Media GX460 / Prado150 pic thread (22 Viewers)

[r2m]

I haven't been in the dirt for a couple of months, which is pretty long by my standards. I've gotten out of town plenty, but I only have but one vote in the family and the girls prefer sandy beaches and fine dining over muddy trails and ham sammiches. I stole the truck keys and went on a solo trip yesterday in search of strenuous hiking and scenery.

I found plenty of both in yet another side canyon of the Cuyama Badlands, this time off of Lockwood Valley Rd near the summit of the pass. There isn't really an established trail up this gulley, so I was either in the muddy riverbed or scrambling up the crumbling slopes. My GPS tells me I only accomplished 6 miles, but they were hard won and I'm feeling sore today from the exertion.

The trail I took in only had this one "technical" section, but given the width of the trail is about the same as the truck there isn't much use for spotters. Either you've got it, or you don't. Luckily I made it through thanks to ATRAC while 3-wheeling and dragging my trailer hitch on the departure.

After that, I was back on the blacktop and listening to Doc & Dawg on my way back to the city (another perk of solo travel was not listening to Taylor Swift the whole time). When I got home, the girls were still out. They took the electric car to Malibu and then stopped at Erewhan for overpriced takeout on their way home. Something for everyone, I guess. I enjoy dragging my daughter into the woods, and I consider it my responsibility as a parent to do so often, but it's been a while since I did a solo trip and there's a lot to like about it.

Yup, I know the drill with my family, being all surfers. But fortunately the wife loves off roading too, so long as I let her do a little driving.

 

[K Dub]

Yup, I know the drill with my family, being all surfers. But fortunately the wife loves off roading too, so long as I let her do a little driving.

One of the many perks of living here is the "something for everyone" aspect of SoCal. Mountains, beaches, cosmopolitan, rural, you name it...

My biggest frustration is during vacation planning when my wife only wants sandy beaches with palm trees. Like, why fly to Bondi Beach when Malibu is only 20min away? There's plenty I want to see in Australia, but an overcrowded beach in a city isn't even worth an hour drive, much less a day of air travel. At least Malibu doesn't have box jellyfish or poisonous sea snakes.

 

[xychromosome]

One of the many perks of living here is the "something for everyone" aspect of SoCal. Mountains, beaches, cosmopolitan, rural, you name it...

My biggest frustration is during vacation planning when my wife only wants sandy beaches with palm trees. Like, why fly to Bondi Beach when Malibu is only 20min away? There's plenty I want to see in Australia, but an overcrowded beach in a city isn't even worth an hour drive, much less a day of air travel. At least Malibu doesn't have box jellyfish or poisonous sea snakes.

Box jellyfish are found more to the north, and usually only in season (summer time). Plenty other nice beaches near Sydney, much less crowded than Bondi.

 

[r2m]

One of the many perks of living here is the "something for everyone" aspect of SoCal. Mountains, beaches, cosmopolitan, rural, you name it...

My biggest frustration is during vacation planning when my wife only wants sandy beaches with palm trees. Like, why fly to Bondi Beach when Malibu is only 20min away? There's plenty I want to see in Australia, but an overcrowded beach in a city isn't even worth an hour drive, much less a day of air travel. At least Malibu doesn't have box jellyfish or poisonous sea snakes.

Agreed, California is one of the only places where one can surf AND ski in the same day! My wife has done that a couple times, surf in the morning, then blast up to the mountains for an afternoon ski!
Not knowing if you surf or not, but having been to some of the places you mentioned, including surfing most of the east coast of Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and countless trips to Hawaii, it has spoiled me.
After surfing all those other destinations, considering awesome waves, awesome conditions, 75°+ water temps, getting back home, trying to go surfing in wind blown, choppy, 58° water with 2 to 3 foot mushy waves, it's just plain hard to get my stoke up to go surfing in that. My wife complains that I don't go out enough, hence my reasons why.

When we were in the Great Barrier Reef, didn't see any Box Jelly Fish, but may have been wrong time of year.

 

[K Dub]

Box jellyfish are found more to the north, and usually only in season (summer time). Plenty other nice beaches near Sydney, much less crowded than Bondi.

Don't get me wrong, I'd absolutely love to visit Australia. I'd just rather spend a week camping on Fraser Island with a Land Cruiser, than to stay at a fancy hotel in Sydney. My wife and I have very different tastes, but enough tolerance and flexibility to make it work. We just have to make sure we both get "our" days, once in a while. That's what yesterday's trip was all about for me.

Agreed, California is one of the only places where one can surf AND ski in the same day! My wife has done that a couple times, surf in the morning, then blast up to the mountains for an afternoon ski!
Not knowing if you surf or not, but having been to some of the places you mentioned, including surfing most of the east coast of Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, and countless trips to Hawaii, it has spoiled me.
After surfing all those other destinations, considering awesome waves, awesome conditions, 75°+ water temps, getting back home, trying to go surfing in wind blown, choppy, 58° water with 2 to 3 foot mushy waves, it's just plain hard to get my stoke up to go surfing in that. My wife complains that I don't go out enough, hence my reasons why.

