Parker 4-Wheeler Rally Veterans Day 2010

We went to the Parker 4-Wheeler Rally this Veterans Day weekend.  We were not sure what to expect.  It is a really different rally than any of the Land Rover Rally's we have been to in the past.   When we pulled in to La Paz County Park on Thursday evening, we registered and signed up for a trail the next day.  We knew nothing about the trails and when I asked questions the staff didn't really understand why someone would want an easy trail.  So we signed up for El Supremo Wash.  It was rated a 3 and did not have any pictures of cars on their sides or turned over.  Plus it said there were "go-arounds" for obstacles.

We asked about camping and the guy helping with camping asked if we were the people in the "Range Rover"  We laughed and said we had the Land Rover, but it is far from a Range Rover.  He didn't know the difference and didn't think there was one. 

Camping was kind of open and we could camp anywhere we wanted.  We went and found a small tent site near a restroom.  We camped by some people who live at the campground and a few others from the rally.  They were all very nice and welcoming. 

On Friday, we lined up for our trail.  On our trail we had one Toyota, 18 Jeeps and an Old Chevy Blazer.  We headed out toward the Buckskin Mts.  Then up El Supremo Wash.  At this point I started driving.  I needed to be spotted through the wash at a sharp turn.  The trail leader is looking at James and telling him what to do.  All of the sudden he realizes I am the driver and that our car is right hand drive.  After a couple of loud bangs from his spotting.  I tell James to get out and spot.  He tells me he is not so good a spotting. (which is true) But in this situation he is the best.  He knows our car, clearance and handling better than anyone else there.  Everyone one else has at least 33 inch tires and 3 or 4 more inches of ground clearance than we do.  So, I explain this to him and he decides he should help with the spotting from here on out. 

Here are two videos of me driving.  On this trip, it is the first time we have let Grace out of the car. We gave her the video camera and you can see she listens well to her parents. 

Video: Grace Listens Well

The second video is me getting up the wash.  Guess how many times I stall the vehicle.  

Video: Kelly may stall, but gets through

During that obstacle I think I stalled 5 times, but that is how you learn.  Grace is the videographer.  One thing I must say is the guys on this trip were so great!!  I have been on lots of Land Rover trips where men make me feel small and inferior because I am a woman.  Not these guys!!!  They didn't care if I stalled or took all day.  They kept saying we were there to have fun and that is what we were going to do.  It was awesome to have them be so great towards me.  

After this we came to a really hard obstacle where I asked James to drive.  I am not good at stick and without power steering my arms were getting very tired.  As we moved up the wash, I did not notice that James was moving again.  I was out talking with others.  And that is when we got the dent in the side of the car.

May not seem like much, but I had damage to my car.  The car has gone 42 years with no damage and here I am not paying attention and we get a dent.  Once I realized James was moving I ran up and took over the spotting for our car.  They wanted him to back up and go over a rock.  I knew this would be very bad.  So, the guys did some road building.  At one point, one of the guys was spotting James and I was standing next to him, spotting too.  The guy said, "He is only looking at you.  Do I even need to spot?"  I said, "No"  He said, "James listens only to you and what you say seems to trump what all of us say."  See I am a good spotter, and I have learned over the years that when I don't speak up, because I let some guy make me feel inferior, something breaks on my car.  I have decided that I don't care if I hurt people's feelings or egos.  It is my car and so I have the final say.  At our lunch stop one of the guys said he really liked me because I was more like a man and didn't care what they thought. I was just going to do it my way.  Not sure if that was a complement, but that is how I am going to take it.

Video: Jeep getting stuck

As most of you who have been on a trail know, there is always one person, usually a guy, who thinks he is the best driver and doesn't need any help or advice.  This video is that guy.  For this obstacle we were happy to take the "go-around"  Everyone was told if they did not have lockers they should take the "go-around"  This guy did not listen.  It is always nice to see someone else's truck get stuck.  It is worth noting that on a earlier "go-around" he did not take it either and also got stuck.

After this we had lunch right there.  At lunch we realized we were the only people who had driven our car to the rally.  Everyone else had trailered their car.  They were all amazed we could take ours on the freeway and also be on the trail.

After lunch we went up to the Vampire Mine and down through a cool wash.

Video: Cool Wash

Here we met up with the main graded dirt road.  It was around 1pm and I was tired.  The group was going to take off down some other wash.  I was exhausted and wanted to just head back to town.  So, at this point we broke from the main group.  On our trail the owners of ASFIR 4X4 were also on our trail, the father, Eitan, and his daughter Karen.  Karen was doing the driving and she did great.  I was so glad to see a young woman out there driving off road.  Yeah!!  Anyway, they did not want to leave us by ourselves so we drove into Parker and had lunch together.  Great people!  Here is a link to their website.  www.asfir.com  They sell skid plates among other things.  We are getting a diff plate from them. 

