Ulrich:
Again, I totally agree. We drive a 2014 Honda Odyssey. I love it. It's big - it's not likely to be missed by another motorist. It's powerful - being able to get out of the way of other traffic (idiots?) is important to me. It's comfortable - I have four fused vertebrae so ducking my head to get into most vehicles is very uncomfortable! And, it holds a ton of stuff.
We bought our first Odyssey because we needed space for two kids and a dog. To be truthful, I thought at the time we were spending an extra $10,000 just for dog space but the dog was really comfortable! Now, I just like the way the thing drives and I like the elevated view of traffic that it gives, and I like Honda's service. They are good people, at least at Newmarket Honda.
To be honest, every time I get into it I feel good. How's that for customer satisfaction?
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Frank:
That is a beautiful car!
Frank - they certainly knew how to make great looking cars back then - cars with a character of their own, distinct in their appearance and still affordable for many. Today´s cars are, at least to my eyes, all look-alikes, and the only way you can distinguish a Mercedes from a Hyundai these days is by the emblem.
I used to be a car nut myself for a long time. I was fortunate to have top-notch company cars like Merceds S-class, BMW 7 series, Audi 8 and even a boy-racer Porsche 911 Turbo. I am glad I am through with that!
Dave - with my hulk of 6´5" and a weight above 200 lbs. (I won´t tell you how much above that figure), I find it virtually impossible to climb into most of the cars these days. I have no need for a SUV but for the sheer comfort and high and upright seating position I´d love to have one. My little VW is also quite OK in that matter.
At 6' 5" you have me beat by at least 2 1/2". However, I am envious of your weight even if it is above 200 lbs. I weigh about 315 lbs. and I really regret the belly that I have formed over the last 10 or 15 years. The extra weight doesn't do my back any good at all either. I eat very healthy meals but I'm a booze hound. That's my weakness and it's hard thing to stop. I have been a heavy drinker all of my adult life. My bad!
As for head room in vehicles, my first car was an Austin Mini (with a Cooper twin Carb conversion I might add!) and I had no head room problems at all. My next car was an MGB, and likewise I had no headroom issues with it either. In fact, when I was an Air Cadet Reserve Officer, I could quite comfortably wear my flat top Officer's hat even with the roof up. Try that in a modern car. Of course, my butt was basically scraping the road but I didn't care.
It's all in the way the automotive companies design their seats. A good friend of mine just bought a used Honda CRV. Despite the fact that it is a rather tall vehicle, the seats are still too high for me to get in comfortably without me having to strain my neck. Poor design.
Oh how I would love to have another MG! I gave up an MGC GT several years ago because I couldn't afford it and the family. How I wish now that I had just parked it in the garage with a tarp over it!
If someone would ask me about my today´s dream car, I would present this one without a moment of hesitation:
No headroom problems, no bending down or getting on your knees to crawl into it, no frill, no gadgets, nothing that can really break down and can last for ages with a little TLC.
They don´t make them no more - a victim of ill-guided environmental and safety legislation, but thta´s getting into politics.
Maxman if you are still there, eat at Fin Alley in Fenwick or Barn 34 in OC.
Our flies preferred our sun tan lotion over the people next to us on the beach. It was a little too hot and humid to suit my taste mid week. The hotel was big enough to block all the ocean breeze from the lower floors we were on.
We are home now preparing for a track inspection of the Durango & Silverton. Low's in the 40's hope the leaves are starting to change.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Good morning everybody.
I'm already busy..... Since coming home, I had to fix one of the AC units, and I am trying to fix one of the water heaters. I suspect the electonic controls for the water heater were messed up by a power surge while we were gone. Technology drives me crazy.
Ray .... Speaking of southern Ohio, that is where I was when I took the photo. The freeway was blocked by a seven vehicle accident in my photo. I was about 25 miles north of the border with Kentucky (Ohio River)...... However, there were numerous delays caused my major construction projects.
Ricky .... Sounds like a big mess for you driving in Cleveland area. We use I-75 from Cincinnati through Toldeo going from Kentucky to eastern Michigan... Much of I-75 in Ohio has been under consturction for years. Currently, it is under construction from the Ohio/Michigan border to the interchange with US 6 which is about 70 miles south of Toledo. There also is construction on I-75 in Cincinnati. ... The first 70 miles as we were southbound took about 3 hours. It was very bad.
