Build I bought a Whale, now I gotta build it and use it
- Thread starter wngrog
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- #823
We drilled around the SE part of the park and Dante's Point.
We had dinner and filled up at Furnace Creek then drove north to Persimmon Campground. We were the only people in the place.
We had dinner and filled up at Furnace Creek then drove north to Persimmon Campground. We were the only people in the place.
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- #824
Morning broke early. Sunrise was amazing as we made our way to the racetrack.
The south end was holding water from the rains a few weeks ago. Probably never see that again in a lifetime.
The south end was holding water from the rains a few weeks ago. Probably never see that again in a lifetime.
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- #825
Across Lippencotte Pass (awesome video to come) and up saline to the Warm Springs
A bunch of creepy old @OGBeno type desert rats were all sprawled about in the springs and none of us was feeling that dirty to hang with them so we pressed on
Just as we were leaving a 2 ship of F22s blew us up at 200'. It was truly unreal. I felt like I could have reached out and touched them.
We had our eyes on the horizon so I had my camera ready for this F18.
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- #826
We made our way through Dedekera Canyon and up to Eureka Dunes where Jonathan split a sidewall. With my Milwaukee impact and his ARB jack we were rolling again in 9 minutes.
We made it out to Big Pine for a late lunch at CopperTop BBq for ribs and tri tip. Both outstanding. We filled up with gas and made our way to Movie Road and camped in the Alabama Hills on the Man of Steel campsite (set)
Campsite perfection. Mountains and a steady stream of high flying fighter jets flying by
We made it out to Big Pine for a late lunch at CopperTop BBq for ribs and tri tip. Both outstanding. We filled up with gas and made our way to Movie Road and camped in the Alabama Hills on the Man of Steel campsite (set)
Campsite perfection. Mountains and a steady stream of high flying fighter jets flying by
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- #827
Yesterday we made our way around the southern end of the Sierras through Sequoia National Forest up to the National Parks
100 Sequoias, Camp Nelson and the wildly curved Hwy 190. Some dirt but mostly paved. There was a lot of wildfire deadfall so sticking to the pavement was the best choice. It was just as pretty an about the same speed
100 Sequoias, Camp Nelson and the wildly curved Hwy 190. Some dirt but mostly paved. There was a lot of wildfire deadfall so sticking to the pavement was the best choice. It was just as pretty an about the same speed
Whoa, pucker factor looked high!
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- #831
Phase 2 - Year 2 has begun albeit just a mini trip.
The place we parked in December is in the Sierra Nevada foothills and my buddy Dan has access to one of the oldest family owned ranches in California. Currently 4th and 5th generation ownership of about 3500 acres.
I've always wanted to visit the place and I knew I would be too rushed when we start our next real leg of the trip so Laird and I took a 4 day weekend trip.
Dan has been with Stihl for 40 years and he took us for a tour of the west coast warehouse first
Then we got burritos
It's always time to harvest something in the Central Valley. This week it was oranges
He lives outside Exeter which is famous for all of its murals.
The one with the wagons is from the ranch we would explore
The place we parked in December is in the Sierra Nevada foothills and my buddy Dan has access to one of the oldest family owned ranches in California. Currently 4th and 5th generation ownership of about 3500 acres.
I've always wanted to visit the place and I knew I would be too rushed when we start our next real leg of the trip so Laird and I took a 4 day weekend trip.
Dan has been with Stihl for 40 years and he took us for a tour of the west coast warehouse first
Then we got burritos
It's always time to harvest something in the Central Valley. This week it was oranges
He lives outside Exeter which is famous for all of its murals.
The one with the wagons is from the ranch we would explore
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- #833
Thousands of years of Native American history mixed with original American settlers. It's wild to be on a place that has been under single family ownership since California was settled.
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- #835
Yosemite in the winter. You are pretty limited this time of the year to the valley so it's just a drive through deal. We got in the gate a bit before 8 after smashing some chorizo burritos.
My park pass was expired so I picked one up with 47 on the front. Trolling. Always.
The traffic was not bad. We spent about 4 hours in the park. Beautiful place. My favorite though is the Tioga Pass that's only open in the summer.
My park pass was expired so I picked one up with 47 on the front. Trolling. Always.
The traffic was not bad. We spent about 4 hours in the park. Beautiful place. My favorite though is the Tioga Pass that's only open in the summer.
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- #836
We were not supposed to meet Georg until the afternoon so we took a side trip into the mountains trying to cross over from Hwy 120 to Hwy 108. I looked like we could drive to Cherry Lake and then pop out at Toulumne ....
This road in any other state would be gravel, however it's the home of a complex warren of captive water and free flow that makes up a pretty awesome hydroelectric facility dating back to the 30s.
Turns out just past the lake there was 4' of snow across the road going out the north end so we had to back track. Still, it was very cool to see all of the hydroelectric stuff and the lake.
This road in any other state would be gravel, however it's the home of a complex warren of captive water and free flow that makes up a pretty awesome hydroelectric facility dating back to the 30s.
Turns out just past the lake there was 4' of snow across the road going out the north end so we had to back track. Still, it was very cool to see all of the hydroelectric stuff and the lake.
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- #837
From there it was 1:45 to Stockton and @orangefj45 's new Terrain Tamer warehouse. He met us there. This is the parking spot for all 4 of the trucks we stared with. SteveOs truck is at Valley Hybrids. Jonathan's 80 goes there this week and Laird is getting some bigger springs on his Tacoma and a body mount chop. All this before April when we return.
We left TT and stopped by Valley Hybrids then off to Georg's house for a feast before we took an Uber to Sacramento and flew home.
We left TT and stopped by Valley Hybrids then off to Georg's house for a feast before we took an Uber to Sacramento and flew home.
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- #838
Both of these are great tracks if you find yourself in central California when there is too much snow and you need good backroads to skirt
We managed to get almost 350 miles in of beautiful country plus the full day we spent with Dan. Great way to spend a 4 day weekend.
Total miles since we crossed into New Mexico
Total miles on the Whale.
Georg is going to put it up on the rack for me and do a visual but I don't think it needs anything.
My goodness that flareless 80 on the steel wheels!