Fit for Skyline Drive

The drive to Yaounde from Buea is about 322 km (200 miles). The fastest I made it was in 4 hours the longest included an overnight in Douala because the traffic really was that bad (coming back from Yaounde).  Normally, without feeling rushed it was between five and six hours.  The thing is a Nissan Terrano is an SUV and it drove like an SUV abused in Africa - with good reason - because it is.

When I picked up the Fit I was trying to think about a fun place to drive for an extended “get to know you” experience. The ONLY place that entered my mind was Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park.  I mapped it out in Google to 207 miles with an estimated drive time of 4 hr and 35 minutes. 

It was a beautiful drive. I opened up the sunroof and put the windows down. I was able to work the car a bit more.  The drive to Front Royal was pretty standard but turning up Skyline Drive I immediately noticed the CVT trying to find the right place to be. What I was driving were some rapid up and down hills on corners. It was trying to anticipate what I might want or need but was not meeting with any success. So, I turned off ECON and put the car in sport mode, requiring me to use the paddle shifters. This turned out much more satisfying (admittedly however I am a manual shift guy and still wanted to shift that way).  In any case the CVT obeyed my command. I found the Fit ready to respond with some engine breaking on the down slopes and entering corners before adding power through the curve and up the hills.  It was quick to shift up or down.

The steering is light and precise, coming off the Terrano I simply wasn’t prepared for its accuracy, but that is one reason for me to do this drive. With the wind in my receding hairline, music emanating from the iPod through the sound system, with a “Fit” and capable car I was getting road therapy - salve for the soul.

It was all real good until I realized I went west on 33 rather than east. Oh well - I wasn’t lost just getting extra miles on the highway.  I went back via I-81 to I-66 an extra 60 miles or so.

My entire drive took me about 6.5 hrs with stops out vistas and animals.  I was reminded just how fun it is to drive a car that is so willing to be driven.  To be fair to the Terrano, the few times I found myself on muddy and challenging roads I was ever so pleased it was what it was!!

Everything has its purpose.  I enjoyed the Terrano and am now enjoy the Fit.  To fully enjoy each I have to remember each has a slightly different purpose.  

Everyone has a purpose. Sometimes it seems that our “things” are easier to see and understand purpose. In people purpose may be more difficult. However I would like to make it easier. I believe it is our purpose to love without condition or requirement.  Everything else we are or have is something else - perhaps gifts from God to be given in the service of love.  You are fit for service because you have a purpose and a very high calling: love others as you love yourself.  May the love of yourself and others grow more each day.

Mobility

Mobility can mean a lot of different things to people. I am accustomed to having mobility and being mobile. Since I was 20 years old I have owned at least one car. My first car was a brand new 1984 Honda CRX. It had six miles on the odometer when I first drove it. In four years I put on 143,000+ miles. I drove it across the nation, coast to coast and from LA to Chicago and back. But most of the miles were within 700 miles of home (or about 1126 km). We had a first love type of relationship - and a lot of Eros with the top of line aftermarket suspension from Jackson Racing.

My second "car" was a 1988 Isuzu Trooper. With 114 miles on the odo at delivery, it was a short wheel base model imported only one year. I owned the CRX for a few months and often found myself conflicted about which one to drive to work. However on many weekends, there was no contest as the Trooper took me off the beaten path. Together we enjoyed many a back and desert track. 10 years and 198,000+ miles and we parted. We had a love/hate relationship.

A 1996 Honda Civic was my 3rd car - at delivery it had 12 miles on the odometer. Quite obviously this overlapped for a couple of years with my Trooper. Understated reliability and easy to live with I committed to the long term with this one. It didn't get coast to coast in a single trip until the end. Yet it saw more states than the other two cars combined. It was more powerful than the CRX and was more efficient. It was purchased in Loma Linda and sold 14 years later in Riverside. It was a workhorse and ever a fun car to drive (except on balding tires in rain or snow - which was rare). Sold it with over 213,000 miles after making its sole (soul) cross country journey (with bald tires in rain and snow).

I think I am a Honda guy. We picked up my parents 2001 Accord with 87,000 miles on it. My first drive with it was 2000 miles to South Bend. It had an easy life and was a joy to drive. More dog room in the back and more lugged space, it made taking our 20' long 3-room tent and all our other stuff car camping around the Michiana area. It had a little over 100,000 miles when we sold it.

Mobility. I have had a car since I was 20. That is until we sold the Civic in November of 2009. When I have wanted to go somewhere a trusty steed was always available (except for the "hate" part of the Trooper - which was short lived).

I now live in Cameroon. Cameroonians are VERY mobile. At least the ones I know. They go to Limbe, Douala, Bamenda, and dozens of other places regularly via the available methods of mobility.

Now, Trixy and I do a lot of walking around our quarter and nearby quarters (neighborhoods). We will walk to Beno Bakery (a tad over a mile each way), or to the Post office (2 miles each way). We easily hop in a taxi and go to Molyko or Muea to meet up with friends or to shop. Or go "up town" to the Capitol Hotel for a dinner out (it is near the Post Office). We are able to go by ourselves to Limbe, Douala, or even Yaounde - when needed.

By extension there is really no reason we cannot be as mobile as our local friends. Still I miss the imprint I have of the freedom a car of my own brings. Without a car, it is much more difficult to take Jordan anywhere outside of Buea. It is more complicated to pick up friends at the airport or have a quick trip anywhere.

We are still exploring and having fun doing so. I'm just venting one major thing I miss.