SEGWAY!

Okay, so we're not as crazy as "We got a Segway" sounds.... but we're pretty close! John's parents are big motor coach people and spend a lot of time now that they are "semi" retired on vacation trips. And in one RV magazine, they found an ad from Segway that says you can have a Segway for free so long as you drive it around the campsites you visit and advertise for them. Well, they thought it was a) a joke or b) too good to be true, but filled out the little form anyway... And then one day a box showed up on our front door! We can only assume (in the little time we have had to think while we are breaking numerous safety rules) that we'll get it for a certain time period, then Segway will call us up and ask for it back; and in that case, knowing the addiction it brings, we can guess that most people will want to buy their Segway so that they can keep it.

Now, PLEASE don't look at us in these pictures and think we are models of Segway responsibility. I cannot repeat enough that we broke like 17 safety rules in the first day. Maybe it is "new toy" syndrom, but we were eager to hurt ourselves. So first, the rulebook says to charge it for like 12 hours... Broken. The guys had it zipping around the warehouse as soon as they put it together. Then, Rule #2 is helmets.... definitely broken. We ARE trying to get John's dad to wear his Iron Man helmet while riding the Segway... and then maybe we'll get another one and have Segway jousting! Rule #3 is no uneven surfaces.... broken on the gravel driveway and the steep loading dock at work. Rule #4 is keep it in "turtle mode" and don't test the upper limit... DEFINITELY broken as we had races to see who could get the top speed (I won!)... Do I need to go on?

Again, kiddies, don't try this at home! Be good Segway owners!

First, a primer on how to ride the Segway, shot and narrated by yours truly. Then a demo of John setting off.

The hardest part, I think, is getting on the dern thing! Finding your balance should not be so hard!


Once you are stable, however, you are free to take off! The handles turn you and merely leaning forwards and back controls your speed.


John getting it out and showing off his balancing skills. (Rule #12 broken: always hold on to the handle bars!)


You'd think it wouldn't go as fast as it does, but see John's hair blowing in the breeze? We clocked it at over 12 mph!

And we did finally give John's dad a turn on HIS toy :)