Road Trip: The Reluctant Case for a Minivan

I confirmed that we could "skip the line" as Avis promises upon arrival. The text message arrived along with an app notification upon landing. Proceed to space ____, enter the car and depart.

All good.

Until we arrived at space ____. No car and no such space at SFO!

Happily, several very helpful Avis folks were nearby, walked with us to confirm that indeed, space ____ did not exist, nor the Toyota RAV 4 we reserved, while "skipping the line".

Back to the Avis counter where RAV 4's were not to be found. "Would you like a minivan?" I grimaced, then thought a bit and asked what model? "Honda Odyssey". I said sure, let's roll. No more waiting.

Off we went.

The Odyssey's sliding doors, four very comfortable adult seats, mid-car climate control and adaptive cruise along with plenty of storage space made it an ideal road trip auto as we traveled north, south, north again then far south over 10 days.

Carplay worked reliably as did the wireless charging. The car's performance and responsiveness are middling at best.

But then, it's a minivan.

An ideal and comfortable ride for a gorgeous road trip. Easy in, easy out.

Minivan's have fallen so far out of the overton window that Dan Neil's last Odyssey review dates to 2011 though a Chrysler minivan discussion occured in 2016. (I may have missed more recent analysis - maybe).

There are alternatives.

We saw many tricked out Sprinter vans along with endless Teslas and SUVs. And, the occasional very interesting car. A 1977 Ford Bronco graced the Ojai Farmer's Market. $85,000!






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About that tippy A321

"We are not going to deplane yet, until our ground crew removes bags from the back of the plane. This is done to prevent the airplane from tipping backward".

While waiting to deplane a new United A321 recently, I wondered about the push and pull of constraints and optimization. Airlines have stuffed more seats into planes while slicing and dicing products from carry ons, legroom, seats and checked baggage. These choices cascade to more crowded gate areas, transit/parking and of course security queues.

In my a321 example, airline optimizations lead to a longer turnaround, that is more time on the ground and less in the air, generating revenues. Perhaps Airbus design/manufacturing choices play a role as well, adding more length to the rear rather than toward the airplane's nose.

Addison Schonland recently published a chart on single aisle turn times:



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The Joy of a Morning Swim: West Coast Edition

38F, 42F, 54F. It matters not. Northern or Southern California!

















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January above Madison

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Aruba's Lago Refinery

Aruba Papers:

The history of the Lago Refinery is deeply intertwined with Aruba’s economic and social development. Once one of the largest refineries in the world, it played a significant role in shaping the island’s prosperity during the 20th century. From its early beginnings as a transshipment facility to its transformation into a full-scale refinery, the Lago Refinery brought employment, modernization, and international recognition to Aruba. Though it eventually closed in 1985, its legacy continues to influence the island’s identity and growth.

The Birth of the Lago Refinery

The origins of the Lago Refinery can be traced back to the early 1920s when oil was discovered in Venezuela. This discovery led to an oil boom, attracting international investors eager to refine and transport crude oil. In 1924, the Lago Oil and Transport Company was established, initially functioning as a transshipment hub that transported Venezuelan oil to Aruba for temporary storage before being sent elsewhere. However, the company soon recognized Aruba’s strategic location, deep-water harbor, and political stability under Dutch rule.

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I remember it well

Traffic, traffic, traffic. Driving from Florida's Gulf Coast early one morning toward an inland airport, I was grumpy as the urban sprawl continued for miles and miles. Subdivision, strip mall, gas station, retail, billboards. Stoplights. Rinse, repeat.

Suddenly.

Serenity. Beauty.

Gorgeous trees wrapped in morning fog. Birds. Farms.

It was beautiful.

Recently, a bit more time meant that a few photos could be captured. They don't really do the serenity justice, particularly with the birds flying through the lifting fog. But, memories.

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