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Tuesday, February 4, 2014 Redmond, WA... With Sweet Jane at Bai Tong... |
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Wednesday, February 5, 2014 Bellevue, WA... Pulling in to the Trailer Inns RV Park at Eastgate, beside I-90, for my monthly visit... facing northeast toward the snowy Cascade Mountains. A clear blue sky, but cold enough that the park manager had to thaw the water connection out with a heat gun before I could hook-up. It'll be around 14 degrees outside the rig tonight... |
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Though the temperature was warmer than of late, a little snow storm moved through the area Saturday evening. I found myself on 140th Ave NE between Bel-Red and NE 20th, needing to drive up the NE 20th hill to get back to 148th Ave NE and the Microsoft area. The hill was blocked by cars (or drivers) that couldn't negotiate the ice. I pulled Bigfoot in to the Safeway parking lot (with 2 Starbucks within a stone's throw just in case I became iced in), and I walked up the hill for a quick survey... |
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Having walked up the hill to the problem area, I helped push a few stuck cars on up the hill. This Toyota FJ Cruiser, equipped with a bumper winch, handled the ice as if the road was bare and dry, and I watched it pull one stuck car after another up the icy incline. I'm currently in the market for a new vehicle and the Toyota FJ Cruiser has been on my top 3 list for a while now. Watching this little demonstration bodes very well for the FJ Cruiser! |
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Sunday, February 9, 2014 Redmond, WA... at Microsoft... this morning's walk, from Bigfoot to Studio A... |
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Bellevue,
WA... Michael's Toyota... Steve buys a new 2013 RAV4... 35 miles on the
odometer... I prefer Ford over other American auto makers. Ford is to be commended for NOT taking government bailout money. I like the Ford Explorer. My old '96 Explorer was a fine vehicle (except for the lack of 4WD). I also like the Nissan Xterra and the Honda Crosstour. I came within the proverbial hair of going with the Toyota FJ Cruiser. But after long and relaxed research the Toyota RAV4 won the day... KBB Editors RAV4 Overview: "... a well rounded SUV with a history of reliability and good resale value." |
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The RAV4 final assembly plant is in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. No UAW / CAW! Non-union, and that is a good thing! |
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Redmond, WA... at Microsoft... the fleet... |
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Saturday, February 22, 2014 Bellevue, WA... at the annual Day Of the Accordion event at Crossroads... 1st shot: The Smilin' Scandinavians on stage, biscuits & gravy behind me on the counter! 2nd shot: The Bonnie Birch Trio w/Fortissimo... accordion and a fine Italian tenor... Having enjoyed a rendition of "Those Were The Days," I walked away with that old song on my mind... |
