Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

[Zelandeth]

Sadly the direct flight would have wound up nearly £2000 more expensive for the four of us! There's a reason we toured the way we did.

[Zelandeth]

Doesn't make the trip any less annoying - but this is the view out of our bedroom window.

Our transportation, a brand new Nissan Pathfinder. Very high spec, and despite the while SUV thing, it's actually a lovely place to spend time and drives really nicely.

Had stop-start traffic for a while, during which the adaptive cruise was a great labour saver. Build quality and general fit/finish is impeccable it seems.

[van ordinaire]

I avoid Virgin like the plague (a) why would I want to fly with the owner of my local record shop? (b) their planes are rubbish - most budget airlines would put them to shame (c) their flight attendants can't even tell you how to switch off the in-flight "entertainment" - &, sad to say, BA, aren't much better, in the air, & rank as as abysmal on the ground (will never forgive them for closing their desk before they knew that all their passengers on a delayed flight had made their connection - or an acceptable alternative!).

Amazed you found the Pathfinder acceptable, when I thought an Infiniti SUV was dire BUT, just out of curiosity, what had you actually booked?

[Michel]

I avoid Virgin like the plague (a) why would I want to fly with the owner of my local record shop? (b) their planes are rubbish

Have you flown American, Delta or United recently? Their planes, or the ones I flew on at least were poor and in need of refitting and the customer service appalling. I had the displeasure to transit through JFK twice in 6 days. I'm not sure I've had a more unpleasant experience - and I woke midway through having my appendix out! To be fair to JFK, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson isn't far behind in terms of hatefulness.

I now avoid these problems by simply refusing to go to the USA. I have plenty of family there including my sis-in-law and her kids, uncles, cousins and more. They're welcome to come and visit me..

[Zelandeth]

We usually fly with Delta, though almost invariably heading into Detroit or Chicago. End destination usually being East Lansing as that's where our in-laws live.

However an actual Delta flight wasn't available for this, so Virgin it was. My only prior experience with them was on the local journeys in the UK when they ran a route between Birmingham and Aberdeen. This was infinitely better than easyJet (bearing in mind this was shortly after they'd done away with their comfy but ancient 737's and bought the godawful A319s)...and usually cheaper.

Delta have usually looked after us well in the past too. BA I've never used long distance.

The Pathfinder is definitely growing on me. It's a comfy old barge even in the back, visibility is very good by the standards of a modern, and it's really quick off the mark. Ride is a bit firmer than it really needs to be, but isn't bad by any means, does mean it doesn't wallow around like a Q7. Ergonomics are okay, just suffering somewhat due to the sheer number of things for which there are buttons for...which is more of a function of the number of toys than the actual ergonomics.

360 degree camera is handy when parking the thing (especially as it's the size of a small ocean liner).

We'd booked a "full size SUV" as we wanted something with room for four of us plus luggage in reasonable comfort, and the option of 7-seats so we could carry passengers too. They couldn't guarantee a 7-seater if we booked a minivan, but would with an SUV.

It's still an SUV, and isn't exactly an involving drive...but within the confines of what it is, it seems a decent enough steer.

[CitroJim]

Welcome to wherever you are Zel and may you have a lovely time

I'm shocked to see cream upholstery on a hire car - so impractical...

[Zelandeth]

Welcome to wherever you are Zel and may you have a lovely time

I'm shocked to see cream upholstery on a hire car - so impractical...

Hadn't thought about the practicalities of it, but true! It's actually nice leather too, soft and supple like in the Activa, not the cardboard that a lot of cars have. Just wish the interior highlights were wood though rather than the vaguely carbon fibre inspired plastic...but that's personal choice and I know a lot of people would think it was too gaudy.

As for where we are, Florida. My husband's folks who live in East Lansing pop down here a couple of times a year, and have had an invitation for us to join them open for years. This year we finally managed to make the logistics work. We're glad of that as their health isn't too great these days and we didn't want to miss the chance.

It's slightly surreal...feels like I'm walking around in a life-size film set all the time.

[CitroJim]

As for where we are, Florida.
It's slightly surreal...feels like I'm walking around in a life-size film set all the time.

I know exactly what you mean Zel, the few times I've been to the good ol' US of A I've felt the same, especially in LA...

Washington is the only city I'd call more or less normal...

[Zelandeth]

As of this afternoon I can finally tick "boat" off the list of things I've yet to drive/pilot etc...even if it did seem determined to attempt to spend more time in the air than on the water once at speed.

[Zelandeth]

Today's steed...

Seems quite docile...until you get to about 10kts, at which point it gets up on the plane and takes off like a rocket. 30kts feels really fast on a craft that small...very great buzz to be at the controls though.

The steering is very much like that of the Lada. You don't so much as accurately steer as nudge it left or right to keep it on the correct average course.

[CitroJim]

But Zel, it has no wheels...

[Hell Razor5543]

Apart from those on its' trailer.

[Zelandeth]

But Zel, it has no wheels...

True...I reckon you should combine the best of both...Alvis Stalwart please...then you can drive it to the water and back again without faffing about with trailers.

Granted, about 10kts is the end of the world in the water in that...it definitely has the hydrodynamic properties of a brick...the boat does the whole planing along the surface better. Harder to steer at low speed though!

[CitroJim]

Alvis Stalwart please...

Yes! I think a 'Stollie' would be an excellent addition to your fleet Zel

It would cause quite a stir down at Willen Lake

[Zelandeth]

Think they're one of those vehicles that causes a stir anywhere it goes! The noise it makes and the tendency to spit flames out of the exhaust see to that.

Bit tricky to park though, they're a bit on the wide side. On the plus side, if you do nudge a brick wall with it, you know the wall will come off worst...