Biking it

My son, Mitch, and I decided to take a bike ride this weekend - not as a way to fight back against high gas prices, but just to enjoy some nice afternoon free time. Well, I say it like we decided to go for a bike ride, and that's not quite right. My son decided we should go for a bike ride, and he persuaded my by pulling my bike out of the shed and placing it in front of the back door, where I would see it as I was preparing to do something else.
In recent years there has been talk of extending the bike trail around Hutchinson, so that a person on a bicycle could make his or her way anywhere from the west edge of town to the Dillon Nature Center on the east side, without the dangers of riding down a busy street. I really hope this happens. Mitch and I discovered how nice a trail connected to business areas can be. From our home we rode a few blocks to the Martinez trail at 11th Ave. We followed it to Carey Park and then took the Frank Hart crossing, which offers a protected cross way for walkers and bikers, into South Hutchinson. Once over the bridge, followed the new South Hutchinson trail all the way to McDonalds near the K-61/K-96 interchange. We chained our bikes together - there wasn't a bike rack anywhere - and went in to eat some lunch. While we were there, we picked up a couple movies at the Red Box machine and tossed them into Mitch's backpack. Then we headed back to town, following the same route. The only snag was a flat tire on Mitch's bike that forced us to walk part of the way.
It was a good ride, didn't take too long and was quite fun. I think Mitch and I are going to do this regularly.
A trail that could take us to Dillon Nature Center or to shopping on 30th or 17th would be a great addition to Hutchinson's trail system. Unless that happens, I don't think it's likely people will stop driving and ride their bikes instead for small shopping trips. Hutchinson roadways aren't the most biker friendly streets, particularly the busier streets like Monroe, Adams and Main. Plus, there should be more bike racks - Mitch and I had to lean our bikes against the Kwik Shop building because we couldn't find a better place to put them.

Back when prices were "cheap" ... a month ago.

Sad. Very sad.

Since we started this gas blog about a month ago, the price of fuel has jumped 30 cents a gallon. I remember the decision to start blogging our thoughts on the gas prices. We just couldn't believe we were paying $3.49 a gallon.

I gasped in horror the other day when I saw $3.79 gas - just in time for Memorial Day weekend.

This will be an especially busy holiday for me - with a bridal shower in McPherson Saturday, a wedding in Kansas City Sunday and a party with friends back here in Hutchinson on Monday.

Forget the honeymoon. Maybe we can use some of the wedding money to pay off the gas card.

~EH

Fuming about vacation

I'm beginning to worry that the price of gas may be the thing that undoes my marriage.

We've endured a lot of difficulties in our 13 years together, but never have we faced anything as daunting as the prospect of $4 per gallon gasoline at the height of vacation season.

While my wife likes to travel and see different parts of the world, I'm just as content with a week at the lake or a planless, d0-whatever-I-want-whenever-I-want-to-do-it vacation. As I watch gas prices continue to spiral upward - $3.69 at last check - I'm really trying to make the argument for a nice week off at home.

"The kids really want to go to SeaWorld, and it's something they'll remember for a long, long time," Kim said to me.

"Yeah, but it will cost $400 in gas just to get down there - that will go a long way at the lake," I answered. "Besides, the kids will always remember the vacations we didn't take, too."

I don't know exactly how this one will end, but I expect I'll be in the market for subcompact car that can haul my family down to Texas for only $300.

If there's any question about how these gas prices are now a fact of life instead of a temporary inconvenience, one need look no further than his text messaging or email inbox. I've been hit recently with dozens of high gas price jokes - many of which carry a certain .... belligerent quality that makes them unfit for republication here.

And here's a final thought - I was watching The Daily Show the other night, and Jon Stewart pointed out that the oil companies have launched a massive PR campaign to show how the business of oil isn't as lucrative as some people might think as they're watching their kids' college funds burn up in an internal combustion engine.

Turns out that oil companies don't make any money from the sale of oil - all their precious profit is gobbled up by the rising cost of crude oil, refining and taxes. Here's a graphic from the American Petroleum Institute to prove it.

OK, so they do admit to making a 7.5 percent profit, but I'll tell you what - 7.5 percent of $3.69 is a heck of a lot more than the same percentage on $2.00 gas.

--JP

Happy Mother's Day! Can I have some money?

Last weekend my fiance, Seth, and I drove to my homeland - also known as Chapman, Kan. - to visit my mom on Mother's Day.
I could not wait to get out of town.
It had been at least two months since I'd seen my mom and much too long since I'd talked to her on the phone. I was definitely going through mom withdrawals.
My mom is the kind of woman who just makes everything OK.
Don't picture her as June Cleaver, though. She doesn't bake much, her house is not immaculate, and she does not wear belted-dresses and heels.
She teaches first graders all day and has for decades. She likes exploring with her students and doesn't hesitate to pick up a harmless snake or a toad to give the kiddos a better look.
She has a simple, direct wisdom about her and a lot of times it's just what I need to get my perspective straight.

