jtpedersen
Caught the Bug
Howdy,
This season's been a great year for us with Stitch. Certainly an incredibly busy one. For me, I've done at least one personal trip every month for the last 6 months. If I wasn't traveling, I was getting ready to. Or, getting Stitch ready to.
Going way back, we started the year near St. Helen's, Michigan, at Sno*Blind. It's one of 3 or 4 major winter wheeling events each year. (Registration for Sno*Blind '19 is actually only a few days away.) Sno*Blind varies year-to-year. You never know if you'll have 40F and 4" of slush. Or, 9F and 18" of powder. It always makes for great photography though.
Of course, what's a Winter wheeling event without snow. While we were north, we watched news reports of our only 'significant' blizzard happening back home. Driving most of the day through heavily snowed expressways, I was quite pleased to be driving Stitch. Plowing down wide-open Jeep-only lanes while others trudged along in the sheeple lane. The day wasn't done quite yet...finally getting home, we'd dodged the bullet. Only 8 or 9" awaited me for snow removal.
The season was only starting though. Along the way, various memes helped get us in the right mood (with a Jeep, are you ever not in the mood?)... I'd credit the creator but I've no idea who...
Sharing tales of wonderful wheeling, a friend of mine in India, sent me some pics of his Jeep. 7-slots, note Mahindra on the grille. Wheeling knows no bounds
.
Couple months later, Mom sent me an email, "Let me know when you want to pick me up...," for Mother's Day. I didn't have to ask. Mom was very up front about it. We were going wheeling at Rocks & Valleys in May.
Seems like every time I turn around, if the truck's left open, some strange creature keeps getting in. The older cousin, not so eager. This one, cannot keep her out.
Come June, we were back to the St. Helen's area for another event. Another ~40 friends...even though I'd not met half of them before. Wheeling just seems to consistently bring out the best in folks.
Of course, having friends around makes it a lot easier to capture the obligatory 'stuffed' photo. Think how much work that'd have been if I had to break out a tripod, set up the camera, the remote trigger. Good to have friends.
Afterward, Kimberly and I spent a bit of time in Prudenville, Michigan. We toured official state roads. Nothing like deciding it's time for lunch, stopping in the middle of the road for 45 minutes with not a soul to bother you. Beautiful.
In and around motorcycle trips as well, Stitch carried me up, across bridges, to Escanaba, Michigan. That's the bottom-middle of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Gorgeous up there.
If you've never driven the Might Mac, driven over the steel grates for a few miles, you've missed quite the experience. Do it in rain with 35MPH cross winds only heightens the experience<g>.
Escanaba provided plenty of opportunities for photographs. Alas, very little time. I was there for a fairly full 3-day State DNR ORV safety instructor certification course. Glad I did it.
The season just kept giving though. The pinnacle of the season, following month's of prep (and $$), was our road trip to Colorado. Gone for 13 days, we spent time in Rocky Mtn Natl Park.
Along the way, enjoyed some incredible sunsets.
Oh, and that Black Forest Gear engine oven box for $99? Works just fine. Made the Mrs very happy. Was fun to do.
Family in the area was also happy to spend time with us, show us some sights. It just never ended....very grateful, appreciative.
Wandered over to Telluride, spent the night at just over 9,700' elevation. Even had $20 oxygen bottles in the rooms.
But, my, what a fabulous place (actually, The Madeline, next door, in Mountain Village). Turns out we were literally among the only folks there. Slow season had hit, they had one festival a few days later, then they'd close until late November.
We never stayed put for long. We had ground to cover, more Sunsets to see.
Stitch, taking a break. Just cuz.
This season's been a great year for us with Stitch. Certainly an incredibly busy one. For me, I've done at least one personal trip every month for the last 6 months. If I wasn't traveling, I was getting ready to. Or, getting Stitch ready to.
Going way back, we started the year near St. Helen's, Michigan, at Sno*Blind. It's one of 3 or 4 major winter wheeling events each year. (Registration for Sno*Blind '19 is actually only a few days away.) Sno*Blind varies year-to-year. You never know if you'll have 40F and 4" of slush. Or, 9F and 18" of powder. It always makes for great photography though.
Of course, what's a Winter wheeling event without snow. While we were north, we watched news reports of our only 'significant' blizzard happening back home. Driving most of the day through heavily snowed expressways, I was quite pleased to be driving Stitch. Plowing down wide-open Jeep-only lanes while others trudged along in the sheeple lane. The day wasn't done quite yet...finally getting home, we'd dodged the bullet. Only 8 or 9" awaited me for snow removal.
The season was only starting though. Along the way, various memes helped get us in the right mood (with a Jeep, are you ever not in the mood?)... I'd credit the creator but I've no idea who...
Sharing tales of wonderful wheeling, a friend of mine in India, sent me some pics of his Jeep. 7-slots, note Mahindra on the grille. Wheeling knows no bounds
.Couple months later, Mom sent me an email, "Let me know when you want to pick me up...," for Mother's Day. I didn't have to ask. Mom was very up front about it. We were going wheeling at Rocks & Valleys in May.
Seems like every time I turn around, if the truck's left open, some strange creature keeps getting in. The older cousin, not so eager. This one, cannot keep her out.
Come June, we were back to the St. Helen's area for another event. Another ~40 friends...even though I'd not met half of them before
. Wheeling just seems to consistently bring out the best in folks.Of course, having friends around makes it a lot easier to capture the obligatory 'stuffed' photo. Think how much work that'd have been if I had to break out a tripod, set up the camera, the remote trigger. Good to have friends
.Afterward, Kimberly and I spent a bit of time in Prudenville, Michigan. We toured official state roads. Nothing like deciding it's time for lunch, stopping in the middle of the road for 45 minutes with not a soul to bother you. Beautiful.
In and around motorcycle trips as well, Stitch carried me up, across bridges, to Escanaba, Michigan. That's the bottom-middle of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Gorgeous up there.
If you've never driven the Might Mac, driven over the steel grates for a few miles, you've missed quite the experience. Do it in rain with 35MPH cross winds only heightens the experience<g>.
Escanaba provided plenty of opportunities for photographs. Alas, very little time. I was there for a fairly full 3-day State DNR ORV safety instructor certification course. Glad I did it.
The season just kept giving though. The pinnacle of the season, following month's of prep (and $$), was our road trip to Colorado. Gone for 13 days, we spent time in Rocky Mtn Natl Park.
Along the way, enjoyed some incredible sunsets.
Oh, and that Black Forest Gear engine oven box for $99? Works just fine. Made the Mrs very happy. Was fun to do.
Family in the area was also happy to spend time with us, show us some sights. It just never ended....very grateful, appreciative.
Wandered over to Telluride, spent the night at just over 9,700' elevation. Even had $20 oxygen bottles in the rooms.
But, my, what a fabulous place (actually, The Madeline, next door, in Mountain Village). Turns out we were literally among the only folks there. Slow season had hit, they had one festival a few days later, then they'd close until late November.
We never stayed put for long. We had ground to cover, more Sunsets to see.
Stitch, taking a break. Just cuz.
