Jonathan Smith is a web designer, graphic designer, and photographer in Harrisburg, PA.

I’m sure everyone has heard through the news already that the big 3 automakers (Ford, GM, Chrysler) are looking towards the government for $25 billion to help them out of this economic rut they’ve dug. Gas prices have been steadily rising (although they are at a low right now, it won’t always be like that). Yet these companies continue to develop, market, and try to sell vehicles that are simply not fuel efficient. A simple comparisson between Ford and Honda shows that Ford makes just one (1) car that gets more than 30mpg, the Ford Focus (35mpg). While Honda makes four (4) cars that get more than 30mpg (or alternative fuel), the Accord (31mpg), the Civic (36mpg), the FCX Clarity (fuel cell), and the Fit (33mpg). Honda is not asking for any bailout money from the government.

On top of this. The  CEOs of Ford, GM, and Chrysler took corporate jets to Capitol Hill yesterday to ask for $25 billion of tax payer money to help them with their failing companies. These jets cost around $20,000 for the round trip each.

One representative, Rep. Bradley Sherman (D-CA) had the following to say:

“I’m going to ask you to raise your hand if you’re planning to sell your jet in place now and fly back commercial. Let the record show no hands went up.”

Another representative, Patrick Henry (R-NC) said the following:

“The fact that you flew in on your own private jet at tens of thousands of dollars just for you to make your way to Washington is a bit arrogant just before you ask the taxpayers for money,”

I’ll have to agree with both of those comments.

Some say we need to bailout these companies because it will effect thousands of middle-class jobs such as mechanics who depend on these companies. Too bad. I feel this needs to be a growing pain for letting the companies who are willing to develop more reliable vehicles and research alternative fuels go mainstream. We can then move towards creating those middle-class jobs in this new infrastructure with new skills.

My friend Daneen asked earlier in the week if I would be up for a ride on Saturday. She has new knobbies on her BMW F650GS and wanted to test them out. I decided that we could ride out to Swatara State Park and ride along the Swatara Creek. The ride on I81 was boring as usual. But once we got to Old State Road the ride was beautiful. The leaves on the trees were perfect and the weather was warm.

We briefly stopped to disable our ABS and headed down the road. To my surprise there was a gate open on a road that headed off towards the Creek. It wasn’t really a road though. It was the width of a road but it was nothing but leaves. Which meant extra precaution because you can’t see what’s under the leaves and the leaves are slippery. This path led us along some sort of pipeline as we went up and down several hills until we came out at the Swatara Creek. We stopped to shed some of our gear (it was getting how because we were unable to go fast) and walk down to the creek. The road went through the creek and up the other side. It wasn’t deep. But the rocks are covered in algae and the water would be dangerously cold if one of us were to drop our bikes in the creek.

We backtracked a ways and turned left on another path that headed out towards the road. This brought us to a gate but we were able to ride around it and continue onto Old State Road. We road to the end and turned around. Damn these bikes are fun! Coming back towards the Appalachian Trail I practiced my wheelie routine since I wasn’t really on a public road. Just got the front end up a few inches and I shared my technique with Daneen who decided she didn’t want to try it (even though her other bike is a BMW K1200R).

I let Daneen lead the way back to Harrisburg, PA. We took 443 (Fishing Creek Road) through Fort Indiantown Gap which was the perfect scenic route to end the day of riding. It’s not time to put the bike away yet!