memories from times spent in this part of the country. While smoke
haze could be seen we were very fortunate not to see any of the terrible fires
ravaging the region a little to the north of the city, but all the same,
conversations did turn to what can be done to mitigate the dreadful
side-effects of having nurtured so many eucalyptus trees. Essentially an
invasive species not native to the region, these Aussie imports should be
ripped up and sent packing.
When we decided to take this trip in the Range Rover
there was an element of uncertainty. This vehicle had the smallest engine and
yes, it’s a convertible SUV – who buys a convertible SUV these days? As we have
stated more than once, who buys a hardtop coupe yet buys a ragtop SUV? It
turned out to be a pleasant surprise as the road noise proved to be less than
what we had experienced in either the BMW M4 or the Jaguar F Type. As for gas
mileage it was out front on that score as even with its additional weight, it
only sipped on the gasoline that was made available.
The symposium has run its course and we have safely returned
home to Windsor. With a number of food items remaining in the fridge it was
time to cook up some “bubble and squeak.” If this is unfamiliar to you then
anyone with ties back to the old country knows all too well what a comfort food
it happens to be and while tradition calls for the addition of leftover cuts of
lamb or perhaps beef, we went with chicken with lashings of sweet onions and
BBQ sauce. What a combination and one we knew we wouldn’t encounter out on
Americas highways, whether we traveled west or even east.
Taking one last photo of how Colorado snaps back as
quickly as it does from winter’s early clutches; just happened to catch Margo
driving by in the M4. The call of the grandchildren remains irresistible and
Margo enjoys her time with them. One day they too will be looking at cars and
that will be an interesting time – I wonder if we will be consulted? There is a
similar amount of joy and indeed satisfaction that cars and children create.
And with that, it’s time to eat – can I get a second plate of bubble and
squeak?
How about breakfast tomorrow? Ahhh - perfect!
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