That evening they had a car crush at the campground.  We had never been to one of these before.  Grace was so excited and couldn't wait.  We went over to where ASFIR was set up and Grace was able to sit on their car so she could see the action. She was mesmerized.

It was very interesting.  A morbid fascination.  Like I shouldn't want to watch, but I just can't help myself.  Like gawking at a traffic accident.

I was not there for the beginning of the car crush, but I was told that several guys tried to get over and rolled.  The first two to get over were women.  Girl Power!!

On Saturday, we signed up for the easiest trail they had.  It was Finger Mountian on the California side of the river and was rated a 2.5.  It was much more our speed.  It was "scenic"  which I figured out to a lot of people is kind of a bad word around there. 

We were on a trip with 4 other Jeeps.

It was a very nice drive and just what we like.  A little low range, but no danger of damage. 

When we finished a couple of other trucks wanted to go up and drive over the Parker Dam.  So, we went to the dam.

That night a camp they had a dinner and raffle.  Since the kids get bored very easily they had a "Kid's Quest"  It was a jumpy castle and blow up obstacle course.  Grace loved it!

For the kids there was also a "quarter dive"  They buried $30 in quarters and the kids got to find them.  Grace found $2.

There was also an articulation ramp.

 Here is an 11 year old in his Dad's golf cart trying the articulation ramp.
Not the smartest thing I have ever seen.

They had two raffles, a raffle with mostly Jeep stuff and a 50/50 raffle.  We bought tickets for both, but did not win anything.  Too bad about the 50/50, the take home was over $1200. 

On Sunday, we woke up early and headed home.  Grace had a piano recital and we needed get home for it.  We had a fun weekend and met lots of great people.  We know we didn't quite fit in, but people were still very friendly and nice. It was a good weekend!

Fall Break - Eight Days in the Dormobile

This year for Grace's fall break from school we decided to go to Chaco Cultural National Historic Park.  James and I have planned at least 4 other trips to Chaco before, but there have always been problems.  Twice it snowed, and the other times it was over 90 degrees.  This year the weather cooperated and we set off on our longest trip yet in the Dormobile.

The first problem with eight days in the Dormobile and going to a place like Chaco is there is no electricity or ice to be found in Chaco.  So, we borrowed a 60 quart Norcold fridge from Jeff Scott, and we are so grateful for the loan.  James gave me the measurements of the fridge, but I didn't really realize how big it really was.  I had to fit the huge fridge plus everything else we need for 8 days into the little Dormobile.  My idea for the trip was to try and have everything we needed with us and not have to rely on finding a grocery store for supplies along the way.  We were going to be mostly on and around the Navajo Reservation, and you never know if you will be able to find what you need.

It was crowded, but we made it work.

This summer James had mostly installed an air conditioner, but he had not finished the vents and ductwork.  We also took the speakers from our old Range Rover and put in an mp3 jack.  Here is what the dashboard looked like.  It was a strange mix of old and new technology.  

Passenger side of dashboard.

Grace's Fancy Air Conditioning Vent,  ;)

Our first day was a Saturday and anyone who has spent much time with James and I knows we are not morning people.  So, we set a goal of being on the road by Noon.  We were on the road by 11:45 am and felt very proud to be out early.  We headed towards Wilcox on I-10.  We had made a conscience decision to stay off the freeways as much as possible.  This stretch between Tucson and Wilcox was our longest bit on the freeway.  When we got to Wilcox we went to Apple Annies produce stand to stock up on fresh vegetables for our trip.  Next we headed up 191 to State Route 78.  We had planned on camping somewhere near Reserve, NM.  The Land Rover had a different plan.  On State Route 78 you climb up out of the desert into the pines.  Our Land Rover started spewing smoke from under the hood.  So, we stopped and camped at Blackjack Campground.

 

Link to google maps for more details on route.

Here is our route for the trip.

Once we arrived at the campground, James realized it was only the radiator cap.  He knew this one was getting old, and had one in the carport at home.  But he had forgotten to pack it.  So, since it is a pretty common cap, we would just pick one up along the way.

The second day we headed into New Mexico.  We went through some pretty remote areas and wished we could live in a place like this.  Away from people and cities, but Grace needs a good school.  So, that dream will have to wait for 10 or so more years.

Our first stop at a monument was La Ventana Arch in El Mapais National Conservation Area.  

