My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on January 11, 2007

Not that I’m filling up my fuel sipping Volkswagen Jetta TDI all that much, since 600 to 700 miles per tank are average distances between fills, but finding a diesel pump without the new warning label is becoming a thing of the past. It seems only a few months ago (link) we were starting to notice the new labeling on fuel pumps, now its unlikely to find pumps without the label. From a consumer perspective, the change to ULSD has happened without much fanfare; I asked a pickup driver next to me how he like the new ULSD — “Huh???” was his reply.
🙂

Like much of the eastern half of the US, here in Ohio we still haven’t seen much of winter. Even though it has been warmer than usual, I’ve inched my biodiesel percentage down to about 10%, or B10 (an estimate) which is where I feel most comfortable. I’m sure B20 would be just fine especially blended with winterized ULSD, but similar to my political views, I’m a little conservative. Actually this past fill was the first in a long time that has not been at a public biodiesel pump, which has been a great change for conscientious Ohio drivers. As for ULSD diesel prices, I paid $2.39 when topping off on January 10th and from watching the signs … per gallon prices are down about 10 to 20 cents in recent days. (see Bloomberg article on warmer weather in US and Europe)

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Posted By RichC on January 11, 2007

According to AutomotiveNews, Ford will not be selling diesel cars in America. Unfortunately for diesel advocates, many who have been
looking for domestically produced diesel vehicles, we will be left high and dry by the Ford Motor Co. Hmm … what about those “Bold Moves?” According to Mark Fields, Ford’s U.S. division president, “diesels will be limited to Ford’s truck offerings in America” because Ford would be unable to price diesel cars fairly. According to Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s product development boss, Ford has “done a lot of assessment from a customer perspective, looking at what diesel offers in terms of fuel economy and performance versus cost and at this point in time, we would say that GTDI (gasoline turbocharged direct injection) seems to be the better alternative.”

Although Ford sells efficient diesels in Europe — including the 50 mpg Focus — they are not able to meet the new emission standard in place in the US and because they would be unable to be profitable after adding the appropriate emissions reduction equipment. Instead, Ford will focus on turbocharger and gasoline direct injection as well as hybrids. Toyota is taking a similar stance, suggesting that the new US regulations make diesels less cost effective than hybrids. (link) I hope they are both wrong and I won’t be surprised to see them banging out a ‘slap together diesel’ well after other companies are growing this smart and exciting automotive segment.

EDIT from Autobloggreen: “Honda and Nissan, Toyota’s main Japanese competitors, have committed to bring clean diesel models to the U.S. by the end of the decade. Toyota, which has been quick to capitalise on hybrids but slow to jump on the diesel bandwagon, is hoping that its agreement with Japanese truck maker Isuzu Motors in November will give it a jump start. But it now seems that Toyota may not pursue a diesel strategy in the short term while plug-in hybrids are the flavour of the month.”

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Posted By RichC on January 10, 2007

Here a ‘raw’ post from Donna Lange (solo sailing around the world); she has updated shortly after completing her rounding of Cape Horn at the tip of South America.

