I Know This Is Strange To Ask, But How's An Adventure Sound? · 4:18am Feb 20th, 2020

I apologize for being quiet lately. I haven't logged in for the last week, but I have a good reason. Forward progress on 16 took a bit of a hiatus as I ventured out of state on vacation. I'd really hoped to have Diamond Rose's chapter finished before leaving, but I didn't have a chance to complete it in time. It's nearly done, but not quite there just yet.

I've seen a demotivational poster with the caption Adventure: taking inappropriate equipment to out of the way locations. So I guess I've just come home from an adventure.

The inappropriate equipment?

A 28-year-old Volvo with 6-digit mileage. My mechanic thought I was nuts, but he gave the car it's yearly inspection (and an oil change & 'anything else you can think of, please check') the day before I left. He gave the car a clean bill of health. The other mechanic at the shop agreed with me though - he's driven one of these from Oregon to here.

I don't talk much about myself, but I live in the Northeast.* As you can see, there are palm trees in the background of that shot, taken for proof that my car made it there (because no one I know in real life is going to believe it without photographic evidence). Normally my Mustang (as the newest car in my fleet) would be pressed into long distance travel, but it's winter and the Mustang's off the road. I've driven my Volvo to Montreal and North Carolina (multiple times), so it's not like it doesn't see long hauls. But this trip was more than double the mileage of any of those.

I should also probably mention I have no mobile devices whatsoever. No laptop, no iPad, not even a cell phone. No way to call AAA in the event of a breakdown. Old car. No cell phone. Yeah, I'm probably crazy.

As for the out of the way location?

Watching the Daytona 500 live has been a bucket list item for me since before I knew what a 'bucket list' was. Spoilers ahead for those who may have recorded the race but not watched it yet. I mean, at this point, if you've been near a radio or television, you probably know the outcome, but be warned anyways.

Sure, it's straight down I-95, and hardly 'out of the way' until you factor in just how far it is from my home. As for inappropriate equipment, my car has a whopping 114 horsepower (when factory fresh; likely significantly lower now). Hardly the car you'd choose when taking a 2,000+ mile round trip comprised nearly entirely of high speed driving. Yet those little ponies under the hood galloped those freeway miles with no problems whatsoever. And both the drive down and the drive home were straight shots. That's right, 1,000 miles in one day in each direction. I got home at nearly midnight last night and was at work this morning at 8:30. Okay, no 'probably' about it, that proves I'm insane.

Some of you may have watched the race. Others may have seen clips of the big crashes on television. For those who paid it no attention whatsoever, it was a spectacular race. The first 180 laps were relatively clean, with just a few minor incidents. With about 17 laps to go, all pandemonium broke out. The Big One was followed by a few smaller incidents, the last of which was the most serious wreck of the day. Ryan Newman was battling for the lead when he was shoved by Ryan Blaney. Newman's car went airborne and was struck in the roof by Corey LaJoie's car at ~200 MPH. Newman's car crossed the finish line upside down and on fire. Denny Hamlin won by inches over Blaney in what's likely one of the closest finishes in NASCAR history.

But all eyes were on the crumpled #6 Mustang. Screens were erected and those of us in the stands thought the worst. Racecars have gotten tremendously safer since Dale Earnhardt's demise in this same race nineteen years ago, but racing's still dangerous. And no one expects the roof to take an impact from a 3,500 pound car traveling nearly 200 MPH. Ryan didn't walk away from the crash, but he did walk out of the hospital this afternoon arm in arm with his two young daughters. Please note that he walked out of the hospital. So far his injuries remain unknown. And you know what? It's none of our business anyway. The important part is he's alive. Hopefully, he'll race another day. Ryan's sitting out the next race (and who knows how many more after that), but I don't think anyone would blame him if he decides to call it a career after that close call.

Jayski's main photo right now is of Ryan & his daughters.

I also stopped for dinner at former NASCAR drivers Hermie & Elliott Sadler's restaurant in Emporia, Virginia on the way home.

But I'm back now, and I'll be back to writing horse words soon enough.