Willamette... of course

Low lying fog

Buffalo!

oops! (everyone's fine - except the cars)

peacock sighting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

freaking deer

Now I need a new front end again. It doesn't look like it from here, but that's what's happening.

it's NICE today : )

went driving with the window down

Trunk space

Is not one of the features of a lotus!
Oh well, I wouldn't take another car over it.
And away we go...

California Highway 23

this road is so not as fun in a toyota "whatever this is" car. it's a 4 door yaris by the way and it's really not that bad of a car. except it's totally not a lotus and this road was made for a lotus.

warmer

It was a little warmer today. Whenever it gets over 50 here I can feel a change. I no longer want to suck my hands into the sleeves of my jacket. And I can roll the window down while driving and not get cold. It's so nice. Makes me excited for the summer. It's gonna be so awesome to go driving with the top off again. Feeling the wind in what little hair I have is an interesting sensation.

Today was the first time I've been asked by a gas station attendant to see the engine (of the Lotus of course).

I really want to test drive one of the SC's, just to see what they're like. Maybe that's a bad idea though. We all know what happened when I test drove a Lotus last time ;-)

Although I will be in Cali at the end of the month so if the T.O. dealer has one I'm all over it.

I think I've spent enough this month on brakes/service to deter me from trying to get a new one.

paint the sky

Eugene has awesome sky paintings...

Humongous puffy, bright white clouds;

Darker, heavy, rain filled clouds in shades of gray.

Sparkly wet roads and glowing grass blades

shimmering in the sunlight beaming through the clouds.

I love driving during sun breaks.

tree hugging

There's some trees holding up a jeep that must have fallen off the road on Fox Hollow near the peacocks. People are rolling off Fox Hollow left and right.  They put up big arrow signs on the turn where that honda rolled off last month. There are some turns that you really have to slow down on there. Expecially with the leftover gravel they put on the roads when it snowed. They cleared most of it off a while back, which is nice beacuse it sounds like someone's shaking a rattle when I drive over it in the Lotus. But there's still some left and it's easy to slip on.

Briggs Hill Rd

Lorane Highway by Motorcycle

freaken awesome sunset ride
the peacocks were really squawking it up on fox hollow
more pics here...

I'm excited for it to get warmer so I can ride all over with my camera. It's easier to stop on the motorcycle and easier to find space to stop when you're not trying to park a car on the side of the road. I have several spots in mind that I want to get pictures.

It's really not motorcycle weather yet. At least not for me. It's kinda cold. The jacket is warm enough, but the fingers, they need something more. It was fun anyway though. 

front brakes

OMG... Front brakes for the lotus cost $1100 including parts & labor!

On the up side, I made it to 45k miles on one set (seems wrong).

On the down side, I hit metal (why didn't someone warn me).

I got the car serviced at 35k miles and they say I had 50% left on the pads.  And 10k miles later it's all gone. Literally - all. I heard scratchy sounds last time I drove it so I gave it a break after that.

I was already going to get an oil change so I conveniently had an appointment to take the car in this morning (noon is my morning).

I drove from Santa Clara into downtown (15 min ride) and only used the brakes 5 times (lots of downshifting) because the right side brake pad is gone (crunchy metal sounds).

Don't let the $45,000 price tag fool you; this car is expensive. $600 for a set of rear tires that wear out every 7,500 miles. $150 for an oil change. $1100 for front brakes - just the fronts.

I probably have about 5,000 miles left on the rear brakes. So...

But honestly. I don't care. It's worth it to me. I LOVE my car. Driving another vehicle is not the same. Not even close. I'd still drive my car if it were ugly, because it drives sooooooooooo well. Totally sticks to the road; there's nothing like it. The good looks are just an added bonus.

Nice Rig

Only in Oregon. Or maybe just not in California.

Really? Nice Rig. By what standards does a Lotus qualify as a rig?

Actually, I think it's fun to hear the different things people say about my car.  This guy knew how much it cost and that carpet was optional. 

But seriously, if you said, "Nice Rig" in california I don't think they would know what you're talking about. Not that this was the only guy I've ever heard it from. There's been one other that I can remember.

these guys enjoy getting their picture taken

They all looked up when they heard me coming
and then they ran right up to meet me.

(Ok, they were probably just hoping for some extra food.)

Shell station on River Road

The last two times I stopped at the Shell station on River Road the gas station attendant filling my car has asked to take a picture of my car with his cell phone. Two different guys, same gas station. 

That hasn't happend at any other gas station (at least not where the person filling is taking the photo). Although, people wave at me from both the 76 and the Cheveron stations on So. Willamette.

Through the Fog on Willamette

a few more...