IN to UT, AZ, CO in a stock JK Unlimited

scarysharkface

Explorer
For the last few years my vacations have been sans family, on the KLR in the Canadian Maritimes. Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and last Summer Labrador.. I've made some great friends, connected with family I hadn't seen in decades and look forward to my next opportunity to visit.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=357998

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This year was going to be different though.

My children are getting older and the prospect of a family vacation with the four of us will evaporate within a year or two as college looms. So Tracy, my wife, gives the order to start planning *something* we can do as a family; something that will be new and exciting and memorable for us all.

More than a couple of variables were in play.

One option was to introduce my family to some of the friends I've made on the KLR out East, snuggle on their horses and do some rock climbing.

Another was to head to The Rock, looping through Labrador and returning via Nova Scotia.

Then of course there's this thing called The Mobius Trip over on advrider.com.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=344776

It is an engaging ride report for several reasons, not the least of which is Dr. Rock's prose. The pictures, though, really sucked me in (try reading it - you won't be able to stop). West sure looked good, and after flying several schemes past my facebook friends Moab recommendations outnumbered all else..

I'd wanted to ride Moab on the KLR for a couple of years now, but hadn't done so. I had a Dodge quad-cab 4x4 pickup, so it was conceivable that I could sneak a bike along on a family jaunt. Hmmm.

So then my buddy sells me his Jeep Comanche for cheap.

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It's destined to be the firewood truck around the property, and to make the occasional trip to the creek bottom for rocks.
I took Jeepy down to the creek about one time and the wanting began.

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Jeepy made several trips down there this Spring, but it only took the one to really burn a hole in my reason and rationality. So I start asking questions. I change where we eat lunch, just so I can look at Jeeps out of the corner of my eye. I start pulling into car lots to look at them. I out my obsession online.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=456201

Then Chrysler goes tatas-up and they're practically giving them away. To make matters worse, the sales guy (yes, it's gotten that far) offers me top-dollar for the Dodge.

I wake to find this thing parked outside. Yesterday was not a dream.

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It is a good day.

So I'm poking around teh Internets looking for all things Jeep and stumble upon ExPo. Wow. Looks like advrider for cages, which is pretty cool. None of that 8-inches of lift on a GMC so Bubba and Clem can go muddin' tripe, but lots of info about travelling. Awesome.

I throw out a request for wisdom and ideas.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27465

Get some great feedback and the sixth post is from a guy in my home town. Hoosier 45 is kind enough to share some wisdom with me at the library (the one Steve Martin references at the end of "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid") and lets me drool over his cool maps. Very good so far, and he'll be some of the same places I'm considering about a week later...

Reservations made, research done (wrong order, I know) and we head West from Indiana...

Trip report to follow...

John
 
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scarysharkface

Explorer
Skipping Day 1, here's Day 2 - Kansas to Moab..

Colby, Kansas, in the morning and it's rainy and foggy. At least it's not the 100 degrees we had yesterday in Salina..

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Bugs don't mind the weather.

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Snow in the big pass on the West end of the tunnel in Colorado, then a stop to throw on jackets shortly after..

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More wonderful (for expediency, that is) I-70 slab and several stops to enjoy the scenery..

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Then we head South toward our destination for the night and begin getting glimpses of what a camera can't begin to capture...

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more to follow..
 

scarysharkface

Explorer
Day 2 cont'd...

day 2, cont'd...

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Reminds me of the Knights Who Say "Ni"...

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Home at last, for the next four nights at least. Moab KOA..

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Actual off-road adventuring tomorrow...

John
 

scarysharkface

Explorer
day 3

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We wake up reasonably early (i.e. not everyone has left the campground yet) and hit the City Market for bagels, coffee and petrol. Zoom up to Blue Hills Road and then can't remember if I need a permit or not, so we head back to Moab and the Visitors Center to inquire. Guy there tells me no permits needed, and that I won't need any additional maps or anything if I have the Wells book.. He also suggests a few routes for us in the Jeep..

So we head off a second time. The kids vote and compel me to take them to Gemini Bridges..

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scarysharkface

Explorer
Day 3 cont'd

We stop to take pictures several times..

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And my son, Colin, checks dad's work against the book..

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We get passed by a couple of small dual-sport bikes when we stop to remove the roof panels..

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The first bike stops further down the valley and waits while the second bike catches up. It's ~80 degrees with a slight breeze, and feels wonderful. In the back of my head I have a nagging fear that we'll fry our scalps with the top panels off, but ignore it because I'm on vacation..

Driving a half-mile or less we enter what I consider a true canyon-esque landscape, so we stop to poke at cactii, lizard-watch and take more pictures.

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The family approves so far, so good..

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scarysharkface

Explorer
More Day 3 cont'd

We hit the trail again..

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Gemini Bridges Overlook..

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There are a few guys down there mugging for a camera as we look on...

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scarysharkface

Explorer
More Day 3 again cont'd

We motor down to the junction, where the book says the trail continues down to Gemini Bridges, but have to park because it's roped-off from that point. We walk down to check it out..

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Optimism..

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See that thing off in the distance??

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JIMBO

Expedition Leader
:sombrero: GREAT pic's, gorgeous family, GREAT vehicle, GREAT color choice


Not that I'm partial to yellow!!!

:costumed-smiley-007:bike_rider::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO
 

scarysharkface

Explorer
More Day 3 Nonsense..

So I head out across the bridge to check out what the kiddies (er, "young adults") are doing across the way...

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Yes, that's right..

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The flora wouldn't seem to be the only one with optimism out here. Of course, if I had better knees and ankles I can't say definitively that I wouldn't have done it also..

John

More to follow..
 

scarysharkface

Explorer
More Day 3 Tripe..

We collect a family shot..

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I grab another for context..

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This is now a foot-traffic-only trail..

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The kids are happy..

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Time to hit the road for Bull Canyon, to see this from the bottom..

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John
 

JIMBO

Expedition Leader
:sombrero: Please don't think I'm Hi-jacking, cause this is for YOU

If you insulate your hard top, (inside) you can ALLOW the AC to do a good job, besides keeping it 15/30-% cooler and 25/50% quieter inside



It can be done cheaply and looks fairly cheap, unless you're expert on auto interior, or

"off road heroes" makes a JK hardtop kit with Velcroed and fitted sew'n edges, plus, JC Whitney has auto, thermal-acustic "shinny side" insulation and "sticky Stuff" spray adhesive

My wife really enjoys the hiwy access trips now, because it's cool and she can use her cell phone, with no PROBLEMO and off-road with the windows down, it's COOL

OK, I'm done-cheers

:snorkel::smiley_drive::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO
 

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