Goodbye Old Friend

So, after about 6 years, we have to finally say goodbye.
You've been so very good to my family for these years. And you were always dependable. You took us many places, and even came with us across the country.
You've gone fishing, boating, camping, and even hunting with us. And always carried Apollo around without any trouble.
You have your disadvantages though, which is why we had to give you away.
So, goodbye old friend. We will miss you.

It's hard to believe how emotionally attached you can get to a vehicle.
I'm actually surprised that I do miss it. I bought it for hubby for father's day in 2005. We took it camping several times that summer, then hubby decided he wanted to turn it into a 1 ton truck, because it was only a 1/2 ton. He bought an old broken down blue one that matched it to take parts off of it to add to this one. He only got as far as adding leaf springs to this one, which gave it enough that if he could just replace the rear end, he'd have his 1 ton truck. He just never found the rear end.






He also wanted to change the rear tailgate to barn doors. And that never happened either.


The other bad thing about that old gal? She got 4 miles to the gallon.

SUCK!






The windshield was also VERY cracked, and we never even attempted to replace it!






She did have 3 rows of seats, so she fit the whole family well, which was awesome! Even Apollo fit in there behind the third row!

So many memories too.
When Jeremy was about 2 1/2 years old, we were at the lake back in Kentucky and we were unloading the truck (back when we tent camped!) and let him and Sissy climb around in the truck in the meantime. We left the front door open so Jeremy could climb out when he wanted. And apparently, as he was playing around, he forgot the door was open, or he slipped one of the two, and fell backwards out the door and landed flat on his back on the gravel below. He knocked his head pretty good, but was otherwise fine.

It even drove us across the country! I don't have any of those pics scanned to the computer, as they were pre-digital, but it was packed to the brim, and pulled our trailer with the old green van on it (Oldsmobile Silhouette). And I drove it from Kentucky all the way to Montana. Hubby drove the Penske rental truck pulling the pontoon. That was a long 5 days.

That 1986 Chevy Suburban took us hunting for the first time last winter, and pulled back 2 deer. And it got stuck in the 2 foot snow bank on the last hunting day of the season.
And it took Apollo and I fishing a few weeks before 7 was born.

Good memories.
It started every time without fail. And even though the electric window motors occasionally failed, and the passenger side tail light never worked right, it was always a reliable vehicle.

Ah well. All good things must come to an end. As our family and needs change, so must the vehicles we use to take us where we need to go.
So, goodbye, old friend. May you provide someone else with as many good years as you've given us.