patrick.net

Vicente says

How about more directly turning human energy into motive power, like hooking up a generator to gym equipment:

http://inhabitat.com/human-powered-gyms-in-hong-kong/

Right. We can run our civilization on human power alone. LOL.

There already a guy in our highly conjested town running up and downtown Hollywood Blvd on busy week ends. with one of these numbers...

I'm just waiting for the idiot report, to report carnage on night on the 6 Oclock news.

Vicente says

How about more directly turning human energy into motive power, like hooking up a generator to gym equipment:

You mean like the Green Lantern?

http://www.youtube.com/embed/nlLI2dywfEw

Last 2 nights I watched:

End of Suburbia (2004)
Escape from Suburbia (2007)

On the one hand, I think they often overstate the "disaster" part of the equation. Society will adapt, and the unsustainable parts will turn into ghost towns.

On the other hand, I really side with Kunstler there will be no magic replacement for oil that will let us keep running as we are now, forever and ever. I believe the original linked article is accurate enough in how we can and WILL replace much of our fossil fuel usage with alternatives. However in the end there WILL be some adjustments such as localizing a lot of our living & food arrangements.

The interesting bits about current fuels is that well...they work but more importantly this is how it works

1) You have a physical fuel you can buy and ship safely across the planet

2) There isn't any lag time in fueling to operation. Gasoline works in a car or a lawnmower without any questions (provided the engines work)

3) It is well established how it is made from a refinery.

4) storage is not a significant issue (this is a biggie). Gas, diesel, oil can sit and be OK.

So basically you have distribution, generation and use being established.

Other fuels are fine but unless they are distributed in a good fashion they will not be used, if there is no production that means importation can be an issue. This isn't to say that gas is perfect. Right now the northeast is buying brent instead of wti which runs about $20 more a barrel.

Solar and wind seem nice in terms of generation but the storage means more batteries which will eventually run out. If the batteries don't store the power long enough then during darkness and no wind it eventually runs out. while it is true in some parts of the country this is reliable it is not true for all.

Fraking with natural gas might contribute to earthquakes and the prices are so low eventually natural gas cars and trucks might start coming out. I think offshore wind has significant potential provided the power lines are maintained. Nuclear might get a comeback but it opens up a significant amount of concerns given that the yucca plan was cancelled by Obama.

When I was Peru last summer, there were taxis, recommissioned 4 cyl cars circa '90's discarded from the USA. They spent about $1500 to convert to natural Gas, and for about $7.00 USD they can go 300 miles.
There is just far to much politics and regulations to ever allow that. These are small mom and pop shops they go to, to do the NG conversions. Here in the states to convert a car would cost more than the car its self. Large corporations with fleets and their own resources to do so, get to enjoy the benefits of NG and LP, us lowly cretins can suck eggs. We talk the talk but we walk like Idiots.

Regs and politics have nothing to do with stopping garages from doing nat. gas conversions. The main problem is the cost of the conversion (labor intensive so $$$) and the cost of the high pressure CNG tank (also $$$).

Once you get all that done then you have to find a place to fill up, which isn't always possible, or have a home refill station installed which is expensive ($$$). Fuel works out to be a little less than half the cost of gas IIRC so you won't be filling up for $7 unless you happen to live in a state that has subsidized fuel prices. The government will also give you tax credits to do a conversion but they aren't worth much AFAIK.

Its makes some sense for large fleet vehicles to do a CNG conversion but right now for most people it doesn't. After all you can get cars that do around 50mpg for less than $19k now and ones that around 35mpg for $14k.

Vicente says

End of Suburbia (2004)
Escape from Suburbia (2007)

On the one hand, I think they often overstate the "disaster" part of the equation. Society will adapt, and the unsustainable parts will turn into ghost towns.

+1

I agree. The suburbs may become small cities, condensing around a train station or other distribution point. The more sprawling suburbs distant from any city, lacking any kind of real downtown area or rail station, are probably doomed unless they get one.

Cross-country high speed rail is problematic in a big country like the US, but most of the traffic is going in and around metro areas.

NY to Boston by train is a helluva lot easier hassle-wise, and takes just as much time when you factor in getting to and from the airports back to the downtown of both, getting through security theater,and the likelihood of having to sardine yourself while waiting for take-off clearance or circling waiting for a landing. Most of the time, both means would take 4-5 hours.

