A Chiaroscuro of Memories of the Weekend.....! June 12, 2011.
And the dark portion of the image was contributed by the dark grey weather and the light by a drive, another drive, a meet and a Sunday cleaning routine ! How better can one explain an image described as chiaroscuro ?!!
First things first ! Saturday of course saw the Admiral going on two drives in quick succession.
Saturday morning was a drive with the LoH, to the mofussil township of Ambarnath through pouring rain, floods and delightfully grey/dark weather. The Admiral was literally at/on sea trials. And passed the trials of wading through knee deep water/s with flying colours. Ambarnath was once a lovely township about 60 KMs from Mumbai nestling in small mountainous terrain with lots of greenery. A place where I had worked in a chemical company and we stayed in the next door company quarters for five long memorable years in the early part of my career.
A visit necessitated by a visit to an old, old bank in an old building falling apart (SBI of course), memories and the urge to drive !
And as ever the snaps shall now speak up !
Skies blissfully overcast as we lift anchors. Perfect day for sailing:
We first took the Mumbra bypass when it started to come down, gently first:
The Thane Creek from the bypass ramp:
After some distance on the bypass, a treacle thick traffic jam forced us to turn back to the Mumbra road to unbypass the bypass ! Which turned out to be surprisingly smooth:
And soon the heavens opened up with full force. Somewhere on the road after the turn off to Ambarnath. All green, delightfully green:
Near the township nullahs turned roads and roads turned nullahs. Waded through a few patches which appeared to be knee high or slightly less in depth of water:
On the way back after the task was completed took a spin about the old parts of the township (not that there are any new parts but.....!).
Our old company bungalows, now in a sorry state of disrepair:
And the return saw some very heavy showers and force 10 level (OK,OK almost !) gale winds slam into the Admiral:
The old boy held his ground well. Wipers deployed in hi-speed mode acted well.
Satisfied with the wading and ground holding capabilities. Though I drove very slowly into the water after observing how other vehicles like trucks fared. Ans actually not many heart in the mouth moments in the water/s.
But when the squall slammed Admiral was a little worried - as it rocked from side to side - slowed down speed to almost 20 KMPH and then cautiously proceeded.
Needlessly was worried as I realised. And a good experience.
And then came in the late afternoon the drive to Lonavala for the TBHP Mumbai Mega Meet. All my snaps and a mini report here:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/team-b...h-june-28.html
The drive to and back was rather interesting with ACM very lucidly comparing the T-Aria and T-Fort:
- The suspension of the TF is very firm and Admiral a little bouncy. (Had explained that the Admiral is a little bouncy thanks to 2 PSI excess air that I maintain in the tyres.)
- T-Fort felt very solid in build.
- Lots of bells and whistles in the T-Aria.
- T-Fort could run circles around the T-Aria thanks to the 3.0L monster mill, torque and BHP.
- I saw that the T-Aria (which was temporarily berthed in Admiral's bay for the duration of the trip as Admiral ferried me and ACM for the meet) was longer as far as the wheel base was concerned. Would give a super ride I guess.
Comparitively the T-Fort bulk would be rather prim and propah ! And the T-Aria like an good solid aircraft carrier to the Admiral's cruiser like proportions.
- I extolled, from my point of view, the virtues of all the manual systems on the Admiral. Gearbox, transfer cases, transfer select etc etc. Not sure whether ACM was impressed.
Someday will examine the T-Aria in detail.
The long day which began yesterday ended this morning at 1.00 am.
By then had completed about 300 KMs in terrible, terrible or rather delightful weather (depends on how you look at it - for me the later !) and horrendous or wonderful road conditions (again - depends on how you look at it - for me the later !).
(To be continued...)