Builds GCRad1's 1992 ADV80 LAND CRUISER (1 Viewer)

[GCRad1]

2017 - MARCH 18th - THE ANNUAL BB500 INVITATIONAL (DAY-3)

Saturday and Saturday night was a long one, so Dan camped us at this place at the end of
Nipton Desert Road just outside of stateline. Sunday morning we awoke to an area close to
civilization, yet far enough away and out of the way to be peaceful.

Location in Google maps: https://www.google.com/maps/place/35%C2%B031'20.8%22N+115%C2%B018'50.3%22W/@35.5565665,-115.4708525,30436m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x80cf6b2fc7b6a37b:0x45154e1de3f5b0ec!2sNipton+Desert+Rd,+Nipton,+CA+92364!3b1!8m2!3d35.495496!4d-115.2917883!3m5!1s0x80cf6a9385050885:0x68d0e9282ca6bfa9!7e2!8m2!3d35.5224469!4d-115.3139806

Just because we were up late doesn't mean we get to sleep in! I catch the sun popping up over
the McCullough Mountain Range.

You can tell that camp is not all bristles and fairies this morning.

AeroPress JetBoil Snow Peak and Bob's Red Hill Oatmeal... Tools of the breakfast trade for those
on the GO!

Get some warm food in us and hit the road! Final day... We don't want it to end, but we are tired
and looking forward to the finish.

We run along side the train tracks on Brant Cima Road and cross over at Ivanpah Road. We were
so enamored with the train, we missed checking out the Nipton EcoCabins. Check them out on AirBnB.

Always on the lookout for my favorite... missed him on this one, but at least I have one on my
my wall back home.

This is Colossus, known for his cowboy figure.

Check out the video about him "Who Is Bozo Texino."



Getting back on track.
Getting across the tracks..
About to make tracks!...

Ivanpah Road looking across at the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System.
We are here - Google Map location - Ivanpah Road crossing train track.
Looking across at here - Google Map location - Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System.

Jon leads us into the Mojave Preserve via Ivanpah Road.

 

[GCRad1]

2017 - MARCH 18th - THE ANNUAL BB500 INVITATIONAL (DAY-3 Continued.)

We are making our way up through hills adjacent to Vanderbilt still on Ivanpah Road.

From Ivanpah Road, we hang a left onto Hart Mine Road. I recognize this intersection from the last
time we came through here but in the opposite direction.

Its as thought we are traveling though land that time forgot...

 

[GCRad1]

2017 - MARCH 18th - THE ANNUAL BB500 INVITATIONAL (DAY-3 Continued..)

While I'm waiting, I check out the Falken Wild Peak A/T3's on their first big dirt trip and I am loving them!

The Mojave National Preserve is simply spectacular!

Here comes Dan, our BB500 Desert Scout:

 

[GCRad1]

2017 - MARCH 18th - THE ANNUAL BB500 INVITATIONAL (DAY-3 Continued...)

Dan has put his fair share of time in the desert on both 2-wheels and 4WD's.

 

[GCRad1]

2017 - MARCH 18th - THE ANNUAL BB500 INVITATIONAL (DAY-3 Continued....)

No... No not all... We don't have an eclectic group at all!

All for the love of our Toyota's and wheeling in the desert!

 

[GCRad1]

2017 - MARCH 18th - THE ANNUAL BB500 INVITATIONAL (DAY-3 Continued.....)

We continue our traverse of the spectacular Mojave National Preserve headed in the direction of
between Hackberry Mountain and closer to Hart Mountain... (i think?).

We come into this area that I recognize from before and it is stunning! As I am writing all this,
I truly need to do a better job of documenting actual locations! I think we are roughly "here" but
who truly knows...

What I do know is that I've been through here before bet we never stopped here.
This time we actually get to stop!

As soon as we stop, my feet hit the ground and start roaming the wash, hillside, rocks and everything
in sight! And the effort was well worth it as we come across these petroglyphs.

What happened was...

One of our rigs developed a serious electrical issue. Rig just came to a stop, no fire! No GO!
WAY OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF...

 

[GCRad1]

2017 - MARCH 18th - THE ANNUAL BB500 INVITATIONAL (DAY-3 Continued......)

of H-E-R-E!

When the big book comes out....

YOU KNOW ITS SERIOUS!!!

I am of no use here so...

I go back to scouting the area for cool images to point my camera at...

The boys get the rig sorted, firing and off we go again!

 

[Desert Dino]

Peyote country beautiful.

 

[dcguillory]

Took me two days but I made it through! Thanks for the great story and pics!

 

[GCRad1]

DCGuillory THANK YOU for taking the time to read my silly thread!

Took me two days but I made it through! Thanks for the great story and pics!

 

[GCRad1]

2017 - MARCH 18th - THE ANNUAL BB500 INVITATIONAL (DAY-3 Continued.......)

