Due to transportation issues it’s likely that I’ll be mostly grounded for a while, which means that my ability to photograph birds will be severely limited.
My 2020 Ford F-150 with 3.5L EcoBoost engine
Last week a trip to my Ford dealer for routine maintenance revealed a potentially serious engine issue with my pickup (my daily driver and my only vehicle). It’s a known issue with Ford’s 3.5 EcoBoost engine that will have to be repaired, which will mean an extended stay in the shop. I hope to get the repair scheduled in the next day or two.
In the meantime I can still drive it but I should limit my mileage as much as possible. Since most of my birding locations require long drives, often to remote locations, I’m reluctant to go shooting. The last thing I need is to get stranded out in the middle of nowhere.
While my pickup’s in the shop I should have a loaner or rental, but that vehicle won’t be set up for my type of bird photography and I’ll probably have to limit my miles anyway. So, for the short term the frequency of my posts to Feathered Photography is likely to be even more unpredictable and possibly less frequent than usual.
I’ll fill you in on more details when I know them but for now I wanted to give my readers a heads up.
I hate stuff like this.
Ron
Sorry about your pickup. We will miss you and so will the birds.
Thanks, Howard. It isn’t all bad. See tomorrow’s post for an update.
Hi Ron,
Thank you for the courtesy of this post….it helps to keep readers from worrying so to speak. Hope your vehicle is restored and road-ready before too long. In the interim, perhaps something photo-worthy in the yard….
~Miranda
Ha! Must have been something about mothers in the 1950s … we lived in the city but mine also tethered me (along with our dog!) to the clothesline when she was hanging the laundry.
So sorry to hear about the truck troubles; “known knowns” are non-negotiable IMHO, they’d better pay for your repairs! And in the meantime, perhaps you can find some stray migrants (or unexpected eagles!) at your local pond ….
Chris, I went down to a couple of our ponds this morning but one was completely iced over, so no birds. The only birds on the other one were mostly domestic ducks, coots and gulls. There were geese too but they weren’t doing much. No photos.
Ron, you had a resourceful mother! The image of you toddling around the yard connected to the clothesline makes me laugh. Glad you discovered your truck issue before it became a bigger issue! Enjoy your backyard birds.
“The image of you toddling around the yard connected to the clothesline makes me laugh.”
Carolyn, here’s a link to an actual photo of me (and my young friend) tethered by clothesline rope on the farm. The photo would have been taken in 1948 or ’49.
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2019/09/18/my-three-brushes-with-death-as-a-toddler-and-young-boy/
I love these photographs of Little Ron!
wow, that’s rough about your truck. Thanks for the heads up, I’ll be waiting for your next post whenever it works out. I suspect you’ll find some photography things to do anyway.
Well heck. I seem to have problems with my laptop again. Unlike your truck problems, it sure seems like things keep getting in our way.
Trudy, my desktop computer is showing signs of stress too. Which of course only adds to my own stress.
When you say your rental/loaner won’t be set up for your type of photography, it makes me wonder what amendments you’ve made to your truck for photography. My hiking days are over. That ship sailed years ago & now I do 90% of my shooting from my Jeep. Always interested in ways to facilitate my most enjoyable endeavor! Anything you can share?
Tethered is definitely not your style! More important for you to be safe, however …. color me blue. I hope you find a few shareable photo opts in your backyard. Meantime, I love the comments from other followers. What a lovely, fun group!
“Tethered is definitely not your style.”
That’s for darn sure, Melanie.
When I was a toddler on the MT farm, my mother used to tether me (literally) in the yard using a harness and a clothesline rope. There was a creek nearby and she didn’t want to take any chances. Maybe that’s why I don’t like being tethered in any way.
TOO funny – my mother had a harness and leash for me when little as I was a “runner” so to speak.
Some folks get upset about leashing kids – not me – one neighbors grand daughter ended up permanently disabled as a result of a dash between cars when little.
I don’t have a problem with it either, Judy. In those situations, I think it’s smart. And the responsible thing to do.
Dang! When Ol’ Murph visits, he really VISITS. Sorry to read about the truck issues. You are wise not to risk the “Found On Road Dead” acronym. Fight the good fight to make Henry’s company pay. (Why should it even be a fight if it’s a known and common issue? It should be a recall-repair.
Sorry, the past week has made me a little ornery…er…more ornery.)
Marty, at this point it’s looking good (for me) about who foots the bill for the repair. But with ol’ Murph around, who knows. I should know more soon.
Never a good thing especially with a newer vehicle. My loaners had unlimited miles but I couldn’t take them on gravel roads. Well all the fun is on gravel roads! Hope it resolves soon and in your favor.
You’re right about gravel (or dirt) roads, April.
Sorry! But you can’t keep a good guy down, so looking forward to your fully motorized return. Just look at all the opportunities this presents to do all the things you’ve been avoiding! Sorry – it’s the mother in me. Photography IS what you should be doing.
“ust look at all the opportunities this presents to do all the things you’ve been avoiding.”
Burrdoo, I’ve been avoiding those things for good reason.
Bummer
Yup.
Sorry to hear about your truck Ron. Is this something that Ford is covering under warranty ? By the way is that a new(er) Rockwood camper or the one you’ve had all along ?? Here’s hoping that you will be back on the road soon !!
Gary, at the moment I’m negotiating who pays.
It’s a newer camper, bought about 4 years ago. I had a slightly smaller one before that.
I hope that at least this is one of those manufacturer-ordered and
paid– for repairs– and hope that it’ll be done quickly and WELL !
I like Everett’s suggestion. You already have a lot of material to wrangle at home– and if the weather’s really crappy, you won’t feel too badly about staying home and working with it…….good luck !
“and if the weather’s really crappy…”
Kris, that’s one of the most painful parts of all this. Our forecast is calling for sunny skies all week.
Good luck!
Having once been stranded with a dead car in the middle of the proverbial Nowhere (and in an area with no internet connectivity), I’m thinking discretion, valor, and all that. Best wishes for an early and complete resolution to the issues!
Shoreacres, in the past I’ve been known to ignore that “discretion” part but in my old age I’ve improved in that regard.
Good luck with the repairs Ron. Hey, take some time off and enjoy your morning coffee at home etc and post some of your all-time
favorites.
“post some of your all-time favorites.”
Who knows, maybe I will. Thanks, Everett.
Yuck, Bummer! I hope the issue is resolved soon.
Your photos, never disappoint, wherever they are taken. I always learn something and I am always awe struck by their beauty.
Take Care,
Kaye
Thanks for the kind words, Kaye.
Always something!
Hope they can get it fixed, preferably in a timely manner and correctly the 1st time…….. 
Thanks, Judy. “Correctly the first time” is primary in my book.
I am sorry to read this and hope that your car can be fixed quickly. Those glitches are totally frustrating.
Thanks, EC. I hope the fact that you’re still up isn’t a sign of anything ominous.
Sorry to hear it. Time for some backyard birding, or perhaps catch up on that home 2-do list. Keep us posted.
“or perhaps catch up on that home 2-do list.”
That’s exactly what I’ll be doing, Michael. I’ve already started.
Ron, sorry that happened to you.