Winning the Lottery and the Segue(way) to Kansas
I told my wife that if we win the lottery, I intend to get a Segway. So, since I intend to win the lottery, I thought it time to start making plans.
First, if I get a Segway, obviously I want to travel with it. Otherwise, what is the point, right? It is well that I do the planning ahead of time, because, like all worthwhile endeavors, this one takes a little consideration.
Second, what is possible? Anything, with enough perseverance, right? A Segway will give you a top-end speed of 12.5 mph – just over 20 kph for those of you that live in mathematically sane countries – and they will give you this speed for 25 miles (approx 40 kilometers), then they take from 8 to 10 hours to recharge. To make the calculations easiest on ourselves, let’s assume the worst and assume 10 hrs per recharge. That means, we can do 25 miles per 12-hour period, or 50 miles per day.
Since my parents live in Kansas and I live in California, we are separated by 1750 miles of road travel. If my calculations are correct, that means that I can reach them in 35 days. Of course, that assumes that I am able to recharge each 25 miles, so I’d better buy an RV with a generator and an outlet to follow me. My wife refuses to drive the RV, so I better hire a driver … paid on a 24-hour basis. Maynard is busy with the baby, so I am going to need to ship Ramana over here.
Not all locations allow Segways on the road, so I will also need to get an off-road version. Also, police along the way will be wanting to stop me, so I will need to bring enough cash for bribes and fines.
I am assuming that going off-road in Nevada and Utah will probably run me into a snake or two, so I should bring anti-venin, perhaps a nurse.
Since I will need to go during the summer, it will be stormy. I will just have to live with that, I think, because once you start a trip like this, you shouldn’t turn back. That will mean that I should have some kind of smaller vehicle that can run alongside me with a canopy of some kind for protection. Of course, that will mean another driver.
So, the question is: should I bring $250,000 or do you think I need to be thinking more like a half-mil? Other than that, I think the plan is complete – and very sound, if I do say so myself.
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Have you considered hills in your calculations? Will the Segway maintain speed and recharge numbers as you go up hill or is it a wash on the downside of those hills?
Why stop in the K, why not shoot for the Big Apple?
Why wait for lottery win – sounds like a promo opportunity for Segway?
Hit the road with no plans and improvise! You can do it Con Man!
Dang, Don. This sounds a whole lot like the old days. You think I could get Stuart to drive?
And, in answer to your question about maintaining their numbers on the hills – no, it won’t go as far uphill. But, it actually does charge when going downhill! Somehow I’m doubting that it is quite a wash, though…
And what makes you think that Ramana will consent to drive on the wrong side of the road?
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Conrad, go back to drinking! It’s cheaper and less painful.
But if you are still insane enough to do it. I will bring my granddaughter and the running stroller I purchaced and we will run it with you. You will have to pay my expenses though, another 250K.(for diapers)
I presume you are going to hitch a wagon to the back to bring your wife along as you Segway from here to Kansas. Fry’s down at Brokaw sells some nice solar panel kits that you can use to recharge the batteries between Reno and Salt Lake City.
Looney´s last blog ..
You’ve painted a picture in my mind of this complicated journey. Like many good ideas, this one has lots of details that just don’t work themselves out easily. Here’s a thought–you’d save $$$ if you flew from California to visit your family in Kansas. American Eagle now flies into Manhappiness from Dallas three times a day. Easy connections for you, and more time to visit your fam!
Ramana: Friendship … until we uncover secrets from your past …
After I win that lottery, diapers galore, dude!
Looney, I like it!
Got it, Janet. So, I ride the Segway to Dallas first!
Janet – Good to know – I usually drive to Abilene to save my brother from driving to Wichita to get me and then take me back!
Conrad – You can always stay at my little bed and breakfast in McKinney – just north of Dallas. It’s really cheap! lol
I can drive on either or both sides of the road! I’ll come so long as I don’t need to push the Segway uphill!
Grannymar´s last blog ..Listen
Take the bus.
Does this trip have something to do with Corky missing you?
As for Stu he would be the perfect companion for this little road trip!
Use the Flip to document and post on the net.
Let it rip Con Man!
What are you suppose to be ripping, Conrad?
But don, you do have a good idea. The ripping may help him up the hills.
This is the damndest thing you’ve ever come up with……I hope, lol.
Remember the time when we stopped to eat lunch at Big Sur on the way to southern California and watched the people hang gliding off the cliffs and some of them crashing back into the cliffs? Your dad wasn’t really interested until, while taking pictures of take-offs and landings, I found some naked people behind the big rock and got pics of them?
I do think Carol would look cute in one of those things they hook onto bicycles to carry babies while mom rides the bike….she could read when the sun was shining. Lots of luck!!
Mom
Grannymar,
You are without a doubt the most unselfish friend a person ever had to offer to come all this way to take part in something that isn’t any nuttier than most of these people that bike across Kansas in August or the whole USofA just for the heck of it (or some kind of charity and believe me he will be a charity case by the time he reaches Kansas, lol).
Corky
Corky, my son did a hang glide off a cliff in San Diego. The instructor said he was a natural. But he never did that again. My friend’s son died, doing that.
Paul also was jumping off a high-up rock, where you had to jump out far enough to miss hitting another rock on the way down to the pool. Someone said, “Look at that crazy guy!” Paul did wild things on skis.
Now he swims a lot from the shore to Alcatraz & back in icy water where the current tries to take you elsewhere. He’s still alive.
(Are commentators suppose to communicate?)
Corky, it would be fun and I would learn about places that right now are only names.
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Deb, maybe I should get a Segway with a sidecar! Then I could bring friends with me as I go and we could talk.
GM, I’d love to travel with you and swap stories as we saw sites! I am soooo ready for retirement. All but the money, that is. Therefore, the lottery…
bhb, quit being a wet blanket – or we will change your name from bikehikebabe to busridebabe.
Actually, I would love to see them, far as that goes, Don! But, riding a Segway through a Kansas winter. Getting there over the Rockies. Now, THAT is a travel documentary in the making! We could go together and call it the ConDon-er party.
Maynard, since you know the standard answer to the ripping, I won’t give it. I think though that in this instance he was referring to my ripped physique. At least, it feels like it’s ripped in a few places…
Mom: 1) Yep, I remember those naked folks, because that’s one of the things I don’t forget! and 2) I’m going to do both of us a favor and not tell Carol about being pulled in a baby carrier while I ride a Segway! You’ll get me killed!
bhb, absolutely commentators are supposed to communicate and I welcome your responses to anyone else. Having a group conversation is a big part of what this blog is about.
Sounds like your son is kind of active like you have always been!
GM, part of the greatness of America is the huge landscape with so many intriguing places to see. We’ll start with Yosemite!
This sounds like so much fun! GM and I could take turns driving my Tracker and we could make sandwiches and top them off with a brew or two. Why didn’t you think this up 30 years ago when I could see, walk and drive for long distances? There are places in Wyoming where we truly were afraid to stop and buy gas tho’ so I’d think about the route…..going southern might be smarter and you could take Deb up on the B&B. Thanks for not telling Carol about my idea, lol.
Corky, your Mama
Corky, I’ll be ready on Monday!!
Grannymar´s last blog ..Thursday Special ~ One day….