Kunstler has some good point, but I think a little too gloomy. We *do* have a better understanding of wind, solar, and hydro, so it won't be an exact return to 19th Century living. Lots of places in the world are largely powered by hydro, so while imported goods may become difficult, power for manufacturing wouldn't be. We also have coal and diesel for critical things we wouldn't want to do without. Rudy Diesel invented the diesel engine to run off vegetable oil in the first place. Yeah, bubba won't be able to drive his F-150 all over town, but he could grow and distill enough diesel to run the tractor.

Kunstler is an entertainer, but he's got a lot of good points. Like any good pundit, he's half right and half full-of-shit.

I think we are more likely to see cars go electric and more oil being made synthetically (like from seaweed, trash, etc.) than we are to see the end of suburbia. We could make a significant amount of oil with various bio-waste products if we really wanted to. That and some demand destruction from people switching from heating with oil to heating with something else. If I were dictator, I'd ban the use of heating with oil.

I don't like electric cars, oil being used. Notwithstanding what the car is made of. So. I am not a dictator or supreme commander. Trash mostly comes from trees and oil they use it in more than you can know and can lower your sperm count. The people that make things with it know that. Amen to Kunstler being half full of shit. The enviromental stuff you see mainwaters is mostly fluff and ear tickling.

All of this stuff does something. People are ignorant of what a tree does. What oil does. What copper does. Your taught none of this with all of the great scientific research that has been done on these things. They do things in their natural state. They are not inate things that just sit there and do nothing. If they were inate they would have no reason to misuse them the way they do. Natural gas is acceptable. However what you have to put it in is not.

Most of these things have a purpose. Once again your never taught what they do to any significant degree. Because if you knew you might be a little hesitant to work in anything affiliated with whats being misused. Because there are consequences. In that what they do in their natural state help. Those things react badly when misused. Oil the taking of has gotten people shot up all over the world. You might say yea and? Don't see that going on over gold. Japan, WW2 was an oil embargo. That started it. A boatload of people died over that. 35,000 car accidents a year. 65k worldwide. Not to mention all the maimed and crippled. You can clearly see this stuff needs to be left alone and where it belongs. So this is kind of stuff you won't hear from someone like a Mr. Kunstler. Things that people like him GD well understand. Some of those little cash loving strumpets know more than you assume. Its just "bad for business" for them to talk about it.

You can't live without a car. Yes you can. A whole lot of the world does so. Auto's are dangerous. I don't know why people don't get the very real fact they are dangerous its beyond comprehension why no one reacts to that. Obviously no one gives a shit about the 65k dead worldwide. the maimed, the crippled. So much for your concern about humanity. Then again believe me everyone gets what they "deserve" for using things that should not be used. The trouble in your life is there believe me. You just need to open your eyes and see it. Or in the same vain its not some devil or a demon thats causing the trouble in your life. Its what your screwing with.

You are not taught to be self sufficent in your schools. IF you lost your job you would not know what to do next. SEE. Lose your job your screwed. IF they taught you to be self sufficent which actually MAKES SENSE. You would know what to do. So OBVIOUSLY they don't want you to be self sufficent. They NEED you to be working for and simultaneously and subsequently in debt to the debt merchants and cash printers. It might be because debt merchants the do all the bond issues and lending on things that a city needs. Not to mention debt merchants have private control of the only legal means of trade, cash. People wonder about my repetitiveness. People are always changing the little channel in their heads back to some nonsense spewed out by the debt merchant news and financial news and other offerings they have. So loose your jobbie and all you know is soup kitchen. Mostly it has to do with one way communication and what they want you to know and repeat and you can't communicate in any relevant way with the people that put out all the debt merchant information. Of course you get represented by some lackey from some other sector of their gaudy empire in many cases. Which many follow like lemmings right off the debt cliff to dependency on the cash printers and debt merchants that keep you at labor, building and maintaining their "empire" of assets. Then again hey thats what you get for "wanting" whats not yours to being with. Thats the deal. You want someone elses and have to shine shoes and worry that someone else in life makes it first before you. Kind of like a wife. But then again debt servitude dosen't seem to bother many people or being a bonded laborer. Very sick place no doubt usury is a vice like gambling which they often "substitute" or conjoin with being a borrower. Its coming to someone saying I'm to weak please lend me something. Its sick.