Ed ... That looks like an interesting old caboose in Louisville. .... We normally roll right through Louisville without stopping if we can help it. This time, however, we did take a short break in Shepherdsville a few miles south of Louisville.
Anyhow.... The trip was really nice... We saw the daughter who now lives in New Baltimore, MI on Lake St Claire with her husband and two kids. ... We saw our other daughter who lives in Grand Rapids with her two kids and husband.... We saw Shelley's sister withe her husband and one of her kids. We saw Shelley's cousin and his wife. .... Stopping briefly in Cincinnati we saw our son who lives there and his wife and two kids. ...
Speaking of vehicles, I really like driving the Avalanche on trips which I did this time. Going north, I hauled some furnture to our son in Cincinnati. On the way home we had a load of miscellaneous stuff we picked up in Michigan. The truck has a very smooth ride.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Morning all.
Garry - I hear you on the road construction. That was part of the problem that day in Cleveland, they are redoing the Beltway bridge, and the other problem, was the ball game was in town, and there was a air show at Burke Lakefront airport. Both were done around the same time. Whoops! Then you have the ever present construction, and the lane restrictions, and you have yourself one major traffic jam!
Ken - Now it makes sense! A gift car is nice, and totally explains the make and model choice! Wish the Bob & Sue I know would gift a car!
Zoe - I will go for an fried egg sandwich, on wheat bread, toasted please, with cheddar and bacon, and a OJ. Thanks.
Weather - Extremely humid today, with chance of severe storms this afternoon. And I am MOD this afternoon and evening... Best have a phone on me, just incase.
W**k - I go in later, around lunchtime, and am there till close @8pm. If the weather guessers are correct, we might end up closing early. If our lights go out, we shut down everything for safety reasons. (No need having someone bump into anything in the dark!) If our weather gets bad enough, we will lock up, and everyone either goes home then and there, or is stuck inside until everything blows over. Of course, then I am on the phone with our district manager, home office, and our security manager, as well as the store manager who is off today. So kinda hoping for a nice, quiet day weather wise...
Hope all enjoy the day!
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
I thought I would share a couple of pictures from this morning's bike ride. East of Phoenix is the Tonto National Forest (more like the Tonto National Desert, but the name is "Forest"). In the area by us, there is a population of wild horses. This morning's ride was interupted by a group of the horse meandering across the road. Here they are, grazing on the side of the road.
They are amazing, beautiful animals.
On the train front, I received notification that my skirting has shipped and will be here on Wednesday. I am looking forward to hiding the clutter.
Richard
V8VegaAre you guys aware of what a Tesla cost?
Dennis - I am only too aware how expensive that car is!
The high price of it makes it into what gasoline engine powered cars where around 1900 - an expensive toy for adventurous rich men, daring to go overland in such a contraption. Town folks drove a Detroit Electric! Hard to believe that places like Macy´s offered free battery charging for their customers!
Hardly anyone today still knows, that around and about 1900, 40% of all road vehicles were steam-powered, a little less, 38 % had electric power drives, and only 22% had a gasoline engine. That changed when Henry Ford introduced his Model T, supposedly subsidized by Rockefeller to boost gasoline sales after losing the lamp oil market to electricity...
Imagine if we would not have that backlog of over 100 years in developing electric cars!
Hybrid drives are just a milestone, but not the answer. Having two different types of motors is 廃棄物 or haiki-mono, meaning waste of resources, it does not matter whether both types are used for propulsion or one only to charge the batteries.
Richard.... I like the wild horses next to the raod.
Meanwhile, in KY, look what is in the road.
Speaking of Tesla cars, I was just talking with a friend who took one on a trip. He said it was a pain in the behind because there are not enough places to recharge. Also, the Teslas don't drive safely in winter weather because the vehicle recharges while coasting, and that means resistance in the wheels causing loss of control on slippery pavement.
V8 Vega... You mentioned liberals living in CA. That is a kind of people who will never ever make any sense to me.
Ken ... I hope the car works out for you. I don't think it has enough miles on it to cause major problems. Things like power windows can be fixed if they fail to work .
