Well, #2867 and I are well under way here. I picked her up from DMC Houston yesterday morning, and am now in nashville, heading for home (DC). I haven't driven a manual tranny car in a couple of years (I haven't owned a car at /all/ in a couple of years. My GF has a automatic which I drive occassionally, but I'm a motorcycle guy.) so I've been re-learning a little. Also learning that a lack of power steering means (among other things) that long haul driving tires me out a tad faster. I've done 12+ hours days on a bike, but 10 hours and I was kinda hurting on this run. No worries. I'm having fun. :) The current plan calls for me to head down I-40, grab I-81, and shoot north. Unless I get bored, and opt to take skyline, which should be absolutely gorgeous. I've noticed that I'm not as relaxed driving this car as I am when I bike, or even when I drive my GF's (girlfriend's... sorry. Geek shorthand.) car; I'm gripping the steering wheel too tightly. I keep forgetting how crappy the roads are when they're more than an hour or so from a Major Metropolitan Area(tm). Oh, and as an aside (as if I haven't rambled on enough), i thought DC area driversw were crazy. I mean, we've got 8 lanes of asphalt wrapped around the city, and everyone (I thought) drover like maniacs. Myself included, I'm afraid. Ok, look. I've own a vehicle with a 5.5-1 weight-HP ratio. I don't ride like a /complete/ maniac, but I've been known to get a little impatient. Anyway, DC drivers are absolute little-old-ladies compared to the freaks you Texans bred in Houston. My ghod. noah #2867, on maiden voyage "Where's my fruit cup?" "Behind the bison." -- Kevin & Kell (Sept 22, 1995)