My mom, the rodeo queen

So on Sunday, I rushed Seth out of church and we headed toward Chapman - which is about an hour and a half away.
Before we left town, we gassed up.
We had about half a tank, but Seth has this thing about NOT running out of gas - or even really getting close - so we filled up.
Since it was my mom, my hometown - I paid.
The numbers rolled. And rolled. And rolled.
When the pump finally clicked off I saw the damage - $50. For half a tank of gas!
I have to admit, it kind of knocked the wind out of me.
During the drive up to Chapman I contemplated whether my trips home were going to have to be fewer and farther between. I couldn't imagine cutting back on my visits home, but the fact that prices will continue to increase would creep back into my mind, reminding me that "You can't afford this."
We pulled into mom's driveway just before lunchtime. She came out with her bare feet and gave us both a hug. We had a great lunch of pork chops, and asparagus straight from her garden.
Seth quickly found a book and a couch to occupy his afternoon and I helped mom plant some flowers. We ran errands and laughed and talked and played with the dogs. She listened to my worries and, as usual, gave me some perspective.
When we pulled out of her driveway that evening, I was feeling more relaxed and happier than I had for weeks.
And it occurred to me that, in this time of rising costs - specifically the cost of gasoline - there are some things I am unwilling to give up to save a buck. Or 50.
-EH

Edie on E

As is typical, my car's gas needle is pointing disapprovingly to the big red "E."

Despite being relatively responsible in other aspects of life, I tend to act like a teenager when it comes to my car.

I drive too fast. I don't pay enough attention to what is happening around me, and I tend to forget to fill up my gas tank.

Sometimes I cut it a bit too close and run out of gas. Yup - all the way. Like broken-down-on-the-side-of-the-road-calling-the-nearest-relative-or-forgiving-friend out of gas.

Usually it's just forgetfulness but this time it is pain. Pure pain.

Thus far I've been able to avoid this unpleasantness by gleefully slipping into the passenger seat of my fiance's car whenever we need to drive somewhere. He likes to drive (actually, I think it is more that he DOESN'T like me to drive) so it tends to work out.

I remember to give him some gas money when we go on long trips, but for the little errands around town, he foots the whole bill. Since our checkbooks haven't yet merged, this has kept me pretty blissfully unaware of just what paying $3.50 per gallon feels like.

Last night, knowing that either a fill-up or break down was in my near future, I started considering how much longer I could afford gas without changing my habits.

Eventually my driver is going to become my husband and then it will be OUR money he's spending on gas, not his - so I have to figure this thing out.

I told myself that right off I needed to start driving less like a race car driver and more like a sensible adult. This should bring relief to my parents, friends and anyone who has the opportunity to ride with me.

If that doesn't work, I'll start moving on to some of the other gas-saving tips compiled here.

But what if that's not enough? What else could I do? Walking to work, not going home for lunch, and limiting long trips have all crossed my mind. What do you do, dear blog readers, to save gas? Do you have any advice? Leave a comment!

~ EH

Weekend gas up

This is what a grimmace looks like. It's not a wrinkled lip and bared teeth - well that's there, too, it's just not in the photo. This clearly is a photo of a gas pump in the spout of my gas tank, but trust me, I'm grimacing.

I drove around on fumes for three days hoping the price would drop, but it never did. Finally, on Sunday morning, I didn't have any choice but to break down and buy 21 gallons of gas for the low, low price of $75. To top it all off, I had one of those Dillons gas coupons at home - you know the coupon you get for 2 cents off per gallon for every $100 you spend at Kwik Shop's corporate partner, Dillons. Anyway, I'm not usually much on coupons, but at these prices, I'm gonna keep one in my wallet all the time.

There's something I've been wanting to do, but I'm too scared to do it. I drew up a budget three or four years ago, and one of the line items was for fuel. I'm not certain, but I think I budgeted something like $150 or $200 for two vehicles. Now, I'm certain it's over $400 and some months approaches $600, depending on my travel needs. I wonder, too, how people with few means are able to pay for gas. It wasn't too awfully long ago that I had to gather three of my closest and least judgemental friends to help me scrape together enough loose dollar bills and couch cushion coins to buy $5 of fuel to get me through to payday. I don't know how one ever finds $50 sitting in a car ash tray or in between the seats.

Anyway, here's the damage after Sunday's fill up: $74.41. So far, the price is still holding steady at $3.49

JP

So, gas prices jumped ten cents overnight and I'm sitting on a quarter tank of gas. Last week, it cost me $73 to fill up my truck and it drinks gas like a dehydrated marathon runner drinks water. Now, I'm looking at spending more than $80 to fill it up.

A couple years ago, when gas was creeping up to $2 a gallon, I started riding a bike to work. That lasted about 2 weeks, mostly because my coworkers didn't appreciate me coming in smelling like a sweaty sock. Tonight, I spent an hour online looking at Web sites selling motorized scooters and re-engineered chainsaw engines that can be mounted onto a bicycle. But I know that I'll keep driving to work, because I don't like waking up early enough to walk to work and I have two kids that usually have somewher to go - and I don't like the thought of hauling them on my back while I troll around town on my scooter.

Rumor has it that gas will hit $4 a gallon this summer, and I heard for the first time today a new phrase: Stay-cation. I guess it means that people will stay home this summer instead of traveling across the country for a much-needed vacation. Instead, they'll stay inside their own homes, crank up the AC and find cheaper ways to entertain themselves. Wow, Bush's economic stimulus plan is looking better all the time - to the oil companies.

Anyway, in an effort to serve our readers, we're going to keep an eye out for the cheapest gas prices in town. It'll only be a few cents difference from anywhere else, I imagine, but every cent counts these days, I suppose.