Sunday, April 6, 2008

It's A Wrap

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ~Mark Twain

If you're just discovering this blog for the first time, keep in mind that blogs are listed chronologically from bottom to top on each page. If you want to read my roadtrip adventures in order, and you only want to read about the trip and none of the pre-trip plannning, then click on June in the right column, and start reading at the bottom of the page. (There are 29 posts for June, so it's a long page!) Then go on to July, and so on down the list of months.

If you've followed my progress across 12,656 miles traversing the United States and back; if you've vicariously brewed with me at 38 breweries, and visited an additional 33 with me; if you've camped with me in a brewery parking lot next to railroad tracks in Berkeley and inside a beer warehouse in Brooklyn; if you've fought the trailer as it fishtailed on a windy highway and been thankful for a cold beer at the end of the day; then you have taken this trip with me in your imagination.

Thank you for joining me on the journey.

When I began my trip in June, I thought I was leaving on a three-month trip, not a five-month trip. I didn't actually realize how big our nation is, as I had never driven across it before. I was both excited and nervous, knowing I would be driving alone. I felt trepidation at leaving my beloved husband behind, even knowing I had his blessings.

What! Was I nuts?

Maybe I was inspired. I knew the trip would demand my best and would require all the organization and determination I could muster. I had high hopes that I would find the discipline necessary to keep this blog going as long as possible.

You gave me feedback. You loved reading my adventures. You kept me going on the blog, as I felt a responsibility to finish so you would know the entire story. That's better than I had ever done with a trip journal or diary. Previously, once I got home, life resumed and I never finished writing about the last few days of a trip. Somehow your support encouraged me, or at least I felt an obligation to you, my faithful readers.

Now it's your turn. Take the torch and drive with it, as far as you can afford to go. Map out your own road trip. Make your connections, put on your "big boots," and go.

And try to write, so we can enjoy the journey too!

Yours truly,

Teri Fahrendorf
Portland, Oregon

P.S. If you are looking for my website, the link is www.terifahrendorf.com.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Trip Statistics

“Give me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world." ~Kaiser Wilhelm

The watercolor painting at left is one I painted in 1996. The same holds true today – everybody wants beer made with love.

Home safe and sound! Thank you to everyone!

After 19 years as a professional brewer and 17 years as Steelhead's Brewmaster, I quit my job to embark on this 5-month, 13,000 mile road trip of brewing adventure and beer exploration. From Eugene, Oregon to Maine and back in 139 days. (I went the long way - see map at upper right.)

Road Brewer 2007 Trip by the Numbers:
In ascending order...

Number of Accidents: 0
Number of Canadian Provences driven through: 1
Number of countries driven through: 2
Number of miles per gas & auto expense dollar: 2.6
Number of weeks of conjugal visits with husband: 5
Number of miles per gallon: 8.4
Number of pounds gained: 11
Number of women brewers I visited at their brewery: 12
Number of weeks on the road: 20
Number of women brewers and former women brewers I either visited on trip or saw at the GABF: 26
Number of US states driven through: 30
Number of short brewery visits: 33
Number of breweries brew-with or job-shadow: 38
Number of gas tank fills: 68
Number of breweries visited or brewed with, total: 71
Number of days on the road: 139
Number of posts from beginning to end of this blog: 151
Number of business cards handed out: 1,050
Number of gallons of gas: 1,504
Number of dollars spent on gas only: 3,950
Number of dollars spent on gas & auto/trailer expense: 4,787
Number of miles: 12,656
See below for gas & road expense details.