When we were in the Great Barrier Reef, didn't see any Box Jelly Fish, but may have been wrong time of year.

I'm from the mountains of Colorado, so swimming for me as a child was a "don't go in there or else we'll never find your body" proposition. A few fishermen died in my local river growing up. My wife is from Houston, so her idea of a day on the water involves an inner-tube and a cooler of beer on a meandering river. Meanwhile, our daughter is a California Girl of the type the Beach Boys sang about, so I've got to get comfortable with her going in the ocean regularly. She's a strong swimmer, and this was going to be the year when she learns to surf, but the Palisades Fire has made a mess of our local beaches so we'll see how it goes.

 

[xychromosome]

Fraser (now known as K'gari) is amazing, def a bucket list destination.

 

[r2m]

Don't get me wrong, I'd absolutely love to visit Australia. I'd just rather spend a week camping on Fraser Island with a Land Cruiser, than to stay at a fancy hotel in Sydney. My wife and I have very different tastes, but enough tolerance and flexibility to make it work. We just have to make sure we both get "our" days, once in a while. That's what yesterday's trip was all about for me.



I'm from the mountains of Colorado, so swimming for me as a child was a "don't go in there or else we'll never find your body" proposition. A few fishermen died in my local river growing up. My wife is from Houston, so her idea of a day on the water involves an inner-tube and a cooler of beer on a meandering river. Meanwhile, our daughter is a California Girl of the type the Beach Boys sang about, so I've got to get comfortable with her going in the ocean regularly. She's a strong swimmer, and this was going to be the year when she learns to surf, but the Palisades Fire has made a mess of our local beaches so we'll see how it goes.

Well, I'll throw this out there, if you wanna come on down my neck of the beach (San Clemente) sometime this summer, my wife will give her a free surf lesson. She used to teach surfing. We have garage full of boards and wetsuits. PM me when the water gets warmer. Right now it's 58ºF. Let's let it get into the mid to high 60°F's.

 

[K Dub]

Well, I'll throw this out there, if you wanna come on down my neck of the beach (San Clemente) sometime this summer, my wife will give her a free surf lesson. She used to teach surfing. We have garage full of boards and wetsuits. PM me when the water gets warmer. Right now it's 58ºF. Let's let it get into the mid to high 60°F's.

I may well take you up on that. We're looking into Santa Barbara options, because that's our usual trajectory, but I appreciate the offer and will give it real consideration. Thank you.

 

[diabetik81]

How are you liking that powerswitch? I read somewhere that the app is carplay friendly which would make it even easier to use.

I love it. I've had all of the major switch companies in the passed. This is by far the easiest and most user friendly. Bluetooth connects to your phone instantly which is nice too.

 

[UURX]

 

[xychromosome]

North end of Cape Lookout (Outer Banks, NC). Spent the weekend driving and fishing at both ends of the island. The 80 belongs to a member of our group. I cut out the other friend's F150

 

[K Dub]

The trail I took in only had this one "technical" section, but given the width of the trail is about the same as the truck there isn't much use for spotters. Either you've got it, or you don't. Luckily I made it through thanks to ATRAC while 3-wheeling and dragging my trailer hitch on the departure.

I just realized I've posted a better pic of this exact same obstacle before, back in 2021. I was more worried about scraping my front bumper this time, hence where I stopped and got out. I think it's gotten rougher in the past 4 years.

 

[r2m]

I just realized I've posted a better pic of this exact same obstacle before, back in 2021. I was more worried about scraping my front bumper this time, hence where I stopped and got out. I think it's gotten rougher in the past 4 years.

Welllll, it can't be too difficult.
Don't see any body parts (bumper, etc.) scattered on the trail behind you!

 

[UURX]

 

[Roody]

View attachment 3880796

LI? I make it out there a few times a year

 

[UURX]

LI? I make it out there a few times a year

Hey whats up Ross, yes I am on LI
You and I have spoken a bunch over the years on Tacomaworld
If you ever find yourself out this way let me know!
Eventually I will make it out your way for a day on some trails.. Good group of people out there in the NE CT area

 

[Roody]

Hey whats up Ross, yes I am on LI
You and I have spoken a bunch over the years on Tacomaworld
If you ever find yourself out this way let me know!
Eventually I will make it out your way for a day on some trails.. Good group of people out there in the NE CT area

Ha! Thought your name was familiar. & same if you ever make it to CT. You can always take the ferry to Bridgeport and meet us to wheel!

 

[snowGX460]

View attachment 3880796

i am only still a tiniest bit sour that you scooped this before I could, but I do really love my starfire pearl in the sun. Great looking rig. Any plans to do anything to it?

 

[MeefZah]

Not a GX but it is a pic.

This sexy beast has been roaming my neighborhood lately. JDM I assume due to RHD?

 

[Hiluxforever]

Not a GX but it is a pic.

This sexy beast has been roaming my neighborhood lately. JDM I assume due to RHD?

View attachment 3881594

Could be an Aussie rig, too, but probably JDM.