A Little Dirt

"Gravel Time" Cedar Park, 2017
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/5, 1/300 sec, ISO200
“Gravel Time” Cedar Park, 2017

こんばんは。How’s it going?

Today Koa and I went for a little drive up to a little gazebo that overlooks the Hill Country. Part of the drive is along a dirt road, which was a lot of fun to drive with the Crosstrek. I actually wanted to get the car a bit dirty just to get it over with. I like to keep cars clean on the inside, but I think SUVs and trucks (and ADV bikes) look better with a little dirt on the tires. It was a shame that it was too dry for any mud, but the dusty dirt will have to do for now. 😆

Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/5, 1/125 sec, ISO200
“💙” Cedar Park, 2017

Really loving the new car!

"Overlook" Lago Vista, 2017
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/5, 1/420 sec, ISO200
“Overlook” Lago Vista, 2017

Goodbye Ody

"Goodbye" Austin, 2017
Photo info: Motorola Moto G (4), 3.64mm, f/2, 1/15 sec, ISO400
“Goodbye” Austin, 2017

こんばんは。How’s it going?

Tonight I am sad because we sold our Honda Odyssey, which has been my daily driver for over 13 years, which is pretty crazy when I think about it! Before Koa was born, we decided we needed to have more room so we went with the minivan, and it was a great choice! It has been reliable and comfortable, but of course, after so many miles (158,000) and years, there were numerous things that didn’t work, and numerous expensive things that would need fixing soon.

Mariko and I were both a bit sad when we sold it, but we’re really happy to have owned it. Our kids grew up with this car, and we’ve taken it on many camping trips. It was so convenient to be able to just throw all the gear in the cavernous cargo space.

"Car Camping" Texas, 2017
Photo info: OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. E-PL1, 14mm, f/7.1, 1/200 sec, ISO200
“Car Camping” Texas, 2017

Mariko found this interesting story about saying goodbye to a car. Give a read if you have a minute or two.

Why Was It So Hard To Say Goodbye To A Car?

I hope you had a nice day!

またね~

New 🚙

"New" Cedar Park, 2017
Photo info: Motorola Moto G (4), 3.64mm, f/2, 1/120 sec, ISO100
“New” Cedar Park, 2017

こんばんは。How’s it going?

Today I picked up my new car, a Subaru Crosstrek. I love it! The weather forecast was for a cold, rainy day, so I was worried that the test drive and inspection would be a messy affair, but as it turned out, there was only a light drizzle. But it was actually appropriate, because the Crosstrek is perfect for this kind of weather. It’s got all-wheel-drive for safety, and heated seats for comfort. 😆

I love just about everything about the car. Here are the stand-outs for me:

  • Fuel economy – 30 MPG combined
  • Color – I love the “Cool Gray Khaki”
  • Android Auto / Apple CarPlay – Access to Google Maps, Music, apps in a nice car-based interface on the center console
  • Smaller than the Odyssey – Easier to park and fit in the garage
  • High ground clearance – 8.7 inches will be better for those dirt roads in Big Bend!
  • Heated seats – Nice and toasty for the morning drive

And then here are a few things that I am not fond of:

  • Doors don’t automatically unlock when using the inside handle
  • Minimal cargo space – Will have to use the roof rack when we go camping
  • Minimal storage in the front – Where can I put my sunglasses?

Also, it’s fun that Subaru has a kind of cult following. There’s a lot of active Subaru forums out there, plus a bunch of community features on the Subaru website. And because this is a car that I have been wanting for a few years, I have a closer fondness for it than any of my previous cars. I hope to be driving my Subaru Crosstrek for many years to come.

I hope you had a nice Wednesday!

おやすみ