Nov. 08 Swamp Donkey Road Trip

[Deny]

Hey Curtis, noticed on the SNT thread you mentioned crashing at truck stops, is that ok to do in the states, has anyone done this before? This will be my first drive into the states, so not really sure what to expect.
Cheers,
Deny

[RockDoc]

Originally Posted by Deny

Hey Curtis, noticed on the SNT thread you mentioned crashing at truck stops, is that ok to do in the states, has anyone done this before? This will be my first drive into the states, so not really sure what to expect.
Cheers,
Deny

I'm gonna play it by ear. Stop at rest stop/picnic areas if they look okay, or else just find a quiet grid road off the highway. There's always the Walmart parking lots with the grey-hairs Other trips I've done into the states have always been school business, and hotel stays.

Still not sure on my route down, waiting to find out from a guy in Portland if he wants me to haul some stuff to Pismo for him (a couple FF axles, depends on where the buyers are located/if they can arrange pickup at the beach). I'm planning to head out on Wednesday morning and do the drive in 2 - 2.5 days. Coming back, I'm gonna stay at D'Animal's on Sunday night (he's invited any of us going), and either haul something significant home from there, or hit a bunch of the National Parks on the way back.

You have a gameplan? I'd be up for meeting somewhere in BC and convoying, but kind of figured you will be heading out later?

[Deny]

Still no game plan, but looks like the reclamation, might happen, but I told the guy that I am heading off late in the week, so even if I start the project, I can get someone to finish it for me. So depending on what happens at work, I will either have a sort of easy drive and can meet up with you (when are you leaving by the way) or leave late, hammer down sleep all through SNT, then drive back. I just finished building a bed in the 42, so I can set up sleeping quarters in 1min, crash at a truckstop, then wake up break camp in 1min and on the road again.

[RockDoc]

Originally Posted by Deny

Still no game plan, but looks like the reclamation, might happen, but I told the guy that I am heading off late in the week, so even if I start the project, I can get someone to finish it for me. So depending on what happens at work, I will either have a sort of easy drive and can meet up with you (when are you leaving by the way) or leave late, hammer down sleep all through SNT, then drive back. I just finished building a bed in the 42, so I can set up sleeping quarters in 1min, crash at a truckstop, then wake up break camp in 1min and on the road again.

Wednesday morning, not sure if I'll go down through Idaho and Nevada, or across to Oregon and down yet. PM me your phone number, and I'll make sure to give you a call when I know better. I don't have a cell phone, but I'll have a Sat Phone with me, so I can make calls on the road, just not receive them.

[RockDoc]

Deny,

I'm going to bring my field kitchen kit along... so you don't have to worry about bringing stuff for cooking at SnT. I'll have a Coleman stove and lamp, pots and a frying pan, plates, bowls, cups and cutlery, and stuff for cleaning it all up. I'll have a fire grill, a decent cooler and a water jug too.

[Deny]

Sweet, I sorta am packing pretty light, the bed I built, sort takes up some packing room, just for the fact I don't want to pack too much so I can set up the bed in 2 seconds.
Cheers,
Deny

[Ratpuke]

We were lazy and ate at local restaurants. I don't think we even cooked a single meal out there because we were so close to civilization.

Anyway, have fun. I wish I could join you but due to a crazy work load and an unexpected glitch in border relations, Bruce and I are unable to make it to Pismo. I'm pretty let down because this was the only trip I planned for the year. Argh. Sucks to disappoint you....

Drink a gallon of beer for me at the Pozo Saloon.

[BC40]

Originally Posted by Deny

Hey Curtis, noticed on the SNT thread you mentioned crashing at truck stops, is that ok to do in the states, has anyone done this before? This will be my first drive into the states, so not really sure what to expect.
Cheers,
Deny

Keep in mind a lot of truckers leave their engines idle all night. Personally, I find that hard to sleep through. You can do what my homeless coworker does and crash in Walmart parking lots. Supposed to be people who tour the country picking their route based on Walmart since they don't chase away motorhomes .
Have fun guys.

[Deny]

Originally Posted by BC40

Keep in mind a lot of truckers leave their engines idle all night. Personally, I find that hard to sleep through.

You are forgetting I am hardcore diesel. The purr of a large diesel semi is very relaxing for me If not, my long drive time will be enough to knock me out for a few hours of shut eye!

[RockDoc]

Deny, do you know when you'll be heading out? Thursday morning?

[Deny]

Ideally I am hoping wednesday after work, I can get past prince george before starting on thursday, but all fails, I might have to head out thursday after work, then I won't be down till saturday night. I really don't know yet, but it's looking more and more like the reclamation will get cancelled this year, don't know for sure though.

[RockDoc]

Looks like I'll be doing the Idaho-Nevada route down. Haven't heard anymore about hauling those axles, so I doubt I'll be swinging through Portland. Looks like gas prices are falling, but diesel is still significantly more. Could it be possible it'll be cheaper for me to drive down than you?

[Deny]

Originally Posted by RockDoc

Looks like I'll be doing the Idaho-Nevada route down. Haven't heard anymore about hauling those axles, so I doubt I'll be swinging through Portland. Looks like gas prices are falling, but diesel is still significantly more. Could it be possible it'll be cheaper for me to drive down than you?