I understand why some don't talk like I do. Because you know that by osmosis something may get into the ears of your "masters" and you won't get your little fruit cup for lunch. Or by that same "osmosis" if you talk the way you know they like and think the way your masters like you just may get a little "reward". Life just may be a little smoother for you also you can't handle the rough water. So be it. Its kind of like the way a weasel lives. Some people are more clever than you would guess. They know how to use the supposedly inate to their advantage. You don't think these "inate" things do something. You might want to consider the "electric chair". It's in some peoples future.

zzyzzx says

I think we are more likely to see cars go electric and more oil being made synthetically (like from seaweed, trash, etc.) than we are to see the end of suburbia. We could make a significant amount of oil with various bio-waste products if we really wanted to.

Perhaps, but any energy source we switch to is still going to be a lot more expensive than oil was in the heyday of suburbia. The cost of the new energy source could still spell the end of suburbia.

Anyone use a bicycle as their primary means of transportation? I've been doing it for almost a year now and really enjoy it. I know it's not for everyone, but it saves a ton of money each month - and bikes are cheap/easy to maintain.

My commute takes about 30-35 minutes by bike and about 20-25 by car. It's about 18 miles round trip. It's pretty safe, great exercise, lowered my blood pressure 20 points and lost my love handles. Wife loves it.

There are a lot of countries today where bikes are the main form of transportation - people just have to live reasonable distances from work.

My guess is by eliminating a car (we are a one car family), you save over $500/mo. on average. Figuring $300 car payment, $100 insurance, $100 gas, $50 maintenance. Some car calculators are much higher, but I figured that was a pretty decent number.

This does not include parking/tolls etc...

joshuatrio says

Anyone use a bicycle as their primary means of transportation?

Actually, I use shoes as my primary transportation. My commute is about 25 minutes on foot.

joshuatrio says

people just have to live reasonable distances from work.

This would be the end of suburbia.

joshuatrio says

Anyone use a bicycle as their primary means of transportation?

Yep. My daily driver is a Trek Atwood:

Although my example has a few mods over the base model shown above. Added slightly raised handlebars for more upright seating, ergonomic grips, rear rack for panniers, and a few other things. 5 miles each way to work every day, get my workout right there. It's a worst-case commute for my little burg as our rental house & my job are at the farthest extremes of town, all my other trips are generally shorter.

I'm lusting after a Brompton right now, for train travel just fold it up and stick in the luggage rack as per this animated gif:

If I can find a house closer to work I'll use the bike...in the summer at least.

leoj707 says

Perhaps, but any energy source we switch to is still going to be a lot more expensive than oil was in the heyday of suburbia. The cost of the new energy source could still spell the end of suburbia.

I don't think it will be the end of suburbia. It will just mean a lot more "mixed use" development with houses and apartments mixed together with offices and services- within walking distances of each other. The whole "city vs. suburb" distinction is probably a relic of the "industrial" era. Example: I don't want to live next to a steel mill, but I don't mind living next to an office park.

wthrfrk80 says

I don't think it will be the end of suburbia. It will just mean a lot more "mixed use" development with houses and apartments mixed together with offices and services- within walking distances of each other. The whole "city vs. suburb" distinction is probably a relic of the "industrial" era. Example: I don't want to live next to a steel mill, but I don't mind living next to an office park.

But isn't the loss of the city vs. suburb distinction an end to the suburb?

leoj707 says

But isn't the loss of the city vs. suburb distinction an end to the suburb?

I suppose it all comes down to semantics. What exactly is a "suburb"? A place with relatively low density located near an area with high density?

I still think we'll have plenty of "low density" areas, whether they're called suburbs or not. Why? Well, many people consider dense areas to be too crowded. Many still like to have the green space, yards, golf courses, and the like. But with oil running out, I think you'll see more "mixed use" development rather than endless tracts of housing and endless tracts of big box stores. Why not have office parks, "small box" stores, and housing mixed together?

Anyone use a bicycle as their primary means of transportation?
Rain or shine -- unfortunately today was rain. But still better than waiting for the bus. Only two miles though. JT, I agree with your figures -- that bike is helping fund my Roth IRA.

