ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Adventure (Let's GO WHEELING!) => Topic started by: Capt on March 04, 2012, 05:46:01 AM
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As you may imagine; Pipeliner's are an adventurous bunch, Not to be accused of being GYPSIES,
We are MERCENARIES; Hired PROFESSIONALS that are willing to travel, to just about anywhere* to do our "Trades",
"COMMERCIAL TOURISTS"
This "IDEA" came up last night over dinner, with some other Pipeliner's; way before the "Beers started really Flowing".
As most often when jobs are winding down, all talk about what they have planned for the time off before the next job,
Well after all the Usual....Jamaica, Amsterdam, Thailand..... we got onto this somehow....
You know how they have those well known "Cross Continent Runs"....The Dakar, The PanAmerican Run of the mid 50's,
The Gumball Rally, ..... etc.
Well, is there any cross North American Runs that are just for the AVERAGE JOE? Not really a RACE, just load up your
Debit Card, Minimal Camping Gear, a single suit case, (Bring only what you need as it has to fit in 1 vehicle) cross country
back roads marathon and last only about 2 weeks? Kind of like the Great Race that they have for them collector vehicles,
but for the average Working Stiff, Not the Wine & Cheese crowd, for the Real American, a Brats, Burgers, & Cheap Beer run.
Maybe, all you bud's at Suzuki, with the sites advertisers, could put together such a run.
Start in Maine, cut thru Canada on the Top of The Great Lakes, come out at Saute Ste Marie, Catch Old US 51 at
Ironwood/Hurley (with a little Coin Drop to Wisconsin Governor I sure we could run the ATV trails all the way down to Manitowish Waters), Drop down the center of the US to New Orleans, Cut out west thru Apache Country to the West coast.
So, What do you think ?
Need a couple of beers to get it rolling?
Look me up,..... Clarksburg, West Virginia, .......Saturday after the Memorial Run,.....March 10th, 2012.
CAPT
*anywhere: Nations that are not under siege, civil uprisings, Islamic Radicals, etc. (which now has wipe out most of the work on the African continent & along the Mediterranean)
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Sounds like a Grand Advanture for sure. I don't know of any organized ones specifically, But really , who but guys in your line of work can take that kind of time? I had to loose my job to get to use the 6 weeks of vaca time I accrued over 10 years but never was allowed to use. Gotta tell ya though, after logging over 6000 miles in a 4 and a half week span in my Tracker a couple of summers ago, I can honestly say I'd like to do it asap. I love to roaming the backroads of America.
There's a guy down in GA that has mapped an almost complete route across the country, ON DIRT, using every kind of private and public access "road" he could find over the last 10/15 years. He calls his route Trans America Trail. Of course at the rate of develpment during that time some of that has been paved, but still, even if only 65% were still on dirt , now that would be a real off road adventure vehicle run for North America.
He did all his exploring and mapping using a dual sport bike, but after talking with him he asssured me most all of it can be done in a 4 wheeled vehicle. He now sells the maps, in sets for various parts of the country and different legs of the trip. They are quite detailed and in the form of a Enduro roll chart, for those of you who are familar with Enduro or cross country motorcycle racing. Not cheap, but condidering the amount of detail and information, including things like mileage at all points, next turn distance and direction, GPS data and notes on local things of import, it's money well spent imo.
I picked up 1 set just to give mysef some idea of how much time would be involved and do some dreaming and came to the conclusion I would have to be independantly wealthy, retired with $, or both to even try it, and a dedicated navagator who knows what the hell their doing would be a must. TIME is the only real issue I cant figure out, I would like to buy more time. I can think of ways to do it cheaply enough, but time I can't seem to get enough , unless I win the lotto and can quit working now. :laugh:
I figure 3/5 months ought to be enough time to do it visiting every great trail system along the way.
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Yes it's a DREAM,
Maybe I have the Old 60's mentality, Just drop out for while.... do it for YOURSELF !!!
The world will still be here when you get back, AND NOTHING WILL HAVE CHANGED !!
And I am not going to live forever..........
A Journey will begin only with the "First Step" !!!
It won't be the Mountains in your life that will slow you down......
IT'LL BE THE SAND IN YOUR SHOES !!!
old proverb
CAPT
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Yeah, I consider myself more of an adventurist than a wheeler. I love driving cross country in a Samurai when I have the time to do so. I really can't take much more than a week off at a time though.
