Gearing Up...

So here we are at Fort Allen Park finishing up the kick-off activities.

It’s a little more comfortable here than yesterday afternoon, when we showcased the vehicles at the beautiful Portland Head Light. It felt like we were at the edge of the Earth, and with more than 2,000 miles and an entire continent ahead of us, that seemed a pretty apt description.

Thinking about 13 days on the road seems pretty intimidating, even with all the excitement from the other participants. The notion seems more reasonable in the first light of morning, and I know I’ve got good company with this HyMotion Tiguan and a couple new playlists on my Ipod.

But more on that later…Let me introduce you to the Hymotion Tiguan.

This Tiguan is no stranger to challenges like this one. It was originally showcased at the Shanghai Motor Show and the 2007 Michelin Challenge Bibendum. Bibendum included a 170 km road rally, and technical tests that included performance tests such as acceleration, maneuverability and noise. It also looked at environmental objectives such as fuel efficiency and emissions.

So, I know I’ve got a great vehicle to drive, but the upside is that it’s also comfortable. Not only will I be cruising along with zero emissions, but the interior is exactly the same as the Tiguan you’d buy at a dealership. All the creature comforts for this 13-day trek.

Which brings me back to the Ipod. I wonder how many miles I’ll get per song. The average might be a little better on the open road, with higher speed limits. With 107 horsepower this thing can get up to 93 miles per hour. If only we were on the Autobahn.

It looks like it’s time to head it up. The kick-off is just finishing up and we’ve got 236 miles before we call it a night in South Windsor, CT.