I’ve got some issues with Apple TV but it works so well with my iPhone and MacBook so I put up with them. And the gizmo is worth the money just for the screensavers. They’re gorgeous. Last night I fired up the Apple Music app while I was ironing shirts. In a few seconds the first screensaver came up on the big screen. If you’ve never seen these it’s hard to understand what I’m gushing about.
Spotted this free spirit outside the local Best Buy. He achieved this interesting effect using sandpaper and a mix of readily available household chemicals. Note the Jackson Pollock-esque panel above the rear plate. And the “DTP!” on the trunk (no idea). Don’t know if I’m seeing more interesting vehicles these days or just noticing them more.
Hadn’t watched one of these in a while because I found I was unable to tell the real stuff from the parody stuff. But they haven’t lost their touch.
Keeping the MINI around for a bit until I’m confident the The Truck can be my daily drive. This photo shows just how small the Land Rover is. I’ll bet there’s more space inside the MINI. Longer wheelbase. But the center of gravity is very noticeable on turns. The contrast in driving experience is dramatic.
I’ve always avoided putting shit on my cars although I’m not sure why. Drove ’em till they dropped and never worried about trade-in. Just didn’t stick stuff on them. I think I’ll have a bit more fun with the truck.
Upper 90s in mid Missouri today.
It’s been a long time since I drove a car without power steering and brakes. Fifty years? Manual brakes and steering dramatically changes the way you drive (okay, the way I drive).
Stopping at an intersection requires some planning, some forethought. I have to start slowing well before I get there. Same with turning. You do not want to be going fast while turning this truck. If the MINI is a go-cart, the Land Rover is one of those red, double-decker London buses. Center of gravity two or three times higher than the MINI.
To make those turns the Land Rover engineers gave us a big old steering wheel, made of the same Bakelite as old telephones and ancient Farmall tractors. While I’ve never driven a farm implement, driving this old truck feels more like a tractor than a car.
Another difference one notices in the first few seconds is the noise. The 2.5 liter diesel engine is loud. You can talk to a passenger IF YOU ARE BOTH WILLING TO YELL. Phone calls? Forget it. I set my iPhone to ‘Do Not Disturb While Driving‘ mode. The accelerometer senses when I’m driving and automatically sends a message to incoming calls and messages. “I’m driving, call you later” or something like that.
What else? The turn signal lever doesn’t turn itself off. I seem to recall that being standard back in the day. So I’ve been driving around with my turn signal on. I’ve started keeping my hand on the lever until I turn it off.
I’m having a blast so far. But an old Series Land Rover would not be a good fit for everyone. Or anyone who has to be somewhere soon or far away.
Barb and Jan are on a ten-day tour of Yellowstone (and nearby places that haven’t burned yet)