Happy Model Railroading.
Speaking of cars, my daughter sold Carol the Corolla yesterday and got $800. I was amazed.
Carol is a 1999 Corolla. We bought it for her when she turned 16 1/2 and could drive herself. I wanted her to have a year or two of driving around town on low-speed streets before she went away to college. That tactic worked well. She had a lot of experience as an every day driver by the time she left home.
When I retired, I swapped cars with her so she had a newer, more reliable car, since I did not need to drive to work every day. A couple of months ago, Carol the Corolla got hit while parked in a lot. There was body damage, but the car was still driveable. The adjuster must have liked me. He gave me a check for $1500 for the repairs, barely under the book value. Our daughter said she was planning on buying her own car very soon, so I told her she could have the $1500 and the car. You should have seen how happy she was. We ended up getting $2300 for a $1600 car, and some kid in Maine got a dented but otherwise serviceable car.
As for me, I've got my VW Jetta back and I'm very happy about that too.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Hello all,
Sorry I haven't been here, been busy with school and work.
Had school yesterday (9-12:30pm), Work (4-8pm), Work today 11-9pm) Tomorrow (2:40-8pm) Monday (School 8-9:15am) & Work (12-9pm) off three days after.
Quick Question: I would like to try uploading some photos, does HP Photosmart Essential 3.5 work on this forum?
My computer and photobucket do not like each other, If I had more than one tab up while using Photobucket, it would freeze them and I had to close all tabs and reboot Mozilla Firefox.
I have an hp computer and tower, so anyone please list all of the sites that work to upload photos on this forum.
Gotta run.
Good Afternoon Diners,
A sunny 65F here today which sadly is about normal for this time of year. At least we haven't had any frost yet.
Frank, nice looking '49! I always liked them a lot. My uncle bought one new and I remember riding in it as a very young lad. I still have the sales brochure that was issued by Ford in '49.
Here in Winnipeg most taxis are Prius. Full electric cars don't do well in winter but the Toyota Prius seems to be fine. By the way, Winnipeg is the coldest city of 750,000 pop. on earth so it is a good test for electric cars. There are very few Teslas around here. As far as plug in goes, outlets for block heaters are everywhere there is a parking garage. I have stuck with Volvos since 2000 and find they perform well in the cold besides being very comfortable and nice to drive. I have a 2010 S80 right now and plan on keeping it for a lot longer as it only has about 45,000 miles on it. Gas mileage is just ok but it sure has good power.
Ken, that is a nice looking car.
Nothing new on the RR front.
We are just about to head off for a grocery run so will sign off for now.
CN Charlie
BigDaddyMaxman if you are still there, eat at Fin Alley in Fenwick or Barn 34 in OC. Our flies preferred our sun tan lotion over the people next to us on the beach.
Vicious little critters, weren't they?
Back home now, so maybe next time at the Fin Alley. Saw that place yesterday while driving around and boss wanted to see what the store in front had. I wondered if Fin Alley was supposed to be pronounced "Finally".
We did make the mistake of eating at the Bonfire, one of the buffet places. The buffet was $35.99 each, so total for two came to $89.66 by the time tax and gratuity were added.
We also ate at Lombardi's. That was not bad at all.
On cars, we drive a Chevy Colorado pickup. It has been a great vehicle for the past 10 years. It has carried us from Ohio to Flin Flon 8 times, a 2,800 mile round trip. It is easy to get in and out of and is also a great way to carry lots of luggage.
We did stay at a motel in Indianapolis while attending the NMRA Convention that had a Tesla charging set up for 8 cars. Each morning and evening a few Tesla's were there getting charged up. Looked to take about 20 minutes for the charging process. Friend talked about getting one in the north for a daily driver as he has about a 18 mile commute to work. Comments on loss of control in cold weather on wet pavement were interesting.
Time to take the dog for her evening walk.
