The Jeeps of Karanambu

I have a very soft spot in my heart for ancient vehicles still in use - and this scenario usually plays out at a farm or ranch.  I grew up on a farm here in Saskatchewan.  We had an old truck.  It belonged to my dad's Uncle Tom (who was, by far, my favourite person in all the world).

Uncle Tom's truck was an International Harvester circa 1930, I suppose.  Who knows what the original colour was - it was a matte purple by my generation. 

There was a starter on the floor, and a long stick shift; the green leather seats were worn and cracked.  Everything rattled; talking to any one in the truck was impossible while hurtling down a field road.  

My sister and I, most of our cousins, and even a few of my friends learned to drive in Uncle Tom's truck.

So,  when I saw the jeeps at Karanambu, it was love at first sight. 

I pulled a butt muscle while out birding so I got to ride in the front seat!  I really didn't step off that log wrongly on purpose.  As you can see, the steering wheel is on the righthand side.  Guyana, formerly British Guyana, drives on the right, as does Trinidad.   Correction:  drives on the left side of the road, with rightside steering wheel/controls in the vehicle

  

This is the older jeep, getting a bit of work done.  Both vehicles are needed especially during the long rainy season when the lodge and living quarters become an island.  One jeep is kept on each side of the water.  



And just because my bro-in-law would want to know this, (Morning, Gene) in both Guyana and Trinidad, the vehicles are all Japanese-made.  Nissan seemed to be the most popular, with Toyota in second spot.  Many Mazdas and Suzukis, too.  I asked one of my drivers in Trinidad about this.  He said used vehicles are brought over from Japan - where they also drive on that side of the road.  (Such a good thing I wasn't required to do any of the driving anywhere!)