Bridge Building with the Camel Trophy Guys

At the Overland Expo 2012

By Grace Howard

In the past, I have gone on trails, driven Rovers, gone camping and spotted vehicles, but I never thought I would build a bridge with Camel Trophy guys.  This year at the Overland Expo I did.  On Saturday, after teaching and a good lunch I went over to the Camel Trophy Area.  There Andy Dacey and Duncan Barbour taught me how to build a bridge.

Duncan and I lashing two logs together.

The first step is to cut four logs about the same length.  Then put two next to each other.  Next you tie a timber hitch around one and start wrapping the rope around several times.  Then you frap it.  While frapping one person beats on the rope with a stick and another person pulls on the rope to get it even tighter. Two of the four logs had already been lashed together.  I found out that other AZLRO people had lashed those logs together.  The people that helped in the morning were Ryan Hemphill, Bob Kolander and Craig & Davin Ludwig. 

After frapping you use a winch to move the logs into place.

Here is some "Man Heaving"

  Otherwise you, “Man heave it!” as Duncan put it.  Duncan is funny!   

As we were working over a trench, one person said, “I would just drive my car around the trench!” and someone else said “That’s not how we do it when there are Camel Trophy guys around.”  Some people just don’t know how to have fun!!

They winched the two set of logs across and we fastened them to the ground. I worked with Duncan to show everyone how to fasten the logs in place. 

I helped Andy make sure we placed the logs in the right place, by measuring the wheels of the Defender.  I used a rope and measured from the center of the front tires. 

Then my Mom, Dad and I worked on another set and fastened it in place.  It was fun to work together as a family.  My Mom and I were the only girls who helped with the bridge.

Then they drove a Camel Trophy Defender across. 




Then they drove a remote control Camel Trophy Defender across as well. It was really funny when they let Duncan drive the remote control car.  The remote control car was looking like it was going to fall off.  So, there were lots of comments like, “Camel Trophy guys never give up,”  “Camel Trophy guys never go backward.”  To this Duncan said, “Save your vehicle, not your pride!”  It was one of my favorite things I heard all weekend.  So many times guys are macho on the trail and do crazy things. 

It was great fun!!  Something I never want to do for real, but I now know how to tie a timber hitch and overhand knot, I know what frapping is, and I got to spend a great afternoon working as a team with awesome people. 

Spring Break in the Chiricahua Mts.

This year for Spring Break we decided to go visit the Chiricahua Mts. in southern Arizona.   James and I visited Chiricahua National Monument in 1996, but it was time to take Grace.  We were very curious about how things would be since the Horseshoe 2 fire last summer.  

We headed to the monument and found a campsite at the Bonita Campground.  It was nice, but the sites are way too close together for our liking.  The bathrooms in a CCC-built building were very nice with new tile and flush toilets.

First we went to the visitor's center to pick up Grace's Junior Ranger booklet.  Then we drove the road up into the park and stopped along the way.   It truly is a "Wonderland of Rocks"

Massai Pt

Here is Grace looking at the China Boy formation.  Grace couldn't see it.  She didn't know the traditional hat that the Chinese wore.  When we got home, I showed her a picture and she then got it, but thought it was weird.  

Faraway Ranch House

Within the Monument there is the Faraway Ranch.  It was a guest ranch for many years that operated outside of the monument.  In 1973, the Park Service acquired the ranch and it became part of the monument.  The ranch is a fun place to visit.  The chimney of the main ranch house has the names of Buffalo Soldiers carved into it.  They also have a nice little display on the ranch and the CCC in the monument. 

After the visit to Faraway Ranch we headed to the visitor’s center so Grace could get her Junior Ranger Badge.  She is now has over 30 Junior Ranger badges.  At Chiricahua National Monument you get a patch instead of a pin-on badge, which is very nice, since the pins pop off and get lost.  One of these days, I will sew the patch on Grace’s Camelbak.  

The next day we headed to Fort Bowie National Historic Site.  To visit Fort Bowie you have to hike in a mile and a half to the visitor’s center and the ruins of the fort.   

Apache Spring

We hiked in and on the way we passed the reason for the fort, Apache Spring.  When Grace saw it she said, “That is it?”  She had read about the fort before our visit and I think she was expecting a big gushing spring, not a little trickle of water.  We sat had a drink from our water bottles and pondered all who had drunk from the spring before us, Geronimo, Cochise, General Howard, countless natives and military personal, pioneers, and now us.

We got to the fort and picked up Grace’s Junior Ranger booklet.  We then went around to many of the ruins.  I had no idea what a big place it was.  The big problem was they put the fort above the spring, so the spring became contaminated, so they had to pump water from a spring in the next valley over.  It is kind of funny all that conflict and then it becomes useless to them.  

