Thursday, April 26, 2012

Introducing “Ruth”

Our 4wd “Ruth” is a 1994 Toyota Prado Landcruiser purchased from fellow Aussie volunteers when we arrived in Zambia.


Ruth on her way to Sioma Falls, Western Province, Zambia
This photo got us a fine (opps!). Ruth on the Victoria Falls Bridge

She was named by her previous owners after Ruth Mallory, the wife of George Mallory, a mountaineer who died in 1924 while climbing Mount Everest; Ruth was considered as a loyal, dependable and loving wife, always waiting patiently for her husband to return safely from his various adventures. These are the same qualities considered important for a 4X4 in Africa.


Ruth Mallory
Ruth the car is a 8-seater vehicle previously exported from Japan, no doubt owned by a “soccer mum” in a previous life.

In the time that we have had Ruth she has undergone some major “plastic surgery”, including new suspension, fixing the 4wd hubs, the inclusion of a roof tent, “tyre cover” braai”, an inverter and car fridge, four new mud-terrain tyres, new spotlights, a snorkel, window tinting (or eyelash tinting, hehe!) and a rear differential. She has also had some major mechanical work done to ensure she can get us to Ethiopia.


Ruth with her roof tent, mud-terrain tyres, tyre cover braai
Car fridge
Ruth fitted with her snorkel
BF Goodrich Mud Terrain Tyre

New Ironman suspension, shipped all the way from Australia!

Ruth has already taken us through some pretty tough terrain such as Chobe National Park in Botswana and the rocky roads of the Skeleton Coast Park in Namibia; she has driven through Southern Africa’s searing heat and taken on angry elephants in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe (actually she sped backwards but still kept her passengers safe). So we trust Ruth to get us to our destination.


Ruth before most of her additions and work, but I just love how tough she looks in
this photo taken in Etosha National Park, Namibia
In the Okavango Delta
Ruth looking tough on the Skeleton Coast in Namibia (And also the lead up
to getting her new tyres)
Ruth will make appearances and probably even star in a number of my posts making this introduction necessary.


Ruth pretty much as she is today (minus her new "eyelash tinting")

Ruth will be available to others who would like to do an overland trip in Africa from late September 2012 in Addis Ababa. Please go to Overland Ruth:  http://overlandruth.blogspot.com/

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