Jim
JAMES MOON We did stay at a motel in Indianapolis while attending the NMRA Convention that had a Tesla charging set up for 8 cars. Each morning and evening a few Tesla's were there getting charged up. Looked to take about 20 minutes for the charging process. Friend talked about getting one in the north for a daily driver as he has about a 18 mile commute to work. Comments on loss of control in cold weather on wet pavement were interesting. Jim
CentralGulfthe idea that the Tesla recharges while "coasting" seems odd. I know it employs regenerative braking, but I can't understand why it would decide to brake while coasting. Confused
Tesla and most all EV's and HV (Hybred cars and trucks). Are made to handle the way a gas (or diesel) does when you take your foot off the accelerator. In a non-hybred/electric vehicle taking your foot off the "gas" will give you engine braking. The electrics give a small amount of braking when you do that so it feels just like an "ICE" powered vehicle. I have never driven a Tesla, but doubt very much that it would normally give you any different feel when you release the accelerator. My PiP feels just like any gas powered (ICE) vehicle I have ever owned. When you push on the brakes it adds braking using the electric motor (being used as a generator, not using any power from the car battery) to use up the energy stored in the forward motion and slow the car. Push further and the regular brakes kick in and slow the car with friction producing heat which is now lost to the air. The "regenerative" braking stores most of the electric being generated by braking in the traction battery, thus creating efficiency and the ability to reuse that energy to start the car again. Braking going down the long hill to get to the Museum gives me .7 or .8 miles of pure electric which I can use to get most of the way back up the hill when I leave.
There is so much just plain rediculous missinformation that has gone around about "those" new fangled kinda thingies with cars....
The average Hybred can go 150,000 or much more miles without replacing anything to do with the brakes because you really don't usually use the friction brakes over 15 miles an hour. That is also the big reason for using "Dynamic" braking on train locomotives so the friction brakes don't have to be replace anywhere near as often, saving $$$$ for the Train Companies!
My Pip handles as well or even better on ice and slippery pavement than any other car I have owned or driven, and far, far better than any pickup truck I have driven over the years. In fact the computerized braking in the PiP has saved my neck on a couple occassions where other cars just kept right on going right into the back end of the car ahead of them. I have learned that the best thing to do is to just hit the brakes hard and let the car do it's thing! Oh and on this tank so far I am getting 81mpg, and my car is not more expensive than similar gas guzzlers out there.
Sheesh!!!
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Pip? Plug in Prius?
I understand that a small amount of regenerative braking would simulate a gasoline powered vehicle's engine braking, but the original source for this story seems to have implied it is strong enough to cause issues on slipperly surfaces, which seems strange, so I think we are in agreement on that point.
However, I will take issue with a couple of your points. Diesels do not provide significant engine braking in the manner of gasoline engines, with the rare exception of throttle plate equipped diesels.
Far too many people are claiming incredible mileage figures for plug-in hybrids, usually by simply ignoring the energy consumed from the electric power source. It is impossible to calculate an accurate "gas mileage" figure if any of those miles were powered by energy obtained by other than the gas in the tank. If any of those 81 miles per gallon of yours were powered by any means other than gasoline, you did not in fact get 81 mpg.
The same thing goes for so called "Zero Emissons" vehicles, such as the Tesla. Emissions result from the generation of the electric power required to charge the cars' battery. The emissions have simply been relocated from the vehicle's tailpipe to the power plant's smoke stack.
In the overall scheme of things, there may or may not be a net enironmental positive in operating a rechargeable electric vehicle in lieu of a gasoline or diesel powered model. It would depend on the totality of the circumstances, including the efficiency of constant load generation versus the sporadic demand of an indiviual automobile, transmission losses across the grid, and the social and hard money costs of relocating emissions to rural areas in order to benefit megalopolises (think LA gasoline burners versus smokestacks in the Mojave as one example), plus many other factors too complicated to list here.
Please, everyone realize there is simply no such thing as a zero emissions vehicle. That is pure spin from the politicians and the EV advocates.
CNCharlieFrank, nice looking '49! I always liked them a lot. My uncle bought one new and I remember riding in it as a very young lad. I still have the sales brochure that was issued by Ford in '49.
CN Charlie and to Other's comments,
Thank You for Your kind words on the 49'....It was just about a basket case when I got it, took about 2 1/2 yrs. to finish...complete engine and drive train rebuild, that I did Myself. The V8 flathead is almost stock, except the three dueces I put on it. Was one of My favorites.