Another Junior Ranger!!

The fort has a long history of the conflict between pioneers, then the military and the Apaches.  The Park Service does a very good job of telling the story without judgment on either side.  When Grace asked us who was right we replied, “They were both right.  Both sides were just fighting to preserve their way of life.”  Grace said, “Aren’t most wars fought for way of life?”  She is right.  I have a smart kid!!!

Fort Bowie is definitely worth a visit. 

We had planned on camping in the National Forest, but had heard from many people of the devastation the forest had sustained from the Horseshoe Fire 2 that had raged for over a month in 2011.  So, we stayed in the Monument’s campground for the first three nights.  On the third day, we headed out to drive over the mountains via Pinery Canyon road and survey the damage.  Our goal was Sunny Flat Campground near Portal, AZ. 

When we started over the mountains you could see the road was the fire line.   

Green on one side, black on the other. 

Then we got up higher and all we could see was burned trees, it was a crowning fire and the damage was extensive.  I am not sure what the plan is for forest, but I expect it will be a long time before the forest recovers. 

Our campsite!!

We ended up in one of our favorite campgrounds.  We typically try to avoid campgrounds as a rule.  Why have a Dormobile and go where everyone else goes?  We have it to go where others are not willing or able to venture.  But Sunny Flat is a campground we go back to time and time again.  It was designed by a camper, for campers, but the best reason is the scenery. 

We spent the next day relaxing, reading and watching Grace build dams in the creek. 

Grace setting up my bed!

 One of the great parts about Grace getting older is she is expected to help out more:)

After seven days and six nights we reluctantly headed back to civilization and “real” life.

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.

Air Conditioning in the Dormobile - Part 1

I have been asked lately why I haven't posted anything.  Well, as most of you know, I live in Tucson, AZ.  So, it hot, really hot, and the Dormobile doesn't have air conditioning.  One of the conditions of the purchase of the Dormobile was that my husband, James, would install air conditioning. 

We have owned the Dormobile for 5 years now, and still no air conditioning.  I must mention that we have had a few set backs over the past few years.  Things like two broken axles.  Now that the car can run, it
is time to get the air conditioning installed.

My motivation is we were invited to Monument Valley at the end of August by another AZLRO member.  I really want to go, but it is a long hot drive to get there.  Therefore, I decided I would help with the less technical parts of the installation.

First step is to put in heat and noise insulation.  We purchased a heat and noise insulation that you paint onto the firewall and seat box.  I thought this would be pretty simple.  So, two weeks ago I went out to the Dormobile thinking, I will scrub it down and hose it out and then I can start painting.  Easy!!

I forgot my own rule.  Nothing is ever easy when you are dealing with a 40+ year old car.  I soon discovered that the Dormobile had some old stick on sound and heat insulation all over the firewall and seat box.  It had to be removed before I could paint.  Here is the transmission tunnel with the adhesive stuff on it.

I got out a screwdriver and putty knife to try and get it off.  Some came off really easy, but a lot did not.  So, we bought adhesive remover and a floor scraper. It took about 4 hours to remove the black stuff. Then I had to remove all the residual adhesive that was left on everything. One large can of adhesive remover later, I was ready to get the hose out. 

Here are a few pictures of what it looked like before and after removing the adhesive.

Before:

After:

Next step is to paint on the heat and sound insulation.

Here is the inside with the heat insulation:

More to come. . . .

Large Binocular Telescope

Five Land Rovers visit the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). The LBT is the largest telescope in the world and a permit is needed to visit. Over Memorial Day weekend five Land Rover were able to visit. It was a fun and interesting visit for all.

Buckskin Mountains – Spring Break 2010 and The Amazing Flying Roof Rack

During Grace’s spring break we went to the Buckskin Mountains for some rockhounding. The Buckskins are in the western part of Arizona, near Parker. We had heard the Buckskins were a great place to go rockhounding, since most of the mining in this area was done before mining became mechanized.

The first day we left Tucson and headed out for the 6 hour drive to the Buckskins. In the driveway, when I went to get in the Rover, my side step came lose and I fell to the ground. My ego was very bruised, but my body was only a little bruised. James fixed the step and I got in and said, “Well, there is our problem for the trip.” I probably should have kept my mouth shut.

We were on I-10 west of Phoenix going about 65 mph. All of the sudden, we hear a big bang. James pulls over and says the roof rack blew off. I just had to take a deep breath, because that thing could have done a ton of damage or killed someone. Luckily we were near one of the closed rest areas. We could see the roof rack in the break down lane about 100 yards behind us. I had James pull up behind the temporary barriers they had put up to close the rest area. We told Grace to stay in the car, and James and I went to retrieve our things. Amazingly, everything survived, except for the two bags of charcoal that were all over the two lanes of traffic. One of the chairs had come lose from the rack. Everything was a little beat up, but everything survived.

