The Euro Drives

From Aachen to Zell am See, Autobhans to the Wurzenpass Strasse, The Ardennes, The Black Forest and The Carnic Alps. Market towns, national parks, snow-capped mountains and valleys soaked in Alpine fog,  motorbikes on the wrong side, the limit that you don't see 'til the last minute. Saunas, steaks, salty Mac-Ds at the roadside, cinnamon loaf and espressos, dreams of home.

Here are some photographs of automobiles. 

A Century since the Somme

My Grandpa and my Dad are passionate about their study and understanding of the Great War, I am fortunate to have inherited some of their enthusiasm and been passed some of their books. Read one, watch a memorial, buy a poppy, consider how warm are our beds and salty is our food. 

The Owl - Edward Thomas, 1916 (Thomas was KIA April '17)

Downhill I came, hungry, and yet not starved; 

Cold, yet had heat within me that was proof 

Against the North wind; tired, yet so that rest 

Had seemed the sweetest thing under a roof. 

Then at the inn I had food, fire, and rest, 

Knowing how hungry, cold, and tired was I. 

All of the night was quite barred out except 

An owl’s cry, a most melancholy cry 

Shaken out long and clear upon the hill, 

No merry note, nor cause of merriment, 

But one telling me plain what I escaped 

And others could not, that night, as in I went. 

And salted was my food, and my repose, 

Salted and sobered, too, by the bird’s voice 

Speaking for all who lay under the stars, 

Soldiers and poor, unable to rejoice.

Lucy - KZN130 Hilux Surf: Introduction

This is Lucy - '94 Toyota Hilux Surf - daily driver, work horse, sleeping quarters.

I bought her in September 2012 from a guy called Darren in North London. He was the second UK owner after import from Japan in 2006 and, being a mechanic for Mercedes, knew his stuff and looked after her tremendously. The folder of service information burst at the clasp (not just because he'd used cereal box card for the oil service check offs). He'd done loads of big service items, and modified with roof bars, auxiliary veg oil fuel tank, custom sub and tool box with 240V inverter for a playstation and some screens. I duly took it all out as it was smelly and took up a lot of space.

Garage and driveway maintenance - both every day and inevitable high mileage replacements and refurbs - include: cooling system, turbo, head, clutch, calipers and brake lines, AC rad, PAS pump and pipes, HP fuel pump, suspension bushes, tailgate window mech. I've fitted extended diff and trans breathers, new wheels and tyres, waxoyled the chassis and door cavities, removed the roof bars and chrome bull bar, changed the rear seat fixings for quick release, installed new audio equipment and rear 12V USB charging, rebuilt the sub / storage box. I'll post some individual jobs and trips separately, some specs below:

• 3.0D 1KZTE Engine
• 5 Speed Manual Trans
• Twin Speed Transfer Box and switchable 4WD
• Non diff'd transfer so four wheels solely reserved for slippy stuff
• 2" lift springs, original switchable Hard/Soft dampers and no body lift
• 285/75R16 126Q Kumho KL71 MT Tyres , 8x16 Black Modular Steelies

To begin with, Lucy shared duties with my VTR'd '95 Citroen AX, and Cindy, the MX5.