Mark's Off Road Warehouse Fire Thread
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- #942
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- #943
I organized another off road adventure back in January, weather dependent, to the southern desert near the Salton Sea, Anza Borrego State Park. I first went there in February of 1983, but hadn’t been back since the late 90’s. Well, despite all the initial interest, life happened, and for various reasons only three of us, @Kofoed , @royal cake and myself were actually able to make it out there.
Jeff and I chased the storm, just like we did last year going to Red Rock, except this time it was east to Palm Springs. Very glad I had my refurbished wiper motor from @thundermcawesum for this adventure. We grabbed a nice lunch in Indio, where Jeff filled me in on the details of BECOMING ENGAGED! Then we braved the chinook winds that always follow the storms down to the Salton Sea and the park. The plan was to find a sheltered spot as far from the mountains as possible to hunker down.
I saw a windswept, wide-open campground with a few trails heading towards the maze of canyons in the arroyo, so we turned in there and made our way down the first canyon until we found a bend sharp enough, with a spot just big enough for two rigs, and got about a 50% reprieve from the 45mph blasts. It was a quiet evening, mostly spent in the front seats of Jeff’s 100 series, which took me back to my 2007 Canyonlands expedition with @devo and @chris777, where we had to hunker down for the better part of a week every evening in Bob’s 60 series.
Friday morning we had a leisurely breakfast, packed up and made our way to Borrego Springs, where the plan was to meet whoever else was coming.
Jeff, leveling his camp spot.
Jeff and I chased the storm, just like we did last year going to Red Rock, except this time it was east to Palm Springs. Very glad I had my refurbished wiper motor from @thundermcawesum for this adventure. We grabbed a nice lunch in Indio, where Jeff filled me in on the details of BECOMING ENGAGED! Then we braved the chinook winds that always follow the storms down to the Salton Sea and the park. The plan was to find a sheltered spot as far from the mountains as possible to hunker down.
I saw a windswept, wide-open campground with a few trails heading towards the maze of canyons in the arroyo, so we turned in there and made our way down the first canyon until we found a bend sharp enough, with a spot just big enough for two rigs, and got about a 50% reprieve from the 45mph blasts. It was a quiet evening, mostly spent in the front seats of Jeff’s 100 series, which took me back to my 2007 Canyonlands expedition with @devo and @chris777, where we had to hunker down for the better part of a week every evening in Bob’s 60 series.
Friday morning we had a leisurely breakfast, packed up and made our way to Borrego Springs, where the plan was to meet whoever else was coming.
Jeff, leveling his camp spot.
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- #944
Shane was there when we got there, and with cell service we were able to determine that @daveb and @HKforte were not going to be able to make it, and @HBMurphy was going to be delayed. So we set off for the park.
I had forgotten how fun it is running the long , open washes, and before long we were running over 40 mph down San Felipe wash, aiming for Mexico! Long before we even reached Hwy 78 we took the cut across trail over to the Palms. Una Palma had only the downed remains of its namesake, but Five Palms and 17 Palms were still standing in good stead, including the mailbox that I still vaguely remembered from my one visit to it 43 years ago.
I had forgotten how fun it is running the long , open washes, and before long we were running over 40 mph down San Felipe wash, aiming for Mexico!
Long before we even reached Hwy 78 we took the cut across trail over to the Palms. Una Palma had only the downed remains of its namesake, but Five Palms and 17 Palms were still standing in good stead, including the mailbox that I still vaguely remembered from my one visit to it 43 years ago.
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- #945
We meandered through the park a little while longer while making our way back to SR-22 with plans to explore the north side of the road when I spotted a small draw off the main route that looked like a perfect spot for our small group. So we settled in early for a casual evening of hiking, cooking, eating and conversation. Much fellowship ensued. I forgot to take a pic of our campsite.
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- #946
The next morning we had REALLY nice weather, and were in Tshirts by 9am. We made our way to the Rockhouse road and shortly thereafter discovered the Peace Cabin, not marked on any maps (thankfully) . We decided to explore the canyon, which included an opportunity for a good hike to the historic Rock House. Half way up, the dirt road became a trail, and we had to shift into 4WLow. Before I knew it we were crawling through a boulder-strewn stream bed, Shane and I doing our best to maintain momentum with all the limitations offered by the 3speed transmission AND manual steering. To be fair, Jeff in the 100 series had to deal with the extra width and wheelbase, which often have their own challenges.