Monday Good Morning HUGS!!!!!
Oh my Goodness.!!! how do I begin. iam safe and
sound in Puerto Williams, met by Jonathan Selby
and his family and ushered through customs and
immigration. Oh the tale to be told. the last
24 hours, rounding the horn, the early morning
dolphons and seals. through the morning yesterday,
there were very light winds. the engine was running
but acting very dtrange, revving iself. It is
always very hard for me to feel secrue if i am
relying on the engine. i have had too much trouble
with it to feel safe with it. yet it has safely
gotten me in. I laways motor with the mainsail
flying either as a backup and to help move along.
even the wind generated by the motoring along
can add a bit of speed with the main. The wind
is shifting port andstarbosard. NNE to N bt light.
I am making headway at 4kn. the islands arround
me are tundra covered with a green plushness. round.
but in the distance I can see mountains like the
Rockies and glaciers. I am in awe hoping I wil
be able to get closer to them. It is the Coast
of Tierra Del Fuego I see, ARgintina. My computer
is out. The only charts I hve for the trip up
the channel are computer files which is a bit nervewracking.
with limited power i won;t be able to leave it
on. I stepped below at one point, adn glanced
at the electrical panel. Oh mY God! 14V. The alternator
is putting out power.!! Alright! I can run the
computer. with the Sky Eye as a GPS, I have a chartplotter
to use. Not only is there a chart, but my position
adn dirction is live on the screen. live vessel
tracking. With this i can really relax about the
navigating. i know exactly where i am at al times
and i can leave it on, seeing it from my stance
in the cockpit. It is amazing how ong it takes
to move at 4kn. it it the pace of a fast walk
so think about walking 120miles in 24hours. As
long as the iwind is light, the steering vane will
not work so i must steer. On my boat there is
no where you can sit, see in front and have room
for the tiller to move around the cockpit so I
mostly stand on the cockpit seats lookinf over
my dodger forward. It was late morn when i finally
cleared between isla Nueva and Isla Lennox and
started heading more NW. i had been tacking ad
the wind had picked up enough that the steering
vane is steering. yet whenever i am close to land,
i have to be on deck. At this point, to sail with
the winds so on the nose, meant taking too wide
and so i motor sailed, pinching the wind all the
way. the steering vane could steer it. i wasn’t
getting much help from the sail, but a little.
The winds continued to pick up until i was becdoming
discouraged. my speed 2-3kn and i am just pushing
through 4’waves, absolutely stalled at times.
It would take me another 24 hours at this pace.
I was ina bigger area though and felt that i could
dare to go below and try to rest a 1/2 hour. Exhausted,
soaked to the skin with dampness. hat,gloves.
But I strip off my outer coat and climb under
my blankets, setting my timer for 30minutes. there
are no other boats to be seen and i have plenty
of room around me. Minutes later, i am aroused
by the whizzing of the wind generator. Suddenly
the boat is thrown sideways. i pull myself up
out of my bunk and get up the stairs. The wind
tossed the boat aside, water is flooding the deck
, pouring into the cockpit. oh my god, i could
go under here. I am grabbing at lines. letting
out sail, adjsting the stterring. then on deck
and to get the sail down. The sails are flailing
as i let them out. my poor genny is whipping around
like a flag in a torrent. I can’t get her in but
the boat setles in off the wind. full reef main
and i trim in the genny, about 1/4 size. we are
flyin 6kn right on course. It was then that i began
to take in all around me. the clouds above were
black, shearing, long whisps as you could see the
wind speed tearing them apart. But it is going
over. the thickest swirls moving on, but the gusts
keep coming. i’m standing in awe once more. inwardly
i hve perfect peace. I hav done it. I think it
was at this moment that the accomplishment of what
ihave done actually was realized in my spirit.
I felt confident, strong. I felt pride. I have
done it. Day and night, i have sailed my boat,
fixed her, worked hard and we have done it. We
have become true sailors. To some one else, that
squall would have potentially done great damage
and left them terrorized, but we are fine. It
is just fantastic. the intensity whirling, sea
crashing, landscape looming. It was a moment i
will not forget. When I truly ’rounded Cape Horn’.
I am so exhilerated. But the winds are icy and
i am soaked. soon my hands can’t bear the cold.
Anam Cara is steering, i have room. i go below,
once again set on closing my eyes for just few
minutes and geting warm. Polar fleece and wool
are amazing. wet through, they stil insulate.
And this time there is no emergency and i fall
asleep. But i didn’t wake with the alarm, though
only 45min later. A scare as i awoke. Shoot .
i couldn’t trust the alarm to wake me. i am too
