- Joined
- Jul 6, 2021
- Messages
- 2,166
- Reaction score
- 3,089
- Location
- Nashville
- Current Ride
- Luci (1951 F1)
- Current Ride #2
- Mountain Yak (2021 F150 Tremor)
I may end up moving this to a better location but wanted to get it started while I had time.
This trip AAR entails picking up my super pacific camper in Oregon and my wife in Seattle. The trip out from Nashville with the rear of the cab packed to the top with camping supplies, bed, tools and clothes went without issue. I averaged 18.4 mpg and 80 mph using the OE wheels and tires. I opted for the Wyoming route to limit the effect on my mileage of Colorado mountain driving.
I pushed hard until I was within a tactical distance (Idaho) to Portland then took a random left to enjoy the free 15 hours I had available. Because you should always start fun with an unnamed road..
Heading in the general direction of John Day fossil beds, I made an intentional turn towards them and discovered some fantastic Oregon sights
And some things that remind me of home..
After a few stops for random things, I headed towards Super Pacific to get our camper installed.
At this point, I had what I thought would be 6 hours of free time before I had to drive to Seattle to pick up she who flies to destinations. So like any kid at Christmas, I started wiring and config....configure..... no, I didn't. I went drinking with one of the SP guys and didn't get a dang thing done.
I woke up about 0-dark-30 and hauled butt towards Seattle to pick up she who would kill me for leaving her at the airport for hours by 0900. About 2 hours later, I got a text from my bride informing me she has been delayed for 7 hours. Brain- sweet! I can get this third brake light wired up. Mouth- dang, I'm sorry sweetie. I'll be there waiting for you when you arrive.
I had already done a lot of pre-wiring to make sure I could get the 3bl done before we crossed the border into Canada so I pulled off in to a stare park and proceeded to make the magic happen.
I ran the 3bl, main house power control and on/off switch and power ports to the control arm and opted to turn the 3bl running light portion in to a camping red light for bug reduction. With my bride having a day from hell, I got us a room at the Old Alcohol Plant near Olympia. We were initially going to camp on the Pacific but this seemed more prudent.
Now that we're legal, I can head out and pick up the Mrs. to start our indirect trip to Squamish for her 50 mile untra-marathon trail race a week later.
After resting up in that cool old hotel, we needed a quick win to get this trip back on track. I pointed the truck towards Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park and hammered down. We were about 200 miles and at least one stop behind the route I had planned so making random magic happen was a necessity. a bit over a hour later we stepped out to the visitor's center of Hurricane Ridge and to this.
Not bad but I had to seal the deal to ensure my bride forgot about the annoyance of flying so we headed to the coast where we were reminded how cold that water really is.
Now that she is distracted, we can push to Bend to enjoy some beer and use it as a launch point for some better scenery. We stayed at "The Camp" downtown which made the first shakeout of the camper easy mode. Let it be known that unless you are 6'6" and 330 pounds, you will never understand what it is like to live in a normal human's world. The first night in the camper was a bit uncomfortable due to not having/taking the time to fully inflate the exped-15, remembering my old geometry classes, etc. The next morning, we got up and headed towards Crater Lake. IF you've never been, go. Don't put it off. Just go.
The best pic of this excursion was the one not taken. As we were leaving Crater Lake on our way back to Bend, we passed a silver Tremor loaded for family fun and pulling a travel trailer. The second night in the camper was a bit more comfortable. we let the mattress inflate a bit more, had the vents set correctly and were wiped out. Unfortunately, I'm still a massive (sub/super)human but that's what a shakeout is all about.
The next morning we pointed Mountain Yak towards this massive rock reaching up to the sky called Mount Hood. With the trails and other stops planned, we decided to camp on the East side at Sherwood campground.
I'm a huge fan of fly fishing while drinking my coffee (Especially when there are no fish to be caught).
Great dinner, good night's sleep and terrible coffee was had.
On our way to Bridge of the Gods and to hit some more of the PCT, She who registers for fantastic, crazy long distance races informed me she didn't want to deal with the airlines to get home. Scheduling being what it is, I sent her off on the PCT and decided to install the DC/DC charger to keep our fridge running and house battery topped off (I forgot the solar panels...) and think about logistics of returning She who likes to gum up a perfectly good plan to our home before 8AM, Monday morning (in 5 days and 2000+ miles away).
By the time she called from the local brewery, I had our house battery charging and a plan. She could come back with me and we'll turn my perfectly planned mild off-road trip into a brewery tour... I can't tell you how thrilled I was to miss Garabaldi, Glacier Park, fly fishing in Montana and Wyoming and finally seeing Devil's tower.....
So we agreed to drop her race and start heading East. Between the cities we hit, I was able to find some fun (albeit short) trails around Boise, SLC, Denver and St. Louis.
Determined to expose her to at least a small part of what I do, we took an unplanned detour when we got close to Arches. I took her along 85 miles of trails from a trip I did in 2018.
This may turn out to be the most brilliant detour, ever. She absolutely loved it! to the point that we even did babysteps (with the OE tires) Knowing I needed to seal the deal, we hit four more fantastic breweries and KC Joe's BBQ and the way to our last stop of the brewery tour Bluewood Brewing in St. Louis.
