Travelogue...part duex

[Speeter]

Successful hand-off from @olive yesterday at Ohio Stadium. Good game by the Buckeyes at Camp Randall later in the evening, phew! Just the two of us and my wife, my neighbor @N919HJ was out of town. I will try to get a pic with him this week. Also I plan to go wheeling next weekend with @mtnbiker4evr13 to get him in the loop. A few pics of the day:

Waiting for @olive with Ohio Stadium in the background. Actually parked right next to St. John Arena the old basketball arena.

 

[Speeter]

Here is the actual hand-off:

 

[Speeter]

After checking out each other's 40 in detail we were off to Condado, a local taco joint in the Short North. They promise Tacos, Tequila and Margaritas who can argue with that? They also have craft beer although they were out of a few of the local IPA's. We ate on the patio. With the long ride back @olive elected for an iced tea with his tacos, I of course was able to try a beer or two. The Short North is a hopping district in Columbus between downtown and Ohio State's campus. It is full of restaurants, bars, galleries and shops well worth a visit if you are in town. All in all a great time. We plan to meet up again next time he is in town.

 

[Speeter]

As I mentioned I planned to get @mtnbiker4evr13 involved in the relay so I took the baton down to wheel with him on Saturday.

Early start with a nice clean cruiser. 44 degrees and no doors or top for the 1.5 hour drive down to Tar Hollow State Park. i used the bikini top to keep the heat in. Tech: note the LED headlights from @Racer65 - love them.

Sun coming up over Columbus, going to be a great day.

Another sunrise shot South of Columbus.

Saw this classic sign, what other profession could he possibly have gone into with that name.

 

[Speeter]

Beautiful day to be driving down to Tar Hollow.

Google maps was successful

Here is the crew that Corey (@mtnbiker4evr13 ) brought from the Ohio 4x4 Trailriders Club. 2 dead stock Samurais and Corey's Green 78 FJ40. I am pretty sure they were highly skeptical that I would actually want to take mine off road.

Here is Corey with his 40. Needs a bit of work but he seems to know what he is doing. He has 35's running at 7lbs. Also really cool is that he has a brand new Fuji carb on it (should have gotten a pic) from @Racer65. Now all he has to do is remember to keep it full of gas.

 

[Speeter]

Corey's Cruiser needs a front mounted toolbox.

Another gratuitous baton shot.

And although not an official hand off getting another mud member involved in the relay is what it is all about. Couldn't have been welcomed more by him and his club members.

 

[Speeter]

Off to the trails, I would be following Corey most of the day.

Such a beautiful fall day.

The beginning of the trails. There are apparently many un-maintained roads in this area available for trail running.

Un-maintained is right.

 

[Speeter]

More trail shots.

These were the easy spots, I wasn't snapping pics when it was tougher.

Taking a short break.

Here is a Samurai going back up one tough stretch. Corey followed him but I didn't get a good shot.

 

[Speeter]

A few finishing shots to prove that my truck got muddy even though we only did the relatively easy trails.

The baton ready to go on to Louisville with some new bling. The Buckeye helmet and Buckeye leaves from me. And the Ohio 4X4 Trailriders sticker from Corey. Plans are to head down to meet @Bluegrass40 in Louisville on Friday or Saturday. Hopefully visit Buffalo Trace and Woodford Reserve on the way down. Have never driven the cruiser that far before so wish me luck. Sometime between here and there I will need to put the hardtop on. Thanks to Corey and friends for a great day in the woods!

 

[dogfishlake]

Nice adventure so far! Your 40 looks like it's ready for cross country easy! Glad to see you guys enjoy some trail time too. Have fun, wish I could find my 40 so I could join in!

 

[mtnbiker4evr13]

Thanks for putting that up here @Speeter you definitely held your own on the trails and your 40 seemed equipped for the trails we ran. Even at 7psi I could have used a kidney belt with my junk setup. You ran all the trails like a seasoned offroader

Now all he has to do is remember to keep it full of gas.

Sadly I found that my new sending unit cannot be trusted with the poly tank, 1/2 tank actually means 1/8 and at 1/8 on the gauge you're out. My dad and I were cruising down that road and he commented on how the gauge hadn't moved for a little while, he hadn't so much as finished the sentence and it just died, no spit or sputter, just dead.

The trip was a blast and you're welcome to run with our club any time you want!

 

[DSRTRDR]

so cool to see this whole relay unfolding

 

[Speeter]

Top on. Headed to Louisville!

 

[Speeter]

Stopping for breakfast at the Crossroads Diner in Leesburg, OH. Good food and 24 flavors of soft serve ice cream.

 

[Speeter]

 

[Speeter]

FJ40 in front of Buffalo Trace Distillery. Stunning place with interesting tour. Seeing bottles of Blantons being hand filled and labeled was a highlight.

 

[Speeter]

Cruiser always draws a crowd with stories. One guy had previously owned one. One guy was a friend of a FJ restorer in MD.

 

[olive]

Looks like a good time so far, wish I could of joined!!

 

[Speeter]

Barrel warehouse.

 

[Speeter]

Filling the Blantons. Each bottle is hand waxed sealed and signed