One of My other favorites, (which I still kick Myself for selling) was My plain Jane ''sleeper''. Did not have to do very much to this one! A 1954 Ford Police Interceptor, 256cui. Ford downdraft four barrel carb, 3-speed overdrive, with a 411 posi-rearend. Not available at the time to the general public. I got it from a Police chief friend of mine in WI. It had 48,000 original miles on it and not a rust spot to be found...interior was like brand new!
Take Care, All!
Frank
Evening Diners
Flo, Ed and I will have a please.
Frank While a lot of Ford's clear will go to heck in a hand basket some the base coat will come off first depending on the color. Believe me, this car will have to be taken to bare metal. Question is just when? Remember when I said see the gray spot near the center of the roof?
That Frank is the factoy base / seal coat. I hope to keep the car touched up with a Air Brush till it is falling off in sheets. Guess one of the reason it will bug me, is because now it still looks great!
Heartland Division CB&QThings like power windows can be fixed if they fail to work .
Gary Yes anything can be fixed, if you have the funds. On the year Town Cars I have, the power windows start dying at around 95,000 miles. Cost would be around $300.00 per window. OK, I am not worried about working windows if the A/C still works. Reason I gave up on my Town Car is the A/C is dying and none of the widows work. There is more to it than that, but time to sale it.
V8VegaKen from your description that car sounds like a good, I sure woulden't complain especally as a gift.
Dennis Like I said, I know I sound like I am looking in the gift horse mouth and conting it's theet. I am more worried about the possible up keep. Example, I found a 98,000 mile 1993 Town Car for $2000.00 and I was ready to jump on it! Found out the flapper control was bad, no big deal, should be $200.00 to repair if it is vacuum one. It was not, it was electric and you had to remove the dash to install. $700.00 repair so I passed on it.
Rick For my taste in HP Cars it is Mopar. Far as current Mopars, well I would like a newer Challanger, maybe a Chrylser 300 and that is about it I am sad to say. There current Dodge Charger, well it is OK I guess. I would take a newer Mustang (don't like the 2016) over a newer Charger. Well not if it had the Hell Cat engine!
Train Front Lost power on the B line in the hardest area to get to! It is all so the worst part of the layout, did it 10 years ago with out a clue to what I was doing. A line is running well and with it being 90 feet of track I can still run two trains. B&O F7A's are running great!
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
Hi Central Gulf...
Yep, PlugIn Prius.
CentralGulfDiesels do not provide significant engine braking in the manner of gasoline engines, with the rare exception of throttle plate equipped diesels.
Won't argue that as I have no experience with diesel cars or trucks. My experience has been with many diesel farm tractors. All I know is that when I throttled down (when not under load) the tractor slowed down the same as the gas ones.... They were pretty much manual transmissions too.
CentralGulfFar too many people are claiming incredible mileage figures for plug-in hybrids, usually by simply ignoring the energy consumed from the electric power source. It is impossible to calculate an accurate "gas mileage" figure if any of those miles were powered by energy obtained by other than the gas in the tank.
Yes, you are correct. In the PiP the eMilage is generally figured at 105 mpg equivelent (IIRC). Electric is more efficient. Do you know that it takes between 4 and 5 kWh of electricity to make one gallon of Gasoline? (That depends on the quality of the crude and the method of processing.) The PiP can get about 22 to 25 miles on 5 kWh of electricity. Some of us would just rather use the electric directly rather than burn the gas. Are you factoring in the pollution it takes to just create the gallon of gas (from finding it to pumping it out of the ground, transporting it, creating it from the crude?) If we have to factor in the pollution of creating the electricity you better also factor in the pollution from making the other fuels, don't you think?
CentralGulfThe same thing goes for so called "Zero Emissons" vehicles, such as the Tesla. Emissions result from the generation of the electric power required to charge the cars' battery. The emissions have simply been relocated from the vehicle's tailpipe to the power plant's smoke stack.
I was told that by the salesman when I bought the PiP 4 years ago. I replied that 70% of my electricity comes from the roof of my house... Also now in NYS less than 10% of our electricity comes from coal. About 50% comes from "Clean" sources (All of mine does as I buy only clean power. Yes I know that the electrons coming into my house from the grid come from the nearest source.....) Even without that, the emissions are still cleaner than from the power plants smoke stack!
