FAMILY 4WD Adventures

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here I am, headed down the road with none other than the famous "Big John " at my side!  That's right!  He's not big now, but you wait!  He's growing!  And from the looks of things, he's determined to be a football player.  He loves the game!  Given his current size and bulk, I'm guessing he'll probably be one of those guys you DON'T WANT to hit you head-on!  I remember the day when he could run at me and I'd catch him as he ran towards me, jumping up into my arms.  It was special. 

Now, the sweat begins to pour.  My stomach begins to tighen.  I tense up.  He's coming!  It's not looking good!!  I can feel my heart beating LOUDLY!  It's like standing in the way of a steam locomotive ... he's coming, closer, closer, and "#&%~ ... (the lights go out!)   "I've been hit!" 
<radio voice> "May day, may day, he's going down - he's going down!"   and ' poof'! 
Dad's down for the count!  Yeah, it's not easy being the father of a future football star!

We didn't get to bring Janey Tiebo, super-action hero, "vegas-legs", Proverbs 31-"plus", the one, the only ... "Commander Fun!"  with us this time - SHE was on a "Women's Retreat".  I figured while she's out having fun, John and I might as well too, right?  So ... we're CAMPING!    <Tim Allen roar>   "Arrrrrr  arrrr!"

Yes, I'm still using the TREO 650 for pics ... I'm still saving up for the camera.  I'm looking into a Canon SD550 digital camera.  It has over 6 megapixels and uses the SanDisk chips my Treo uses, for compatibility's sake.  I love the size and resolution - I can have it handy at any time!  BUT, with all these upgrades on the JEEP, it's had to sort of take a side-burner.  My birthday "IS" coming up in November!   
At KRAUSE SPRINGS there are several areas to camp.  The are many "trailer sizes" for the refined traveler.  There's the 2nd level for family campers and Base Camp setups.  There's a stream that runs through this area, and the sound of the waterfalls in the background makes for some great "dreams" and some wonderful sleep!  If you're impressionable, the constand gentle sound of running water might make it harder to "go the night" without having to do a "bathroom run" ... small side-effect for such a wonderful atmosphere, right!

And then there's what the call "The 3rd Level"! This level "almost requires" a 4-wheel drive vehicle to get down to.  The ride is a rough, uneven steep decent.  "Piece of cake" for a veteran "Rock crawler", but it'll scrape the sideboards of my citified Suburban if I take IT down that way!   There's no returning back that route either, UNLESS you've got a 4-wheel drive unit!  There IS a "weenee route" at the far end.  It goes back up a gentle slope at the far end that routes around to the upper areas, for those without a 4-wheel mode of transportation. The pics below are my climb straight up from my serene little campsite.    

     
   
The above pics are the approach, a view of the ascent, and a 2nd shot of the ascent.  I'm still learning how to cover these effectively on the shooting, so be patient with me.  To a novice 4-wheeler this is a breeze of a run.  But, in the absense of anything else, it satisfies that "twich" ... you know, the need to just "4-wheel SOMETHING"!  John loved it!  

BE PREPARED!  That's what I always tell my sons.  Think ahead and consider the "possible" and plan so you're ready to deal with it, and always plan to come out on top!  We met up with some young Boy Scouts while we were there. .   They loved John's pack!  But when it came time to wash the dishes they'd forgotten some small items ... a sponge/scrubber, and oh yeah - dish soap!  We reminded them of the Scout Motto:  "Be Prepared"

In all fairness, these guys were wonderful playmates for John.   Even though they were a few years older they played "tackle" football with him.  When they tackled him it was like watching an "instant replay" as they would tackle John in 'slow motion', so he wouldn't get hurt.  It was fun to watch!  John?  He had a down right BLAST through it all!

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