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- #1,421
Oh yes. He loves the dog, but it’s a one way street.
Build Project Pikachu: 1977 FJ40
- Thread starter cbmontgo
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- #1,423
My son and I went for a drive today. Things are starting to feel different, since we talked a lot about his college this Fall and dealing with different seasons of life. He's really bummed about leaving his high school friends. I'm bummed about him not being around as often and I don't know how I'm going to deal with that. We started working on this 40 when he had just turned 9. Damn it goes fast.
Stopped at one of our old spots and hiked around for a bit. Was a beautiful day, albeit a little chilly.
Stopped at one of our old spots and hiked around for a bit. Was a beautiful day, albeit a little chilly.
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- #1,424
Just returned from another great trip down to Big Bend National Park. We left a day early due to an oncoming snow storm in Colorado, so we had a little bit of extra time en route. So, I noted a few great stops as we headed down.
Downtown Raton, New Mexico. The Colfax Ale Cellar. UNREAL tacos and local-made gin.
Downtown Raton, New Mexico. The Colfax Ale Cellar. UNREAL tacos and local-made gin.
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- #1,426
Downtown Las Vegas, New Mexico. The Plaza Hotel. Lots of movies have been filmed here. It was built in the 1880s and is super original and absolutely pristine inside.
Las Vegas, New Mexico. Charlies Spic & Span. Had their famous chicken fried steak and they bring out this ridiculous good and spicy green chili with a side of tortillas.
Las Vegas, New Mexico. Charlies Spic & Span. Had their famous chicken fried steak and they bring out this ridiculous good and spicy green chili with a side of tortillas.
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- #1,427
Downtown Alpine, Texas. The Alcove Social Cocktail Bar & Grill.
We found ourselves trapped in a thunderstorm and holed up in this place for a while. Outstanding tacos and margaritas.
We were pretty surprised to find a limited number of taco joints in this town.
We found ourselves trapped in a thunderstorm and holed up in this place for a while. Outstanding tacos and margaritas.
We were pretty surprised to find a limited number of taco joints in this town.
Did you drive the 40?
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- #1,429
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- #1,431
Big Bend is solid, but I'm not sure I'd drive from Montana to see it unless you are already in the area. Lots more regulations, private land, and less expansive than a Southeast Utah, for example. But's it a great place nonetheless.
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- #1,432
The real purpose of these trips is to catch up with old friends, so you may notice the usual suspects from earlier parts of this thread.
We had four FJ40s on this one. A 1976, a 1975, and two 1977s. Guess I should also mention two Jeep Rubicons, which have also been involved in previous trips. I'll picture them as little as possible.
We had four FJ40s on this one. A 1976, a 1975, and two 1977s. Guess I should also mention two Jeep Rubicons, which have also been involved in previous trips. I'll picture them as little as possible.
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- #1,434
We all met on Friday afternoon after coming in from various parts of the country. In the old days of these Big Bend trips (started in 2004), we'd camp out there all week and looked like vagrants by the time we got home. Now we headquarter out of a VRBO and take long day trips, especially this late in the season when it's still 100 degrees at 6 PM.
After a scenic cruise up FM 170 along the Rio Grande, we hit my favorite front porch and restaurant...the Starlight Theatre. It's a 1930s movie theatre which was been restored to one of the coolest restaurants and atmospheres you'll ever see.
Was a fun night as we mapped out the next few days from the dinner table.
FM 170 cruise.
Starlight porch.
Late cruise to the house in Lajitas. My buddy Dan had never driven an FJ40. Worked out great since I'd forgotten my glasses and only had my prescription sunglasses that night.
After a scenic cruise up FM 170 along the Rio Grande, we hit my favorite front porch and restaurant...the Starlight Theatre. It's a 1930s movie theatre which was been restored to one of the coolest restaurants and atmospheres you'll ever see.
Was a fun night as we mapped out the next few days from the dinner table.
FM 170 cruise.
Starlight porch.
Late cruise to the house in Lajitas. My buddy Dan had never driven an FJ40. Worked out great since I'd forgotten my glasses and only had my prescription sunglasses that night.
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- #1,435
The next day was a drive through the National Park to the border crossing. A pass through customs and we were on a quick boat ride across the Rio Grande and then onto some donkeys for a ride to the nearest town of Boquillas. Had some phenomenal goat tacos and margaritas as the afternoon passed.
One in our group got off alone somewhere and was shaken down by a couple of the locals. Disappointing, but we all made it out okay.
Eventually ended up at this bar before we headed back to Texas.
One in our group got off alone somewhere and was shaken down by a couple of the locals. Disappointing, but we all made it out okay.
Eventually ended up at this bar before we headed back to Texas.
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- #1,437
River Road.
For anyone planning to travel to Big Bend in the near future, Black Gap Road is closed until further notice due to washouts from last year's storms. However, it was apparent to me in speaking with the park ranger that they have used this as an excuse to close it permanently. Supposedly they can't bring a road grader back there because it is a "wilderness area". He/she was eager to tell me that it was "the worst road in the park" and that there is no reason to reopen it, with a well-rehearsed story locked and loaded. The clowns that are in our government are an absolute joke. It's not just the NPS at Big Bend where I'm seeing this. This is indicative of what is going on all over the West right now in terms on trail closure and makes my blood boil.
Anyway, we made our peace with it and had a great day on this 50-mile stretch along the Rio Grande.
For anyone planning to travel to Big Bend in the near future, Black Gap Road is closed until further notice due to washouts from last year's storms. However, it was apparent to me in speaking with the park ranger that they have used this as an excuse to close it permanently. Supposedly they can't bring a road grader back there because it is a "wilderness area". He/she was eager to tell me that it was "the worst road in the park" and that there is no reason to reopen it, with a well-rehearsed story locked and loaded. The clowns that are in our government are an absolute joke. It's not just the NPS at Big Bend where I'm seeing this. This is indicative of what is going on all over the West right now in terms on trail closure and makes my blood boil.
Anyway, we made our peace with it and had a great day on this 50-mile stretch along the Rio Grande.
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- #1,438
But, it was a great trip overall. @wngrog, we ended up with a time constraint on the last full day and had to miss the Christmas Mountains. Will hit that next time for sure.
A few more pics.
Chisos Basin, Sotol Vista, and the drive to Santa Elena Canyon.
A few more pics.
Chisos Basin, Sotol Vista, and the drive to Santa Elena Canyon.
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- #1,439
Left Terlingua at 100 degrees and arrived back in Divide at 30.
Ole Pikachu didn't miss a beat the entire trip. What an amazing vehicle the FJ40 is.
Until next time...
Ole Pikachu didn't miss a beat the entire trip. What an amazing vehicle the FJ40 is.
Until next time...
cstav86
SILVER Star
Cruiser friend on mine took his family over to Boquillas last new years and they loved it. Not a good look to be shaking down tourists when that’s who keeps your town alive. How bad was the shakedown?