Done.

Every journey begins with a single step.

...followed by 1100 miles and climbing 11,990' across the Continental Divide.

Nothing is quite as exhilarating as driving a 36 year old vehicle with 200k+ miles on it, that was never intended for the freeway, while being passed by 90mph Lexi on the flats and dodging 25mph bigrigs (tankers full of high explosive liquids no doubt) on the hills. It is another beautiful thing to realize 9/10ths of the way into this four day road trip that we had not seen one car even half as old as my fj55.

With the exception of the semi's on the hills, there is something very freeing about being the slowest vehicle on the road. One is liberated from the tedium of passing and being passed by the same two or three cars, only to encounter those same annoying vehicles and their drivers at a refueling/meal stop.

No. With the Landcruiser, the gorgeous scenery seemed to slide around us while we stayed still. Other cars buzzed by us like insects.

And then suddenly, somehow, we were in Fort Collins, 1100 miles from LA. It wasn't effortless, but the roads were smooth and the weather exceedingly fine (with the exception the high 90's on the way to Las Vegas). And arguably, the I15/70 route is the most beautiful drive in America.

We had no issues. The machine performed flawlessly. Topping off the radiator required ONE (1) yes one cup of water for the entire trip.

How is this possible.

Photos to follow...

I Am Not a Blog

I a human being.

And this is a story of human devotion to a machine.

This undertaking is as baffling to me as it is to the many practical-minded people in my life. There is no logical reason for me to be spending thousands of dollars (most yet to be earned) on restoring a car with 10mpg (highway) and being without a car for a year (in Los Angeles). Obviously I could sell my Landcruiser. Obviously I could buy a new car. I could go back to school and get a master's degree in accounting (!).

But I just can't.

Beginning May 14, 2009 I will be driving my 1973 Landcruiser nearly 1100 miles over the Rocky Mountains to meet the man who will be restoring this machine over the course of the next 12 months.

Why? you may ask. Well, like I said. I don't really know. That's one reason why I'm trying this whole web log deal. But first I'd like to clear up a few things:

• Contrary to the name of this blog, I have no clue whether or not my car has a soul. I don't know why I put down that title. I have a thing for filling out forms and there was a blank space........maybe that's not the soul in question.
• I do not refer to the car as a "she" or a "he". Not into anthropomorphizing. It's a car.
• My car is an "it". But clearly a very important it. To me. For some reason.
• Despite the mystery surrounding my motives, something about this process is good for me. It makes me happy in a strange way. I just don't understand it.
  

So if adventures of brave individuals defeating overwhelming odds (or slow-motion train wrecks) are your thing, check back often.

-
Elyse