tired now. no sleeping. Themountains on the ARgentina
side are steep and jagged. the hills on the cnilean
side, rolling a plush green. snow settled nto some
of the slopes still s it is early summer. Time
melts away. i love that about meditative peace.
exhaustion does it. Some 10hours past and I was
mesmerized by the scenes around. I came upon some
little rocks sticking up in the channel and they
were covered with Commerants(sp?), large cuck like
birds that swim like penguins. they look like
penguins on the rocks. a half dozen of these pillow
out there, covered with these flouffing birds.
squawking. amazing. ONe corner after another.
and with eac turn the wind shifts with me. it
had blown from every corner of the universe over
this day. fromNNE to SSE to NW and SW. The trial
was over. The wind dying down. I would have to
steer now. The channel is 2-3miles wide mostly.
The ‘Argentina Rockies’ to north. chilean hills
to south. At some moment I realize that i had not
seeen one habitation of humanity since i had seen
land. I imagine it was upon seeing the first box
of a building. yes, it was as i was going by PUerto
Toro, which was a potential stop off if i needed.
but now i was making good time. ONly a few barn
like buildings tucked into a raveen tight harbor.
all along the channel there were less than a dozen
buildings for 100’s of miles. True Wilderness.
JOhn Denvers songs of the wilds come back to me.
Wilderness untouched by humanity still exists.
glorious. Finally the last bouy markers are approaching
and i have my VHF out. batteries are low though.
i doubt i will be heard as i come into the harbor.
but jonathan is there. he may have been uncertain
as to whether i would make it tonight. Instead
i was way ahead of schedule. It was amazing to
feel impatient at the time waiting out those last
slow miles into the harbor. i have beendriving
for 24 hours and now i sudenly am feeling cold,
exhausted and impatient to be there. time slows
down. i creep along the shore. then take down
the sails, untilnow only down for a gale. furl
them and tie them. I try the VHF again, I hear
“Inspired Insanity. come back”. yes someone heard
me. only a few hundred feet on the shore i see
a hand waveing. it is jonathan running along the
shore. “Relax Jonathan,” i hollar out. “don’t run,
I can slow down.”. So i put the throttle to idol
and coast for a bit while jonathan settles int
a fast walk. Roxane comes on the vhf, ‘ donna,
come around the corner, Anahera is tied along the
sunken ship.”. Sure enough as i motor on past
the first boats tied onto the imfamous ship, there
is jonathan and Roxanne, fenders out taking my
lines. I step off to big hugs and tears. but excitement.
there are sailors standing by n the other boats.
They had heard of me on the chilean news related
to Ken. Congratualtions went out. Roxanne called
immigrantion and customs and did all the talking.
A glass of beer, toasts went up. It is always a
peaceful moent when i climb back on board after
tying up at the dock. The boat a shambles of use
and toss while i have to be steering. every piece
of equipment lying about. computer still on. GPS
saying sp. 0.0. We have stopped. a hush. it is
quiet, silent. no wind. my head still buzzing
like after a rock concert from the engines drone
of 24ours. There is a soft rain falling. i look
up the river farther and the most majestic scene
of peaked snow capped mountains in the distance.
a wooden out building across the way. plush green
meadows and the trees, gangly and tall. not pines.
Within an hour i am devouring a perfectly cooked
steak, local beer and amazing chat with my hosts.
and then afterwards the yacht club. Where there
is a charter group just returning from Antarctica.
there is so much knowing n our hears. so few words
necessary. so much love and connectedness drawing
us close. hugs come so natural. no pretenses.
no commerce, no things. just appreciation and
admiration we all share for the earth,the beauty
of nature and the teneacity of the human spirit.
These folks came and can not go back now. How
will I leave? it is so amalgamating the energy.
So there is my tale for today. we leave tomorrow
hopefully to get jonathan and roxane home to work
that awaits them. i will go on with my repairs
and hope to have 2 weeks to enjoy the territory.
I will try to get photos now that there are cameras
about and regular internet. Neil is making it possible
for folks to get involved with my heart passions
to try to help. I have it all. Now all I have is
ours. my experience, the strength, ..love..gratitude..
how deep is my sense of gratitude for allthose
who have energized this victory. truly you have
calmed the storms and held back raging seas for
me. turned the winds and held me in the palm of
love for all these days. Biggest of Hugs and loves
to all my family, I got an amazing letter from
Cooper, as my son so trusts and believes in our
love and our untiy as he skiies the tallest mountains
and i forge the southern seas. Oh how overwelming
the glory of life. xoxoxxo d

