FJ-toberfest! Oct. 11-12 at Eglin Res. (Northwest Florida)

**Apexbasher** · 08-05-2008, 06:47 PM

Trail reports and pictures (including even more pictures of
my very own backside) start with post #140.
CLICK HERE

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Let's go wheeling at Eglin Reservation Oct. 11-12, 2008
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This trip will include some nice trail runs, sand pits, technical hill climbs/descents, water crossings (some deep), etc. This a fun ride with terrain to encourage beginners and challenge experienced wheelers alike. Don't shy away from this run just because your rig is stock. We have found that stock rigs can do nearly ANYTHING here at Eglin. So come on out!

I plan on rolling out to the point at East Bay for what is always an amazing sunset and then a night run back to civilization (for the hopelessly civilized). The meeting spot will be the Tom Thumb (CITGO convenience store) located at the corner of Highway 87 and Hickory Hammock Road. This is located 2.1 miles south of the I-10 exit 31 along Hwy 87.
(Got GPS? N30 35'41.29" W086 56'28.79")

Bring plenty of water and some snacks for the trail. Sunscreen and bug spray may be nice as well.

I HIGHLY recommend anybody coming in from out of town stay in Pensacola, or the motels mentioned below which are very close to the rendezvous site.
There is primitive camping available for those interested (I'll be doing that Sat. nite at least). There are also a couple of motels (Red Carpet Inn, Comfort Inn, Holiday Inn Express) , as well as a KOA, very close by at I-10 exit #31 (the intersection of I-10 and Hwy 87).

Possible Itinerary
Friday 10 Oct-
8:00pm Prerun get together in Pensacola. Place to be discussed in this thread!!

Saturday 11 Oct-
10:00am Rendezvous at the Tom Thumb. Air down and hit the trails by 10:30.
Lunch will be on the trail at one of numerous spots suitable for this many vehicles.
4:30PM Set camp on the beach at East Bay in time for Sunset. Camp fire, smores, shrimp-boil (Bay Shrimp) , yada yada yada...
7:00pm 'ish Night run through to return non-campers to civilization and their cushy staterooms.

This time will be flexible, of course.

Sunday 12 Oct-
9:00am Break camp and start back toward Rendezvous spot.
10:00am Rendezvous at the meeting spot and re-hit the trails by 10:30.
Again, lunch will be on the trail at one of numerous spots suitable for this many vehicles.
2:00pm 'ish Find our way back to civilization and say our Farewells.

Perhaps ribs at East River Smokehouse

(1968 Highway 87 S. 850-939-2802)

Want pics of the last run?
MANY pictures available starting with post #287 of this thread:
Eglin Reservation Jan. 19-20
and even MORE pics...
South Eastern Region Eglin AFB Polar Bear Run Report
Want more? Starting at post #89 here...
Eglin Reservation May31-Jun01! This time it won't be FREEZING!

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Keep an eye on this space for updates as they become available...

Update Aug-25: I'm still waiting for word that the Natural Resources Office has started selling passes for FY09. I'm hoping they will start on September 1st.

All current Rec Pass holders will need to renew their passes before the run (current passes expire midnight Sep 30th). I can do this, as well as get people new to the area their new pass. Just let me know via PM or Email.

Update Sep-10: Rec. Passes for the new fiscal year go on sale on the 23rd of September. I'll be making a run over to Niceville to renew MY pass that week and will purchase passes for those who need them while I am there. Price will still be $10.
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Okay, I have some important information for those folks looking to do this
run, PLEASE READ CAREFULLY:

Each driver and passenger over 16 is going to need an Eglin AFB Outdoor
Recreation Pass. This is a colored card that allows access to the
nature reserve for recreational purposes and can be purchased through
the mail, acquired by me, or in person. Cost is $10 for the entire fiscal year
ending Sep. 30th. (No, just having DoD stickers is not enough.)