I guess I'm thinking of something like this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Woodlands,_Texas

Even in Texas, the home of "cowboy capitalism" and Big Oil, they've got some good ideas!

wthrfrk80 says

I suppose it all comes down to semantics. What exactly is a "suburb"? A place with relatively low density located near an area with high density?

Yeah, I was thinking of suburb more as a residential community within commuting distance to a city/job center.

For what it is worth:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/suburb?s=t
sub·urb
noun
1. a district lying immediately outside a city or town, especially a smaller residential community.
2. the suburbs, the area composed of such districts.
3. an outlying part.
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English

World English Dictionary
suburb

a residential district situated on the outskirts of a city or town

[C14: from Latin suburbium, from sub- close to + urbs a city]

leoj707 says

Yeah, I was thinking of suburb more as a residential community within commuting distance to a city/job center.

I agree that the "bedroom community" type suburbs are probably going the way of the dinosaur. That's probably a good thing. Who wants to spend 30-60 minutes per day in their car fighting traffic? Ouch!

Where no food grows

Self sufficency just isn't a concept that is grasped. If I taught that in school instead of useless things or the basics needed to run the masters empire. You would not be going to work. For anyone. Farmer Brown is way to simplistic. I'm talking about all you need. Sitting back at night swilling your favorite alcoholic beverage. Thinking soup kitchen what fucking soup kitchen? Boss who in the hell is my boss? Never having to fear. Or worry about what you said or did to someone ever. I'm going fishing tommorow what about you? Day after that who cares. Next week I don't give a fuck. Bite my cheese Buffett. Eat my doggies muffins Rockefeller. I'm still here. See. Thats just fine for ole Artimus. Look at what hes got. Thats what I'm trying to tell you day in and day out you have the same things. If you open your eyes and use some reason you will get it. Another words. If I got it good so do you.

Another words if I inundated you with self-sufficency like they bombard you with their crap night after night day after day. There would be nothing to carp about. You would have every damn thing you need that can't be taken from you. No one could call you down. They will never teach you self-sufficency it is not in their best interests.

ArtimusMaxtor says

Another words if I inundated you with self-sufficency like they bombard you with their crap night after night day after day. There would be nothing to carp about. You would have every damn thing you need that can't be taken from you. No one could call you down.

Lots of farmers found themselves on the ropes, evicted, or at the very least just barely scraping by during the Great Depresssion. One bad season and suddenly you're out begging for aid. Being able to grow your own food doesn't automatically make you entirely self-sufficient and immune to what's going on in society. I grew up with "survivalists" all around me, and I can tell you that none of them are the islands of economic freedom that they think they are either.

See there it is didn't have a damn thing to do with that war or everything they were doing back then did it cause and effect. Same thing going on today. (I got over my snit). The earth reacts. It really does. Nothing like that has happened since. So your taking a few years out of thousands of years and taking a stand on that. Dosen't make sense.

Also I didn't say a thing about growing food for other people or being a commerical farmer or even being a farmer. A commercial farmer damn well bows and scrapes and is not much better off than someone that works for someone else in a city. I damn well didn't say anything about borrowing cash. Survivalist is a straw man the people that lend cash and need labor use really well and make fun of. Thats the first place they might go. Also its kind of stereotypical of most people that aren't suvivalists that do for themselves.

I said self sufficent. If that means borrowing to you. Please read closer. One more time only a sucker would pay 30 years on a house that took only 3 months to build. All peoples skills mostly especially in the city involve doing for other people and working for other people. The dust bowl lasted once again for 5 years over 70 years ago and before that nothing. So thats not sound judgement to fear about something like that nor survivalists when most all of them aren't. There are in fact people all over the world that are self-sufficent. I guess you could fear the survivalists and the dust bowl in Brazil you could go looking for that if you want.

Vicente says

Rain or shine -- unfortunately today was rain. But still better than waiting for the bus. Only two miles though. JT, I agree with your figures -- that bike is helping fund my Roth IRA.

Nice ! One thing I love about riding, is that I'm on the road as the sun is peaking over the mountains. It's awesome - you get great views. The other cool time to ride is before daylight savings time, when it's pitch black out - you get to ride under a canopy of stars. Not many cars on the road at 6:45am. Can't beat it.

It was so nice yesterday afternoon that I took the long way home and biked an extra 3-5 miles just so I could ride by the beach and check the surf.

