The plan for the next day was to drive down Long Canyon Rd and explore part of the White Rim Trail up to Thelma and Louise Point, where they filmed the end scene in that movie. Speaking to the ranger at Islands I found it should take about 5-6 hours round trip. I headed towards Dead Horse State Park and took the Long Canyon Rd split. Interesting scenery along the way and clear weather meant I could see for miles around.
Is the road going to drop off?
WOW! I said
I'm embarassed to say that I chickened out at the first major obstacle after entering into the canyon at Pucker Pass. It didn't look passable to me with my worn stock suspension (including sagging leafs).
The "Drive of Shame".. coming up the hill after my failed attempt.
I pulled onto the Pucker Pass overlook. Got out the camera, booze, and just played around by the cliff until sunset. Watched a pimped out D90 tackle the trail and then speeding towards Potash Rd.
Do you see the LR?
My "playground"
Then was treated to a beautiful sunset.
Was going to camp here for the night but something happened that freaked me out and I booked it.
I was going to start cooking so reach up to turn on an LED ring light hung from the topper ceiling. No power. I figured the battery must have came loose from the road bumps. I take the light off and open the two piece clamshell. To my surprise, two of the 3 batteries were entirely missing!
Then I look down and the batteries were laying on the bed of the truck! I looked at the light for a few seconds and realized there was no way the battery could have fallen out of the light with the clamshell casing still intact. I immediately thought back to the odd sound from the truck I heard earlier which I brushed off as animal noise. I quickly gathered up my stuff and left.