Then we went through what was called the Narrows.  I couldn't find any real description of this online and was very curious about it.  I was very cool!  There are 500 foot cliffs on one side of the road and the other side is a lava flow.  There is just this narrow strip of land in between.  I couldn't get a got picture of it, but it was definitely a unique experience.

The next are we stopped at was the Sand Stone Bluffs.

What a neat place!

It was about 4pm in the afternoon, so we decided to camp on Mt. Taylor at the "Coal Mine" campground.  We drove into Grants, NM.  Stopped at the auto parts store and got a new radiator cap.  Grants is not the nicest town in America and on the way out of town we passed a large prison complex and the desert was strewn with trash.  So, I was nervous about camping there, but when we got to the campground it was very nice and a pleasant surprise.

The next day we drove down State Highway 53 to El Morro National Monument.  This monument is a collection of prehistoric petroglyphs and inscriptions from early Spanish and English explorers.  The monument was the only year round water source in area, so everyone stopped here for a break.

Very few women inscribed on the bluff.  One was Miss A. F. Baley.  Her full name was America Frances Baley.  She stopped here as part of a wagon party from Missouri to California in 1858.  This wagon train was one that was attacked by Mojave Indians at the Colorado river crossing.  This is one of the reasons Ft. Mohave was established.  I had read about this particular attack when we drove the Mojave Road in California a few years before, so it was interesting to read about another part of that event.

Grace got her first of six Junior Ranger pins at El Morro.

Next we visited the El Malpais Visitor's Center.  Since we had spent so much time in the park the day before, Grace was easily able to fill out her Junior Ranger booklet.

She got her Junior Ranger badge.  It was very nice.  The Rangers made a big deal out of it and went outside in front of the National Park Sign.  Grace was so excited and beaming.  El Malpais is worth the side trip off  Interstate 40 if you are passing by.  We loved it! 

Now we head to Chaco Canyon and are hoping with get there before dark.  Next post will be Chaco.

Overland Expo 2010, April 16-18, 2010

Getting off of I-19 on Friday afternoon, there was a stereo “Wow” from both Grace and I when we saw the Overland Expo. It was amazing there were tons of vehicles and people. We knew at this point that we were going to have a good weekend.

We found the Arizona Land Rover Owners (AZLRO) camping area. Several people were already there. We set up our Rover then headed over to the Expo.

There was a Snow Peak demonstration at 4 pm that I really wanted to see. Grace was whining about it taking too long. I was really interested in seeing their Japanese Dutch Ovens. I have been cooking with my Lodge Cast Iron for years and was wanting to see these in action. Much to my surprise, the Snow Peak guys were using an American cast iron pan on the Snow Peak stove. So, I assume if they were not using them, then they are not very good. But they did have the Snow Peak cooking table set up. The table set up is very nice! I would love to have one of them with all the accessories. It sure would make cooking a lot easier. Once the food was done, Grace was no longer complaining. I forced her to try my lamb chop. She immediately went and got one of her own. They also had grilled pineapple and bacon and goat cheese wrapped dates. We all enjoyed the demonstration. The funny thing was they did not have any products to sell on the spot. You had to order them and they would send them to you. They do not understand impulse purchases. I really wanted the small BBQ box.

Soon our friends with children arrived so we headed back to the camping area. I use the term camping area very loosely. It was just a dirt lot, and it was very, very dusty. Everything we own has a fine layer of dust on it. One cool thing was Chuck, our resident archeologist, quickly took the kids for a walk and found a metate. A metate is a stone that was used by Indians to grind corn into flour.

That night we were treated to Carne Asada cooked by Laura. Laura is an amazing cook. She was a cooking mama the whole weekend. Thanks Laura!! That night I decided to make a cobbler in my dutch oven. Usually this is one of the first things people experiment with in their dutch ovens. They are supposed to be simple and yummy. The reason I have never made on before is James does not like fruit. So, I didn’t want to make a big cobbler for just Grace and I. With all the people camping with us this time I decided to make a Peach/Cherry Cobbler. It was good, and everyone got a little. Jon Christianson donated a bottle of good Champagne to the cobbler which was a great way to finish the meal. The Expo had a happy hour at the bar. Those of us with children were unable to attend, and I discovered the reason the AZLRO does not camp next to a bar with a happy hour.

The next day we woke up to a sunny, hot day. The Expo had an “Experience” package that included driving type classes. The “Experience” cost around $500 for a couple. It was supposed to include day care for the kids, but the day care provider was a no show. We contemplated purchasing the “Experience”, but I was told that I could teach most of the classes, so we just got a day pass. I would have been SO upset if I had spent $500 and there was no childcare. One of our friends in the AZLRO had won the “Experience” in a raffle at the Arizona Land Rover Rally in March, and they have three kids. The rest of us volunteered to watch the kids so they could go to their classes.

