Utah
Beasley Super Moon Expedition 2012
April 5, 2012. Cinco de Mayo. Three vehicles representing the off-road prowess of 3 continents converge at Beasley Knob OHV park near Blairsville, GA for a weekend of off road mayhem and camping. Europe sends its finest 1999 Range Rover. Japan, the greatest 1988 Land Cruiser produced (in that year). From the United States, the flag-waving 2012 Jeep Wrangler.
Before we set out from Atlanta, Chris makes some critical trail repairs. Front passenger side speaker isn’t working.
The 6 of us (Adam, Chris, Nick 2, myself, Boss (backseat driver), and Riley (co-pilot)) heading from Atlanta to Blairsville where we’ll meet up with Nick 1 and his Rover.
Assembled on the trail, more or less ready for action.
A base camp is established. From here we will carry out our mission. To include: keeping vehicles in one piece (two pieces max), making a fire, cooking hamburgers and hotdogs, etc.
Unfortunately we didn’t take a lot of pictures of the vehicles on the trail. Here Nick commands the Rover to climb up and over a spot where Chris’ Land Cruiser was temporarily stuck. This was the trickiest spot on the trails that we encountered. After a few attempts the Rover made it up and over and shot up the trail. Wish we had that part on video. It looked like a jumbo jet making a crash landing in the jungle. But everybody lived.
We didn’t get any video so here’s a rendition of the Jeep driving over the same obstacle.
The fancy footwork was all done with these shoes. The plain looking Goodyear Wrangler SR-A “on/offroad” tire. I was really impressed with the traction these gave. If it had been wet on the trail I’m sure it would be a totally different story though.
After the climb the brakes on the Land Cruiser started going soft. We noted some fluid on the ground back at the climb but weren’t sure what it was. Nor we too worried about it since the Cruiser leaks in several places. Who needs brakes anyway? 4-lo and the e-brake made it possible for Chris to descend. Here Chris tops off the brake fluid.
But by the time we reach the bottom the Hungry Hungry Hippo is hungry again for brake fluid.
The Jeep and Rover wait.
We decide the best plan of action is to get the Cruiser back to camp before dark so it can be worked on and, if necessary, we can get more parts for it the next day. Here the Jeep crawls up one of the final set of whoops for the day.
At camp Doctor Nick takes a shot at fixing the split brake line but the leak cannot be suppressed.
Time for dinner. Nick presses the “English Buffet” button on the Rover’s control console and out pops an assortment of condiments and sides for our burgers and hot dogs dinner. In 1999 the HSE version of this Rover came complete with both the English Buffet and Jeeves features with porters to actually place the food in your mouth without you having to do anything. Rover’s secretive “Baby Bird” technology for the 2000 model year which mechanically chewed the food for you never made it past marketing focus groups.
We had a roaring fire and Chris played some tunes on the guitar. All under the rising super moon.
The super moon. It wasn’t as big as I expected (Michael: “that’s what she said.”) but we had great clear skies. As the moon rose above the trees there was a single moonbeam focused at the far end of camp. That’s where this pic was taken from.
The next morning the Cruiser doesn’t look any different. We have a light breakfast, pack up camp, and decide to get the Cruiser down to the entrance of the park so Nick and Chris can go search for a replacement brake line in town.
Camping requires teamwork. Riley folds the rain fly while I fold up the tent.
He’s always looking for ways to help out.
Like last night when he pre-warmed my sleeping bag.
Making our way out.
Some wrenching.
Well there’s your problem. You gotta loose nut behind the wheel. Also that brake line is busted.
Why even have a hood on the cruiser if its always open? 
A bit more work and the Cruiser is ready for the ride home.
Boss is relieved.
Riley wants to be promoted to pilot.
So what important lesson have we learned about the trail? I don’t want to get into this brand or model is better than that one. That’s not useful conversation. None of us have one of those Calvin peeing on whatever brand decals on our vehicles. I think its clear what we should take away from this: no matter what vehicle you decide take on the trail, take some Toyota LandCruiser spare parts with you because somebody’s going to need them.
All in jest! All three vehicles did awesome. The Rover takes the cake as the best all-arounder. It slipped a little on its street tires in one or two places but made it over everything eventually and without assistance. It takes its occupants to the trail in comfort and holds its own once it gets there. The Jeep has the best approach and departure angles and greatest ride height with the 2.5″ lift, and probably the best wheelbase for these types of trails (lots of whoops and tighter turns though none of the vehicles high centered or ate tree). I prefer steady momentum to a heavy skinny pedal and the Jeep works admirably here. I put it in 4-lo, let off the clutch and it crawls up and over with hardly any input from the gas pedal. The Cruiser has classic rugged style in its favor and sped through everything it was pointed at. Despite its small brake line issue, it was really impressive on the trail.
Most importantly we all had an excellent time and everybody drove their vehicle home.
Enduro Alaska To The Rescue
Its already starting to get hot and humid around Atlanta. Enduro Alaska provides some relief with new videos!
Then And Mao
Dec 31, 2011
April 2, 2012
I’ve Got Yellow Fever
Yellow River Park fever, that is. Took a long trip out towards Stone Mountain to visit the Yellow River Park. I had read that there are some good mountain biking trails out there. There are.
The park is nicely built with trails for pedestrians, equestrians, and mountainbikestrians as well as nice facilities (water fountains, bathrooms, a playground, a pavilion, all well-kept). The trails run along the Yellow River on the one side and a creek on the other.
I don’t have a mountain bike. I have a hybrid with street tires on it. The trails are fairly technical in some places with large rocks and, along the side of the river, lots of deep sand. That didn’t stop me but with the carbon fork I get a lot of input from the terrain so I was slower than the few mountain bikers I came across and did spin a little in the deeper sand. But otherwise the hybrid was fine. If I go again I’ll put on the cyclocross tires for increased grip.
The river looks nice but is unfortunately very polluted. Maybe not any more so than the Chattahoochee but I read that it has abnormally high concentrations of e. coli. Look but don’t touch.
And be quiet while you’re looking and not touching.
Wolf In Maltepoo’s Clothing
It’s going to be a long week for Riley while Conan visits.
The Lunch Money.
Power Nuzzles.
And more general threats.
Threw On The Quick Disconnects… Finally
Swaybar quick disconnects to increase articulation off road. Need to find a good place to run up a tire so I can see connected versus disconnected and make sure the brake lines are good at full articulation.
Greased up and ready to go. I took them on the test drive around the neighborhood and through some unpaved alleys. No noise, no noticeable difference in handling… can’t tell any difference, which is good.
I had this bull bar too so I put that on. Not sure I’m sold on it yet but maybe it looks better on the Jeep than it does in the living room…
