This timeout is about what you expect when writing it:
```
$ ruby /tmp/gce.rb
Starting: Fri Mar 21 06:04:55 -0700 2014
Connection Failed: execution expired
Complete: Fri Mar 21 06:04:57 -0700 2014, elapsed: 2.004359
```

I get this time on 1.8.7 and 1.9.3 against local networks and unrouted networks (169.254.169.254) on my Ubuntu VM.