Six adults took eight kids ranging from age 2 to 9 to the Expo. This was not the best decision we have ever made. It was around 90 degrees and the kids were melting. Soon we found “The Oasis” and it had a water hose. The kids doused themselves and were much refreshed.

James, Chuck and I spent the rest of the afternoon looking around the Expo. Everyone else headed back to the campsite. It is amazing how many different kinds of trailers, roof top tents, and awnings are available. It all started to run together. Fifteen years ago when James and I were first looking for an off-roading trailer, there were none. So, we ended up with a pop-up tent trailer. Now there are at least 10 companies that make them. We also saw the new Unimog. It was huge, and only cost $750,000. One vendor was selling South African “Potjie Pot”dutch ovens. They were a very interesting design, and they wanted a $100 for the small one. I am real interested to see how they cook, but not forthat price. Everything was pretty pricey, and when a group of Land Rover Owners sit around and complain how expensive things are, then you know it is pricey.

I have to talk about the campground. A novice would drive by and think it was full of pretty simple and cheap campers. But they would be mistaken. That dirt lot had more money sitting on it than most campgrounds filled with Class A Motorhomes. There were Unimogs, EarthRoamers, G-Wagons, Sportsmobiles, Hummers, Range Rovers and other expensive vehicles. In addition, there were at least a couple of dozen roof top tents and decked out trailers. I think most people spent as much time in the campground as they did in the Expo. If I had a dollar for every picture that was taken of our Dormobile, I would have at least $200. Lots of people came by and asked to check out our Dormobile and of course we were glad to show them. We met one couple from Canada who own a Dormobile and spent two months in Morocco in theirs. I said if they can handle two months together in that car then their marriage is sure to go the distance. By the way, they are thinking of selling their Dormobile. One thing we all found interesting was that there were more Land Rovers than any other car. I was expecting to see more Toyotas and Jeeps. After a discussion I learned that Jeeps are too small for Overlanding, but I did expect more Toyotas.

On Saturday night, we had another great dinner. Then Linda used her dutch oven for the first time. She made a dump apple cobbler, which was more like an apple crisp. It was very yummy. Great job, Linda!!!

Sunday morning we were woken up by a symphony of dog barks. This only reinforced our resolve not to get a dog. Many people were up and out of the camp early, and only the “Rover Divas” and their three families remained. We got some good Rover Diva shots and then we all parted ways until the next trip. Great weekend spent with great people!

Getting the Dormobile Usable for Me

When we got the Dormobile home we discovered it had its very own ecosystem. All the window seals had moss growing in them. The fiberglass on the roof had mold growing in the fiberglass. The tent material was covered in mold. One of the bunks was the original material and we were afraid to put anything on it, for fear it would break. The other bunk was a replacement, but had lots of stains. The stove did not work. The curtains were original, so if you got next to them you would sneeze and if we washed them I think they would have fallen apart. And everything was dirty!

So, here is what we did to get it livable for me.

1. We started with the window seals. They were all replaced, except for the driver's door. At some point in the 40 year history someone decided they would “fix” the door and pored concrete inside the door. (We have yet to fix that.)

2. We took out the stove and wardrobe. We took them apart and had them powder-coated with the original hammerite finish.

3. I bought a sewing machine and made new curtains. This was a real challenge for me. Give me a power tool and I feel just fine, but a sewing machine is a whole different story. The curtains are red, my favorite color.

4. We had new bunks made at a local upholstery shop. These are also red!

5. I painted the fiberglass ceiling with Kilz paint. I know lots of the purest would disagree with this, but if I am going to sleep in this vehicle and have my child sleep in it. I don't want any mold.

6. I cleaned the canopy with a bleach and water mixture. Got it clean. It has holes in it, but unless we get stuck in a monsoon storm we have been just fine. (One of these days, we will replace it. This is one thing I would like to keep original and a new candy striped one is over $500 with shipping from the UK. So, it will have to wait.)

7. I cleaned and put new trim on all of the ceiling panels.

8. We put new floor mats in the whole car.

9. James fixed the hole in the floor board in the front seat.

10. I am sure James checked the fluids and all that stuff under the hood.

11. And we cleaned everything!

After this we took the vehicle out to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arizona. We realized we forgot to look at the tires. We got two flat tires, and were rescued by another Series Land Rover owner from Tucson. So, the last major upgrade we did at the beginning was the tires. We now have five BFGoodrich All-Terrains. We have had them for five years and they are great.