[Hal Copple]

I have driven a lot in all sorts of weather. I too have found that my ears get a bit of a painful "pop" from some sort of air pressure phenomenon, so on trips longer than several hours, i put in the foam ear plugs, i get them at a shooter's store. I too have notices when i take them out, that i am amazed at how loud my car is.

I also find out that my eyes dry out after awhile, so i wear nice curved sunglasses, Oakely, very dark, and very cover a lot, and do wonders for keeping my eyes moist. Of course, if i am around town, and trying to be cool, i wear my Rayban aviators.

On many trips, i wear bubble goggles, i have them in smoke and clear, and wear the clear ones at ngiht, or clear Gargoyles, it is a delight to wear goggles, they keep my eyes nice and comfy.

On really long trips, whe wind whipping my thinning hair gives me some sort of scalp pain, so like the motorcyle guys, i put on a tie down skull cap thing i got at a biker shop.

I can get chilled at ambiant temps of 60 degrees or less, and when it gets down into the 40's, i put on some long underewear, too.

I have an assortment of caps and gloves, too. In about two weeks, i plan on a little 500+ mile run up to Ohio and back the next day.

My son and I were comparing driving experiences in my SPF and his Boxster, which he got friday. Totally different. Sort of like the difference between a BMW bike, and a Ducati.

We have a beautiful weekend now, after all the east coast rain the past few days.

My wife just loves here new X Series Jag, too, it is really quite a car, with the AWD in the rain and the sports suspension, it is a superb road car. She loves the power, she smoked an aggressive guy in his Chrysler 300 car a few days ago. She leaves the tranny in Sports Mode, she loves the performance of her new Jag.

all the best, and God Bless our troops.