I'm about the only person in my offroad club that actually wheels what I drive to the trail. Everyone else trailers their offroad rigs ??? Even the fellow Suzuki guys. :(
I'm considering leaving my current club because of that fact. Everyone is in such a hurry to get to the trails, hauling their rigs at 80mph down tollroads at 5AM on Saturday morning. Whereas I'm usually cruising the scenic backroads at around 7AM and taking my time to get to the trailhead. The trails, often less-than-scenic tree covered hills, aren't going anywhere and I'm in no big hurry to see them.
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What if it was laid out in legs or sections and participants did what they had time and resources to do?
Some might only be able to do one leg and others may be able to do more or the whole thing.
Just a thought, but I love the concept.
David
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Maybe we should start a group dedicated to " Adventure " touring Zuks?
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A very cool idea, especially if most of the trails traveled were dirt = backwoods with scenery not seen while traveling hardball. Breaking the runs down into smaller sections could get more owners participating with periods of time they could actually fit into their calendars as time and locality permitted. I'm with Jonny Rash. I've rushed to get about every where I had to be for most of my earlier life. That's why I try to avoid interstates whenever, where ever I can today. I enjoy driving trails checking out new scenery. I don't mind improvised water crossings, driving in mud, snow, dirt, or graveled trails. I'm not interested in technical trails or mud bogging. Had enough sand, mud driving and participating in recovery ops as well as convoy driving on hard ball roads for mindless hours courtesy of the Army to last me the rest of my life and I don't have the coin to continually buy replacement parts I would surely break wheeling technical terrain. I like to sleep where I want to sleep, eat what I want to eat, and go when and where I want to go.... all while listening to my sirius radio.
I like the concept Bentparts was talking about... dirt roads/trails across America. Would still have to carry tools, repair parts for on the go repairs and some light recovery gear to keep it going. Rough camping enroute would add to the flavor.
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Nprecon,
I'm a former Army guy as well; been out for five years now. I know all about the hurry up and wait.
I don't mind traveling old, hardball roads and checking out old bridges, ghost towns, etc along the way. I kind of look at the Samurai as a four wheel, all terrain motorcycle. It's great for cruising the backroads/old highways at 50-60mph.
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I also plan to drive a Samurai to the Colorado ZW Run in August. It's around 750 miles from my location and it should be an interesting, sight seeing adventure.
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^^^ Cough, cough.... What he said^^^^ ;D
http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/adventure-forum/zukiworld-colorado-adventure-sign-up-today!/ (http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/adventure-forum/zukiworld-colorado-adventure-sign-up-today!/)
I'm planning on turning this into a two week adventure. Taking my time on the way out seeing whatever sites I can find and camping if I find some cool places to camp on the 1250 mile trip out. Then heading south when I leave to see a friend in Albuquerque then roaming aimlessly home to TN.
That is going to be my 2012 cross country adventure 8)
Zig
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I like the Idea's SO FAR !!!!
Got the Gears Rolling ?!!!! The Back roads Map Idea....The Jump in where you can Idea.....
I too have done the Heads/Tails trail choices trips,
Had a Great Time while on the Ruby Pipeline Job with all the BLM land. Did some great Exploring.
You find some of the Greatest Things in the most remote Places !!
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Traveling the back roads is the only way to see anything, anywhere. I like Jonny Rash's comparison of his Sammy to an all terrian bike. That's about what they are. I always joke to my friends my Tracker is really just a BIG atv with ac and a kickin sound system. Ex army guy here too. Maybe it's the training.
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There are some great ideas here, lets keep 'em going!
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Ok here is a 2 bit Idea;
Lets try a little trial run, something simple and short.
May 19th is "Drive With Your Top Off Day". We make it a mini fund raiser for "Save the Ta Ta's"!
(I posted this on here before how my friends & I have done it)
Now round up your friends, Make it a WEEKEND ADVENTURE with a "Layover Point" and travel back on Sunday, As we all know the Best Spots to "GO TO" in our own BACK YARDS,
Have a route, Maybe NOT..."Travel with the Wind to Backs Laddy's", and have fun with it.
Or if we get enough responses here, some groups could meet half way at the "Layover Point".
SO; This way we can have a NATION WIDE ADVENTURE, by everyone's small part, and be affordable with $5.00/gal GAS !!
We all can post up of our travels, have Zig or someone piece them together, to get the Coast to Coast "Picture".
KRAZY KOOL?!! Hey ???
CAPT
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What if you drive a Tintop?
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SAW-ZALL,
Re-install with WIRE WELDER
Problem Solved !!
