Parallel Parking a Big Truck in the City

img_5969-copy1

People often find it hard to believe that I parallel park my full-size truck downtown, when I drive downtown. While I don’t go for mini-spaces (I generally need a space and half to fit my truck), I am fairly good at parallel parking my truck in the city.

I’ve worked downtown for many years, and parked various cars and trucks downtown. The reality if you drive downtown, you often have to parallel park if you want to park for free, or even park at all anywhere near your destination. Practice makes perfect with parallel parking.

Parking3

I don’t really like my inability to see backwards or the car behind me when parallel parking, but as long as the spot your pulling in is longer then your vehicle — I always check before starting by pulling aside the spot — and you get your angles right, it’s not too bad.

Still, I do not enjoy parking my big truck in the city, or for that matter driving in the city. I’ve only driven into the city, on average once a month since January.Β It’s just a pain constantly watching the angles, checking the sides, and all the mirrors. I try to avoid driving in the city to the greatest extent possible and doing parking where there are other cars around. I much rather enjoy driving on open roads in the backcountry.

It really isn't that bad, as long as you first pick a space that is longer then your truck, and get over the fact you pretty much backing in blindly.

A Warning About Spring Temperatures

The bright sunlight and warm temperatures have awoken the bears from hibernation in Albany-area, looking for motorists to bite. Earlier today, there was one along the Delmar Bypass and also one in the new construction speed zone on I-787 near Exit 2. Drive safely, watch that speedometer.

Schenectady County Nature Preserves and Trails

2049_uOgyNSrMkhc.imgSchenectady County Nature Preserves and Trails

After discovering the small nature preserve, literally in my backyard, and reading about the Indian Kill Preserve in Schenectady, a became fascinated about some of the little local preserves around. I never spend much time in Schenectady County, but a few of these preserves sound real interesting, especially if I'm coming back that way from the Adirondacks.