Vermont Overland 2018

[izzyandsue]

Gang, reporting back on this trip, it was a great experience and was there with Callahan clan RedHeadedStepChild! Okay, first, left Wednesday early to hit Albany by 7 pm or so, but... Murphy came along and decided to screw with my alternator. Noticed around VA border, pulled into welcome center to try to debug. Called a few stores in Mayberry and O’Reillys could have one by noon. Headed there and tested it, was only 11.7 V. Damn. So sat there for a while, parking lot Overland until replacement came aroound noon. Installed, verified it worked and back on the road. Albany now by 12:30...
Jeremy, store manager, was extremely gracious and welcoming of my dilemma. Great guy.

After fixing

Meter alerted me to low charging, no dashboard lights

Offending mofo

Parking lot Overland

 

[izzyandsue]

I didn’t get a chance to take a lot of photos as I was leading our small crew, me, Callahans, Richard Sines, through the Trophy trails. Jim brought his Lexus (100 series) stock with All terrain tires. That was his only modification. Richards 4Runner is highly tricked out and well modified, so he took the rear. He is from Charleston. I will get pics from them in the future and post up. But it was an awesome trip. Wet, cold, muddy, and we did drive plenty of the Trophy Challenge trails we found with that stock 100. Impressive! Amazing trails that are officially town roads.

 

[izzyandsue]

 

[izzyandsue]

 

[izzyandsue]

The Callahan boys came up with a new, brilliant phrase, I plan to use, "Mall Terrain". We could have a whole line of products marketed as Mall Terrain, such as Mall Terrain Tires, Mall Terrain winches, Mall Terrain suspension, Mall Terrain light bars, and bigger light bars, Mall Terrain Rotopax, etc.... and T-shirts! Think of the possibilities.

 

[izzyandsue]

Getting some new pics, Jims stock LX with the hydraulic suspension, we guided him through the "Trophy Challenge" trails with no problems. This are some big hunks of granite!

When we first encounter this ledge/rock below, it was after sundown, pitch black, and we where off the map into our own unmarked trail. We did the whole thing uphill, just lowered tire pressure and some fine 2-foot driving got us to the top and back to the main trail. The next day we find out the had left it out of the event, but it was an original Trophy trail we stumbled on.

 

[izzyandsue]

Working with Jolene, "the big bone girl that won't let you down", according to Jim. And she did performed flawlessly until the last hill, on the last day.

Catching some unintended air at obstacle, we did reset the kept the suspension flat, all wheels with traction

Some of the hard trails where rocky creek beds, amazing place

Somewhere on the last hill, last day, Jolene did complaint her under carriage fluids where getting hot and she set to normal height. Once the system cooled down it was back to normal, but the trail became a little more complex without the extra height suspension.

 

[lt1fire]

Did you win????

 

[lt1fire]

I think i'm going to install an Izzy button in the bronco.... when I need a spotter I just hit the button and up he pops 20 feet down the trail

 

[izzyandsue]

Did you win????

This was not the Trophy, that was earlier this year. We did get to drive the same trails, but not timed and suffering. Thats for younger males, us older folks take our time and need longer rest periods.

The Trophy was just discontinued after 2018, Peter Vollers let us know that was it, too much complaining from locals. So this rally is rebranded as a Bird Watching Expedition. No joke. And he was clear that no more than 5 vehicles should be together or locals will get angry.

 

[lt1fire]

This was not the Trophy, that was earlier this year. We did get to drive the same trails, but not timed and suffering. Thats for younger males, us older folks take our time and need longer rest periods.

The Trophy was just discontinued after 2018, Peter Vollers let us know that was it, too much complaining from locals. So this rally is rebranded as a Bird Watching Expedition. No joke. And he was clear that no more than 5 vehicles should be together or locals will get angry.

Damn locals being all locally and stuff. That sucks this event has been going on for so long and was on my bucket list.

 

[uzj100]

Great pics. That is not cool about the overland trophy. We were doing that instead of 36 hours next year. May head out to Utah for a desert challenge.

 

[izzyandsue]

 

[izzyandsue]

 

[izzyandsue]

Great pics. That is not cool about the overland trophy. We were doing that instead of 36 hours next year. May head out to Utah for a desert challenge.

I will not be at 36 Hours next or future year as well.

 

[izzyandsue]

I know I know, but its about Vermont, and got to love the last line

 

[weejub]

LOL