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Oddly enough, I am going on something similar to this in Wales, UK in September with the Shrophire Suzuki gang.
Called "Greenlaning", it involves driving unimproved back roads (some VERY unimpoved!) out in the countryside.
I was thinking of trying the same thing in Mark Twain Forest in Central Missouri around Fort Leonard Wood. I was able to get some maps from the state and they show quite a few logging and farm roads in that area...
Perhaps this is a way to condense a "Gumball Rally" down to a bitesized event...
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SWEET !!
That would only be a 10 maybe 12 hour ride (Sammy Trailered if I am working, add a day without) from north central Wisconsin.
If there is a far enough notice, I can get the time off from work. I like the possible Camp Where You Get Too at 5-ish thing.
Or if the weather turns to "KRRAAPP".... lodge over while you watch your sleeping bags go round & round in the dryers
at the Laundromat.
Keep the Ideas coming, even it gets us hooked up at a LOCAL EVENT type set-up !!!!
CAPT
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Ack, Capt,
That would not be to far of a drive for a weekend adventure for me either 8) Great idea Ack..
Zig
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I'd be up for a trip through central Missouri. Probably just a long 4 day weekend jaunt for me though.
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What if you drive a Tintop?
SAW-ZALL,
Re-install with WIRE WELDER
Problem Solved !!
;D
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One more thing that I would like to point out:
Missouri is not the only state with national/state forests!
It is possible to do the same thing in other states - all over the country!
Start your search with your state parks agency/department for map information.
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Ack is right !! have a nation wide,
Any TIME, any WHERE, ........
IN AN OLD HIPPIES term.......
"A ZUK Hang Out" !!!!! My cure for a... GET AWAY FROM IT ALL !!!
(Without Camping on Wall Street, ......Shit, who could afford the Parking?!!)
Maybe a Year long fund raiser for 4X4 Trail ACCESS !! ( Man; back in Wisc, did the ATV crowd give us a BAD NAME to further their agenda)
I'M LOVE'N IT !!
CAPT
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...and another thing...
The concept of "greenlaning" assumes that the roads you will be driving on are public right-of-ways. That being the case, such an offroading event is limited to street-legal 4x4s only. If you trailer your truck and it isn't street legal, not only are you "on your own" at this type of event, you risk providing more fodder to the tree huggers for the argument of banning 4x4s altogether!
This is the case in the UK.
The nearest thing to greenlaneing that I have experienced is driving the unimproved county roads between Jerome Arizona and Prescott Vally, Arizona in an '02 Tracker 4-door. It wasn't particularly difficult but it sure was scenic!
Nothing is without problems. Greenlaning offers the posibility to get in touch with Nature in a legal way that does not involve fees or the possibility of driving over an unattended 8-year-old on a cheap Chinese "dirtbike". It also DOES NOT involve hard terrain challenges - most of the time.
That said, if you don't like the above description, then an ORV park would be more your style.
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I agree, Ack, I am using the "Trailer Queen" method as a "Time Warp" to get to the start point, and back, within the Time Off from Work Limits.
CAPT
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Great Idea! In addition to the TAT, there's also:
Trans Canada Adventure Trail (TCAT): www.graveltravel.ca (http://www.graveltravel.ca)
Washington Backcountry Discovery Route (WABDR)
Oregon Backcountry Discovery Route (OBCDR)
I think there's also a continental divide route that goes from Canada to Mexico, crossing the continental divide at least a dozen times, though that may be motorcycle only.
There are probably others as well. If I REALLY had the time, I'd love to take TCAT across Canada, then TAT back to the west coast, then OBCDR and WABDR home. to complete a North American loop, but to do it properly, I'd want to take at least six months. Maybe when I retire...
We ran a portion of WABDR last summer, and I did part of section 2 (Durr Road from Yakima to Ellensburg WA) yesterday. This summer Wazuks is planning to do at least the northern half (north to south, from the Canadian border to either Wenatchee or Ellensburg.) Date will depend on snowpack, as portions are over 6000'. Last year we were turned back by snow the last weekend of June; hopefully this year won't be as bad!
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Here is a link to an interesting Greenlaning - UK blog:
http://www.bits4vits.co.uk/store/-39-laning-locally-project-116-and-henryd-/blog_172.html (http://www.bits4vits.co.uk/store/-39-laning-locally-project-116-and-henryd-/blog_172.html)
I am going to try my luck at driving the farm/logging roads in Central Missouri toward the end of April.
