Montana

This photo was taken just before I had a speed "test" on the flats, and after a little "race" with an all black Audi A4.

The Audi and I were playing cat & mouse through some uphill twisties.

I did not know, but suspected my Challenger was up for the task.

Did you know that after cruising awhile at 100 mph, 80 mph seems slow?

150 mph on the other hand, does feel fast.

Preface: Part 2

Fast forward to my retirement in 2008: Aha! Now I will have the time! I can tour to my heart’s content!

Well, life events didn't allow an immediate scheduling, or the exact methodology. My original intention was to get a Toyota FJ Cruiser and perhaps a small travel trailer. As events turned out, I inherited a 'hauler' vehicle (1994 Dodge Caravan) so getting another (the FJ) was rather redundant.

Lo and behold I discovered a hottie...the new Dodge Challenger.

I was looking at some car porn online, and I spotted a Challenger they had dropped a Viper's V-10 engine into. Man she was awesome. She was a 1970’s retro styled muscle car that reminded me of the days when I envied one from the seat of my Schwinn.

I got to wondering what a 'normal' Challenger was like. I became intrigued. Correction: I was getting a crush on a car. Since a Dodge dealer was only a few blocks away, I decided to see one 'in the flesh' to see what it 'felt like'. I did and I was smitten right then and there. Fortunately, they didn’t have the top of the line SRT8 I desired.

A few weeks later, I had received a brochure in the mail and had been contacted by a local salesman via email and phone. There was the exact model and color in transit. All I had to do was put down a deposit and she would be mine. I did, and in May 2009 I took delivery of the car I always wanted, but didn’t exist until 2008. It was almost like one of those ‘twist of fate time travel’ movies.



So, now I had the vehicle to make my ‘road trip’ fantasies come true. It is the perfect Grand Touring automobile for me, although it cannot tow a trailer. Looking at the car, it would be a crime to do such a thing. It would be like hooking up an oxcart to a thoroughbred race horse. It just isn’t done. I guess I’ll make do with hotel/motels, sleeping at rest stops, and mooching off friends.

2011 is also the year of my 40th year (!) high school reunion. For my 30th year, back in 2001 I flew to my hometown. This year, I would drive and make it the only scheduled stop. I planned out a very squiggly route there, giving myself about a month to get there to hit many places I wanted to see and visiting friends along the way. As events worked out, I ‘consumed’ most of that month being sick at home. I did manage to take a test travel trip from Salem OR to Bellingham WA and back. From this jaunt, I managed to not only see the car would be perfect (as predicted) but also managed to add to my ‘to do’ list of necessary preparations. Additionally, I also discovered my highway mileage was about 19.6 mpg! At least that’s what the car computer said. I will crunch the actual numbers later to find the truth. However, approximately 20 mpg is remarkably good for my Challenger ‘beast’ (which I have named “Blackbird” after the SR-71 spy plane).

My planned route had only been mapped to my high school reunion. I had no idea where I was going after that. Now, I will do a straight shot to Minnesota, and after that, I will take a leisurely route back, retracing much of my path but open for detours and whatever else takes my fancy.

I have waited to the last to introduce the final factor: I am traveling with my pet cat, Aleksandra. She is the one pictured on the header of this blog and inspiration for the title. She used to be quite a good car traveler, but that was many years ago. I decided against leaving her with a caretaker or kenneling her. Besides, why shouldn’t she be along? I have traveled w/cats before so I have an idea of what I am getting into. It will have its difficulties, but also its rewards. In any event, she will be my travel buddy.