Fiat Therapy

     I know this isn't a "story" about someplace we went, but wanted to share something that our little car helps us with.  Therapy.  Others call it "blowing off steam".  Lori and I have discovered that if we've had a bad day at work, it helps to put the top down on Lil Blue and just drive.  I kind of understand why bikers just go and ride sort of.  I could never get the hang of riding a motorcycle, no matter how many friends tried to teach me.  The bikers I hung out with in England finally gave up.  I ended up being the one that brought the beer and stuff in my car if we went to the beach or somewhere.
     I had forgotten about this form of therapy.  Probably because I haven't had a car that was designed to enjoy the road for quite some time.  My vehicles since I got out of the military have been practical in nature,  pickup trucks for hauling tools, and a camper, and the suv for Lori for hauling family and dogs.  While I was stationed in England, I had a Fiat Supra Supermirafiori 2.0 Rally specs.  The back country roads were so much fun to drive, and I had a good route that I would take.  Starting from the base I was stationed at to Ely (where I would stop to visit friends if I was done with blowing off steam), then cut over to Littleport (another small town I had some local friends in.  This group I would race my car against for fun), and back to base.  The route had it all, 

longer straight aways to floor it on, tight curves, and even a little "jump" over some train tracks that you could get some air on.  It was a good run to go out on to clear my head.

     I have a route here also.  Old 56 hwy thru Gardner (where I stop for coffee at a local coffee house called The Groundhouse http://www.groundhousecoffee.com/), to K33.  Left on K68 to old KC Road thru Hillsdale, then onto 169 hwy and back home.  

     I've been doing this on Sunday mornings before Lori wakes up to have some "me" time.  Top down, music cranked, and just drive.  The only down side...mostly straight.  Kansas doesn't have a lot of twisty, curvy roads unless you live near someplace like the Flint Hills that really challenge your driving skills.

     Reason why I'm writing this down is because I haven't done this in a while.  Over a month I think.  Been busy, and been watching our money and don't want to waste the money on gas.  But I think I'm about due.  Need to get out a blow the cobwebs out of my head.