the X facta

Alternative energy: Transport

While in America recently I got to visit some Amish towns. I'm quite fascinated with their lifestyle choices and it was an interesting experience. Their homes set on small farms are so tidy and well presented they look like a movie set. Too good to be real. My dad decided I had to have a ride in an Amish buggy. So off we went.


I got to sit up front with the Amish gentleman. His drawling accent was so strong I could hardly understand what he was saying, but finally when he thrust the reins in my hands I realised he was telling me to have a go at driving the horse and buggy.

This horse was so responsive that I just breathed and it moved left or right. Consequently we were weaving all over the road, narrowly missing a couple of cars parked on the side, and running up over a corner kerb. The Amish gentleman took the reins back and our journey became much smoother and less nerve wracking.

The other day, Mr X and I were talking about transport. Again. You see we live in regional Victoria, where public transport is not an option. We also have the highest petrol prices in the state! Consequently we've been trying to car pool into the town where we both work. It's inconvenient, one of us always has to wait around for the other one, and in the middle of winter, that's not pleasant out in the cold.

So then I suggested my grand plan to Mr X. I want to buy a buggy and a horse. "Think of the money we'll save!" I exclaimed excitedly. "Think of the time it will cost," sighed Mr X. Feeding the horse sounded like too much for he who hates feeding the dog and cat. "We have 15 acres," I exclaim, "and most of it is grassy. The horse can eat that, then we don't have to mow."

Not willing to back down, Mr X stated his next argument in the case against. "Think of how long it will take to get to the ferry, get on the ferry, and then get into town," (some 20km away) he argues. "We'd have to be up at 5.30am to get to work in time." Okay, that was a bit of a clincher in the dead middle of winter, where it's pitch black when we normally get up at 6.30.

Seriously though, this idea has merit. Don't you think? In light of us losing the Clipet business which was supposed to fund the running of Anamrae - we're desperately trying to think of another way to generate those funds. Mr X is so clever, I'm sure he could build the buggies. Or, we could set them up as flat-packs to ship all over the country, the south-pacific, the world.

When the earth runs out of fuel, or it becomes so expensive that it's unaffordable to fill the family car, we might become millionaires overnight.

Flat-pack Buggies. A DIY alternative transport option.
Whaddya' reckon - any takers?

posted by Kel @ 20.7.08