Wow,
all I can say is this was one awesome trip. Hands down, couldn’t
ask for a better group of trail guides, or people. The town catered
to us in more ways than I can shake a stick at: parts stores opening
up for you after hours because you need a part, everyone knows
everyone, people helping work on other’s stuff. Great food.
The American legion did an A+ job on the ‘better than Thanksgiving’ meals.
If you left hungry and could still walk, it’s your own
fault. The bikini car wash was slick, RTI ramp was trick, and
the muddiest
Jeep contest trophy was 3 feet tall. The Swamper tires toss was
cool. For the guys in our group, one won the RTI ramp, one won
the swamper toss, and one took runner up in the muddiest Jeep
contest. Our group won some stuff in the raffle. Camping was
cheap, clean,
and beautiful weather. It was a good turn out, it was my best
time wheeling, and had a blast doing all the other stuff. Met
a lot
of good folks and wheeled some of the best land in the Midwest,
hands down.
Carnage was broken U joint clip/broken bolt and had to drop
the rear shaft and winch out of Beggar’s Gulch. Wow,
that was crazy! Dave blew up the 4.9 stroker. Brad blew out
a Dana 60 shaft. Ryan blew a valve cover gasket and 2 bolts
were stripped. The Pike County ‘skeeter population is
cut in half. Uncle Mike’s clutch broke, replaced what
was broken and was good to go at lunch break on the trail.
Dave got a huge case of poison ivy. Brad’s tow rig, pulling
2 Jeeps on a trailer, ran out of gas on the way there. Gauge
read 3/4 when it ran out. And the same tow rig on the way home
spun a cam bearing and it had to be helped home. Mike bent
a lower arm on Beggar’s Gulch and the XJ has a few nice
dents from the rocks.
I'd like to thank Pokey for an awesome day of wheeling and
trail guiding on his land. I'd also like to thank Haggard for
the Sunday guide on the Back 40 and for the help on Beggar's
gulch. One of the funniest things happened at camp. I wish
everyone could have seen this. About midnight we hear Ryan
say "What the heck is going on?" Then he said "Quit
playing …ahhh … what the... Coons!!! Coons!!” A
raccoon clawed a hole in his tent and was trying to get to
his food. Ryan is screaming ”Get out of here!” And
he’s trying to kick it out of coming in the hole and
he’s bare foot. The coon left but it snatched his bag
of hamburger buns. The whole campsite was laughing so hard
we didn’t even go see if he needed a hand running the
coon off. Good times were definitely had in Pike County. Thanks
Two Rivers Jeep Club.
Also thanks to Donnie and Tom for letting us wheel on your
land. Hope to see you at the next run. Take care!
Chris, Rock Island, IL
