Builds GCRad1's 1992 ADV80 LAND CRUISER

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY-2:

It's Day Two of our BB500 trip and I start the morning off with refueling the ADV80. It's quite easy with the Safety Siphon Hose that is MADE IN USA!

Now I can get on with what is really important - COFFEE!!! Have you ever tried Legal Brand instant coffee? It's my "go-to" for trips like this!

Looks like we will have some clear skies for today!

Here is what it's like without the original Safety Siphon hose! You remember those days! This is Nick Sawyer on his maiden BB500 Voyage. He is quite the artist, so check out his page:
Login • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nicksawyers/?hl=en

Everyone has their method...

 

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY-2 Continued:

I head out of camp a little before the rest of my compodre's as I want to take my time on this next section as I am scouting spots and also want to shoot the whole crew as they come through.

You see it all out here!

Leaving out of the valley..

This section of "road" is just a wash and you can see how it changes with every rain. The road is a mere suggestion and moves around quite a bit..

Making the climb up out of the valley. Don't see my crew in action yet, but that is ok as I could hang out up here for hours! The solitude is immense!

 

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY-2 Continued:

Yeah, I just drove up from down there!

Now I am getting more into the canyon section and this is such a cool area!

Further down into the canyon I run up on some guys who camped in the canyon as it was dark when they got here and didnt know if they would make it up the ledges or didnt want to tackle them at night. But they did have some cool maps as they have been exploring out here A LOT!!!

 

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY 2 Continued:

They've been hiking into all the canyons and pulling the names from other maps onto their larger map of which was two-maps taped together!

A spot I need to hit!

SO much to explore, so little time!

The green light on top was for their friend to spot them, but they never made it to them during the night.

This was the beginning of section they did not want to mess with in the dark. We chatted for a while as we awaited the arrival of our parties.

 

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY 2 Continued:

Finally my crew starts to arrive.

We have fun exploring and driving our rigs in the somewhat technical sections!

But it's not too long before we are through the rocky pass and into a very sandy area!

 

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY 2 Continued:

Love these bad boys! Falken Wild Peak AT3's have proven DEATH VALLEY DESERT RELIABLE!

We run up on a group of fellow ADVrider members!

For this trip we will be taking a new route that Dan plotted for us and I am always excited about new routes! This time we are going further north than we have in previous trips! Hope those clouds don't mean anything!

We are going up, its getting more wooded and I like it!

 

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY 2 Continued:

Is that snow on the ground?

The ground is cold and wet and makes for a little bit of excitement in the driving department!

The scenery is completely different now that we are in the higher part of the desert.

But just as quick as the scene changed, it changes again. Look at those mountains in the background!

A pit stop at an old abandoned ranch.

 

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY 2 Continued:

Moments later we are off again...

 

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY 2 Continued:

Once again we are going up and more signs of a previous snow dusting the hillsides.

Hmmm... A little more snow on our track...

Ok, nothing much and on over we go...

I am use to the desert terrain constantly changing...

But the presents of snow during our trip is new to me! I see a hill ahead, snow on the trail and no tracks...

 

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY 2 Continued:

Another snow covered hill crossed into just a soggy valley. But we can see the conditions are gaining momentum into the colder realm. Are we pushing our luck? Maybe, but we are prepared for it as best possible whatever "it" or conditions may come our way!

Is that a patch of "sun lit" snow on the bottom floor? Very cool for my image sensory intake!

As we start to move, we see conditions are changing and moving in our direction... or are we moving into it's direction?

Adverse conditions can go two ways... When prepared it can be positive experience! I relish these moments as they are a rarity for myself!

 

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY 2 Continued:

Weird, there is white stuff accumulating on the door edges..

And on Chris's body panel...

Yes, the snow is starting to come down on us... Things might actually start to get real interesting here shortly.... !!!

Snow is now whipping by at the speed of wind and velocity of 80-Series against the snow infused wind! Sensory overload!

 

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY 2 Continued:

You like my hood vents? What hood vents???? OH! Maybe I need a few more... Check out Operation Hood Louvers - Rod Louvers.

Funny how the two '79's and the ADV80 seem to hang together... hehehe Maybe it's because we are the slow ones? hehehe But we see more!

My Magnaflow helps melt the snow! LETS GO!

 

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY 2 Continued:

Before our eyes, as the light falls, the desert is getting visually brighter as the snow is falling fast! It's a wild experience I will soon not forget! It's been three years since this trip and since I have looked at these images and it was truly a magical time!!!

It's so magical we are lagging behind, soaking in this moment and our buddy here is cleaning his windshield so they can visually "TAKE IT ALL IN" clearly!

 

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY 2 Continued:

Looks like we are about to take on some snow AND HERE WE GO!

 

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY 2 Continued:

This is just one of those shots, a small fraction of time frozen, as I watch the crew traverse into the unseeable surreal landscape.

I love rolling with the windows down. Today it is chilly, but NOT DUSTY! Nothing like driving with the windows down and heater blasting! My iPad mini running GPSkit (app) for navigational purposes, mounted on RAM Mount clamp and stalk. I've been very happy with this setup.

Visibility is getting a little less due to the light falling along with the snow.

I love this stupid truck! Can't help it! I guess I'm old enough to endure the "UNderpowered" 3FE. And patience helps too... Look closely and you can see the snow streaking down across the rig. It's not heavy, just adding a little "atmosphere" to our experience.

These are magic times with friends... Rare, memorable, bonding.

 

[petwhookie]

What wheels are you running?

 

[GCRad1]

What wheels are you running?

Hello @petwhookie

I am running:
WHEELS: FN Wheels Countersteer TYPE-X wheels in 16" X 8"
TIRES: Falken Wild Peak AT3's in Size: 315/75R16

 

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY 2 Continued:

The sky is going from light to dark, from dark to light faster than I've ever seen! It's late in the day, but the storms are making it darker than normal but inclement weather is for certain. But I'm taking in all the visuals in mother nature is throwing at us!

The natural lighting gives this artificial lighting the perfect ambiance!

Did we pass through that cloud-front or is it about to consume us? We are moving and it's moving...

We carry own and we pick up the pace as our main group is out of sight ahead of us now. We like going into "chase mode" and I love watching these rigs work
as a quicker pace! It's all around reading the terrain, knowing your rig's limits, all while taking in the wild surroundings as the weather is making for an interesting setting in what would just be another desert trek. We are loving it!

And yes, I think our lighting is now officially falling off the end of the day!

 

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY 2 Continued:
Quick video recap intermission of todays episode:

 

[GCRad1]

BB500 2018 DAY 2 Continued:

It's OFFICIAL!
We've crossed over into darkness!

You can see the snow is still falling from the night sky!

The fact that my camera is capturing what I am seeing is simply amazing and we all know how that goes typically!

One more just to get my radio antenna out of the way!

I'm simply excited and stoked to be in these conditions!