We carried the rack back to the Rover. Then we had to figure out what to do with all the stuff, and had to find a place inside for it all. At this point a DPS officer stopped to see if we were okay. We told him what had happened and then he said that we needed to be careful when we merged back into traffic, and he left. It was interesting when James posted what had happened on the Dormobile List that several Europeans said that we would have been given a big ticket and they probably would have given us a sobriety test.

With some adjustments we were able to fit everything into the Rover. The question was what to do with the roof rack. Of course, James wanted to keep it and of course I thought we should just leave it with all the other trash on the side of the road. But it is an “original” Dormobile rack. So, just like all the other stuff that I would get rid of, we have it stored for if we ever sell it to someone who wants to restore it to original. I doubt this will ever happen, because I will only sell it to someone who wants to use it for their family. Not win car shows.

James won the argument. So, how do we fit it in the Rover? We decided to take it apart. James got out the wrench and some other tools. This did not work because the bolts were so rusted. What did work was just breaking the bolts with our bare hands. Then we shoved it across the floor of the back seat. When we got back in the car, I didn’t say anything about this being our problem for the trip.

The Buckskins are beautiful and full of old mines. We had picked out a few places to hit before we left home. We got to one mine just before dark. We decided to camp there for the night. The mine had an old mine cart and equipment laying around. It was pretty neat to see the old stuff. It sure was a lot of work, for not much of a mine.

About an hour or so into the night we figured out that our air mattress had a leak. It made for a very uncomfortable night I think that is problem number three for the trip.

The next day we hiked up the hill to explore the other prospects in the area. We have discovered that the age of the average rockhound is around 65. Most have ATV’s and don’t go cross-country. Consequently, we go cross-country and usually find some cool stuff in hard to get to places.

On the back side of a hill, we found a ton of chrysocolla. It was the most we have ever found. Grace and I spent at least an hour deciding which pieces were worth carrying back over the hill. We also knew our space was now limited in the Rover, since we had lost the roof rack, so we had to be selective.

By the time we were done exploring the area it was late and we decided to stay another night here with our flat air mattress.

The next day we woke up and headed towards the Planet Mine, which is quite popular with rockhounds. Several people asked us if we had been there or knew where it was. The Planet Mine is very cool, lots of neat rocks and all very easy to get to. I don’t really know what is valuable, so we just collected the rocks that we thought were pretty.

The next area we went to was a canyon, which you have to hike into. What a canyon! It was awesome. Mines and tailings were everywhere. We were told that you can find lots of drusy in this canyon. Drusy is a mineral with clear quartz crystal over the top. We didn’t really know what that was, but found lots of cool stuff. About halfway down the canyon we ran into some rockhounds, who actually knew what they were looking for. Most rockhounds don’t like to share their secrets with anyone. But having a cute nine year old really helps. The two gentlemen showed us some drusy and actually gave some to Grace. They were very helpful. We then went about collecting several other pieces of drusy ourselves. I found a chrysocolla drusy piece that I am quite proud of.

After getting back to the car we were all pretty tired and hot. The weather was supposed to be in the 70’s and turned out the highs were near 90. So, it was much hotter than anticipated. At this point, we needed a place to camp for the night. I suggested we head to our favorite State Park, River Island. It is on the Colorado River and has hot showers and flush toilets. This would also allow us to go by Walmart in Parker and pick up a new air mattress for the night.

I decided to drive out. I did really well with the double-clutching. We stopped a few times to look at different things, including the Bill Williams River that was very high. We had hit the pavement and all of the sudden James yells, “Stop, stop!” I pull over and realize I have been driving with the parking brake on. It was ready to catch on fire. Poor James, he really has to deal with a lot from me. The worst is I don’t really feel all that bad about it. James drove after that. That could be problem number four.

We got to Parker and went to buy the air mattress. Yay!!! Here we get to the next problem. Walmart no longer carries full size air mattresses, therefore one more night without sleep.

We make it to River Island and took showers. Once again we get lots of questions about our rig and lots of pictures are taken in the campground. We both love talking about our Rover. Grace is getting pretty good at answering all the basic questions.

The next day we headed home and passed through a town called Bouse. They have the best town sign. It reads, “Bouse welcomes you to the town of volunteers. Population 875 friendly people and 5 grouches!” My Dad had better not move there or they will have to change their sign to 6 grouches.

Even with our problems on the trip we had a great time, and will go back someday for more discoveries.