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Posted By RichC on January 9, 2007

“One game does not make the whole season” as the quote goes, but for the Ohio State Buckeyes, they couldn’t have lost a bigger
game, or perhaps I should say, the Florida Gators could not have won a bigger game. The evening at my house was somber as I grimaced at nearly every possession, chastising everyone standing on the Buckeye sideline. Eventually I pouted my way to bed and realized that the Florida Gators from top to bottom coached and played to near perfection. Coach Urban Meyer’s Gators dominated the undefeated Buckeyes although almost everyone expected the opposite. Florida State without question deserve to be the College Football National Champion.

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Posted By RichC on January 8, 2007

At the CinciTDI group we had a discussion about “Tire Pressure Monitoring” and I continue to come across a few extra tidbits worth sharing. Back in December I made a comment that the information Motorweek produced wasn’t as complete as it could have been, and so low and behold Pat Goss had another guest to fill us in a few gaps.

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Posted By RichC on January 7, 2007

In a post a couple of days ago I mentioned solo sailor, singer and songwriter Donna Lange and commented that I would see if I could get permission to share some of her music. I’ll include a couple cuts to the right sidebar under the heading “What I’m listening to,” with the caveat that if you like her music you’ll consider writing Donna’s mother and sending a check for $20 + $2.50 postage and handling for her music CD:
—
Donna Lange CD
Wilton Mobile Home Park
314 Louden Road, Lot 131
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-6514

As she navigates ever so close to South America’s ‘graveyard of the sea’ — Cape Horn — where fellow single-handed sailor Ken Barnes was just rescued, the better weather looks to be holding. In an email I received this morning from aboard SB Inspired Insanity, Donna wrote “I should be around the horn monday morn. i am just under 300miles, a solid 2 1/2 days. Then i will head up to the channel and to Puerto Williams. This is a challenging passage, but this sailor is now far more experienced and the equipment and repairs to her 28 foot boat have made it far safer than when she started. For me personally, it is good to see that there are still people dreaming and doing, sadly … 99% of us will forever be “just dreaming.”
🙁
EDIT-6PM update: Click here for an actual morning plot and an 18:00 EST estimated update as she approaches Cape Horn.

EDIT: I am following Donna’s voyage daily; here are a few other posts.

EDIT: Use the link on this post to connect with Google Earth daily plots of Donna’s progress along with log entries.

EDIT: Adding an ‘Equator Crossing’ updated post. Bristol, Rhode Island homecoming estimated in mid-April. Stay tuned to welcome Donna home.

I’ll finalize this post with the latest email that was sent to the handful communicating regularly with her … adventure types enjoy!

1625UTC 1125local/NY 0525NZ
LAND HO!!!!!!!
I had just got off the phone with Jonathan, confirming plans. The winds have gradually settled down over the last hour and it was time to take a reef out of the main. It is imperitive that i make good time today to make Puerto Williams by tomorrow night. As I open the companion way, a waft of warm air washes across my face, the sun filtering through a haze, soft white. There had been a ship that was going by earlier. As i strained my eyes to see it, I realized that in the liftng clouds, i was looking at Land, not horizon. The jagged edged mountain tops ridged and steep to the sea, were not clouds, but shadows of Chile’s Island of Tierra Del Fuego. I was suddenly full of excitement. just minutes ago I was daunted by the task of getting up to and along the channel,driving and sailing headwinds. But now the magic of the adventure has grabbed a hold of my imagination. The whales, seals. The sea captains. Those who live at Cape Horn, not just ‘go around’ it. The glaciers and penguins. The people here. And I will have an introduction. The music of Argentina…so romantic and passionate. I am still 54 miles from the Cape, but I should have some sight on it by this afternoon, and if I am not already around it at dark, surely its light will be shining close ahead. I have to find my camera. Shoot. in just 2 days i will have to be personable. If I know me, at some point, especially if the sun really comes out, i will take a bath and wash my hair. try to scrub 2 months worth of dead skin off my shins. it seems to be worst there. It only gets like this because it has been cold. even the first weeks when it was still relatively warm, i was ‘air fluffing my skin’, but once it gets cold, i become a hermit hiding in my polar fleece layers. Next sighting… the CAPE. loves to all. xoxoxo d

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Posted By RichC on January 7, 2007

Volkswagen has started strong in the Dakar Rally this year as after the first stage they have capture the top 5 spots of 187 cars in the race. Portuguese car racer Carlos Sousa was first in this grueling off-road event which travels some 5,000 miles through Europe and Africa. Sousa time for the first stage was 1 hour, 20 minutes, 38 seconds, which was followed by four more VeeDubs. So far they have made good on they goal of taking spots away from Mitsubishi cars capturing first through fifth finishes. Stage one covered 288 miles, with 73 miles timed.

