Heading South

After breakfast this morning we went out and did our daily minimum amount of exercise (5k) before loading up the car, which took some ingenuity given the bikes were still intact and had to be packed in along with their bags and the normal luggage - not as easy as you might think even with a big car. Having experimented with the automatic car on the way back from the airport (no instructions given and nobody available to ask) we at least knew how to move forwards and backwards, adjust the seat and lock / unlock it. Hopefully it won't rain before we work out how to get the wipers on! We have come about 300 miles, around 297 on the Interstates, so haven't had to deal with any complicated manoeuvres yet. What a pleasure compared to motorways in the UK, free flowing traffic, never too heavy, no accidents, road works or hold-ups and immaculately clean and quiet 'rest areas' with Restrooms, a few vending machines, shady picnic areas and pet exercising grassy spaces. If you want fuel, food etc you simply come off at one of the many junctions and drop back on again so no over-priced monopolies (if you have to travel more than a quarter of a mile from the junction it appears you don't bother). 

Since not much of any note happened let me regale you with some gems from the local paper:

Friday 4th Sept: Artifact-filled exhibits that tell the story of transportation from pre-history through the early 20th century. You do have to wonder what they have got from pre-history transportation ???

Something else to ponder: the Fayetteville Area Metropolitan Planning Organisation (FAMPO) is soliciting proposals for human services transportation projects under the federal Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities (Section 5310) program.  (Volunteer drivers to take people to the local Day Care centre?)

And finally 'thought for the day': 'The worshipful treatment of pets may be the thing that unites all Americans' wrote an Atlantic Magazine blogger in July, describing the luxury terminal for animals under construction at JFK airport.  The ARK will offer shower stalls for traveling horses, 'conjugal stations' for ever-horny penguins and housing for nearly 200 cows (that might produce up to 5000 pounds of manure every day).  Passengers traveling with cats or dogs can book the Paradise 4 Paws pet-pampering resort. The ARK is a for-profit venture, said one industry source, quoted in a July Crain's NY Business report. 'You hear stories about the crazy money rich people spend on their animals ...they're mostly true!   Hmmmm.....Bev / Izzy?????

Pictures are of the mechanic sampling some 'fruit inspired' beers last night plus our laden car