Vicente says

Yep. My daily driver:

Very nice ride. I'm currently on a Specialized Sirrus. Got a killer deal on it from a seller on CL. Ended up bartering for it, so it didn't come out of pocket.

Vicente says

Although my example has a few mods over the base model shown above. Added slightly raised handlebars for more upright seating, ergonomic grips, rear rack for panniers, and a few other things. 5 miles each way to work every day, get my workout right there. It's a worst-case commute for my little burg as our rental house & my job are at the farthest extremes of town, all my other trips are generally shorter.

I don't do the pannier thing - straight up backpack. Not sure how I feel about all the weight going over the rear wheel. Prefer it on the back.

joshuatrio says

I don't do the pannier thing - straight up backpack. Not sure how I feel about all the weight going over the rear wheel. Prefer it on the back.

I did briefly do the old milk-crate hack:

And it was a real pain if I loaded anything heavy in there just very unstable to ride. Exactly the problem you are thinking of. After consulting and trying out a few setups, now I use one or two of these Bontrager "grocery bags".

They click onto the sides of the rear rack. Keeps out a light drizzle and easy to lift off by the handles and use it for shopping. Hanging the weight down closer to the hub makes all the difference. Even with only one, ordinarily I don't feel any effect from it at all. I suppose if I loaded a single side with dumbbells I'd feel it pulling but I'd never do that. Ditching the backpack is easy on my back and far cooler of a ride in warm weather. Try it out you'll be surprised!

I liked the Brompton bag even better, they had a click point on the front of the frame so you clip on the bag and it stays facing straight forward it does not turn. Unlike that ridiculous "schoolteacher" basket we've all seen which is clipped to the handlebars ad wants to pull in the direction of the turn.

I bungee cord a 'six pack' cooler to the rear rack to transport lunches (and store rain gear). It works surprisingly well.

Ever heard of SCR (Silly Commuter Racing)? Something a co-worker of mine and I found really funny.

For all the bike commuters:

http://www.itsnotarace.org/

"Silly Commuting Race - The Rules"

The Game:
"Dropping / Pulling anyone higher in the Food Chain Number makes you stronger and more attractive to burds*. Getting dropped / trying to keep up with anyone lower means your soul hires a kudos remover to lower your self worth. If you scalp someone you have to maintain or extend your lead for such a time as to have the dude you passed admit to themself "I was done". Nipping by, then running into a side road / hiding in traffic won't wash, Be honest with yourself. *Not strictly true

Rules:
1/ No Dangerous Manoeuvres (Don’t be a danger to any other road users or yourself) Falling off causes pain to you and others around you, don’t do it! (oh and you loose yer points)
2/ Don’t ride like a c0ck, we’re all just trying to get somewhere!
3/ No passing at Lights/Junction/Crossings, if you do, it doesn’t count
4/ All passing on open road ONLY. Filtering in traffic is null and void (you know whether you’ve dropped someone fairly, and haven’t turned off straight afterwards)
5/ Pavement passes, either you or the target is void
6/ Show no pain, unless, like me your face is just like that

FOOD CHAIN NUMBERS:
1. Scooters
2. Roadies with shaved legs - like girls *
3. Proper rapid Single speed (real men, messengers, tarty shiny fixies) *
4. Roadies with hairy legs - like men *
5. Faux Single Speeds (fakengers, dirty/functional bikes, silly egg beater gear) *
6. Touring Bikes (Mud Guards) *
7. "Fast Hybrids" *
8. MTBs on Skinnies *
9. MTBs on Nobbies
10. Bromptons / collapsing bikes
11. MTB full sus on Nobbies
12. Shoppers
13. Shoppers wicker baskets
14. Electric bikes
* Pedal Adjustment +1
• ONLY FCN 2-5 gain points for overtaking the same FCN and Higher Chainers
• Recumbents, Tandems and Segways are worth +2 points as a rare bonus
• Sinclair C5 +20 points as a hens teeth bonus

FCN Adjusters:

CLOTHING:
None:+3
Non-Cycling: +2
Baggies: +1
Lycra: 0
Team Kit: -1
TDF Jersey: -2

BAGGAGE:
Panniers: +1
Back Pack/Courier: 0
Nothing: -1

HEAD GEAR:
Face Mask +1
Helmets/Nothing/Sunglasses: 0
Bike Caps / Wrap arounds: -1

