Friday, September 8, 2017

2017 Adventure Wrap-up




After spending a week participating in the Bryce Off-Road Rally riding the trails in the Dixie National Forest, ( Panguitch, Utah) it was time to head back to Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, Washington.  After being on the road for 3 ½ months, I was starting to miss the family.  

I decided to take a slight detour to Lake Tahoe, California.  My son-in-law’s parents (Stan & Gwen) have a summer home along the lake.  Michelle and Chris go there often to relax. This year they invited the Martin family and extended family (Bill and Jan)

Since I had plenty of time to get to Lake Tahoe before the family arrived, I let my son-in-law talk me into taking the scenic route (getting to Tahoe from the south, just north of Yosemite) which took me little time to figure out that the southern route was jam packed with hills, switchbacks, and O yes, plenty of smoke from the California fires. It was also a lonely route, from Lee Vining, Ca, to Lake Tahoe (120 miles) I drove for 4 ½ hours and didn’t see one vehicle.  Would of only taken me 2 ½ hours by car.  Most of the hills do not have a shoulder to pull over, so on a few occasions, I stopped right in the middle of the road to give the motor home a rest.
 

Amazing story


 
 
 
  

Yep, Switchbacks and lots of smoke, I will agree, it was really scenic .
             


           
   
          


I arrived at the lake a week early so I parked the motor home at the Meeks Bay Resort and enjoyed the lake, bike riding and touring around a little.  It was a perfect place to end my 2017 Adventure. 


When the family finally got together, we had the opportunity to relax, and celebrate “ Little Nugget’s” (Morgan) birthday.
          


          
          

Chris, Morgan and Andre' on there way to LakeTahoe



Brown Cottage on the Lake
          

Two of my favorite girls, love them to death.(Michelle (daughter) and Morgan -Aka: "Little Nugget" (grand-daughter) 


Definitely a happy couple . Michelle (Daughter) snd Chris (Son-in-Law).  Real cute also.


Papa, do you want a burger?
         

Time to celebrate " Little Nugget's"  birthday. It was a special treat to have Bill and Jan there with us. 
        
         


          New scooter                           Don't you think I'm cute?             
         


Upon arriving Oak Harbor I parked my Polaris RZR quad and jumped on my Toro Wheel Horse tractor, yep reality sunk in real fast, time to take care of the Martin Homestead. 
   


Of course I took a little time to take a motorcycle ride through the beautiful Cascade National Forest just north of Whidbey Island.
 

My 2017 Adventure was a total success; I hooked up with some friends from prior years and made a lot of new ones.  Had plenty of opportunity to travel throughout the US and did plenty of Off-Road riding. Now it’s time to plan my 2018 Adventure.

BLOG Links to my 2017 Adventure:

CLICK ON THE PICTURES TO ENLARGE THE 

 Moab, Utah- Rally-On the-Rocks

Deadwood, South Dakota

Columbus , Montana -  Beartooth Mountain. 
http://www.jacquestherock.com/2017/06/columbus-montana-here-i-come.html

Marysvale, Utah - Exloring the Paiute and Fishlake National Forest Trail System.

Fillmore, Utah - 30th Annual UTV Jamboree
Marysvale, Utah - Back to South Forty RV Park -Paiute Trail System.
Silverton, Colorado - What an Adventure

Priest Gulch, Colorado - Henrick/Harper Family Reunion

Bayfield, Colorado - Toy Competition

Bayfield, Colorado - Habitat for Humanity build


























Saturday, August 26, 2017

Bryce Rally- Panguitch , Utah






Bryce Rally – Panguitch, Utah

After spending 2 ½ weeks of building a duplex for Habitat for Humanities in Bayfield, Colorado, I’m ready to hit the off-road trails while participating in the Bryce Rally in Panguitch, Utah. 

In early June, a forest fire erupted around and near Brian Head and Panguitch Lake.  This event altered the trails that were scheduled for the Bryce Rally held in late August.  Since some trails had to be closed folks had to select other trails, which increased the number of rigs for each trail.  Having 25 to 30 rigs on the same route does not leave much time for sightseeing, most of the time we were spread out over a 4 mile stretch.

On one of the days Norm (friend I met in Fillmore) volunteered to be our guide for the Circleville trail. We only had 4 rigs, which made the ride more enjoyable. 

Meeting up with friends from prior years made the Rally enjoyable. Hanging out at the end of the day during “Happy Hour” (sharing stories and drinking adult beverage) made the trip to Panguitch worthwhile.

  
 
 
 

Time for lunch break