Not unless diesel is double the price of gas (thats if your truck sucks back the fuel like a 2F in a 40). Plus I might stop by my parents place and pick up some free bio, two free tanks should get me over 1000km.
Nice try though!

[RockDoc]

15 mpg (that's only something to be proud of in an LC)

[Deny]

Right now looks like I am leaving either pretty late wednesday, or really early thursday morning.
Cheers,
Deny

[Ratpuke]

Don't leave town without the 'goods', k?

Thanks.

[RockDoc]

Originally Posted by Ratpuke

Don't leave town without the 'goods', k?

Thanks.

x2

I've got an envelope with Charla's name on it for the return trip.

[RockDoc]

Deny, I'll give you a call tonight to let you know how I'm making out, and get an idea of your progress. Just about to jump in the truck and head south. Oh yah, I am going through Portland, so if you get away this evening, and make good time, maybe we'll roll in together.


Curtis.

[Deny]

Just getting off work, then pile crap into cruiser and take off. Sucks Tire shop couldn't get my mall terrains in since shipping companies crapped out due to our first snow fall this year, so looks like its swampers all the way. Hopefully there is a good shop in PG or around there that can balance my tires better and they won't rattle the hell out of my truck.
Cheers,
Deny

[RockDoc]

Safe and sound in Visalia Ca...... Off to the beach in a few hours.

[Deny]

Just got back, man what a bunch of driving! Sleep now, work tommorow.

[RockDoc]

I got home around noon yesterday, went to bed, just got up...... Had lots of missed sleep to catch up on. What a trip.

[Greg_B]

But, did you both have fun!

gb

[Deny]

Yeah it was a good time, wasn't too stoked to do sand wheeling, but then when you are actually in the dunes and getting speed so you can climb out of a bowl, deffinately cool. Next time though will have to take some more time off, it was a little crazy the amount of driving involved, but saw a lot of nice country. I had to cut my trip up the US coast halfway up Oregon and get back on the I5 cause I would still be there. Then I literally got home to my parents place an hour before they went to bed, got up with my dad going to work at 5:00 and hammer down back home for 14 hrs of driving (on a positive note that was the quickest I have done that stretch in a Cruiser).

Hey Curtis how did the towing of the 62 go?

[RockDoc]

Originally Posted by Deny

Hey Curtis how did the towing of the 62 go?

It drove like there was nothing behind me




































Since there wasn't

There were paperwork issues that couldn't be resolved while I was down there. So I left with the understanding that it will be my truck, and we'll get it up here in good time. Dan was willing to go way out of his way to get it up here before christmas, but I'm not going to be able to do anything with it for a while anyway.

[Greg_B]

Originally Posted by Deny

Yeah it was a good time, wasn't too stoked to do sand wheeling, but then when you are actually in the dunes and getting speed so you can climb out of a bowl, deffinately cool. Next time though will have to take some more time off, it was a little crazy the amount of driving involved, but saw a lot of nice country. I had to cut my trip up the US coast halfway up Oregon and get back on the I5 cause I would still be there. Then I literally got home to my parents place an hour before they went to bed, got up with my dad going to work at 5:00 and hammer down back home for 14 hrs of driving (on a positive note that was the quickest I have done that stretch in a Cruiser).

Hey Curtis how did the towing of the 62 go?

Ain't that the truth. I would love to drive up the coast, and had planned this when I got the 80. Never happened....time constraints kept me on the I-5 as well. At least you got "some" coast time in. I've always figured the way we did it way back when was the best if time is an issue. Get a bunch of folks together to take duty at the wheel, and get r dun. Whoever wants to wheel on sand the most, or has the vehicle that fits the most gets to donate their vehicle to the drive. Driving sand is ok, but hanging and visiting is fun too.

4-5 days up the coast, and that is still at a good pace would be the minimum imo, which makes this at least a 2 week trip if you want to see something other then the I-5.

gb

[Deny]

Originally Posted by Greg_B

4-5 days up the coast, and that is still at a good pace would be the minimum imo, which makes this at least a 2 week trip if you want to see something other then the I-5.

gb

Yup, I was thinking took me only 2.5 days to drive down, if I give an extra day should be good to drive up the coast. NOT. Days get shorter when you want to see (ie daylight driving) and windy roads are slow, not to mention stopping at resturaunts for food kills precious time......etc

[BC40]

Long drive, did you win iron butt award? How's the turbo and 36's for the highway?

[Deny]

Yeah, I think I was furthest, probably only a few more hours than Curtis. Turbo was awsome, helped out huge for the dunes, definatly a pleasure to drive now. 36's, not so much, I tried getting them rebalanced in Hope, helped a bit. I saw him balencing the tires, and although the rim and that looked perfectly balenced, so much rubber on the tire made it throw pretty good. Would have been nice to get the 35 mud terrains I had ordered and came in a day after I left on there for the drive. Oh well, atleast I can say I drove my BJ42 on bias ply swampers to California and lived to tell about it (had a lot of fish tailing driving through 100mile during the snow storm on the way down).
Cheers,
Deny

[mano002]

Deny, I hope you didn't drive through Calgary on your way south. I have a set of 35 ATs you could have totally borrowed! I am so jealous of that trip.

Coastal Kevin