In two days, I start driving for Texas in my Volkswagen Jetta TDI. I've been running Biodiesel (B99 - 99% biodiesel, 1% petroleum diesel blend) for the last three years, and I'd prefer to run on as much biodiesel as possible while I drive to Texas. I have a few constraints though - it won't be time efficient for me to pick up biodiesel on the way to Texas, so I'll only have what I carry with me (two 5-gallon fuel cans of biodiesel). Because of the angle of the opening to the fuel tank on my Jetta, I can't maneuver the fuel can to get more than about 4.5 gallons out. The last 1/2 gallon is stuck in the can. Also, for emissions reasons, I'd like to run as close to B20 (20% biodiesel) or higher as possible. The last constraint is that I can't get fuel again before I leave (the fueling coop that I belong to isn't providing fuel again until Thursday evening and I leave Thursday morning) and I have 2/3 of my tank full of B99 right now.

I could run B99 for as long as possible (about 850 miles) but then I'd be running pure petroleum diesel for the rest of the trip. Here's the plan that I've worked out:
- Fuel up in Santa Clara with petroleum diesel before driving to my parents' home in Los Angeles. After fueling, I'll be running approximately B66.
- After spending the night at my parents' home, fuel up in LA with petroleum diesel without adding additional biodiesel. B29
- Drive to Tucson, AZ where I add 1/2 a can of biodiesel (2.5 gallons) and then top off with petroleum diesel. B22
- Drive to Las Cruces, NM where I spend the night. Drive to El Paso, TX, where I pour the rest of that biodiesel fuel into the tank (about 2 gallons). Fill up with petroleum diesel. B20
- Drive to San Antonio where I pour in another 2.5 gallons of biodiesel and top off with petroleum diesel. B20
- Drive to Austin with 13-14 gallons of B20 left in the tank and 3 gallons of B99 in fuel cans.
This method should allow me to have some time to run on biodiesel while in Austin as I look for a new source of biodiesel.

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Driving to Texas and Biodiesel Planning

This shot was taken at a quarter past 10pm. I exposed the image for 30 seconds which was much too long for a Nikon D100. Sensor noise more or less dominates the image.

Tripod, 30 sec at f/4.0 on ISO 800, 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 lens

Times Square (top right) is unmistakable when looking north from the observation deck of the Empire State Building - it's a giant bright blue beacon. Also brightly lit is the monolithic slab of the GE Building (top right). If it wasn't so cold up there, I could stay staring for hours (that's probably an exaggeration, I get bored easily… so several minutes at least!)

Supported, 1/5 sec at f/2.8 on ISO 100, 17-35mm f/2.8 lens

I remember hiking for several hours with my friend Jeremy through caverns, over hills, along dry river beds, and finally climbing up over these rocks to get to this location - Zabriski Point - only to find a parking lot with 5 or six cars and a dozen tourists taking pictures. I remember say something like "I thought you said the hike was the only way to get here! We could have driven here?" and Jeremy said, "I wanted you to go on the hike." Can't help smiling at that memory.

Tripod, unrecorded exposure on Velvia 50, 28-200mm f/3.5-5.6 lens

I believe I took this picture while pulled over on the side of the highway waiting for the roads to clear on the way to Lake Tahoe.

Handheld, 1/80 sec at f/4.2 on ISO 200, 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 lens

Tina and I took her parents to a couple of caverns in Califonia's Gold Country. We first went to Black Chasm Cavern but found out the entire area didn't have any power (so no bathrooms were available there and almost everything in the town of Volcano was closed). They were still giving tours, but with flashlights. I was all for going on the flashlight tour, but Tina and her parent's thought it would be better to move on to a town with power (so we could get some food) and to Moaning Cavern. (I called ahead to make sure they had power - they did.)

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Moaning Cavern and Black Chasm Cavern

While on the flight to Austin, Texas, I bought what I thought was going to be the most over priced bag of potato chips ever - $3. What I got was surprising:

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American Airlines Potato Chips

Here's a tip - if you're going to New York City and want to visit the Statue of Liberty, the lines can be incredibly long. Even in the off season, the line up to get through the first security checkpoint (where you go right after buying your ferry tickets) can stretch almost all the way out of Battery Park and onto West St.

So, here's how to skip that part - go to www.statuecruises.com beforehand (I've done it the day before, but it's a good idea to book a little more in advance than that - at least a couple weeks in advance if you want access to the Monument/Pedestal) and book your tickets online. You can also book the audio tour at the same time. As of the writing of this entry, it costs $12 per person ($18 if you get the audio tour).

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Travel Tip - New York City - Statue of Liberty