Wow that's cheap.Here in the Netherlands a liter is about €1.90. So one gallon would be ~$7 and a full tank costs me ~$100. I envy you

 

Yikes! - $100/tank full in a Mini?
There goes my recreational driving

 

Dropped the filial unit off at home after holiday overnight visit. Took the scenic route.





^^^^^^ Saguaro Lake



^^^^^^ Weaver's Needle in the distance




^^^^^^ Beeline Highway, some trailhead whose name I don't know....

 

Preface: Not entirely Mini related and not meant to elicit an off topic debate.
Thank you.

Everything was ok today!
My 22 year old Mini just rolled over to 122,000 miles and continues to run great.

But tonight?....
Coming home from work after a mandatory pre-production event scheduling meeting, I stopped off at a convenient store/gas station in the SW valley (ABQ, NM),. I was just about to pull out of the parking lot when this strange brightly lit object moving slowly and silently across the dark and cloudless sky had caught my eye...








I got out of my Mini and snapped these images with my crappy phone camera. Within seconds other drivers pulled into the parking lot to record the object on their devices. The event lasted about 8minutes...


Whatever this "thing" was, literally disappeared leaving only the remnant of it's still glowing "contrail" hanging in the sky for about a minute or so.

The rest of the drive home was less than eventful.

EDIT/ADDENDUM :
As it turns out the object we witnessed was that of the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation Falcon 9 rocket that was launched at 6:09 Pacific by SpaceX.
(Whew - What a relief. I was hoping we weren't being invaded by other worldly beings with a nafarious intent to harvest the last remaining R5× Minis on this planet!).
That being said -
"Keep your wheels on the ground and keep reaching for the stars"...

 

Rolled all the way from San Tan Valley to Goodyear to get some bagels and crumb cake from Oasis Bagels, which is run by good people from New Jersey.


When I got home:


Car ran flawlessly. There was a bazillion traffic cones on the road near PIR. Must be setting up for an event....

 

Letting the Days Go By...
Seems like its been forever since I've taken my Mini out for a nice long leisurely drive.
Despite the day starting off a little rough.... everything was ok today.

I woke up the other morning to a beautiful sunny clear blue sky. Temperatures were projected to be in the low 60s with light to moderate winds..
I decided to take advantage of my day off and headed up the gorgeous 50 mile scenic Turquoise Trail (Route 14) to Santa Fe (and beyond?).
As usual ; clipping along at 55mph+ through the open mountain winding roads with nary another car in sight was a blast.


That was until a passing car in the opposite direction came up over a rise intensely flashing their lights in an effort to warn me that a large truck was crawling along re-painting the center yellow divider line on the trail.
Well as much as I appreciated the warning and slowed over to the furthest edge of my lane I was unfortunate not to avoid the wind blown yellow overspray.

I eventually found a spot where I could pull over to the side of the trail and assess the mess...



Pictured below is just a minor example of the amount of paint particulates spread across the front, side and rear of
my Mini.- It really was alot worse than what is shown here in these pics...





Since trying to keep your car clean living out here amidst the desert wasteland is an everyday chore; I always keep cleaning products with me wherever I go.
About 2wo hours later after gently picking and scraping the dried speckles of paint off my Mini I was back on the road



.
I spent a couple of awesome hours cruising Santa Fe and the incredibly beautiful historic downtown shopping district (sorry no pics). Needless to say; it can best be described as the Rodeo drive of New Mexico (Santa Fe).
Packed with tourist and slow moving traffic (which is ok) - It was time to head out and hit the open road again. I found myself headed another 70+ miles Northward on I-25 toward Las Vegas, NM.
Not really inspired in visiting Las Vegas (NM) - I finally exited off the interstate and found myself taking a breather on the side of the road amidst the ruins just out side of an old historic Mexican village.



After a short rest, I headed back down the hwy towards Santa Fe. Going GPS-less, I saw an interesting exit that piqued my curiosity and thought it my be a cool little adventure to see where it might lead?
I followed that road for miles and miles which lead me deep into the desert until it was dark.