ACCESSORIES:
Herman's Safety Wing" (orange plastic lolly-pop): +2
Trailer:+2
Beard: +1
Child seat (each): +1
Power meter: -1
Aerobars: -1
Coloured tyres -1

PEDALS (If you can identify) FCN2-8 see note above:
Flats: +1
Toe Clips: 0
Evidently Clipless/spds (cycling shoes): -1

If it sounds complex Fury21 has come up with a FCN Calculator ...If you get confused on the road, think of it this way if you drop anyone who looks faster that you +1. If you get dropped by anyone that looks slower than you -1..Couldn't be simpler! You'll also get to work, or get home faster...Or your subscription money back...Ps it's free to join and take part, but negative totals should make cheques on your soul out to: Greg T c/o Bike Radar

Further Updates on the Facebook Group"

tts says

We just have to go nuclear.

Doesn't that trade one energy source/waste problem for another? What do we do with nuclear waste? We bury it now. Will that work long-term? Launch it into space?

FunTime says

Doesn't that trade one energy source/waste problem for another? What do we do with nuclear waste? We bury it now. Will that work long-term? Launch it into space?

Pretty much anything we do is trading one energy source/waste problem for another, yes even with solar or wind. Each PVC panel results in hundreds of tons of toxic waste (mostly in the form of contaminated water either during production or mining for materials) as a by product for instance. Wind power requires tons of batteries for load balancing and each one of those results huge amounts of toxic waste too even with reprocessing.

No energy source will be perfect. You have to (literally) pick your poison.

I like nuclear since a)we've got at least a hundred years before we run into fuel supply issues with known stock piles of uranium, b)when reprocessed the amount of waste requiring long term storage and disposal is miniscule (something like a few tons worth per year for dozens of reactors), and c)some nuclear reactor designs can use thorium as a fuel instead of uranium or plutonium which we have vast amounts more of. There is some truly incredible long term potential there if thorium is considered too, certainly hundreds more years at a minimum. And d)we already know how to build good nuclear reactors that are much safer than what was made back in the 60's or 70's, its a solution that can be implemented now or soon and we know it'll work.

Wind and solar require lots more fundamental work to be made practical as a major source of energy, much less to power nearly the entire country and get us off coal, oil, or nuclear power altogether. Discovery doesn't work on a time table and isn't predictable regardless of how much money or resources you throw at it so the problems with solar and wind could be solved tomorrow...or 50 years from now...or never.

We just plain don't know.

That's just it. Almost every human activity has some negative impact on the environment. I guess the trick is to find the energy source with the best benefit-to-impact ratio.

I can't help but be "pro nuclear" for the following reasons:
1) a lot of CO2 comes from electricity generation, and switching from fossil fuel plants to nuclear plants won't affect anyone's lifestyle. I'm guessing that Nuclear NIMBYism is less of an obstacle than convincing Americans to give up their beloved automobiles.
2) the technology is proven

That doesn't mean every location should have nuclear plants: think places prone to earthquakes and tsunamis. In those areas it's probably best to stick with the traditional fuels.

joshuatrio says

Anyone use a bicycle as their primary means of transportation? I've been doing it for almost a year now and really enjoy it. I know it's not for everyone, but it saves a ton of money each month - and bikes are cheap/easy to maintain.

Count me in! I just looked at my bike stats for last year: went to work by bicycle every day except three (stupid rainstorms!); just over 8000 km in total; was on the bicycle in some form on 332 of the 365 days in the year.

My commute takes about 30-35 minutes by bike and about 20-25 by car. It's about 18 miles round trip. It's pretty safe, great exercise, lowered my blood pressure 20 points and lost my love handles. Wife loves it.

Mine is 50-55 minutes out (lots of cars on the road; can't go too fast and get sweaty before work) and 35-40 minutes in (no cars anywhere and I can go as fast as I like). Only 16 miles (26 km) round trip.

My job finishes early in the morning before the trains start running, so while my company officially disapproves, it sure beats standing around at the station waiting for an hour. The sun comes up early here, but nobody is out doing anything, so at 5 AM I have the roads to myself; it's great.

The only problem is if some buffoon punches a hole in my tire while I'm at work, or if I get a flat on the road at that odd hour. There are no shops open, and I don't have the maintenance equipment I've got at home, so I'm stuck walking the rest of the way if that happens!