Here is how to do this:

1) By Apexbasher- Email me the name, address, phone#, and date of
birth for every person over 16 coming and I'll do the leg work. Just pay me
the $10 (per person) when we meet for the run.
Apexbasher@gmail.com

2) By Mail- Send a photocopy of either a driver license or identification
card which contains a full name, current address(including zip code),
current phone number, date of birth, and type of permit requested
(Recreational) along with money order, cashiers check, or personal check
to:
Eglin Natural Resources
107 Highway 85 North
Niceville, FL 32578

Allow 3 weeks for delivery by this method.

3) In Person- Stop by the Eglin AFB Natural Resources Office (850) 882-
4164 or (850) 882-4165 also known as the Jackson Guard, located at the
above mailing address. Their hours are:
7:00am - 4:30pm Monday through Thursday
7:00am - 6:00pm Friday
7:30am - 12:30pm Saturday
Closed Sundays and federal holidays

Okay, there it is. If you have questions feel free to contact me. The area
we will be in is not patrolled that much, but if we are stopped by the Air
Force security folks they will most certainly ask to see our passes. There is
a $300 fine involved for anybody without a valid pass. So just hold off
another week on the fuzzy dice mod that's been bothering you and spend
the $10 here instead. Besides, the map they give you simply KICKS A$$!

Confirmed Attendees:
Apexbasher
Birdman
shfd739
Needles
coastiebilly
missmy60
Invisible J
virtualmatt
BossHoss
sjustice64
97fzj80
new89toy
(Your Name Here)

Possibly/Maybe:

missmy60 · 08-06-2008, 08:09 PM

Put me down as a definite maybe. If there is any way I can make it, you know I will be there.

**Apexbasher** · 08-06-2008, 09:10 PM

Quote:

missmy60 previously said:

Put me down as a definite maybe. If there is any way I can make it, you know I will be there.

Dude! What if I up the stakes with the promise of.......

shrimp

Would that get you to bump to the "Confirmed" category?

**coastiebilly** · 08-06-2008, 09:23 PM

I was wondering when another run was going to happen.

Matt, put me down as possibly maybe until I get some leave approved.

fj6high · 08-06-2008, 09:24 PM

Hi Apexbasher, I have seen all the trail pictures of the Eglin rides! Looks like a great place to see, My sister moved to I believe Mariana closer to Pensecola. Anyway I will be visiting her on a more regular basis now. So I may make that ride with you all!

carrotzilla · 08-06-2008, 09:30 PM

What RR's do you use? Surely in the open area? Just cleaned the clay off my FJ from working the eastern complex and was curious. Beautiful area EAFB.

**Apexbasher** · 08-07-2008, 06:35 AM

Quote:

coastiebilly previously said:

I was wondering when another run was going to happen.

Matt, put me down as possibly maybe until I get some leave approved.

Get that leave, mano! The guys out on the Gulf of Mexico with their Bass Boats will just have to fend for themselves for a few days

Quote:

fj6high previously said:

Hi Apexbasher, I have seen all the trail pictures of the Eglin rides! Looks like a great place to see, My sister moved to I believe Mariana closer to Pensecola. Anyway I will be visiting her on a more regular basis now. So I may make that ride with you all!

Check on the town she moved to. If it's Marianna, that is east of Eglin along I10 going toward Tallahassee. Either way, come on down!

Quote:

carrotzilla previously said:

What RR's do you use? Surely in the open area? Just cleaned the clay off my FJ from working the eastern complex and was curious. Beautiful area EAFB.

It is a nice place, isn't it. We will be working the areas west of Hwy 87 with a short jaunt on the east side. That makes it about 15-20 miles west of the Eastern Complex. We'll also be crossing into the State Wildlife Preserve bordering the west side of Eglin out toward East Bay and Black Water River.

NSBCruiser · 08-07-2008, 07:01 AM

Put my wife and I down for possible, the date is close to my birthday and my wife has to let me go. I'll let you know what I want to do for the pass (most likely I'll get one from you in person)

**gforceone1** · 08-07-2008, 08:31 AM

Im in.Looking forward to it.Let me know if I can round up anything,food,etc.
Be glad to do it,I live near the Citgo meet up spot.

**Apexbasher** · 08-07-2008, 03:37 PM

Got you guys down as a possible and an "I'm in". Cool. I may take you up on that offer, gforceone1. We'll talk more as the time approaches. Thanks!