I got to the end of the 4WD trail and unpacked lunch. A few minutes later Jeff showed up and informed me that Shane had elected not to go any further, but would wait for us. We ate and went for our hike, doing our best to keep Shane informed when the canyon walls opened up enough to engage satellite cell. We got to the spot on the map where the rockhouse was supposed to be, but only found a bench.
I got to the end of the 4WD trail and unpacked lunch. A few minutes later Jeff showed up and informed me that Shane had elected not to go any further, but would wait for us. We ate and went for our hike, doing our best to keep Shane informed when the canyon walls opened up enough to engage satellite cell. We got to the spot on the map where the rockhouse was supposed to be, but only found a bench.
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- #947
We made our way back to the trucks, wheeled back to where Jeff had left Shane, and found that he had left behind a box of firewood. So we knew before we got the text that he had bailed. We made our way back to the Peace Cabin and had a quiet evening talking about all the affairs of the world, interspersed with with several stories from my 46 years of four wheeling.
Sunday morning after another leisurely breakfast we headed home.
Please hit the like button to let me know you stopped by.
Sunday morning after another leisurely breakfast we headed home.
Please hit the like button to let me know you stopped by.
I agree. I am now subscribed. This looks thread like a lot of fun!
Just finished this epic from start to finish. Mark, you have another subscriber and I look forward to more of the stories.
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- #951
…and how many times did you hit the like button?
I don't make it a habit to hit "like" on old posts in forum threads, Facebook, Instagram, etc. I will hit like on posts after I'm caught up in a thread/profile I find interesting and opt to follow.…and how many times did you hit the like button?
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- #953
So, it’s been an event-filled month. I mentioned back in 2018 that I had driven my wife to Chicago for an experimental procedure on her eye, which did not cure her issue. When her driver’s license came up for renewal in 2020, the country was in the grip of the pandemic, and both our licences were autorenewed. This year was the year of reckoning.
She was required to retake the driving test, and failed twice. There was a lot of angst both leading up to the test as well as the aftermath. She reluctantly relinquished one of adulthood’s primary tools, and I am now adjusting to the reality of having to go shopping more often.
A few days ago I myself reluctantly acknowledged a new transition in my life: I signed up for Medicare. In my mind the whole timing of this is screwy, as in my mind I am still an extremely active and flexible 40 something, nothing like ‘those people’ who are on Medicare. Whatever. Try not to dwell on it.
However, I also clearly remember casually telling one of my cycling friends a few years ago that we never see ourselves as old as the rest of the world sees us. This was driven home for me a few weeks ago in a driving encounter.
After making my usual estimation at an intersection that the coast was clear to pull out for a right turn at a traffic light that had turned yellow for cross traffic, a Mercedes went swerving past me, blowing their horn.Apparently, having determined that the car in front of him was stopping for the changing light, and not wanting to stop himself, he hit the gas and simultaneously swerved around the stopping car in an effort to make the light. And of course he wasn’t planning on me pulling into the intersection for a right turn!
He didn’t make it through the next light, and when I eventually pulled up next to him, I gave a short toot for him to roll down his window, which he did. I made a very general comment about being more attentive, and he just said “You don’t know what you’re talking about OLD MAN!” and sped away.
This is the first time I have EVER been dismissed by someone based on my age. The fact that he was young, impulsive and stupid all took a back seat to this new to me idea that people were capable of writing you off just because you’re old. I’m going to have to think about that for a while. Or not.
On the Landcruiser front, I pulled Ruftoys out of storage, apparently for only the second time since my last Death Valley adventure in it, which I think was in ‘23. The battery still took a charge, six and a half years old. But I decided to replace it. Ordinarily it’s not a big deal. But like @StaleAle, I have occupied a substantial amount of real estate above the battery in the 40 with other things, which turned the battery swap into a small project.
Now that’s done, it’s time to blow out the cobwebs and put some miles on it! As I was telling @majdomo and @HKforte I am really hoping to get out to Red Rock Canyon, as first fielded the 40 there in March of ‘86, FOURTY YEARS AGO. I have a picture from that trip, and I think I can find the same spot to do a then-and-now pic. The truck has undergone a pretty radical transformation from what I started with in October of ‘85, and has legions of war stories. But I still have it!
