Sunset!
We finally had a sunset last night! It was wonderful to see something other than gray sky for a change! Caly got some quality stick chasing time, then she found her very favorite thing ever: a soccer ball. While we enjoyed a cold one and the beautiful evening, she demolished the ball. Everyone was happy.Labels: Costa Rica, photo
Rain!
Holy Kershmoly!
Lots and lots of rain these last two weeks. Remarkable amounts, really. Most of us are climbing the walls out of boredom right now. Many of the local businesses close for October anyway, but combined with the heavy precipitation and the near-complete lack of waves, its a drag.
Nothing beats fixing a road while it is still flooding, I'm sure. These poor guys broke an embankment on one of the biggest drainage ditches in town, flooding their worksite in the process.
Lots and lots of rain these last two weeks. Remarkable amounts, really. Most of us are climbing the walls out of boredom right now. Many of the local businesses close for October anyway, but combined with the heavy precipitation and the near-complete lack of waves, its a drag.
Nothing beats fixing a road while it is still flooding, I'm sure. These poor guys broke an embankment on one of the biggest drainage ditches in town, flooding their worksite in the process.
Since Jocelyn is up in Atlanta on business right now, and since the Tamarindo real estate market is at it's typical seasonal low, I'm especially bored. Couple that with the fact that I've got this great new 80 series landcruiser sitting in the very wet, uncovered parking, and I'm not only bored but frustrated with my inability to enjoy a new project.
Ah, well. At least I can slog through the sodden streets and snap a few shots of how the rain is ruining other people's day as well. 
Not much consolation. For those of you who haven't been to Tamarindo- these last two pics are about 6 ft of water in what is supposed to be the nascent foundation of a new building. I suspect they may suffer some construction delays while they work this one out.
Expedition Americas
Another traveler is getting ready to set off to tour the Americas in a nicely built Landcruiser. He's keeping an online journal. Looks fun.
Labels: landcruiser
New Cruiser
Ooops. I haven't even mentioned that we have a new 'Cruiser!
She's a 1991 fj80 into which someone transplanted the motor and dash from a 1993 hdj80.
In English: it looks like a regular old 80 series, but has one of the best turbo-diesel motors that Toyota makes.
One of the first things that I had/got to do with it was a round trip to San Jose. Wow! Instead of lumbering up hills in 3rd (or even 2nd), I was zooming up them in 5th (sometimes 4th, just to pass). Passing is now a convenience instead of something that requires advanced planning, good luck and more than a little chutzpah.
The noise level inside is much, much lower than in Louie and the handling, overall, is more car-like. I'm sure that once we lift it and throw some larger tires on it'll reduce the handling a tad and slow the uphill a tad, but I'm sure it will still be faster/smoother than old Louie. The ride quality is so much better that after driving five hours to San Jose, instead of spending the night, I drove five hours back. I don't think I would have even considered that in the 60.
The only bad news about the whole affair is that Louie is probably going to be put up for sale. Which tugs at my heart a little as we've grown very accustomed to driving around in a 60 series, it really forms a larger part of my self-image than I realized.
Having said that, the simple fact is that the 60, while capable, durable and good looking (in a rough and tumble way) is an inferior vehicle for on-road travel and less comfy for clients. We've done all we can with the suspension- but leaf springs just aren't as cushy as coil springs. The 80 has a better braking system, that can be upgraded relatively easily to an even better system. The 80 has a cushier interior with more modern lines and a much, much better A/C system. Last but certainly not least, the turbo diesel motor, in stock configuration, puts out 165 HP and 268 ft-Lb instead of the 103 HP and 177 ft-Lb of Louie's motor. That's a lot more oomph. For those of you familiar with the gasoline-powered 80 series sold in the late 90s in the USA, that motor (1FZ-FE) puts out about the same torque, but about 40 more HP than the 1hd-t. Of course I get between 26 and 28mpg while the gasoline motor expects about 14mpg.
Again, for those not interested in the motor details: The new motor is more than 50% faster/stronger than the old motor, but gets about the same mileage (maybe better, time will tell).
So this is an exciting new development in our 'Cruiser history. You can see some more photos, but they are mostly of parts that I'm trying to identify/understand, so it isn't a very interesting page. Hope to get some attractive photos up soon.
Endnote: Speaking of diesel motors.... Why? Why? WHY? Isn't this car sold in the USA? Small, 4wd, gets nearly 40mpg, runs on commonly available diesel fuel. C'mon Toyota USA! Get with the program!!
She's a 1991 fj80 into which someone transplanted the motor and dash from a 1993 hdj80.In English: it looks like a regular old 80 series, but has one of the best turbo-diesel motors that Toyota makes.
One of the first things that I had/got to do with it was a round trip to San Jose. Wow! Instead of lumbering up hills in 3rd (or even 2nd), I was zooming up them in 5th (sometimes 4th, just to pass). Passing is now a convenience instead of something that requires advanced planning, good luck and more than a little chutzpah.
The noise level inside is much, much lower than in Louie and the handling, overall, is more car-like. I'm sure that once we lift it and throw some larger tires on it'll reduce the handling a tad and slow the uphill a tad, but I'm sure it will still be faster/smoother than old Louie. The ride quality is so much better that after driving five hours to San Jose, instead of spending the night, I drove five hours back. I don't think I would have even considered that in the 60.
The only bad news about the whole affair is that Louie is probably going to be put up for sale. Which tugs at my heart a little as we've grown very accustomed to driving around in a 60 series, it really forms a larger part of my self-image than I realized.
Having said that, the simple fact is that the 60, while capable, durable and good looking (in a rough and tumble way) is an inferior vehicle for on-road travel and less comfy for clients. We've done all we can with the suspension- but leaf springs just aren't as cushy as coil springs. The 80 has a better braking system, that can be upgraded relatively easily to an even better system. The 80 has a cushier interior with more modern lines and a much, much better A/C system. Last but certainly not least, the turbo diesel motor, in stock configuration, puts out 165 HP and 268 ft-Lb instead of the 103 HP and 177 ft-Lb of Louie's motor. That's a lot more oomph. For those of you familiar with the gasoline-powered 80 series sold in the late 90s in the USA, that motor (1FZ-FE) puts out about the same torque, but about 40 more HP than the 1hd-t. Of course I get between 26 and 28mpg while the gasoline motor expects about 14mpg.
Again, for those not interested in the motor details: The new motor is more than 50% faster/stronger than the old motor, but gets about the same mileage (maybe better, time will tell).
So this is an exciting new development in our 'Cruiser history. You can see some more photos, but they are mostly of parts that I'm trying to identify/understand, so it isn't a very interesting page. Hope to get some attractive photos up soon.
Endnote: Speaking of diesel motors.... Why? Why? WHY? Isn't this car sold in the USA? Small, 4wd, gets nearly 40mpg, runs on commonly available diesel fuel. C'mon Toyota USA! Get with the program!!
Labels: 4wd, Costa Rica, landcruiser, photo
Surf Photo
Here's another great surf photo by our pal Michael Pisarri.
He took it on our Ollies trip back in December '06. Fun times.
He took it on our Ollies trip back in December '06. Fun times.
Labels: Costa Rica, photo, surf