Starting Odometer: 116312
Ending Odometer: 128968
Total Miles: 12,656

Listing of Gas & Road Expenses:
6/04/07 - Departed Eugene with full tank
6/05/07 - $280.00 - Van Rear Shocks
6/06/07 - $75.00 - Gas
6/07/07 - $74.41 - Gas
6/09/07 - $39.75 - Gas
6/10/07 - $ 6.00 - Bridge Toll
6/12/07 - $66.12 - Gas
6/14/07 - $72.12 - Gas
6/17/07 - $66.90 - Gas
6/17/07 - $62.86 - Gas
6/19/07 - $64.60 - Gas
6/20/07 - $42.19 - Gas
6/20/07 - $64.35 - Gas
6/22/07 - $59.23 - Gas
6/22/07 - $67.72 - Gas
6/24/07 - $34.93 - Gas
6/27/07 - $35.99 - Oil Change
6/27/07 - $47.83 - Gas
6/28/07 - $34.86 - Gas
6/28/07 - $51.13 - Gas
6/29/07 - $72.61 - Gas
6/29/07 - $66.27 - Gas
6/30/07 - $65.55 - Gas
6/30/07 - $59.19 - Gas
7/01/07 - $79.17 - Gas
7/03/07 - $64.52 - Gas
7/07/07 - $54.90 - Gas
7/10/07 - $66.24 - Gas
7/14/07 - $53.11 - Taller hitch stinger & side-view trailer mirror
7/18/07 - $76.17 - Gas
7/20/07 - $ 4.98 - Motor Oil
7/18-22 - $16.45 - Illinois Highway Tolls
7/22/07 - $40.44 - Gas
7/24/07 - $73.75 - Gas
7/27/07 - $44.32 - Gas
7/29/07 - $ 6.50 - Toll Bridge to Canada
7/29/07 - $78.02 - Gas
7/30/07 - $62.23 - Gas
7/30-31 - $11.45 - NY Highway Tolls
7/31/07 - $66.30 - Gas
8/02/07 - $46.79 - Gas
8/17/07 - $63.66 - Gas
8/17/07 - $50.00 - (Gas sponsored by Magic Hat)
8/17/07 - $31.95 - Gas
8/21/07 - $19.88 - Oil Change
8/21/07 - $83.99 - Transmission Fluid Change
8/21/07 - $15.00 - Propane tank refill
8/21/07 - $ 2.71 - Trailer tail lights
8/21/07 - $60.84 - Gas
8/21/07 - $43.01 - Gas
8/21/07 - $ 6.95 - ME and NH Turnpike Tolls
8/22/07 - $25.00 - (Gas sponsored by Magic Hat)
8/23/07 - $ 5.00 - Parking in Portland, ME
8/25/07 - $65.91 - Gas
8/22-25 - $ 7.10 - ME Turnpike Tolls
8/22-28 - $ 2.00 - NH Turnpike Tolls
8/30/07 - $61.52 - Gas
9/01/07 - $25.00 - (Gas sponsored by Magic Hat)
9/01/07 - $ 1.45 - MA Turnpike Tolls
9/01/07 - $39.86 - Gas
9/04/07 - $90.00 - Ferry from CT to Long Island, NY
9/08/07 - $ 7.00 - Subway from Brooklyn to Manhattan, NY
9/08/07 - $ 8.50 - NY Turnpike Tolls
9/10/07 - $20.00 - Gas
9/10/07 - $45.00 - Gas
9/10-14 - $ 8.35 - NJ Turnpike Tolls
9/12/07 - $64.20 - Replace 400 Watt 12-Volt Inverter
9/12-14 - $14.50 - PA Turnpike Tolls
9/14/07 - $55.32 - Gas
9/16/07 - $4.50 - Delware Memorial Bridge Toll
9/16-18 - $8.00 - DE Turnpike Tolls
9/18/07 - $54.86 - Gas
9/20/07 - $7.75 - PA Turnpike Tolls
9/20/07 - $57.56 - Gas
9/20/07 - $67.90 - Gas
9/20/07 - $64.04 - Gas
9/23/07 - $47.48 - Gas
9/24/07 - $15.00 - Propane Tank Refill
9/24/07 - $60.26 - Gas
9/25/07 - $55.55 - Gas
9/28/07 - $4.00 - RV wastewater tank dump fee
9/28/07 - $10.50 - KS Turnpike Tolls
9/28/07 - $56.78 - Gas
9/28/07 - $66.86 - Gas
10/01/07 - $46.01 - Gas
10/01/07 - $61.82 - Gas
10/02/07 - $53.47 - Gas
10/02/07 - $70.28 - Gas
10/04/07 - $35.99 - Oil Change
10/05/07 - $52.63 - Gas
10/15/07 - $53.79 - Gas
10/15/07 - $39.68 - Gas
10/15/07 - $31.50 - Gas
10/15/07 - $43.24 - Gas
10/16/07 - $45.70 - Gas
10/16/07 - $34.24 - Gas
10/17/07 - $32.35 - Gas
10/17/07 - $63.22 - Gas
10/18/07 - $58.00 - Gas
10/18/07 - $64.50 - Gas
10/18/07 - $33.00 - Gas
10/20/07 - $42.50 - Gas

Miles driven: 12,656
Gallons of gas: 1,504.266
Gas expense: $3,950.31
Other auto/trailer expense: $836.86
Gas & auto/trailer expense combined: $4,787.17

About 2.6 miles per gas & auto expense dollar
About 8.4 miles per gallon

Additional Costs Not Accounted For Above:
1. Muscle tone.
2. Strength.
3. Stamina.
4. Strong Joints.

Why? I was a van-potato when driving, and a blog-potato the rest of the time. I'm making up for it on the rowing machine now that I'm home.

Just thought you should know the whole truth about the costs of a nearly 5-month road trip like this!