Its DAY-3 of our trip.. We just get the one rig back up and running, it's mid-day and we need to make time, but same time, you can't just go Trophy Truck status... You can, but that will only lead to more issues. Same time, the Mojave National Preserve is so awesome, who wants to go fast through here?

The oldest rig on our trip, yes, it was a debate between the two '79's as only a few months separate them, but back on point, the eldest rig developed a rattle and was diagnosed and sorted. We discussed how due to the recent rains we had made everything "square edged" all through the desert. It was very noticeable over other trips we've made out here thus taking its toll on rattling everything!

With repairs made, we are back at it again. We all have that feeling of when you know its the last day, you don't want it to be, but your tired so you are looking forward to the end, it's a strange emotion and we press on.

The crew stops at location I've wanted to check out for some time now! The Mojave Mailbox and Frog Shrine on Mojave Road!

 

[GCRad1]

2017 - MARCH 18th - THE ANNUAL BB500 INVITATIONAL (DAY-3 Continued........)

The Frog Shine on the Mojave Road is AWESOME!!!

And then this little collection of bobble heads has started...

The gnome's collection and note that little ass up in the tree. BART!

Of course there is a toy 4X4 shrine on Mojave Road!

 

[GCRad1]

2017 - MARCH 18th - THE ANNUAL BB500 INVITATIONAL (DAY-3 Continued.........)

All was going so well and then... but all those square edged micro-water cuts in the road was
obviously taking its toll on our vehicles.

One of our newer Toyota's started sheering off the rear shock mount.

We are stoked to have veteran desert guys with on-board Premier Power Welders on-board!

I use this time to see what catches my eye in our immediate surroundings:

As ruff, rugged and raw the desert is, it is very beautiful place!

 

[GCRad1]

2017 - MARCH 18th - THE ANNUAL BB500 INVITATIONAL (DAY-3 Continued..........)

We are up and running again and the sun is racing us home!

We hope over HWY40 from the Mojave Preserve side back to the Johnson Valley side.

The "its almost over" somber starts to set in, but its been such a long trip (500-dirt miles), the feeling of "lets just get there" is overtaking the "I don't want it to stop" feeling. Maybe if we are doing more days... But the reality is, we know tomorrow is back to work Monday.
We get back to our buddies "desert house" were we started from.
Air up and say our good-by's and for myself, its the long tarmac drive back home.

We have a two hour and 116-mile drive home.
My last two photos are of the clock as I get home at 1:09am and the odometer.

Total trip: 731-miles with a tarmac commute of 116-miles each way, so 232-miles subtracted from 731-total trip miles makes for 499-DIRT MILES! It's no BAJA1000, but it's no walk in the park either!

While I love these trips, one of these days I am going to go do Mojave Trail at a much slower pace!

 

[GCRad1]

April 22 2017 - Big Bear Double BDAY Daughter Father Exploring Trip

My daughter turned 18 this year and we loaded up in the ADV80 and headed up to Big Bear as the
desert is already getting too hot. All in celebration for our BDAYS, just the way we like it!

It's been a long while (4th of July 2010) since we've gone camping in Big Bear as this use to be
our more frequented spot when I first got the 80-Series.

Any trip to Big Bear the back way, via HWY38 requires a stop into the world famous GREENSPOT!

I've never been up into Forest Falls, so we may as well tick this one off! Been there, done that
and we are continuing our way up HWY38 towards Big Bear / 7 Oaks area. We make our dirt road
exit at Mill Creek Road aka 1N09 as this will jump us over to Clarks Grde and up the backside of
Big Bear and into "town proper."

Before going all the way up Clarks Grde, we take a side-trek to an old spot we've been before.

Looking back to Oct 5th, 2008
- TWIN PINES -
And now: April 22, 2017

How stoked am I to have an 18-year old DAUGHTER who actually likes going out wheeling and exploring!

It's fun having her do some driving too!

Especially when I want to get some various shots and moving the rig into position!

I just have her wheel it around!

Hey don't forget about me! hehehe

Making our way back over toward Clarks Grde, we can see snow still over on San Gorgonio Mountain.

 

[GCRad1]

continued: April 22 2017 - Big Bear Double BDAY Daughter Father Exploring Trip

On our way up Clarks Grde we encounter some snow. Unfortunately upon reaching the top of the pass, the gate is closed and we can not proceed forward to the town-side of Big Bear.

We had no "real plan" other than to just get out and try a couple of different dirt roads and
see some old ones like Clarks Grde. This use to be our Friday night way in and we would camp
up top. We start our decent back down and will work our way around to one side or the other...

Coming back down Clarks Grde.

With all the rain this year and all the snow giving the mountain the fresh trickly-drip, everything
is GREEN! As we make our way down, we start cutting across 7-Oaks towards the south western
side of Big Bear. We will re-connect with HWY38 and try a couple of spots over there. We are
checking out Pipes Campground via Google Maps and once we get to the trail entrance from
HWY38 side - GATED CLOSED LOCKED... BOO! Might have to come back the backside and explore
that one later... Moving along....

