This St. John's driver is 92 years older than his car
Bill Neal may be 102, but when he gets behind the wheel he feels like a younger man.
"Not the least bit [difficult]. While I'm 102, when I get behind the wheel I'm only 70."
The roads of St. John's may be different, but the walk to the car now is harder than the driving itself.
"It's a pleasure," to still be able to drive at his age, Neal says.
Neal has been driving since he was 15 and says as far as he remembers he's never been pulled over.
But he's not a stereotypical cautious and slow driver; when he comes to a steep set of lights in downtown St. John's, he speeds up to motor on through the intersections he knows so well.
"I like to drive along Harbour Drive. Every day it's different … different things going on."
'Never thought I'd be 102'
Neal was born in St. John's, in a house at the foot of Carter's Hill, on July 9, 1915. His grandfather started a wholesale company in 1894, which he sold to Fortis in 1992.
The first car he ever drove was his father's Chevrolet convertible, the only one of its kind in St. John's back then.
Now, he's got a comfortable 10-year-old Lincoln sedan that he drives around his city a couple times a week.
"I had a wonderful life with a wonderful woman," Neal told CBC's On The Go.
That life has been a little longer than Neal thought, though.
"I never thought I'd be 102," he said.
"What it's like to be 102 is just to get by day by day, one thing at a time. It's nice to be 102, but it's an effort."
As for driving, Neal said he's enjoying it for now, but he's not sure how long he'll keep his licence.
"I wouldn't be surprised one of these days if I give it up," he said.
"They may not renew my licence next time it comes through. But I may not live that long — that remains to be seen. I take it day by day."