I drove and drove and drove for what seemed for hours intently looking for a road sign that might indicate where I was...or better yet where I might be heading. Not a real road sign to be seen for at least 90 miles!
I wound up so far out from what would be considered "civilization" with no cellular or GPS and not a truck stop/gas station or motel the entire time.
Although I had plenty of fuel - I began to wonder if this was really the kind of adventure I had in mind. I continued to drive through the night into the blackness of the desert. No moon, road sign, mile marker to guide me - not having the faintest clue
as to where I was. I eventually came upon a truck stop in a less than "thriving" little town and wound up falling asleep for a few hours behind the wheel of my Mini.

Come daybreak I was back heading out on that same highway. The landscape seemed different. Devoid of the mountains that I've been used to seeing. For whatever reason possessed my curiosity destined to find out where it ends....





Well,,,,How did I get here?

Here's the capper - 90 more miles down that hwy; FINALLY a sign! (now revealed to me as '285') = Roswell 30 miles.
Ugh. I swore I would never waste my time or gas to EVER visit Roswell....



I'd always imagined Roswell a being populated by a bunch of people walking around with tin foil hats exploiting the existence of life beyond our very planet.
Well that's almost true. No foil hats - But besides the commercialization of little green martians everywhere along the main drag; Roswell is just like any small city you would find anywhere across the US.
I also found people to be quite friendly for the few hours that I'd spent there. and as no surprise - many were drawn to my Mini which began a conversation.







Although I didn't bother hitting the sidewalk doing the tourist thing - The city in which (driving) I explored, I found to be a slower pace and exceptionally clean...
Speaking of "clean" - first and foremost - stop into a DIY car wash and wash the desert off my Mini.


Yep - Little green men everywhere...and then there were some silver ones as well...



Unfortunately 24hrs on the road had begun to take it's toll on me. So, rather than hanging out and experiencing the wonders of Roswell under the veil of a brilliantly star filled sky;
I decided it might be best if I started to make my way back (300+ miles), across the desert before nightfall.



I'd never expected that when I first woke up 2wo days ago that my intended little drive would turn out to be a 700+ mile loop around the desert.
Although a seemingly uneventful little roadtrip - My Mini ran and performed very well with no problems driving constantly through out the excursion across the wastelands.
Total (700+ miles), round-trip cost in gas @ an average of $3.19/gal = $84.

**Note to self: Pack a couple of bottles of octane booster and Techron in the hatch. Just in case - *Some gas stations highest grade of gas is only 88 & 90 octane.

 

Took a trip through the cooler, higher altitude areas in AZ....

Found some leftover snow.

Car ran well with the most recent Specified Target Intake Air Table update. No p1689s. No limp mode.

 

Some cooler intake airtemps in the forecast this week-


Devil's Canyon Vista, Angeles National Forest, 34.31902, -118.002785

 

That's one Mad Max looking MINI!

 

Although I have a few items on my "to do list" for my Mini...
The forecast was waaaay too nice to be tearing into things today. My Mini runs and drives great. But...
Having been stuck between the valley and Rio Rancho and due to the ridiculous rise in the cost of fuel; I haven't been able to get out to enjoy joyriding as of late.

I really miss being up in the Sandia Heights area. So I decided to head up to the "high desert" to hand wash and detail the week's accumulated wasteland off my Mini.


After touring through the ritzy ABQ "Heights" neighborhood (in which I refer to as the "Malibu" of the South West desert); I pulled off to a nice secluded road adjacent to a neighborhood of multi-millon dollar homes...

I always carry cleaning products and a ton of chamois with me for keeping my Mini nice and clean for "on the go" quick detailing .
A spray bottle of slightly soapy carwash solution, Meguiar's Ultimate Waterless Wash & Wax and Meguiar's high gloss Supreme Shine protectant for the exterior plastic trim, interior dash, doors and faux leather.


Staring with the left headlight - I scrubbed and polished the sun damaged, yellow oxidation from the lens using Arm & Hammer 'Advance White' toothpaste...
The left driver side headlight lens - finished - The right passenger side lens; show how yellowed, before polishing...


...Then, proceeded to polish out the right lens.


Ahh - Minty fresh and looking like new again!

