Hi Guys. It’s Lionel this time. Just thought I’d pass on a bit of the ‘view’ from the driver’s side of this safari.
Before leaving, everyone we spoke to (save those at Knysna Nissan of course) hinted, implied, suggested or said outright that we should probably have chosen a Toyota for this adventure. Well as you all know, it was a ‘family deal’ that landed us in our Nissan, and, despite my own reservations at the time, what a deal it has turned out to be! Having now driven the vehicle in off-road conditions (not mud yet) I have to tell you that I’m pleased to be driving a Nissan, or at least this Nissan. And Nissan seems to have a greater presence in Mozambique than Toyota.
Consumption has been good, and its all-round ability off-road has been most impressive. We have cruised sand tracks, up and down hill, at about 1200 to 1500 rpm. Way under the optimum 2000 rpm for maximum torque, and very little stops us. On tar, up hill, it climbs easily at 2000 rpm.
Having said all that, we have had to ‘make a draai’ to Beira because, for some reason, the trusty Nissan won’t idle. Nothing wrong with performance, but it keeps stalling at idle speed (maybe it just doesn’t want to go that slow). So, Beira has a large Nissan agency and they can take a look tomorrow. I suspect (and hope) that it is something as simple as changing the fuel filter, and, if diesel’s have such a thing as an idle adjustment screw, a small adjustment there.
Despite the hiccup, I’m still a very firm Nissan fan.
Must go. Running out of power to post this blog.
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Isn't it a pleasure to have faith in your trusty steed? Makes the trip such a pleasure. Sounds like, & hope it is, only the fuel filter from suspect diesel. Carry a spare. Have fun.
ReplyDeleteHi greetings from the Parfetts , sounds like you are having a great time. Love your pics too, June. Don't have any useful suggestions at present except, Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWow dad! Didn't know you could write so well. Most emails I get from you are one or two sentences :)
ReplyDeleteGlad the car going well! Now I completely understamd Mom's feelings when she wrote the following in her last 'newsletter 2009' sent to family and friends before leaving:
"There have been feverish preparations for the last 3 months………Lionel is totally in love with ‘his rig’,…he has been stroking and fiddling and hammering away every waking hour, so much so, that I am feeling totally neglected, and fear that a mistress in the shape of a Nissan Pathfinder and a Conqueror Companion has reared her ugly head!!!!! And her, Shameless Hussy that she is, is lapping it all up and basking in all the glory, as Lionel parades and shows her off to the whole of Knysna, and anyone else who may be interested!!! ………AND…………….if he thinks that he is driving off into the sunset with her alone, well……HE CAN THINK AGAIN!!!!!! I don’t give up that easily, and I know that once we get down to the nitty gritty, and boy, will it be gritty, she will be high maintenance and start throwing all her toys around. That’s when I will step into the breach once again!!!"
Hi Guys
ReplyDeleteWe are so stoked for you both. We are envious as ever now. Wish we could have gone with and experienced this with you.
Piglet doing well. getting big now. we are at 37+ weeks and he is 3.1kgs. no sign of dropping so we may have to look at ceasar but we still hoping for natural.
Ad and I landed up cleaning 'the great flood' on 1 August. they were doing the roof and it rained! Can you believe it?! So we have had an eventful last 2 weeks.
We'll keep u posted on the piglet. We miss you loads and wish we could be there with you! It sounds absolutely amazing!
Ad says 'You guys rock!!".
love u madly. chat soon
Tan & Ad
Hi again
ReplyDeleteAndrea, I want to tell you that I recd an amazing email from your Dad while Leigh was out and he 'home alone'. He is well able!
Great stuff Lionel and June.
Love you
H
hey Granny and Gramps!!!!
ReplyDeletei have been reading your blogs, ( probally the most reading i do, other than flipping texts books) please can you send me your email address i would love to send you a mail soon!!
good luck for the rest of your trip.. and keep going!!!!! i think the family is extremely proud,keep it up:)
love Andrew x x x x
Hi to you both,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the B'Day message. I am so envious of your trip, enjoy enjoy enjoy!
Luv Mike
Hi Again, Tried Mike & Sue's blog, but it has not been updated since June. Will try and get a number from Tom and let you know.
ReplyDeleteCheers
Mike
Hi mom and dad
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying your blog and it sounds like you are having a blast! I have sent you e-mails with all our news and some photos from the birthdays etc. I have also sent you an e-mail with Mike and Sue's cell phone number which is apparently a secret so check your e-mails. They are apparently up in Tanzania already. Have fun and lots and lots of love, Derryn xxx
lorr is gob smacked, impressed, proud, blown away with reading your blogs... been in joies for birth of twins... you guys sound like you are having the most incredible time.. june you are doing a brilliant job keeping us informed..please dont stop..promise you are not wasting yr time..will tell margaret yr news..all well at yr house... have fun...x
ReplyDeleteHow great is it to meet all those'colourful' people especially the Handlebar moustache man who fed you too many G&T's!!
ReplyDeleteSomehow there are always (hopefully) people that can help when you run into trouble.
Your trip is not for the faint-hearted but damn we wish we could be there!!
Good Luck on your next sojourn.
Luv Chris & Pete xx
Hi June and Lionel. Love your blog and it really is great reading and learning stuff for us. Just left Knysna Nissan and talked to them about your Pathfinder. We are on the edge of changing our Nissan Navara vehicle to something else like the Pathfinder and would like to know from you what you have changed on your Patfinder, like suspension, breakers and so on. We tow a Echo Kavango and this caravan is quite heavy on the tow ball. Our plan is to do more and more off road and the successor must be able to carry this heavy tow ball weight. Can you tell us what your caravan weighs on the tow ball please ? Like to hear from you and keep up the nice blog work. Cheers, Peter and Zita Bakker. pbje@mac.com
ReplyDelete