The pick up

I've travelled this road many times. It's familiar, like an old friend that welcomes me with open arms. It's a warm embrace beginning the moment the big wheels hit the dirt and the drone of tyres on blacktop gives way to the crunch of gravel and the flick of stones hitting the underbody. The cloud of dust behind conceals my route, my escape from civilisation complete. A familiar road, but often an unknown one - New trails, new adventures.

I've had four wheel drives for almost as long as I've been driving - It's not a want thing but a need thing. Ok, it's equally balanced between a want and need thing I guess in truth. What I mean though, is that I need to travel roads like this and want to go to the places they lead to - And a four wheel drive is usually required to get me there so...It works right?

4x4 contemplationerising [Trust me, it's a word]

I was thinking about all my four wheel drives today, trying to work out which I liked the most - I've had a few so it took a while. I came up with a clear favourite although it's not the one I had initially thought I would choose - Odd really but not totally unexpected.

I have one of the best four wheel drives ever made currently - It cost a lot of money to buy and I've spent even more accessorising it to make it more suited to my needs. It's comfortable, has all the tricky stuff on it and is very capable on and off the road.

But that's not the one I chose.

In thinking about which one I liked the best I factored which had brought me the most enjoyment and the best memories; That wasn't easy as my four wheel drives have all carried me to amazing places and adventures, but there was a favourite nonetheless.

I'm all about passion and personality and that was factor in my contemplationerising. Cool factor, the right sound...The ruggedness of it...All were factors considered and...The winner was the cheapest four wheel drive I have ever owned. In fact I could by 13 of them with what I spent on my current Landcruiser...But there was no doubt...A clear winner.

My choice is my 1982 Ford F100 truck

It was such a cool vehicle, but certainly not a show-pony. It had a nice patina of age on it, scratches and dents, much like me - I bought it second hand around 1999 and it had been used. I had to do some work on it, a little chassis-welding and some engine work but the 351 V8 was strong, pleasingly loud and with the drive going through the C6 transmission to the Ford 9" differential there was no shortage of power at the wheels. It had no CD player, just an AM/FM radio, and a bench seat...It had seat belts though! It was, in short, very fucking cool and I rocked it and simply loved driving it. It was tough.

Some snaps of the truck - There was no digital photography back then so these are photos of photos. I don't have many as I wasn't one for photos much back then but you'll get the idea. I know, doesn't look like much but I loved that old truck.

It was a tough truck and I used it pretty hard. It went anywhere and I swear it was part M1A1 Abrams tank and I remember spending time wondering how I could mount the M68A1 105 mm rifled tank gun to it but never quite worked out the engineering. Still, it took me where I wanted needed to be and despite it's basic appearance, lack of modern accessories, anything resembling comfort and the lack of the 105mm gun I loved it!

I've always worked hard for what I have; Nothing has come easy. I think that's why I care for things so well. I don't just mean things either but relationships also, my own well-being, attitudes and actions. I care. It is the same with my vehicles of course, the four wheel drives and others. I've cared for and valued them. They've taken care of me too.

I loved driving that F100 pickup and can't help but smile when I think of it...And I miss it too. I went to some amazing places in it and I have some amazing memories of those places and the truck that got me there. I miss it; A good enough reason for it to be my favourite I'd say, don't you think?