Oak Ridge VA4WDA Annual Trail RunSep 21-23, 2007

Good wheeling, good people, good prizes and most of all a way to raise money for a good cause. The VA4WD Association annual trail ride and poker run has something for everyone!




I wasn't particularly ready to go on a trail ride this year. My Jeep sat in the driveway for the last month waiting for some fluid changes and a new roll cage, but I was unable to get all that done. I ended up just rinsing off the GW mud and packing her up to get out of town on Thursday. No time for maintenance!!

The weather was perfect and there was only a 20% chance of rain. As it turns out, it did sprinkle a couple of times, once in the middle of the night, on my face, because I pulled back the rain fly on the tent for some air!

As for the trails, they were dusty but fun. Our group was lead by Keith who was wrangled into the job and we had several folks from Beltway Jeepers in our group. There were some damage, including some drive shaft problems, bent tie rods, and other minor issues, and one big hydro locked engine (OUCH!). The only problem I had was when I tried to line up my passenger side to get on a rock and ended up on my tie rod and drag link, which promptly bent a bit. Not enough to hinder the ride home, but enough to be looking for a heavy duty after market replacement.




For the raffle this year I won a bookbag from Tom Wood's and a shop light. A friend from Beltway gave me a certificate he won for a tax prep next year! Yay! Maybe next year I could win some tires...or...maybe not.

Can't wait for the 2008 run!!!!

To see the photo album of this trip click here.

West Virginia CampingBrandywine Campground - Aug 10-12, 2007

This trip started as a way for me to get some rest and relaxation from work and as a way to celebrate my recent birthday. I was hoping to camp in GWNF, but with no men going, and only one other female friend arriving on Saturday, I decided to go for Brandywine Campground. The best place in the whole campground is the overflow area in the back. There is a wooded area past the field and it only costs $2 per day per person to stay there. You really feel like you are all alone back there. People camping near the front of the campground were like, "Where are you going all the way back there??" You couldn't hear a peep from the rest of the campground. Perfect!



There is a lake to fish and swim in and there is wildlife! We had an encounter with a mama bear and her cub. They were searching our campsite for food (which we had stashed in the trees). I was able to get a picture of them. It's kind of like those pictures of Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. I swear it's a bear. The racoons were in my Jeep trying to get into the cooler that I tied down. I know because they left little muddy foot prints inside and on top of the Jeep.



As far as the actual four wheeling this trip - not too much. A new friend showed up and we took some basic trails. I tried to follow the topo map, but took a wrong turn and we had to ask some Deliverance hunters in the woods for directions out. The GPS she had worked great - if the forest service didn't gate their roads!!