2001 Father's Day Run
by Graham
June 16 & 17 marked our 5th annual running
of the Father's Day Club Run in Pike County.
Considering
how many members and Jeeps had pre-registered for this club run. We got
out on the trails very early. Breakfast, Jeep inspections, Trail sign
up got started at 7:30am. It was a first come first pick deal so if you
got there late you didn't get the trail of your choice. The sign up went
very smoothly and I was on the trail at 9:00am. I tried Montezuma's Revenge
for the first time. I had fun for most of the day. I thought the morning
section left a lot to be desired. We spent a lot of time in a mud hole
and played in a quarry. After
lunch we traveled the furthest distance I have ever traveled on gravel
roads in Pike County. We ended up very near the river at Wild Blue Yonder.
Now this is a trail. Beautiful scenery, woods, fields, ravines, waterfalls
and hill climbs that are guaranteed to increase the pucker factor by way
too much.
Photos rarely do justice to steep hills. John Stevens has just made a
right turn instead of a left at the top of a very steep hill. He's holding
on for dear life and hoping his wife doesn't find out the risk he is subjecting
his son to in the passenger seat. A winch was required to stop him from
rolling over back down the hill.
I got my first ripped tire in 3 years on a jagged rock on a waterfall.
It was only about 100 degrees and I had a couple of very capable helpers
that did most of the work. Nevertheless it just about killed me to change
that tire. I learned a valuable lesson though. Shawn, my 14 year old son
now has a new chore on his itinerary.

The dinner hosted by Syndy & Durrell Miller was great fun. Only about
half of the 230 registered attendees made to the party. Many were still
out on the trails and many were just too tired to make to the TNT farm.
This was not a problem for me as I was very hungry and that left a tremendous
selection of
culinary delights with no waiting line. The great desert selection would
have been better if someone (and I won't mention Tom miller's name) had
not taken the last slice of Pecan pie.
Trail boss Tim Miller awarded trophies for various acts of heroism and
great deeds. But, as there was none of those, people like myself got one
for being unlucky enough to get a flat tire and dumb enough to bring a
son that didn't know how to change a flat.Heather Gfesser got one for
bringing her dad Tony and letting him drive her Jeep - silly girl! (A
Father's Day tradition in her family apparently.)
I haven't got a clue what these characters had to say. But knowing Tom
Miller and Gary (GDS) Shadwick I am sure it was something very profound
and interesting. Then again it they could have been a wondering why they
were standing up front with a microphone in their hand or how good the
Pecan pie was.
Thehat
was passed to raise money for the Griggsville
Girls Softball Team. OR Freesen sold his "no to Jeep Jamboree"
shirt which helped raise over $1000.00 by the members present, and the
new matching funds rule. Pictured are Randy, Makayla, Miranda and Isaac
Whitaker, with check that was just presented by yours truly. That would
also be Tom Miller's chrome dome in the foreground - he just has to get
into every picture and was letting me know just how good the Pecan pie
was!!
It was a mighty fine day.
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