So I’m down at the corner coffee shop this morning, and I see this guy outside the Safeway next door:
His name is Don and he’s the inventor. He told me the fan pushes him along at 25mph on flat ground. He’s in the process of securing his patents and is just starting to market the thing. He says it works great with canoes, too! Here’s the throttle mechanism:
That’s right, you work the throttle by flexing your right index finger. I’m such a sucker for cool stuff, I had to ask him all about it. I guess if you think it’s cool too, you can find out more at his web site.
Damn, think what you could do with one of these and a pair of roller blades . . . watch out!
But I didn’t start this entry to talk about personal thrust devices. I started it to bitch about the heat. When I met Don this morning it wasn’t quite 10:00 AM, yet it was already over 90°F and climbing (we’re supposed to hit 104°F today and 109°F tomorrow).
I was on my motorcycle, and had only ridden down to the corner to have a cup of coffee and grab a library book before riding up to the top of Mt. Lemon, where it’s always cooler. And it was. Here I am, 35 minutes after meeting Don in sweltering hot weather, enjoying 75°F temperatures and clean mountain air:
God bless America, indeed, and God bless mountains . . . and may we all have one nearby when it’s hot!