Checking out the mountain ride

In the beginning, there was the Pinzgauer, which has been sitting at T Lo's, awaiting a mechanical once-over. This past weekend was a holiday weekend for the US Park Service ecologist, meaning a fine time to fly west to check up on his mountain ride and thus a fine time for me to schedule the new eye while the Sson was here. Got it? As the fates would have it, I got a new eye, but little had been done to the Pinz.

However, it wouldn't hurt to visit the shop to pet the vehicle. On Monday. A holiday. Nobody home. First a quick look at the competition product.

Here's the family Pinz, still awaiting work.

A few minutes commune with the vehicle, followed by a strange expression (below) and we were off to New Frontiers. German military vehicles and natural foods -- we're nothing if not eclectic.

And a correction from the Sson who writes: Remember if you will that the Pinz (truck) is Austrian in build, and came to us via the Swiss Army. Germans - the Pinz gets used by the German border and mountain rescue folks- the deutschers use that MOG in place of
the Pinz. And yes, as one of your readers did point out, the Pinz is named after a draught horse of legendary fame from the Alps. So also is that smaller cousin-truck, the Haflinger - a smaller pony, sort of like a burro. I am not sure, but I think the Pinz horse is modest animal- tough and strong and hearty. There is also a Pinzgauer breed of cattle...!

"Alternative" transportation

Mind you, I use the term alternative with some trepidation. It's a term that carries a lot of political baggage and I really don't want you to think that I have turned PC on you. On the other hand, what I'm showing here tonight are certainly alternatives to the automobile. You be the judge. You decide, too, if you'd want to shop for groceries on a rainy day in one of these vehicles.

Is it a dune buggy or is it some other type of contraption? I thought that dune buggies rode on bigger, puffier tires, but maybe this plain pipe racks unit is designed for a different sort of tough terrain. Definitely for the outdoorsy driver and/or passenger.

Now, scooters are definitely in play these days of high gas prices. I'd say that featuring one in a fashion shop show window is truly a sign that Vespas and their kin are an accepted mode of transportation.

In fact, my recent walk down Miller Valley provided an opportunity for a close-up examination at Scooter & Auto Source, right next to Chuy's. The little green fellow was especially cute, though I wouldn't ride him on highway or byway where I might meet up with louts in a high-clearance, high-volume pick-up.

Many of the scooters here are battery-powered plug-ins. No stop at a gas station required. And. You can even buy your scooter decorated with Flames, woo-hoo!

As I was photographing his assorted vehicles, Mark Tetreau, the proprietor, offered to take my picture. How could I refuse! Of course, I selected the scooter that bore the most resemblance to a hog!

People-powered modes of transportation, namely bikes, are very popular here in Prescott, even though persuading the city fathers to establish bike lanes on major thoroughfares appears to be a lost cause. Too bad. I know that it's illegal to ride a bicycle on the sidewalk, but I'd be scared to venture out on one of our streets.

However, seeing this particular alternative on Cortez Street this afternoon gave me pause. It smacks of Third World, it does. In my mind's eye, I can envision fleets of bike-taxis full of touristas on our streets, pedaled by illegals (because no Muricans would stoop to such employment). Tell me it isn't so!

The Pinzgauer arrives

Saturday I arrived home from the Prescott Photo Walk to find this lovely parked at my house. The Sson's new back country toy had arrived from Iowa. A Pinzgauer, a military vehicle of choice in Mittel Europe and many other countries, originally made in Austria.

As yet, Sson had not driven said vehicle and it was time to give it a whirl. See all those controls? It's apparently a good enough off-roadster for the Swiss army to take almost anywhere in the Alps, for example.

And so, after he was comfortable enough, he invited me for a spin up the Thumb Butte Road. I have to say that we got plenty of respect on the road (below), though this is a much smaller, lighter vehicle than either the German Unimog or the American Hummer.

Before parking off the road, to give me a proper photo op, the Sson did suddenly pull off, circling over stumps and some pretty rough territory. Vehicle did fine, especially considering that its clearance is much higher than our civilian 4-wheelers, not to mention other serious features.

And, oh, what glorious shooting I could do through that high, wide and handsome flat front windshield. Assuming, of course, that it had been cleaned and no new splats had occurred.

Cool lacings!
According to Sson, there are fewer than a thousand of these neat trucks in the US, all made in the 70s and 80s. Though the machine is still made, now in the UK, the newer trucks don't meet our current American safety & other standards, though they're good enough for the picky folk in the European Community. Besides, they cost upwards of $100Gs+. The older vehicles basically qualify as collectibles; the Governator, for example, owns several.

I suspect the Sson has been lusting for a Pinz ever since he was stationed in Germany during the 70s. Though we have a nationally known Pinzgauer/Unimog dealer out Iron Springs Road, he was fortunate enough to find this particular vehicle on an eBay auction at a much better price.

Photo Walk Blogs: Several local bloggers have posted their pictures and reports of Saturday's big picture-taking extravaganza, including Rich, Sadira, Tombo and Dagny. Worth a visit to each!

All in a day's vehicles

The day I quested in vain for ravens at the Courthouse Square I did, however, hit a bingo on vehicles of note. First, this thoroughly remodeled & re-wheeled Ford.

As for the Pinzgauer, no way I could overlook such a we-vill-be-orderly, Germanic truck. The Sson wants one in the worst way and always takes time out to visit the local dealer when he's in town. Alas, one of these days, there will be no more of these imports nor of Unimogs, also popular in our Outback.

Less orderly local touches: a deer antler on the front bumper and agave seedpods peeking over the dashboard.

Now here's a variation on the basic bike that's news to me. Anyone out there who can explain the advantage of such a low-rider arrangement? Nice chrome.

This ladylike quad ATV was spotted in the bed of a crew cab pick-up also parked at the Square. I particularly applaud the flowery suitcase attached to the carrier platform at the rear.

Linkages: First, a reminder that my Aussie Bro has reinvigorated his blog with a new name, Antipodean Curmudgeon, and a grump about modern misused English. Next, there's yet another bicycle blog originating here in town, GO! Adventure Recreation by name. While we're out enjoying the scenery, another new blog: Road Trip Arizona. And you might also want to look at the awesome pictures of Glen Canyon Dam that Quilted Dogs recently posted. Finally, there's another stab at a local news source, QuadCitiesAZ; maybe you have an item to contribute that's the equal of the 50 foot wide easement for a trail in Chino that has a well pump house right in the middle.

Rolling Adverts

No -- your eyes aren't deceiving you. That is Thumb Butte smack dab in the middle of that car. Look down lower and you'll see downtown.

More photography on the back of this realtor's car: the courthouse and even Bucky O'Neill. What a way to say that you are deeply into Prescott real estate!

And even if I don't patronize this particular plumbing firm, that doesn't prevent me from admiring their rolling art work.

Fancy That's truck is just that -- fancy. I have to admit that it took me a while to figure out just where the store was located. But I do like to see those bright colors motoring around while I'm out walking!

As for this van, I don't know if it is truly amphibious, tho that is what it seems to declare. Nonetheless, the decor is such that I thought I'd just pop the vehicle in this portfolio with the others. Too bad I didn't spot one of those exterminator's yellow cars with the mouse ears as a finale.