Grand Junction and then on to Moab

[PPFJ60]

The club has a trip planned for Grand Junction Memorial weekend. I will be off the whole week and Moab is just 90 minutes away so I am planning to head to Moab after Grand Junction.
Anyone want to come along?

[Isotel]

Are you Going to Cruise Moab?

I dont know if i will be able to do another trip a month after it, but i will see if i can make it work

[PPFJ60]

No.....I was planning on going to CM09 but my work is having two weeks of shutdowns per quarter so they are setting my time off.

[Isotel]

i guess its better than a pink slip..

I will see if i could make it, but at this point i dot know if i can make it for CM

[PPFJ60]

Darwin (white FJ80 (the one that made it through carnage)) is interested but won't know for sure for another week or so. He works at the same place I do so he is off he same week but he needs check the plan with his wife.

[Isotel]

i wish i could just live in moab for April and May!

[benw4x4]

Hi all. Let me know when you all will be here. I am up for a trip. I am trying to make cruise moab this year. Got to get some projects finished up and try to get some time off.

[PPFJ60]

The 21 Road trip is 2 1/2 weeks away. What day should we run 21 Road? I am open to running it on Saturday or Sunday. I will assume that most people will want to travel to Grand Junction on Saturday, run 21 Road on Sunday and travel back home on Monday?

Please post up if you are planning on going and what schedule works for you.

[black95]

I've been kicking this trip around for a while. Still not sure if i'm coming along or not....the wife has family in town. If i do end up coming along, it would be easier for me to drive out saturday morning (probably wouldn't leave 'till 9 with the family and all) stay the night, have a good time, wheel sunday, and drive home sunday night. I really can't take monday off.

Don't anyone make any plans around my schedule though, nothing is certain.

[Isotel]

i don't think i can make this one, but if plans change i will let you guys know.. i just wish we had more trails like this closer! Cruise Moab Flushed me out!

Trevor

[PPFJ60]

I wonder if I can find a place in Grand Junction to find some new friends to play with?

[Isotel]

there is a new TLCA Club in Grand Junction, maybe we should try and get ahold of them

[MountainRam]

I'll be there. I have talked to the new GJ club, Bookcliff Cruisers, prez, and he likes the idea of the run. Their next meeting will be May 19th, and hopefully I can get an idea who in the GJ club is game to go along.

And don't forget that Bangs and Billings canyons are just South of GJ and offer some good wheeling. I see lots of capable rigs around town, but I've not had time to take the FJ40 to these canyons yet. I'll continue looking for friends who want to play on the area trails!

I'm in CS this week, and no cruiser here!

Darryl

[PPFJ60]

Oh good new friends to play with. Now what do you do with your old friends when your get new ones. Can you recycle them some place?

[PPFJ60]

Maybe I should hang onto my old friends until the warranty period ends on the new friends just in case the new friends don't hold up was well as expected.

[MountainRam]

and don't forget that sometimes any friends can be cycled and/or recycled into the mix when old frineds fail to materialize and new friends fail to be able to understand what is needed. We aren't even going to touch on the gnu friends class, as sometimes they tend to know everything about everything. Whatever the friend class, its generally more fun with 'em then without 'em, with the possible exception of the last friend class mentioned above...

Guick note on the Bookcliff Cruisers, they have a site at Book Cliff Cruisers - Home - (for some reason I can't get the hyper link to work.)

Darryl

[benw4x4]

So where do these guys meet at. I have singed their list more than once and never heard from them. Been trying to find someone to wheel with around here but no luck. The guys I work with all have jeeps and no matter how many times I tell them barbie won't be mad if they scratch them they still won't go. How many are coming down. I was planning on going to vail to camp but this sounds like more fun. I talked to hugh a safari he might make it too.

[PPFJ60]

We are now 10 days out from the trip and so far it sounds like I will be the only one from Colorado Land Cruisers to make the trip.

[MountainRam]

Nope, you'll not be the only one. I return to GJ the 16th or so. I'll attend the Bookcliff Cruisers meeting on the 19th to see if anyone will be going along, and hopefully minisrule, Andy, will be over too. Sounds like benw4x4 will be there also.

The meet point last time was at the trailhead, which is about 2 or 3 miles north of where 21 road crosses the highline canal. (And the canal is about 6 miles north of 6&50 and 21 rd) There is a nice place to camp here, and it is dry, desert camping. Sounds like the 24th, Sunday would be the prefered day too, and the time should be 8:30am to 9am I'd guess.

There are lots of motels, to go camping in style, although with this being memorial day weekend, they could already be full. The closest one to I70 and exit 26, for 22 road, is West Gate Inn (970) 231-3020, www.westgateinnco.com

Give me a call if you need more info.

Darryl

[PPFJ60]

I went out to Rainbow Falls on Sunday. Had a great time on the steps and a couple of other rocks but the ride home had lots of vibrations! I looked under it when I got back to Woodland Park but didn't see any damage so I was getting nervious that I lost a bearing in the transfer case. That night I decided I had to find the problem so I jacked up the rear end and looked underneth to see if I could find the problem. As soon as I looked at the drive shaft I saw a nice dent that must have been on top when I looked in Woodland Park. No need to look any farther. Drive Line Specialist fixed up the drive shaft today and I am back on the road again.

[PPFJ60]

I am trying to decide if I should load spare parts onto my small trailer and bring that out to Grand Junction and drop it off some place while we hit the trails or if I should load all that stuff in the back of the Cruiser. Does anyone have a place I can drop my trailer when I get to Grand Junction? Since I will be by myself on the trip I am thinking I will just fold the back seat down and camp in the back of the cruiser so packing all the stuff in their will be a problem.