The NASCAR driver Robby Gordon finished 13th in stage one; he was the first American to win a Dakar Rally stage back in 2005 and looks to keep the pressure on. The race includes cars, trucks, motorcycles and all-terrain vehcles which consists of 525 teams from 42 countries. There are 250 motorcycles, 187 cars and 88 trucks competing this year.

Sunday’s stage two will be from Portimao to Malaga in Spain and cover 339 miles then the race continues into Africa, entering Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and the Senegal capital of Dakar, where the competitors are to finish Jan. 20.

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Posted By RichC on January 6, 2007

I’m following up yesterday’s (1/5/2007) post about the California sailor Ken Barnes partially because the news media has picked up the story and and partially because of my sailing passion. In my opinion, this notoriety due to the family going public has been helpful in his rescue and the attention being paid to getting him safety back to the US. I’m not suggesting that those doing the actual rescuing are doing anything different, but the bureaucrats behind the scene might be giving the effort higher priority since all networks are covering the story? Nevertheless, the news is good and Ken Barnes is heading home to a waiting and grateful family. (see clip below)

Many watching or reading the news have now heard about Ken Barnes and his 44 foot boat “Privateer,” but don’t know about another single handed sailor in the same blow only 150 miles away sailing a 28 foot boat. I mentioned Donna Lange yesterday in my post, as her story also deserves note. I’m in email communication with her on her boat ‘Insanity Island’ and have enjoyed her perspective on sailing around Cape Horn. She should be rounding the tip of South America this weekend if all goes as planned; the weather looks about as positive as it could be for now. Check out her interesting story as she finishes her voyage at www.donnalange.com … and also consider purchasing her music CD. (I’ll see if I can get permission to include an short mp3 tickler song)

Here’s a 10 minute segment from “On the Record” with Greta VanSusteren on 1/5/2007 as she interviews Ken Barnes family after talking to Ken. I found it appropriate that they were very grateful for those who put in significant effort and risk to get to the stranded sailor.

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Posted By RichC on January 5, 2007

UPDATE: Just before 6AM EST the fishing trawler Polar Pesca 1 rescued Ken Barnes. (FoxNews Alert Quicktime link)
—
Ken Barnes is a 47 years old from Southern California single handed sailor who was heading for Round Cape Horn in his 44 foot ketch
Privateer. A wicked storm has battered his yacht, de-masting both masts, damaging his hatch and leaving him without power. Most concerning is that, according to reports from his satellite phone, he has been injured. (a deep cut on his leg) Another low is heading his way from the west and his boat will most likely not make it. Currently a rescue attempt is underway, hopefully to have him picked up by today. Yesterday’s photo from a Chilean P3 airplane has confirmed the damage. Fellow solo sailor Donna Lange is within 150 miles, but her ability to rescue him in time seems unlikely. According to her website, she was in VHF contact with a Navy vessel this morning on their way to Ken’s last position below. (talked with LATimes as well) Also in case she,or her internet friends are reading this, I did a virtual buoy forecast check for the weather around Cape Horn (from my current calculations she is about 350 miles away?) and the predicted low will be impacting north of her position, but should be better this weekend the farther south she is. Best of luck around the Horn.

This story has been picked up by most of the network news as well as the Greta VanSusteran “On the Record” last night; she interviews the family in the attached video clip.

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Posted By RichC on January 4, 2007

The formalities of electing a new Speaker of the House took place in Washington DC today as Nancy Pelosi from California took the gavel
from Ohio Congressman John Boehner. The ceremony was the place to be today in our nation’s capital, as for the first time in our nation’s history a women was elected to the position of Speaker of the House. There were no tickets to be had, even if you were the mayor California’s largest city, Nancy Pelosi’s home state.

The speeches today from both Boehner and Pelosi were balanced with humility and hope. Both reflected on the public service of the late President Gerald Ford who served 25 years in the house, 8 of them as Speaker. Speaker Pelosi reflected on her strong Democratic background, but commented that she will operate in a “partnership” with Republicans, not “partisanship.”

She did close with rather prideful moment, suggesting that “today we [women] have broken the marble ceiling.” Her remarks also pointed to a new direction in Iraq, which clearly outlines her intention is to push the President for an end to the war and to pressure Iraqis in securing their own country. She stressed that she wanted to see a new America and listed items on her agenda: health care, job security, social security, energy and “pay as you go; no new deficit spending.”

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