September 2nd, 2005

At the hundredth meridian

Posted by NRG SVR in 100 MPG Challenge

Thursday afternoon, I was looking forward to crossing the 100th meridian on Hwy 16 in Manitoba. The tie-in of course is the Tragically Hip song we all know. At the hundredth meridian, where the great plains begin… The plains of course, having been what I’d just driven through partially… helping to me to achieve 113 mpg (2.5 L/100km).

100 mpg at the hundredth meridian… you get the point…

There is of course another Tragically Hip song NOT being played on the radio right now. And this one is connected thematically too. There is a direct correlation between rapid climate change - the effects of which we are seeing today, and the increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere - GHG emissions as we call them - the stuff we produce when we burn fossil fuels. Every litre of gasoline we burn turns into 2.4 kgs of CO2. (Diesel is 2.7 kgs.)

Read the Government of Canada site to learn more, or even David Suzuki’s site.

There was no marker at the hundredth meridian. Like a thief in the night, it came and went. I had actually passed the point in the road where it was located and had to do a U-turn. It is time for society to have a good hard look at what were doing. More U-turns are needed - urgently.

Looking east. The car is at 50:17.703 N / 100:00.000 W.

2 Responses to ' At the hundredth meridian '

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  1. skeptikool said:

    Was interested to read of your trip in today’s Province. I posted the following on The Tyee: thetyee.ca

    commentor: skeptikool posted: 1 Minute Ago
    An Abbotsford BC resident is to drive across Canada and back in a Smart Car to promote reduction of greenhouse gases.

    He expects to get about 3.5 L/100km(81 mpg) for the 16,000-km trip and at a cost of about $500 in fuel at the time of writing.

    Very commendable. And good luck to him.

    Unfortunately, even at today’s outrageous fuel costs, at a base cost of $16,700, it is doubtful that this vehicle will sell like hot cakes.

    I believe a government serious about improving our air quality should remove all tariff and tax impediments to the purchase of these or similarly benign vehicles.

    Those interested in following the trip may do so his website at www.100mpg.ca

    September 3rd, 2005 at 12:32 am

  2. NRG SVR said:

    A couple corrections:

    1) the trip is about 16,000 kms, not 27,000
    2) Abbotsford is not involved with the website www.100mpg.ca; this is my own website

    And lastly, these cars are selling out. The wait list is still is still somewhat lengthy in most places across the country. Still, not everyone will buy (or can buy) a smart. There are however, some excellent choices out there.

    September 3rd, 2005 at 4:57 am

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