I had spent a couple of relaxing blissful hours, lovingly hand washing and detailing the Mini up in the Heights. I'm not quite sure why this car seems to draw the amount of attention it gets out here?
But it seemed as if many of the affluent residents, out for a early afternoon stroll, approached me/us in the friendliest manner to compliment my little Mini. Apparently the MINI is still LOVED by all.
Even those who drive around in their $250k SUV's and ZR71's. Seems like they also see the 1st Gens as something special. No complaints here.

After finishing up with the Mini - I took a wonderful leisurely drive, closer to "home", up through the mountains...





Everything was awesome today.

 

Sounds like Scottsdale and Paradise Valley in Arizona.

Replacing the accessory drive belt today. Current one isn't very old, but was *just* able to run everything without squeaking a couple months ago when it was new. Now it squeaks all the time. New belt going one us the next size smaller, and a Gates belt, not a Murray one, so hopefully will be tight enough to not slip....

 

Scottsdale / Paradise Valley AZ sounds like a worthwhile road trip for me someday!

Hope the slightly smaller size belt solves your power problem.
I'm nearing 30k on my current belt and is also on my "to do list" for general maintenance. Having lived in both SE & SW hot weather climates and occasional spirited driving habits - I'll be curious to compare the new and old belt to see how much (if any) stretching may have occurred in 2+ years/30k miles....

 

It was soooooooo nice driving with a quiet accessory belt afterwards. PITA gettin the 539 on, but *just* doable if you really lean on the belt tensioner tool while simultaneously walking the belt around the one idler. Keeping the 544 as my spare, tucked in the boot, as it is a lot easier to install, which suits a roadside repair nicely, and works well enough to get home, if somewhat noisily....

Took it to the car wash to wash off the rain-stuck dust from the little dribble we had earlier this week. If it rains in Azirona in the next couple days, you can blame me.... 😀

Lost my fancy Euro plate and went back there to retrieve it. Need a better Euro plate mount....

 

Preface: Have you ever walked into a room and it suddenly goes quiet when all eyes are on you?

Other than waiting on some suspension upgrade parts - my Mini runs fine.

So last Sunday afternoon I decided to take my Mini on a drive down the main drag and take in a little rich Abluqurkie culture.
As I was cruising along, I spot a huge gathering of vintage classic cars in a strip mall parking lot.
Obviously I had stumbled upon a car show. It looked pretty cool. So I decided to check it out.
As I drove behind this elaborately painted '66 Impala, we were guided into the "parking lot" by a woman, with her head turned talking to someone and obviously NOT paying attention, waving us into the parking "entrance" (so it seemed)....
As I'm in line entering the "parking lot", I noticed it was full of row after row of vintage minted out classic cars. I soon then noticed guys standing by their rides giving me a a funny look with raised and furled eyebrows and a perplexed look on their face as I drove in "looking for a parking spot".
People were staring at me. And I mean STARING...
Needless to say I became a little curious, bewildered and (a little) annoyed by some of the looks I was getting but managed to muster an awkward smile.. Until I looked in my rearview mirror... There behind me was a long line of American classic customized lowriders.

As I'm looking for a place to park - AWAY - from all these incredible classics beauties; one of the guys participating in showing his car, approached me laughing; "Homie are you for real?" and kindly guided me out of the arena where I parked on
the street side public parking for those non participants wanting to attend the show.

The woman "parking lot" attendant (not paying attention) had inadvertently ushered me into the SHOW LOT with all the other vintage classics in line who were participating in showing their cars for the event.












This very cool modified VW supercharged "bath tub" really stood-out as it was the only exception among all the iconic American made classics at the show.

Although feeling a bit awkward and a little embarrassed - I didn't dare get out of my Mini to snap a photo within the Show arena
Funny thing is - my Mini is currently pretty slammed (4" off the ground) due to my springs having sagged considerably...If it weren't for the fact that it is a Euro car - I almost fit in.

But boy what an uncomfortable feeling it was to have all those eyes upon you. Not to mention my Mini was the only non American built car parading through the whole arena... I was just looking for a parking spot!

After recovering from a little anxiety - Everything was Ok that day.