Random thoughts for today

I heard that level_head's lovely wife, Lady Anne passed away to a sudden and massive heart attack. My condolences go to Level Head and the family.

In happier news, it seems that lot of people cannot believe my new truck is used with 81k on the odometer. More than one thought it was brand new. :=3

In that regard I just filled the truck up for a second time and calculated my average mpg. I drove 271.4 miles and used 14.118 gallons of gas. That translates to 19.22 mpg. So that is near the top end of the estimated fuel mileage figures. It also makes sense because most of my daily commute, especially in the morning, is expressway driving, with very little traffic. Going home can be a different story depending on the time and day. When the Phillies start playing their "Business Person's" specials then my commute will be from hell; as those games normally let out at the same time I get to Philly on the train, and I have to drive past the stadium complex to go home. :=/

Pick ups I have owned

I thought it might be interesting to show the various pick ups I owned during my life.

First up is my first vehicle; a 1966 Ford F-100:


This pick up came from a drive-in theater and had been vandalized. We had to replace all the glass, re-build the engine and repaint it. It had a 240cuin engine with a "three on the tree" transmission. Status: traded in ~1978 for a 1968 VW Beetle. The house in the background is the house where I grew up and the picture was taken in 1976. I still have an ignition key for this truck. :=3

Next is the first new vehicle I bought; a 1987 GMC S-15:


I never did get a clear driver side shot of this truck. The cap was not designed for this truck and was a little too long. I shortened it, as evidenced by the rear panel that is slightly shorter than the front panel. The air horn is a single chime Leslie SuperTyfon, off of a locomotive, and it worked. It had 2.5L four cylinder and a "four on the floor" transmission. Status: Repossessed in 1996 with about 118,000 miles on the odometer. Picture was taken in 1994.

Finally, the one I just got. This is my first 4x4; a 2007 GMC Canyon, which is what the S-15 became:

I have not yet put any unique features on this truck, but I will. As previously noted this one has a 3.7L L5 engine and a four speed automatic transmission. Status: Currently owned. Picture was taken in 2014.

Next up are the different views you would have or will see when following me:
'66 F-100

'87 S-15

'07 Canyon


The running lion and two paw prints, which are barely visible, were not painted onto the glass on the rear door of the cap. They were actually painted onto a piece of Plexiglas that was mounted behind the actual window. This was done to protect the paint from the scraping off of any ice off of the rear window.

As I was typing this up I realized that my pick ups are ~20 years apart in age: 1966 - 1987 - 2007. So this means, if I stay true to form, my next pick up will be a 2027 model purchased new. :=3

Also note that the truck beds have gotten shorter.
F-100 - full size 8' bed
S-15 - 6' bed
Canyon - 5' bed

Cameras used:
F-100: Polaroid Pronto B Instant
S-15: Chinon CE-4 35mm SLR film
Canyon: Canon PowerShot S2 IS Digital