Considering the turnout and fun we had on the January Outing, I'd like to come up with another "play date" for all of us. I'm volunteering my efforts this time to coordinate it! Why should Rig-57 have all the fun?
I'm in the initial contact stages of using a privately owned property to have another Chicago outing! I have been assured that we will have permission to use the land but as usual we'll have to tread lightly and respect the owners property. Not that we can't get muddy or angular, we'll just need to behave like adults is all! Rig-57 taught us excellent off-roading manners and I surely want to continue that!
I'm thinking of having this outing in mid to late March dependent upon holidays. Some of you might want to go sooner, some later. I'll need to have an idea of when we could do this so I can start making proper arrangements.
One issue at hand is that it will in all likelyhood be a "pay to play" scenario. I currently have no idea what the fee would be so I'll need to know what would be reasonable. If any of you have past experience with pay for play, please speak up!
There's a bit of work for me to do in the menatime so I'll post more info as it developes!
Re: Another Chicago Area Outing! Your input required!
I'm in. Anytime in March.
The Cliffs would be cool. I know that Cred knows someone that works there, in case you want to speak to someone about it. Dragon also mentioned that it was either 10 or 20 bucks for the day...I think he's been there before.
Re: Another Chicago Area Outing! Your input required!
I'm in. My wife is definitely ready to do some wheelin'. Anytime in march is good for me. Will anyone bring the kids 'cause my daughter won't take no for an answer.
Re: Another Chicago Area Outing! Your input required!
So far it looks like The Cliffs is going to be our best bet. The private property owner I was talking to basically told me it was flat as a pool table farm field. About the only thing he'd allow was some mild mudbogging in a small <5 acre side field he owns. I don't know how you all feel but, mud is ok for only a little while until I get bored and want to get angular. The Bad Lands is quite a distance and maybe better suited to a summer weekend outing where an overnight stay is easily arranged and acceptable to everyone. So if you don't mind, I'd like to nominate The Cliffs as our next outing. THECLIFFS
The date is still open so far, but I'm now leaning towards sometime in the first two weeks of March. My "High Holy Days" are in the middle and Easter/Passover is the first week of April. That leaves March 3-4, and March 10-11 as our time frame. I'm leaning towards the 10th - 11th. Some of you are only available on Sundays, others Saturdays. I think I may have a partial solution by making it a week-end trip where you can opt for either day. Seems fair to all with some of us getting in 2 days of fun.
I sent a message to the management at the Cliffs in Marsailles and am awaiting a reply. I asked if they were able to accomodate a group of 12 - 15 basically stock FJ's for a day or two. I asked politely for a group rate for either one or two days of play time. Depending on their reply and your desire of one or two days of play time, I'll get a better idea of what cost we're looking at so far. Since Marsailles is @ 90 miles from downtown Chicago, spending a weekend might not be a bad idea. I'm not averse to spending only one day with our group, but if I travel that distance chances are I'll stay the weekend. Besides, as you all noticed, I'm not afraid to get my truck dirty!
If I don't hear from the Cliff's by tomorrow afternoon, I'll place a call and get the ball rolling with a real live person. I thought it was previously mentioned that Cred knew someone down there? If so ,who is it and could they do anything for us? Let me know, every little bit helps! I also took it upon myself to open this up to the Central Illinois folks since this is basically in their back yard. My feeling is the more the merrier and they might give us a couple of outing ideas in their neck of the woods. As Dragon says, "It's all about the FJ lovin'!"
I'm open for suggestions and am willing to hear what you have to offer! Either post here or PM me if you have any questions!
Also, one last thing. Since I am still a greenhorn at off-roading, I'm asking if there would be anyone interested in Trail Leading. I'd ask Rig-57 but let's give him a rest and let him enjoy himself. Maybe one of our Central Illinois friends could step up so we can make it a joint operation? Any takers?
Re: Another Chicago Area Outing! Your input required!
I would suggest asking one of the staff to be our trail boss. Not only do they know their land better than us, they can take us to places where we won't roll over and rip our mirrors off. Some of those trails are simply brutal (I hear). It was only an hour and a half drive for me coming from Gurnee. It is not far at all. The cost was $20 per day, but I'm guessing it would be reduced for a group.
Here are a few pics from my previous two outings.
The first time, I forgot my camera. ...but before I washed her off I stopped by the office to get a shot of the water line. I still had running boards.
Then, after the new tires I went on a muddy weekend.
Re: Another Chicago Area Outing! Your input required!
I also forgot to say that I know a couple of people at TTORA that would like to go as well. They would be driving trucks that at one time resembled Tacos.
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