A little bit further around the big bend of HWY38, we come up on 2N01. It's been a long time
since I've been down here, so off we go! Its funny how over time, you become more confident
with exploring beyond your boundaries. Plus, having the time to just explore, allows you to relax
and just see where it takes you. Time too, has been spent with the rig, knowing its capabilities
as well as assortment of experiences that have built the "experience catalog" allowing you to
not worry. Previously I had not driven past the Juniper Springs campground turnoff. Not know
what was beyond that, I had just turned around. Today, we were going to go beyond that point
and just go see if it would connect us to the Burns Canyon Road that I have traveled on a couple
of other trips.

It's visually obvious we are making our way towards the desert side, but its not too hot, it's
actually cool air coming off the mountain that makes our decent comfortable temperature wise.
My daughter really likes our desert trips, so this area is working for the both of us. Our plan is
to camp out here and in the morning, we will head back up to cooler temperatures.

I navigate us back to an area I found during a snow-wheeling trip and it worked out perfect for
our campout requirements of "NO ONE WITHIN SIGHT!" We get the fire going, food going and
we are in bed roughly by 8:30-9:00pm. Yea, that's early but it was a full day!

Next morning - BOOM! LIGHT CANNON:

The morning light starts off bright!

I purposefully lined the ADV80 so we would get the full morning light. Yes, back seats out,
tail gate down and camp ready in 2.2seconds! No need for a tent. Its super simplistic and just works!

Remember, you've seen it once, I do own a RTT. I've used it once...
But I own a 3FE motor... 'nuff said.

 

[GCRad1]

continued:: April 22 2017 - Big Bear Double BDAY Daughter Father Exploring Trip

The sun greats us early:

But is overtaken by clouds.

The clouds succeed in fighting the sun away. For how long we are not sure, but it doesn't dampen our spirits.

We take our time getting up, getting breakfast and getting packed up. But soon enough we
are back in the saddle and I discover a section of trail that I came upon earlier in the year and
very snow covered, just from the opposite direction.

When you are sitting in the drivers seat looking down, it always looks worse than it really is!
When your out alone, you want to be extra careful.

Once past that section its easy sailing back to HWY38 upper side of Big Bear Lake. While tooling
along we talk about Lexi's recent purchase of a 1970 Honda CL100 dual sport and how we would
get up here from our house bypassing all the freeways.

 

[GCRad1]

continued::: April 22 2017 - Big Bear Double BDAY Daughter Father Exploring Trip

From the previous post, we work our way down and around Big Bear Lake as we are off to seek
another dirt road. This time we've gone down the front side of Big Bear HWY330 and cut off via
one of the "Turn Outs" at Old City Creek Road. Google Maps "says" we can travers the mountain
and drop down Adler Creek Road and drop us back down to HWY38.

We took a side-cut road from Old City Creek to a dead end for 4-wheeled vehicle at Little Mill Creek.
We exit our little side-trip and continue on.

Our trail weaves from arid desert-mountain exposure to...

the complementary creek crossing... Just to keep things interesting.

Continuing on with the big scenic theme!

We start to see the Seven Oaks Reservoir coming into view as we are coming down the Adler Creek Rd.

And we make our final decent of Adler Creek Road. That was a nice road that had a "out there
feeling. We hit the tarmac and off to our next destination.

 

[GCRad1]

continued:::: April 22 2017 - Big Bear Double BDAY Daughter Father Exploring Trip

We are back in Redlands, heading home, but going to take our dear sweet time getting there.
Per our previous moto discussion, we are going to take surface streets back home vs going home
on the freeway. With that, we found this place!

ORANGE EMPIRE RAILWAY MUSEUM and of course we stop and an visit! All my photos are here
if you want to see them. >Flickr Link< Upon our arrival to the Rail Yard, I saw Craig Stecyk III
and had a little chat with him as its been a few years since I've bumped into him.
Any DogTown skate fans out there? Yea, that guy... After we visit the OE Rail museum we
continue our side-street journey home.

Soon we would come upon Lake Elsinore where I know of a little side dirt road to the top from
the bottom.

The rains have made for some deep cuts in the road since my last trip through here.

Once to the top of the Ortega Highway (we never touched it) but we make our way over to
the dirt portion of Main Divide Road.

This will be our final dirt road home and this is my "backyard" trails/roads that I've put time on
with both the moto's and the ADV80.

 

[GCRad1]

continued::::: April 22 2017 - Big Bear Double BDAY Daughter Father Exploring Trip

Down there is home by the coast. Funny, grew up in the woods, moved to the city, retreat back
to the woods... and deserts!

There is civilization down there...

So much water... so much bloom!

Most everyone including myself visits Santiago Peak as Modjeska Peak is a up and back side-trail.
But, when you don't over-do-it, it stays special.

Thats Saddleback over there...

On our decent down from Modjeska Peak, we get this view of the mountains from where we traveled
from today.