my journey, hopefully without the loop around colorado
I’m moving out to Colorado. For the Greenest Dude Ever, this provides a few problems:
1) How do I move out there while making the least possible environmental impact?
2) How do I make a trip through the mid-west, quite possibly the most boring place in the known universe, entertaining? No offense Indiana.
3) How do I record this whole thing while still making an efficient trip?
4) How do I avoid being lured into stopping to see the worlds largest ball of yarn?
I’ll start with the first problem. Although not the most efficient choice, I’ve decided to drive as I really want to see the midwest and take the journey. Here’s what I’ve done to reduce my impact while driving:
1) Oil Change
2) Air Filter Change
3) Filled Tires
4) Packed all my food so I don’t have to stop when I get hungry and to reduce waste created by fast food.
I’ll track all the gas used and record my milage as to get an accurate reading for my mpg’s. I’ll compare this to my Subaru’s mpg calculator. Alright I’ll need to get to packing I’m leaving tomorrow, August 16th @ 6AM.
Wish me luck!
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August 15th, 2008 at 10:53 am
If you’re moving, why don’t you sell your car, or have it shipped (moving a bunch of cars with one truck engine is better). BTW, you could sell your car, and rent/buy a more efficient car than your Subaru such as a smaller car with a 4-cyl engine, or a hybrid vehicle.
Or, the least impactful way? Take the train. Pack your stuff up into shippable containers to pack on the cargo train cars, and take the passenger train to Colorado.
Here’s all the Amtrak stations:
http://stations.amtrak.com/amtrak/StationSearchResults.jsp
August 15th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Thanks for the suggestions Mike. I’m moving only a portion of my stuff in my car. The rest of my house will be packed by movers and shipped over.
As far as selling the car, I think that keeping my old car will do more for the earth than getting a new one, no matter how fuel efficient it is. Besides, I just don’t have the money to spend on a new/used car at the moment.
My next car purchase will be one that runs on the hopes and dreams of small children. That, or the despair of the middle aged. Whichever, is the most abundant.