While it definitely wasn't one of my normal trips, it was a blast and am looking forward to bringing my wife and dogs along, next time. I will need to choose carefully and probably include a hotel night or two but I think I have her hooked.
This trip AAR entails picking up my super pacific camper in Oregon and my wife in Seattle. The trip out from Nashville with the rear of the cab packed to the top with camping supplies, bed, tools and clothes went without issue. I averaged 18.4 mpg and 80 mph using the OE wheels and tires. I opted for the Wyoming route to limit the effect on my mileage of Colorado mountain driving.
I pushed hard until I was within a tactical distance (Idaho) to Portland then took a random left to enjoy the free 15 hours I had available. Because you should always start fun with an unnamed road..
Heading in the general direction of John Day fossil beds, I made an intentional turn towards them and discovered some fantastic Oregon sights
And some things that remind me of home..
After a few stops for random things, I headed towards Super Pacific to get our camper installed.
At this point, I had what I thought would be 6 hours of free time before I had to drive to Seattle to pick up she who flies to destinations. So like any kid at Christmas, I started wiring and config....configure..... no, I didn't. I went drinking with one of the SP guys and didn't get a dang thing done.
I woke up about 0-dark-30 and hauled butt towards Seattle to pick up she who would kill me for leaving her at the airport for hours by 0900. About 2 hours later, I got a text from my bride informing me she has been delayed for 7 hours. Brain- sweet! I can get this third brake light wired up. Mouth- dang, I'm sorry sweetie. I'll be there waiting for you when you arrive.
I had already done a lot of pre-wiring to make sure I could get the 3bl done before we crossed the border into Canada so I pulled off in to a stare park and proceeded to make the magic happen.
I ran the 3bl, main house power control and on/off switch and power ports to the control arm and opted to turn the 3bl running light portion in to a camping red light for bug reduction. With my bride having a day from hell, I got us a room at the Old Alcohol Plant near Olympia. We were initially going to camp on the Pacific but this seemed more prudent.
Now that we're legal, I can head out and pick up the Mrs. to start our indirect trip to Squamish for her 50 mile untra-marathon trail race a week later.
After resting up in that cool old hotel, we needed a quick win to get this trip back on track. I pointed the truck towards Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park and hammered down. We were about 200 miles and at least one stop behind the route I had planned so making random magic happen was a necessity. a bit over a hour later we stepped out to the visitor's center of Hurricane Ridge and to this.
Not bad but I had to seal the deal to ensure my bride forgot about the annoyance of flying so we headed to the coast where we were reminded how cold that water really is.
Now that she is distracted, we can push to Bend to enjoy some beer and use it as a launch point for some better scenery. We stayed at "The Camp" downtown which made the first shakeout of the camper easy mode. Let it be known that unless you are 6'6" and 330 pounds, you will never understand what it is like to live in a normal human's world. The first night in the camper was a bit uncomfortable due to not having/taking the time to fully inflate the exped-15, remembering my old geometry classes, etc. The next morning, we got up and headed towards Crater Lake. IF you've never been, go. Don't put it off. Just go.
The best pic of this excursion was the one not taken. As we were leaving Crater Lake on our way back to Bend, we passed a silver Tremor loaded for family fun and pulling a travel trailer. The second night in the camper was a bit more comfortable. we let the mattress inflate a bit more, had the vents set correctly and were wiped out. Unfortunately, I'm still a massive (sub/super)human but that's what a shakeout is all about.
The next morning we pointed Mountain Yak towards this massive rock reaching up to the sky called Mount Hood. With the trails and other stops planned, we decided to camp on the East side at Sherwood campground.
I'm a huge fan of fly fishing while drinking my coffee (Especially when there are no fish to be caught).
Great dinner, good night's sleep and terrible coffee was had.
On our way to Bridge of the Gods and to hit some more of the PCT, She who registers for fantastic, crazy long distance races informed me she didn't want to deal with the airlines to get home. Scheduling being what it is, I sent her off on the PCT and decided to install the DC/DC charger to keep our fridge running and house battery topped off (I forgot the solar panels...) and think about logistics of returning She who likes to gum up a perfectly good plan to our home before 8AM, Monday morning (in 5 days and 2000+ miles away).
By the time she called from the local brewery, I had our house battery charging and a plan. She could come back with me and we'll turn my perfectly planned mild off-road trip into a brewery tour... I can't tell you how thrilled I was to miss Garabaldi, Glacier Park, fly fishing in Montana and Wyoming and finally seeing Devil's tower.....
So we agreed to drop her race and start heading East. Between the cities we hit, I was able to find some fun (albeit short) trails around Boise, SLC, Denver and St. Louis.
Determined to expose her to at least a small part of what I do, we took an unplanned detour when we got close to Arches. I took her along 85 miles of trails from a trip I did in 2018.
This may turn out to be the most brilliant detour, ever. She absolutely loved it! to the point that we even did babysteps (with the OE tires) Knowing I needed to seal the deal, we hit four more fantastic breweries and KC Joe's BBQ and the way to our last stop of the brewery tour Bluewood Brewing in St. Louis.
While it definitely wasn't one of my normal trips, it was a blast and am looking forward to bringing my wife and dogs along, next time. I will need to choose carefully and probably include a hotel night or two but I think I have her hooked.
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