Thursday my brother 4 of 5 (Will) called about his pickup truck and blown head gasket. His primary ride is a Prius but the new car dealers … really pissed him off. He called for tips but I said, ‘I’ll loan you my BMW i3 REx and be there in about 24 hours soon as I pack and hit the road.’ Friday afternoon, I tried to take a pre departure nap but couldn’t. Happily overcast to the West, I got in the 2017 BMW i3-REx and started a planned, 1.500 mile trip west to Safford AZ. For long trips, I get the battery below 75% and drive the rest on the 2 cylinder gas engine and 25 kW generator. Within 1 hour and 15 minutes, I top off the motorcycle sized, 2.3 gal tank and drive 65-68 mph on the next leg, averaging 75-88 miles so the battery holds its charge as reserve. No intentional charging but ‘Carpe Dieum’ one short charge to bring it over 75% so I could drive it closer. So this is the ‘straight drive’ trip meter: A little over $200 of midgrade in 2 gallon top offs at little over one hour segments. Frequent stops and I just arrived 250 away in Las Cruces. Getting a full charge in the Walmart, NO VACANCIES! Apparently prom night, traffic was terrible, loud, teenagers in fancy dress and human (peacock mode,) drove to Deming NM one two bed room $300 (no thank you.) so I drove another 100 miles to Lordstown AZ and found a Flying J with a new fast DC charger . The BMW became my micro-RV: Alarm clock woke me just before dawn started and I drove through high planes desert to my brothers place: Sunday morning, 60s F, rain a couple of days earlier. Awesome quality time in God’s chapel. Signed the car over to Will and his wife. Leaving by train for New Orleans and then figure out the last leg to Huntsville. The adventure continues. Bob Wilson
Headed there now: ‘Point of no return’: New Orleans relocation must start now due to sea level, study finds | New Orleans | The Guardian Bob Wilson
