I was the last to get underway, around 10:30: after two stops to put gas and air in the front tires (one was 5psi). Me and Jacob made our way out to bearlake. Knowing full well that we were well behind the main body of people - I was suprized to see them stopped only a short way down from the main road. Then i saw the problem or problems- trees and lots of them had fallen across the road way. Pulling up Steve was winching one tree to the side and the others helping with the axe (yep no chain saw). Looking around the group filled me in on the problems and what they had, one axe, one spilting mau, one brushsaw and 2 tow straps and winches. Using the tow straps on the trees and moving them useing the landcruiser proved to be faster than cutting. And quickly everyone was locking hubs and yanking trees around. We did have to cut some of the trees that were stuck between 2 trees- and even those were only cut half way and broken with a tow strap and cruiser. I fell to injury first by cutting a tree under pressure at a angle- it cracked and hit me below the left knee- it knocked me down but nothing broken. (leg still sore) Next Lars broke the axe handle. Then the spilting mau handle cracked, And Lars and I got the brush saw stuck in a tree. Looking bleak Steve temp repaired the spilting mau with some duck tape, I wilted away at the remainer of the axe handle to repair it also. As we came down to the last tree before the campsite. Shaun and I were tugging on the tree to break it at the cut and snap went my pinion. twisted right off. At that point as we stood there looking dumfounded, a Forest Ranger walked up as Lars was pulling around the tree to set camp. He commented on how we should stay on the road, my broken cruiser and the fallen trees we cleared. After a short lesson on forestry (500 fine per tree if caught) and some comments about his bronco he told us to have fun - but he didn't see us. Shaun cleared the last tree and brought his truck and trailer around to load my broken cruiser onto.
Made quick work of setting up camp and cooking diner, nice roaring fire with the boys playing with flash lights in the dark. Everyone had a enuff to eat and drink and the boys fell fast asleep. SUN Morning- Shaun and Tonia made breakfast for all. Broke camp and headed to my house.
See the broken pinion only allows the driver to go in reverse, And we had backed it on the trailer. So after some scary moments like the cruiser allmost rolling into shauns truck. We put a floor jack under the diff and hooked the winch to the edge of the trailer dragging the back tires. The problem was getting it offthe trailer. At one point with FJ40 front wheels touching pavement only shuans truck and trailer were dragged over 5 feet. Ended up jacking rolling of the trailer. While the entire subdivsion looked at all the cruiser blocking the street.
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