CentralGulfIn the overall scheme of things, there may or may not be a net enironmental positive in operating a rechargeable electric vehicle in lieu of a gasoline or diesel powered model, it would depend on the circumstances, but there is no such thing as a zero emissions vehicle.
It has been well verified that unless you happen to live in one or two or so states it is definately cleaner! Period! And remember, everything we do has an effect on the world...
CentralGulfThat is pure spin from the politicians and the EV advocates.
First off politics are not allowed in this forum! It is not "pure spin", it is based on something called Facts! And yes I am definately an "EV Advocate"! BTW, Depends on which .......... Nope can't say that here!
howmus CentralGulf In the overall scheme of things, there may or may not be a net enironmental positive in operating a rechargeable electric vehicle in lieu of a gasoline or diesel powered model, it would depend on the circumstances, but there is no such thing as a zero emissions vehicle. It has been well verified that unless you happen to live in one or two or so states it is definately cleaner! Period! And remember, everything we do has an effect on the world... CentralGulf That is pure spin from the politicians and the EV advocates. First off politics are not allowed in this forum! It is not "pure spin", it is based on something called Facts! And yes I am definately an "EV Advocate"! BTW, Depends on which .......... Nope can't say that here!
CentralGulf In the overall scheme of things, there may or may not be a net enironmental positive in operating a rechargeable electric vehicle in lieu of a gasoline or diesel powered model, it would depend on the circumstances, but there is no such thing as a zero emissions vehicle.
CentralGulf That is pure spin from the politicians and the EV advocates.
No politics, it's a technical discussion. Just pointing out that politicians and EV advocates frequently use the term "zero emissions vehicle," which is simply false. There is no free lunch, although it may be available at a discount.
In the absence of significant additional non-polluting electric generation capacity (hydro, geothermal, wind, etc.), electric vehicles do generate actual emissions. I would just like to see EVs discussed on their technical merits without the political baggage and blatantly false statements that so often get attached.
CentralGulf howmus CentralGulf In the overall scheme of things, there may or may not be a net enironmental positive in operating a rechargeable electric vehicle in lieu of a gasoline or diesel powered model, it would depend on the circumstances, but there is no such thing as a zero emissions vehicle. It has been well verified that unless you happen to live in one or two or so states it is definately cleaner! Period! And remember, everything we do has an effect on the world... CentralGulf That is pure spin from the politicians and the EV advocates. First off politics are not allowed in this forum! It is not "pure spin", it is based on something called Facts! And yes I am definately an "EV Advocate"! BTW, Depends on which .......... Nope can't say that here! No politics, it's a technical discussion. Just pointing out that politicians and EV advocates frequently use the term "zero emissions vehicle," which is simply false. There is no free lunch, although it may be available at a discount. In the absence of significant additional non-polluting electric generation capacity (hydro, geothermal, wind, etc.), electric vehicles do generate actual emissions. I would just like to see EVs discussed on their technical merits without the political baggage and blatantly false statements that so often get attached.
Of course, the most fuel efficient vehicle with the lowest emmisions is the TRAIN !
Heartland Division CB&Q Of course, the most fuel efficient vehicle with the lowest emmisions is the TRAIN !
- Alvie!
Good Morning!
I woke up too early this morning!
Zoe, coffee in an IV bag, please!
I will need an extra dose of caffeine before I ´ll be able to open my eyes.
September 11th, 2001
CUL!
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
No matter how you write it, what happened on this date 15 years ago has changed the course of the world, and I am afraid not to the better. Evil caused the collapse and evil has risen from the ashes of the WTC, still haunting us to the very date.
My deep sympathy to those who lost a loved one, not only by the terrorist act itself, but in course of all subsequent conflicts.
CentralGulf Heartland Division CB&Q Of course, the most fuel efficient vehicle with the lowest emmisions is the TRAIN ! Five bucks says the barge operators disagree with you. Sorry, couldn't resist. Not that it matters, I can't take a train or barge to anywhere from where I live.
Central Gulf ... LOL ....
Actually, I can watch barges from my house from where I took this photo. They never stop to give me a ride.