Trailers for Sale or Rent

I suppose I should rename this blog the Monthly Dope but that would be un-alliterable. Sorry its been so long, I've neglected our space here on the web.

Over the past month I have been researching the next big gas play in North America. It's called the Marcellus Shale. It is made up of 7.5 million acres of production zone stretching from Ohio to West Virginia up through Pennsylvania and across the southern portion of New York state. It is massive and geologists boast it may have enough gas to keep our country well stocked and supplied for the next 15-30 years. It is an impressive discovery.

Chesapeake Energy is the number on player in the Marcellus field and it has recently recorded excellent production figures after testing it's first batch of wells. These wells do not diminish. They produce at a steady and constant pace, unlike the Barnett and Haynesville formations which tend to lose 60-70% of their production value after 6 months. Do your research, buy some land in northwest, northeast or southwest PA and get the mineral rights...you may be a millionaire one day.

Aside from work I did enjoy my travels. It was funny because one lonely Tuesday evening I sat down at a local Williamsport establishment called the Bullfrog Brewery. I highly recommend it. Some pilots and I chewed the fat and shared some laughs. I: a truant of the road, they: captians of the sky were no strangers to strangers as we sat upon our bar stools like bobble-headed gargoyles. The majority of our conversation revolved around the economy and liquified natural gas prices. The pilots believed that the recent decrease in airfare is in direct correlation to the fuel prices. I agree, see we've been importing LNG from Africa for a while and we are starting to produce more and more. Plus there is a huge supply bubble in the South East US and the pipelines are beginning to disseminate fuel at cheaper and cheaper costs. Petroleum on the other hand is another story. Petroleum does not respond to typical market laws of supply and demand. Then the band showed up.

It was a treat because no one was expecting a band...not even Bullfrog. They were a group of mid-twenty music grads traveling from Chicago to Philly and eventually NYC. One pretty young woman with dark brown hair and an alto-jazz vent accompanied by a rag-tag bunch of skinny hipster dudes playing guitar, sax, drums, keyboard, viola and cello. A motley crew to say the least. As they began to play we turned around atop our mighty slings and faded into the woodwork as the music marched on.

As I left the Bullfrog that evening 3 of the band members were sharing a smoke. I told them how much I appreciated their sound and style and they traded thanks with me. They were just happy to find a gig as the bearded guitarist put it, "We're just playing for gas money, man." I had to laugh. I looked back at him and said, "Me too, brother."

Whether you dream of flying airplanes one day or making beautiful music on the open road it still comes down to filling up the tanks. You can't roll on empty. If you're having fun, it's not work, it's an art. Glug, glug, chug, chug. Until next time.

-rf

Memphis In May

Ok dope fiends...sorry for yet another delay. Since we last shared the web I've traveled another 2100 miles in my tank all across the deep south, mid-south and northeast. As you know driving across country requires gas and there are some amazing gas stations out there folks. Loves is a great stop, with a big bright red, yellow and black heart as it's moniker. The RoadRunner truck stops are cool too, similar color scheme and they offer always hot to trot coffee. Of course there is the traditional 76 Truck Stop but you don't see many of them any more. And my favorite stop BUC-EES. I don't know if it's their Beaver T's or the gratuitous use of billboard signage announcing the next upcoming Buc-ees. But I think it's a bit of both, plus considering they are only found in the Bible belt they employee risque double-entendre wherever possible. Of course the Flying J gas stations are the consummate winners boasting the cheapest gas prices on the open road.

After Shreveport, Louisiana I made a 500+ mile trek down to Freer, TX. First, I'll say this...most Texans desire a South Texas Ranch. The possibility of oil is great but the main attraction is the hunting. The South Texas landscape can best be described as a dustier amalgamation of the African Savannah and the Australian bush. It's quite pretty but very flat. The roads in this part of the country stretch straight on for miles until your eyes turn the blacktop into liquefied tar and little kids fry eggs on the streets. By the way if you're ever in Beeville, TX stop at the Burger Depot and order a double bacon cheese burger "all-the-way", with some tots and a Dr. Pepper. It'll throw you back a couple generations....all Americana, baby.

This past week I've been on the road to the great state of Pennsylvania. I spent a night in Memphis and happened upon the Blues City Cafe. Absolutely amazing music. The Dempseys from "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou" played a few sets, a Johnny Cash cover band stomped the stage and I was about all worn out when I decided to cross the street to BB Kings bar. And guess who walked in. BB King himself. They had just finished the 2009 Blues Award and he felt he deserved a cold drink. Stunning my friends. And no, the thrill is not yet gone... Aside from this surreal experience, May is just a great time to be in Memphis. The Beale Street Music Festival is a modern day Woodstock and they have the greatest BBQ competition on the planet.

We live in an absolutely beautiful country. We don't appreciate it, I swear. Today I passed through Ohio on my way to PA where anyone can mistake this landscape for that of New Zealand. Grassy hills so green that when the wind blows it looks like a shimmering ocean rolling with waves cradling a bunch of sheep as they float around on top.

Each state is unique in their laws, economy, agriculture and people. All of our great states also have a motto. Texas is "Friendship." Louisiana's is "Union, Justice, Confidence." In Arkansas, "The People Rule." Tennessee, who's RT.40 river valley watershed is a stellar road trip, is "Agriculture & Commerce." Kentucky: "Let Us Be Grateful to God." Ohio: "With God All Things Are Possible." I like West Virginia's motto which reads: "Mountaineers Are Always Free." But I think it's fitting that my favorite state motto comes from my home state of Connecticut. It reads, Qui Transtulit Sustinet, "He Who is Transplanted Sustains." I've been transplanted and translated many times in my life especially within the last month, however God Bless the USA because I feel right at home no matter where I am.

With Love,
RF