[MountainRam]

You can leave your trailer at my dad's place here on the Redlands. I'm sure we can find a place - unless its a 53' trailer

I'm back over in GJ, came over today. As a word of caution - watch out for the highway partol, as they are out in force - earning their keep. Last Sunday night when I came back to CS, I, (lucky me), won the prize and got stopped for an interview in Glenwood Canyon, by a lady CHP officer. And even luckier for me, I got to contribute to the general fund a sizable donation, because I didn't know the correct answers. BTW, the speed limit in Glenwood Canyon, I70, IS 50mph. And no, I didn't know how fast I was going. Seems the old 6 cylinder Dodge slips down the highway far easier than the 6 cylinder FJ40. I forgot my own rule of 1. never lead the parade, and 2. when headlights suddenly appear from seemingly nowhere, slow down. 3. and finally, never wear your "Leadfoot Grandpa" T shirt, no matter who likes it on a road trip.

Saw 7 CHP cars today. 3 were involved in "interviews", 3 were waiting for interviewees, and 1 was waiting for a tow truck to load a motorhome on a flatbed. So on your trip over here, to GJ, rule 1 and 2 will apply. I doubt if rule 3 applies to any coming over.

Darryl

[PPFJ60]

I went through Glenwood Canyon last February and saw many CHP cars in the 50 mph area so I know where that is. While my 60 can run 70+ mph it is a more enjoyable drive at 60 mph or below so I don't plan on leading the parade or getting any awards.

Still firming up my plans for this weekend but I think I will be leaving Divide around 6am on Saturday. I will have plenty of time to goof off on the trip to GJ and still get there at a decent time.

I may just camp Saturday night at the spot Darryl indicated above since that sounds convenient for the 8:30am to 9:00am meet time for Sunday morning.

I would be up to running Bangs Canyon (4-7 rated trail) Saturday afternoon and at least taking a look at Billings Canyon (9 rated trail) on Saturday or Monday.

The trailer is a 10' utility trailer that won't be heavily loaded. Most of what I will be taking will fit in the tool box that is mounted on the trailer and I can lock the spare tires so may be I'll just leave the trailer there when we hit the trail on Sunday.

[black95]

[QUOTE=PPFJ60;4442233]While my 60 can run 70+ mph it is a more enjoyable drive at 60 mph or below so I don't plan on leading the parade or getting any awards.

Whatever!! anyone ever tried to follow chuck?? you better be able to cruise 80 mph on the canyon roads, hahaha.

[PPFJ60]

May be I should check my speed-o-meter again.

[benw4x4]

You can park your trailer at my place if you want. I work down by the acorn station at the exit. We have lots of truck and trailer parking. You can leave it there also.

[billb596]

Hello my brothers from the other side of the mountain!! My name is Bill and I'm the president of www.bookcliffcruisers.com here in Western Colorado. Sorry for the late response to this post. I will be posting a link and info on our web site for the run. Benw4X4 sorry I have not linked up with you yet. Our next meeting has changed from the 19th (yesterday) to the 27th of this month. It will be as Safari Ltd.

Any of you coming this weekend can contact me at billb596@hotmail.com or through our website. I can give you some ideas on trails, places to get a or help out anyway possible.

Bill Baker
TLCA# 16333
Book Cliff Cruisers

[PPFJ60]

My guess is I will be in Grand Junction at 1pm - 2pm on Saturday. Wayne, are talking about exit 26 or 37? My cell is 719-649-9180.

[MountainRam]

Looks like some activity here - finally.

Glad to hear from Bill, of Bookcliff Cruisers, and to note that their meeting was changed to the 27th. I thought it strange that it was a no-show event on the 19th. Good to know of the location change, and hopefully that will bring the attendees back in droves.

And also that benw4x4 is here with us now. Chuck looks like you have choices to make as to where to park your trailer - a good thing.

Its a chuckle too about the speedo thing for GW canyon - On my return trip to GJ this past Monday, I did indeed drive pretty close to the limit of 50mph, pretty close, as I wasn't leading the prade. Thats the key. Let the clowns lead the parade!

And did I mention the number of highway patrol out watching and in some cases conducting interviews? Consider it mentioned.

Looks like the weather will be really nice, with possibility of rain Thurs and Friday, and clear, cool for the weekend. Cool is upper 70's to lower 80's. The Colorado river is supposed to peak sometime today - not that thats an issue where the trails are - not unless it really PEAKS.

There are 4 exits off I70 for Grand Junction. The 3rd and 4th are probably of the most interest. The 3rd is exit 28, which takes you off on 24 road. South it takes you to Mesa Mall, fast food and so forth. Going south of Patterson, or "F" road takes you over 6&50 overpass and onto Redlands Parkway, and further on takes you to where I am on the Redlands. The 4th is exit 26 and is the 22 road exit, and puts you at Acorn Truckstop, and benw4x4. Its also the closest exit to 21 road, which is a mile further west on 6&50. Take a look at a map, or browse around on Google Earth and you'll see how things are laid out. If lost, check yer GPS, wife, dog or call a phone number in this post or found in other posts in this thread.

I'm available via local GJ phone at 243-0589, cell 812-0215, or cell 719 963-8012. (The 812# is a grand central connect to the 719 cell, but local in 970 area)

Looking forward to this run!

Darryl
Crusin' Colorado Editor
CLC Past Prez
Stock FJ40 pilot...

[sanjuancruiser]

Hi I'm Hugh the owner of Safari Ltd in GJ. looks like I'll be able to meet you guys for a little run on Sat and/or Sun. I'll try to call and solidify w/the group.