As usual, please hit the like button if you want to let me know you stopped by.
She was required to retake the driving test, and failed twice. There was a lot of angst both leading up to the test as well as the aftermath. She reluctantly relinquished one of adulthood’s primary tools, and I am now adjusting to the reality of having to go shopping more often.
A few days ago I myself reluctantly acknowledged a new transition in my life: I signed up for Medicare. In my mind the whole timing of this is screwy, as in my mind I am still an extremely active and flexible 40 something, nothing like ‘those people’ who are on Medicare. Whatever. Try not to dwell on it.
However, I also clearly remember casually telling one of my cycling friends a few years ago that we never see ourselves as old as the rest of the world sees us. This was driven home for me a few weeks ago in a driving encounter.
After making my usual estimation at an intersection that the coast was clear to pull out for a right turn at a traffic light that had turned yellow for cross traffic, a Mercedes went swerving past me, blowing their horn.Apparently, having determined that the car in front of him was stopping for the changing light, and not wanting to stop himself, he hit the gas and simultaneously swerved around the stopping car in an effort to make the light. And of course he wasn’t planning on me pulling into the intersection for a right turn!
He didn’t make it through the next light, and when I eventually pulled up next to him, I gave a short toot for him to roll down his window, which he did. I made a very general comment about being more attentive, and he just said “You don’t know what you’re talking about OLD MAN!” and sped away.
This is the first time I have EVER been dismissed by someone based on my age. The fact that he was young, impulsive and stupid all took a back seat to this new to me idea that people were capable of writing you off just because you’re old. I’m going to have to think about that for a while. Or not.
On the Landcruiser front, I pulled Ruftoys out of storage, apparently for only the second time since my last Death Valley adventure in it, which I think was in ‘23. The battery still took a charge, six and a half years old. But I decided to replace it. Ordinarily it’s not a big deal. But like @StaleAle, I have occupied a substantial amount of real estate above the battery in the 40 with other things, which turned the battery swap into a small project.
Now that’s done, it’s time to blow out the cobwebs and put some miles on it! As I was telling @majdomo and @HKforte I am really hoping to get out to Red Rock Canyon, as first fielded the 40 there in March of ‘86, FOURTY YEARS AGO. I have a picture from that trip, and I think I can find the same spot to do a then-and-now pic. The truck has undergone a pretty radical transformation from what I started with in October of ‘85, and has legions of war stories. But I still have it!
As usual, please hit the like button if you want to let me know you stopped by.
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DeskJock
SILVER Star
Sorry to hear about your wife’s disability. Thankfully she has you.So, it’s been an event-filled month. I mentioned back in 2018 that I had driven my wife to Chicago for an experimental procedure on her eye, which did not cure her issue. When her driver’s license came up for renewal in 2020, the country was in the grip of the pandemic, and both our licences were autorenewed. This year was the year of reckoning.
She was required to retake the driving test, and failed twice. There was a lot of angst both leading up to the test as well as the aftermath. She reluctantly relinquished one of adulthood’s primary tools, and I am now adjusting to the reality of having to go shopping more often.
A few days ago I myself reluctantly acknowledged a new transition in my life: I signed up for Medicare. In my mind the whole timing is screwy, as in my mind I still am extremely active and flexible 40 something, nothing like ‘those people’ who are on Medicare. Whatever. Try not to dwell on it.
However, I also clearly remember casually telling one of my cycling friends a few years ago that we never see ourselves as old as the rest of the world sees us. This was driven home for me a few weeks ago in a driving encounter.
After making my usual estimation that the coast was clear to pull out of a driveway at a traffic light that had turned yellow for cross traffic, a Mercedes went swerving past me, blowing their horn.Apparently, having determined that the car in front of him was stopping for the changing light, and not wanting to stop himself, he hit the gas and simultaneously swerved around the stopping car in an effort to make the light. And of course he wasn’t planning on me pulling into the intersection for a right turn!
He didn’t make it through the next light, and when I pulled up next to him, I gave a short toot for him to roll down his window, which he did. I made a very general comment about being more attentive, and he just said “You don’t know what you’re talking about OLD MAN!” and sped away.
