Second Day
The night was cold. Cold as a hooker's heart, cold as a stepmother's kiss, cold as a well digger's...feet. The wind gusted up to an estimated 60 mph and some of the tent's caught air like homesick angels. So by aclamation, we threw our gear into the rigs and headed out. (no breakfast - just TOO windy)
Note: THERELAXER, having set up a very relaxing set-up for himself in the form of an FJ mod was the only one among us who actually relaxed that night...
FJDAVE's 2x4 did very well in all but this particular spot where he had to come down a sharp hill and turn left very quickly. The two-wheel drive just didn't deliver the turning power and he ended up in the sand. MIR207 pitched in immediately, unlimbering his winch.
Recovery was a cinch with the winch!
MOJAVE ROAD MAIL BOX STICKER WARZ
Friends of the Mojave Road erected this mail box in 1983. There is a book in the box where passers-by are asked to record their names, the date of their passage and any comments. In addition to signing the box, some of our group decided to promote their favorite fjcruiserforums.com vendor by adding a sticker (also customary).
AIR2AIR promotes DeMello Offroad.
MIR207 favors Man-a-Fre
I would have added an All Pro sticker if I had one...
Meanwhile THERELAXER, who had strayed from the path (perhaps in search of a place to add nitrates to the desert soil) cried out, "FROGS!" (below)
Apparently there is also a tradition to leave a glass/plastic frog at a frog shrine near the mail box. The Mojave Road can be a strange and wondrous place.
At length we arrived at Soda Lake. That's salt on the ground, not snow.
The Soda Lake soda proved to be an irresistable lure to AIR2AIRJR.
MRSRELAXER and MISSUPHILL engage in a game of who can out-peace-sign the other.
The
SCORPION looks on with non-commital inscrutibility.
MIR207's rig looks like it can eat anything else on the trail (which as a matter-of-fact, it can).
FJDAVE fords the Mojave River, followed closely by AIR2AIR.
MIR207's rig fords the river and emerges looking just a nasty as ever to spite the flooding.
MISSUPHILL drives a car off-road for the very first time, leading the motly crew out of Afton Canyon.
Here the trail ends -- or does it? There is an after-party, party (below).
WHAT did I learn about Forum members on this trip:
(1) MIR207 - Even if he's been awake for 72 hours straight, living on nothing by chocolate, moldy sandwiches and strong coffee, MIR207 will still carry on a conversation on the equasions necessary to predict the atmospheric ecology of Venus
OR FJ Mods.
(2) AIR2AIR - The only food he brought were Ho-Ho's, Doritos and marshmellow snacky thingys, but he brought a 14 inch Newtonian telescope that allowed all of us to see the Galilean moons orbiting Jupiter at night -- and three dozen Roman candles to light up the night sky (before it got windy).
(3) NEVADAESH - The goodie king of the trip had everything from a space-age porta-pottie to a roll up camp table and a neat GPS. If you're on a run with him, leave your goodies behind because they won't be as cool.
(4) POKERDAWG - I know why he wins at cards. He brings his enforcer, Oliver along with him to smash any who would have a better hand into submission! He must be winning at something because his photographic equipment is just that far ahead of state-of-the-art.
(5) THERELAXER - The guy knows how to live. What else can I say. Everyone is cold and miserable but -- THERELAXER, while we're roasting hot dogs, chomping down a cold PB&J sandwich or eating cup-a-noodles, what is THERELAXER eating? What else, Filet Minion. That says it all.
He knows how to live...he just does.
(6) JESHUA - He's quiet, he's not in your face, and he's a very capable, trustworthy guy that is ESSENTIAL to having along on any trip. I'm sorry (very sorry) that he didn't stay to enjoy the windy night -- sleeping in a tent (haha).
(7) FJDAVE - His 2WD did remarkably well until it was burried to the axels in the sand. Dave's son and co-pilot drove much of the trip, showing us all how it's done down-town. When something needs to be done, Dave is there helping, and making sure that things are "right".
The Co-Pilots were essential to the fun of the trip. My co-pilot was no exception.
Thanks Emilie!
140 trail miles in about 18 hours of driving.
