Day two in the big bro...... With the V8 01-08-2010

Petrol is disappearing like there's a holed in the tank, I think this might be a running joke amongst friends.

I also managed to push my finger through a section of the bulkhead last night revealing yet more rust ....... bollocks! Will have to investigate some more and see if a new bulkhead is needed or some more patching will be best.

Another two trips to Halfords today, picking up audio equipment (couldn't bear any more of commercial radio), after much messing around new stereo and speakers are fitted. However the speakers are mounted in some what of a bodge. Combining large Rawl plugs and masonry screws. Looks awful but it will suffice for the trip to Dorset, the correct fitting gear has been ordered (thanks Phil) and will be fitted upon my return. Amusing conversation with the chap at Halfords who insisted that all Defenders came with an ISO stereo connection as standard, even though i tried to explain that the defender was made before ISO was about! However I'm sure he was right, as he was the professional.

Ed trying to sort the mess of cables behind the dash

This is how it looked after much tidying

 After the fitting of electrical equipment had been completed, it was off to Glynn's farm. After lengthy scientific testing we determined that the V8 is quicker than the 300Tdi (get in! I knew there was a reason for it!). We also discovered that racing around a field in defenders in really good fun! Probably more that it should be for two 25+ year old's! Glynn learnt a valuable lesson is physics: high speed + sharp turn aided by hand brake = two wheel sliding turn, nearly resulting in a roll. However it was good to watch from the outside!

After this a hunt for green lanes began, resulting in about half hour of finding nothing but foot paths and restricted byways (which should be called bridleways as that what they are!) we find and extremely narrow byway, up we go pushing through the trees, but soon enough it becomes too tight for the for us and the walkers to get by, so back down we go. Off looking or the next byway, which was found just up the road; this was quickly deemed to risky as we had no 2nd vehicle, off road tires, winch or off road driving skill. After passing through a ford and finding another irritating restricted byway (aka bridleway!) we find any actual byway; heading down the tracks in the ruts over the logs around fallen trees, through the over grown bushes and squeezing between tress - all good fun which must be repeated.

2nd day of the Defender ends well, off to Dorset for a week tomorrow, we shall see how she gets on then (signed up to the RAC just in case).

Thanks to Phil and Ed again for helping with the stereo.
Photos by PM Photography