Mail Call

Ida Rentoul Outhwaite

In my inbox yesterday – an ad for ELVES!

OK, a it was a plug for the solar powered trike/car hybrid – the ELF – not short statured magical beings.

Produced in Durham, N.C., by Organic Transit, the ELF is a cross between a bicycle and a car. It has three wheels, pedals, a solar panel, an enclosed cab, a carrier in the back and runs on a rechargeable battery.

The ELF can achieve 20 MPH with electric assist, and 30 MPH with pedaling.
The ELF's electric motor can transport you up to 48 miles with no pedaling!
Plug up your ELF to a standard electrical outlet, and it will be fully charged in 2.5 hours.
No carbon emissions and complete independence from fossil fuels.
160 LBS TOTAL WEIGHT  The ELF is very light-weight, and easy to manage.
350-550 LBS PAYLOAD The ELF can carry you, and more than a dozen bags of groceries!
7 HOUR SOLAR RECHARGE TIME Use the power of the Sun to fully recharge the ELF.
ELF Solo
$8,895.00 – $9,794.95 (OUCH!)

Does this not sound PERFECT!? Apart from the price, yes. Yes it does and I so want one – now plz. I’ve written of my ELF (and Sparrow) yen before. With its cargo hold space, it'd be fabolicious for grocery runs and other errands about town – even in rain and snow. Year-round, I could get shit done AND get exercise at the very same time!

Can the Elf also replace my car? I really want to get away from environment killing dinosaur whiskey – is this the ticket?

Dunno. Though it's car-like (so, bigger and safer on the roads than me and my trike), even with the electric assist, it doesn’t go fast enough to drive on major thoroughfares. The ELF is auto-ish but still a trike. Journeys up 93 into Boston or on any highway would be way ill advised. It couldn't be a complete replacement.

I could keep Bix and get an ELF for around town but do I really want to spend all that money? Am I entranced enough to take a trip down to North Carolina to test drive? Maybe. 

~~~
In the snail versus email yesterday, my new Linda Baker-Cimini print came! Christ almighty, I'm wild about her work!
~~~
And, my dear pal Michal wrote to say that she has friends over at Berklee College of Music and was connecting with them to see if any of them knows a cellist willing to play a few notes for this here deafie. YES! She sent me a name and email address. I zipped off my appeal and am waiting to hear.

IF this doesn't work, my Plan C is the electric bass.
~~~
NOT in the mail yesterday? Bills. It was a GOOD mail day.