Builds My '78 FJ40 "44" (5 Viewers)

[65swb45]

Danny

Up for some in-town company? Me and the missus are toying with driving to Vegas in three weeks to celebrate our 33rd. I have a land use meeting in Barstow on the 21st that would put us in striking distance.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Depends... We are going to be camping in our trailer for a week or two before May 21st and have a couple of other commitments coming up... Family reunion in Bulevarde, CA June 18th weekend.... 2 weeks in Colorado in July.

Tell me the exact dates and maybe it will work!!

If it's after your meeting, it should work.

Y'all are newlyweds... We've got 13 years on you

 

[Solace in Solitude]

@65swb45 Don't forget to let me know the exact dates, Mark... so, we can work around it. Thanks!!

 

[65swb45]

@65swb45 Don't forget to let me know the exact dates, Mark... so, we can work around it. Thanks!!

Danny

If we come to Vegas, earliest ETA on Saturday the 21st would be 6pm. Meetings generally don't end until 4pm.
Would be potentially available for dinner on the 21st or breakfast the 22nd.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Danny

If we come to Vegas, earliest ETA on Saturday the 21st would be 6pm. Meetings generally don't end until 4pm.
Would be potentially available for dinner on the 21st or breakfast the 22nd.

We'll be here Mark!!

Please let me know when you know you are definitely coming... and where you will be staying.

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Made another 3-day trip with daBoise (Gunner wanted to go this time!!). We stayed in our neck of the woods... e.g. the DNWR again... went up Alamo Road to Sheep Pass (about 30 miles). The road was in decent shape, up to Sheep Pass.

But, this storm boiled over the Sheep Range and surprised me, while we were crossing an area that sees major flooding. I got a bit concerned and gave it more throttle than I like... and made it to the Pass before storm reached the road... I don't know if it flooded behind us or not.

NOTE: I need to clean my camera lens...

We spent the rest of the day, the night and half the next day at Sheep Pass and climbed the mountains on the east side of the road... west side is off limits (part of the Nellis Gunnery Range (Area 51, Groom Lake, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, etc.)... here's or campsite and pictures from above Sheep Pass. Note: I had forgotten just how much more roomy 44 is, just by folding the driver's seat forward... plenty of sleep space ofr daBoise and me!!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

More pics... from Sheep Pass

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

a bit more rain there, and your place will look like mine

 

[Solace in Solitude]

We left Sheep Pass and drove on north to Alamo, NV... around the dry lake again... it was muddy this time... no problems, but beige looking mud all over 44... good thing she's Dune Beige...

 

[Solace in Solitude]

We gassed up in Alamo, drove US93 back to Morman Well Road, aired back down and drove about 20 miles west and camped for night. Morman Well obviously saw substantial flooding since I drove it a week or so ago... it was very rough and very washed out in places (a large bit of Morman Well is actually a wash... so, it washes out a lot).

I got a three bird pictures:

One ball of yarn

And two handsome boys!!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

a bit more rain there, and your place will look like mine

It's gonna need to rain a lot to get like yours!!

 

[Weber Sarge]

We're mowing around every 4 days or less here ....I'm thinking of heading your way for a spell.
Love the pics , be careful shooting the "birds"...

Sarge

 

[Solace in Solitude]

The birds don't care... but, the pilots don't like being flipped off...

 

[tls3601]

Excellent pics Danny, thanks for sharing bro!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Excellent pics Danny, thanks for sharing bro!

Thanks Tom!

 

[65swb45]

We're mowing around every 4 days or less here ....I'm thinking of heading your way for a spell.


Sarge

That explains why you haven't called me.

JK

Danny, it looks like we're gonna get some more weather this weekend. You're gonna have to bust that camera out for some more National Geographic photography. If you keep it up long enough, might convince a few folks to leave California!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

Danny, it looks like we're gonna get some more weather this weekend. You're gonna have to bust that camera out for some more National Geographic photography. If you keep it up long enough, might convince a few folks to leave California!

Yep... today, the wind is expected to blow the sun out of the sky... rain and cooler tomorrow and Saturday... temps will be back up to 96* by next Friday...

daBoise and I love to hike washes and climb mountains and, most of the time lately, I've been reasonably pain-free and able to go and go... but, it's getting too hot.. snakes become active when temps stay consistently above 50*.

I'm colorblind, so it's not easy for me to see snakes, unless they move... daBoise stay next to me and I find myself using my trek pole (I only use one, since I blew out (avulsion) my right triceps ligament last year) like a blind person's cane... e.g. sweeping back and forth, in an attempt at causing them to move before we step on them... but, that's becoming much too worrisome... so, our NV hikes are probably over until this fall.

We're supposed to take the Tundra and Casita (travel trailer) out for a couple of weeks around Southern and Central Utah, but Dianna's sister isn't feeling well. So, we'll hang around here until that's resolved.

I need to clean 44 up and de-MUD her and then feed her knuckles some grease, lube her and change both fuel filters... she cut out on both tanks, on the way home yesterday... but, I was able to restart her by switching back and forth.

I'm also getting ready for our annual two weeks of camping, fly fishing and hiking, with our youngest daughter and her husband, in Colorado in July. So, I have some Casita maintenance to perform... I also need to change the oil in my generator and make sure the solar setup is in good shape.

I love to stay busy and retirement keeps me busy!!

 

[tls3601]

Didn't know you were a fly fisher Danny, always have had an interest in that.

 

[65swb45]

Yep..

I need to clean 44 up and de-MUD her and then feed her knuckles some grease, lube her and change both fuel filters... she cut out on both tanks, on the way home yesterday... but, I was able to restart her by switching back and forth.

I have some Casita maintenance to perform... I also need to change the oil in my generator and make sure the solar setup is in good shape.

I love to stay busy and retirement keeps me busy!!

It all sounds so familiar! I have a feeling I'm not even going to notice when I cross over that imaginary line from semi-retired to fully retired!

 

[Solace in Solitude]

It all sounds so familiar! I have a feeling I'm not even going to notice when I cross over that imaginary line from semi-retired to fully retired!

Mark,

You work hard to get to retirement and you work harder to enjoy it before it's too late!!

I'm doing just what I always wanted to do in retirement... wouldn't be possible without the availability of public land... thanks for what you do!!

BTW: I read (The Defense Authorization’s Mission Creep) that the Utah Rep Bishop has, yet again, added anti-wildlife riders to the Defense Bill... one part is another effort to transfer thousands of acres of public land (DNWR) to the military... land the military didn't ask for and doesn't want... All this doesn't belong in defense... it's tantamount to filing frivolous lawsuits to over-burden the courts.

Technically...

I'm currently researching new wheels and tires for 44... leaning toward 16" 8-spoke wheels and 265/75R16 = 31.6x10.4R16 BFG KM2's... I don't want to lift 44 or have to cut fenders and these will fit.... I wish I could fit 255/85R16 = 33.1x10R16 and probably could with my BOSS Air Bags... but, don't want to take a chance.

Last night, it dawned on me that 265/75R16 is what I run on the Tundra... I may put the KM2s on the Tundra and move the Michelins to 44 - they are in great shape and the Tundra gets more miles each year.

Just thinking out loud...