Michael Daly wrote:
On 5-Apr-2006, wrote:
I just didn't care. Still don't.
If I cared, do you think I'd be driving a 14 yr old car? I've been promising
myself to fix up some paint chips and dings for a few years now. As long
as the rustproofing holds out, I can't get too concerned.
It is a tad embarassing if I take someone "special" for a drive and
they get a face full of pine needles or other forest stuff blown out of the
car's air vents. But then I remember the famous photo of Bill Mason's
early '70s Toyota with a gazzillion canoes on a rack, driving where most
folks would be afraid to take their SUV and remember what cars are really for
(Photo in Path of the Paddle - or was it Song of the Paddle?).
I still don't understand why other peoples' cars and trucks seem so sensitive
to roof racks, tie downs and stuff. Maybe paying for that paint protection coating
option was worth it?
Mike
I bought my Jeep in 99 online. At 2000 miles it made its first
trip into the woods. The scratches I picked up still show.
At 10,000, a tree leaped out at me on the edge of an old
abandoned rail road bed I was following and tore off the cheap
plastic wheel well fairing. I hung it the garage. Every nick and
ding I put there. Great reminders of some interesting travels.
Now at 120 Kilo miles, I wonder if I will be able to keep it alive for
another 100 K.
Vehicles are like boats - the interesting ones have a lot of
scuffs on them. The shiny ones might look nice, but they
don't go anywhere.
I ported my Yakima howler bars over to the Jeep from a Dodge
Van. I just love those rain gutter mounts. Once clamped in place,
you can reef on the racks so hard you can lift the tires off the
ground. Only problem is the Jeep is lower than the van was.
I never had to duck under the 84 inche bars on the van. On
the Jeep, I do, but I don't always remember in time.
Blakely
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Blakely LaCroix
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
r.b.p. clique member # 86.
"The best adventure is yet to come"