The idea was that we were supposed to leave Wednesday, Mar 31 at around 4-5am. Yeah, right. By the time the lift kit and details were taken care of, my tent borrowed, and shopping complete, it was midnight. Left next morning by 8am but had to turn around to pay rent. Ooops! Nevertheless, before I knew it, we made it to Glenwood Springs and stopped for lunch and gas. Chowed down some sandwich meat rolled up in small tortillas (see sidebar).
I think the trip out went by so quick due to tension. Nothing makes a trip go faster than pure, unbridled tension. See, I hadn't really road-tested this newly installed suspension. This trip was the road test. And, hate to say it, but Troubled Child has a reputation built up. The name isn't exactly coincedental. Surprisingly, the lift kit held together and made for a better-than-stock ride, but true to form, the driver side door lock stopped working the day before we left so I have to open the truck from the passenger side. Always something to humiliate me. But I can't complain; that was really absolutely the only problem TC threw at me. That lift kit was good therapy. |
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We made it to Cisco in no time, so
we took the long, scenic route along 128 down to Utah. Definitely worth
the drive! As we approached closer and closer to Moab, my excitement grew.
I envisioned Jeeps as far as the eye could see! We scoped out the many campsites
just outside of town and finally selected one right next to the river. River?
I know what you're thinking. Mosquitos. I know what else you're thinking.
My smoking truck will solve the bug problem. Well, I got news for you. Mosquitos
don't tend to be real active when it's BUTT COLD out!! And I went and packed
shorts for this trip! At least I had the good sense to bring my 20
degree mummy sleeping bag.
Finally we headed into Moab and I gassed up at the big station on the north
end of town. Hadn't seen many Jeeps yet but I was vibrating with excitement.
Here I was! Then again, where are all the Jeeps??? Mitch pointed out that
every time he turned around he saw a Jeep or other 4x4 drive by. He went
so far as to prove this for the next five minutes. Turn around. "Oh,
there's one." Turn back. Turn around. "Yup, there's one."
Turn back. Turn around. "Yup, there's another one." Ok, OK! I
get the point. Sheesh. I still think there should've been more on the road.
I was expecting mile-long 4x4 traffic jams, after all!!
We did see some really unique trucks including a several
Mercedes Unimog military trucks (the ones with 15" axle clearance).
I was really drooling! At the station, I talked to a CJ5 owner named Jack.
He was asking about my lift kit (wow--unsolicited attention!) because he
had a Waggy back home. Told him about IFSJA. He said he was an old guy that
didn't know nothing about email. Oh well. I tried!
Couldn't find the registration place so we headed back and set up camp and broke out the frozen seafood tetrazzini and raspberry cobbler and had a fine dinner. The whole time we were there, we ate like kings! The only way to go is to pack in a big cooler with lots of ice and cook up frozen gourmet grub! One last tip. For camp coffee (I'm new to this camping thing), you want LOTS of grounds, and NOT much water. The idea is to get a nice, strong coffee... as opposed to slightly brown water!
We had no plans for Thursday and hadn't hooked
up with any IFSJA folks, but we were both itching to get off-road. As we
settled down to a cold night's sleep, little did we know what was in store
for us the next day!
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