This is the first time I have EVER been dismissed by someone based on my age. The fact that he was young, impulsive and stupid all took a back seat to this new to me idea that people were capable of writing you off just because you’re old. I’m going to have to think about that for a while. Or not.
On the Landcruiser front, I pulled Ruftoys out of storage, apparently for only the second time since my last Death Valley adventure in it, which I think was in ‘23. The battery still took a charge, six and a half years old. But I decided to replace it. Ordinarily it’s not a big deal. But like @StaleAle, I have occupied a substantial amount of real estate above the battery in the 40 with other things, which turned the battery swap into a small project.
Now that’s done, it’s time to blow out the cobwebs and put some miles on it! As I was telling @majdomo and @HKforte I am really hoping to get out to Red Rock Canyon, as first fielded the 40 there in March of ‘86, FOURTY YEARS AGO. I have a picture from that trip, and I think I can find the same spot to do a then-and-now pic. The truck has undergone a pretty radical transformation from what I started with in October of ‘85, and has legions of war stories. But I still have it!
As usual, please hit the like button if you want to let me know you stopped by.
Rock on.
I've been on Medicare for quite some time now. Older age can be hard to accept but I roll with the punches and try to be thankful for everything good in my life. I must admit though that my activities in the garage have slowed down!!!!!
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- #956
Good to hear from you Gary! I still smile every time I remember doing a ridealong with you at Rausch Creek, singing old Neil Young songs from your band days.
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- #957
Normally I like to wait a few weeks between posts, but yesterday I took a begrudging but potentially huge step forward for Mark’s Off Road. My wife handles most of the administrative side of the business, including the phone and internet connectivity.
I have mentioned earlier in the thread that I have been without a phone in the shop for over a year (since sometime before I finished painting the building) and the phone company promised us a new wireless system that kept us from investing in any equipment. Well, we finally got the new system, only to find out that it won’t support a land line!
As it so happens, when we upgraded our phones last year before my backpacking trip, we ended up with an extra cellphone (family plan) that has sat in a drawer unused for a year. Voila! Problem solved, maybe.
Mark’s Off Road now has a cellphone instead of a landline. I will be capable of receiving and sending calls from many more places than before. On the days when I am home working on construction projects, I will now potentially be able to conduct business as well.
What remains to be seen is if I will have to create something like a ‘known callers only’ log to keep from being inundated with texts. There are a few unknown variables, some of which concern me. But I have not forgotten @ceylonfj40nut challenge to try a little harder to keep up with the times.
Brave new world.
I have mentioned earlier in the thread that I have been without a phone in the shop for over a year (since sometime before I finished painting the building) and the phone company promised us a new wireless system that kept us from investing in any equipment. Well, we finally got the new system, only to find out that it won’t support a land line!
As it so happens, when we upgraded our phones last year before my backpacking trip, we ended up with an extra cellphone (family plan) that has sat in a drawer unused for a year. Voila! Problem solved, maybe.
Mark’s Off Road now has a cellphone instead of a landline. I will be capable of receiving and sending calls from many more places than before. On the days when I am home working on construction projects, I will now potentially be able to conduct business as well.
What remains to be seen is if I will have to create something like a ‘known callers only’ log to keep from being inundated with texts. There are a few unknown variables, some of which concern me. But I have not forgotten @ceylonfj40nut challenge to try a little harder to keep up with the times.
Brave new world.
I feel your pain. I'm in the process of setting up my business to move from turning wrenches to literally everything else a legitimate business needs. I resisted getting a smartphone until my venerable Startac was refused by Verizon due to lack of 4G compatibility (I miss that little phone). I can't abide apple toys, which don't work with most diagnostic apps anyway, and finding a (very limited) smartphone is proving frustrating in the extreme.
I'm no Luddite, but I don't need 1000s of apps on my business phone, and I don't need to surf any webs – I have a real computer for that.
Good luck slogging through the wasteland of unneeded and unnecessary stuff to get what you need.
I'm no Luddite, but I don't need 1000s of apps on my business phone, and I don't need to surf any webs – I have a real computer for that.
Good luck slogging through the wasteland of unneeded and unnecessary stuff to get what you need.
So did Mark give out the new cell phone number? How do we get a hold of you??