I'll see if I can post some pics/vids of it!
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They definitely have some tight hedgerows there. I bet an SJ410 or SJ413 with its narrow track would do quite well on that terrain. Not that a Samurai is much more wider though.
Looks like a lot of fun. 8)
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Yeah, I consider myself more of an adventurist than a wheeler. I love driving cross country in a Samurai when I have the time to do so. I really can't take much more than a week off at a time though.
I'm about the only person in my offroad club that actually wheels what I drive to the trail. Everyone else trailers their offroad rigs ??? Even the fellow Suzuki guys. :(
I'm considering leaving my current club because of that fact. Everyone is in such a hurry to get to the trails, hauling their rigs at 80mph down tollroads at 5AM on Saturday morning. Whereas I'm usually cruising the scenic backroads at around 7AM and taking my time to get to the trailhead. The trails, often less-than-scenic tree covered hills, aren't going anywhere and I'm in no big hurry to see them.
Thanks for puttin' that sentiment into words. I feel the same way!! I'm an adventurer and my Zuk is a tool that gets me where I want to go. All these Ideas sound great, it's kind of a shame we all live so far apart. I wish I could find some like minded people close by. Keep developing these ideas though, I like where you guys are going with this. Who knows? In a couple of years maybe we can make something like this happen?
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OK, A couple of ideas here,
Ack, were you thinking of your Missouri idea for May 19th, or another time.
And also, if I gave some lead time (Week/10 days) would anyone be interested in meeting at the "Badlands" in west central
Indiana. It is my plan to stop thru there on the way back to Wisconsin here SHORTLY.
CAPT
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OK, A couple of ideas here,
Ack, were you thinking of your Missouri idea for May 19th, or another time......
CAPT
I was thinking of hopping in the Samurai on Monday April 23 and driving for a couple of days down around Ft. Leonard Wood. Afterwards, I'd post something on the trip.
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I guess I'm pretty lucky when it comes to available " public " access off roading. The Wharton, Brenden Byrne, Belle Plain State Forests as well as the Pinelands National Reserve are all connected by tiny and completely unmaintained two tracks leading through beautiful forests and wetlands here in New Jersey. Combined total of over 1,000,000 acres. Access is only 30 minutes from my house. You can go on for days and miles and miles and if you know your way can make the trip from Atsion in the western part almost all the way to the Atlantic ocean on the eastern side. It's all open to STREET LEGAL, registered vehicles. If it weren't for all the stinkin developement it would be possible to make it to the ocean.
We have the same problem here with a few aholes ruining it for everyone. You don't need a full blown crawler on 44's to get around here, to the contrary, a smaller rig with a little footprint is actually much better, but people insist on bringing their giant trucks and BIG heeps into the forest and tearing up the trails, digging big holes in the wet parts of the trails, smashing up the trees, and getting stuck, bringing unwanted and unfavorable attention to off roaders. I'm always finding trash, beer bottles and empty beer cartons in some of the most beautiful areas. Without fail, almost every time I'm out there I find some jackoff stuck in a waterhole he shouldn't have been in to begin with. Lately I've just turned around and gone the other way, leaving them to there own devices. It won't be long before even street legal vehicles will be banned here. I'm going to enjoy it while I can.
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Ack, If there is an open invitation.............
The 23rd of April is kinda "Tight" to leave West Virginia, Go Home to Wisconsin, Unload all my Treasures & Bounty,
Reload for Central Missouri in less than 2 weeks.
BUT I have done the FIRE CALL to GO to a Job.......
Dump your underware & sock drawer into a suitcase and grab the dirty clothes hamper on the way out the door!!!
I'll send you a PM when I get a better Picture on this Job's shut down.
CAPT
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Ack, April is OUT >:(
I will not be off this job B4 the 16th of April. Unless you know of a "T-I-M-E S-T-R-E-C-H-E-R",
Last I heard there are only going to be 24 hours to each day.
CAPT
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I just lost a slave cylinder in the drivers-side rear wheel.
Looks like I'll be spending the first day or so of my upcoming vacation fixing it instead of "greenlaning" in Central Missouri...
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Ka-Shitski's !!!
Sorry Man, that Sucks Dirt !!
I got out a week early, made it home safe on Friday the 13th. Friday was OK,
Thursday, about 100 miles into the trip home the Fan Clutch locked up. Tightened the belts up, listened to a 9 blade fan roar for the next 700 miles home, and it knocked my 1 ton's mileage down to 9 mpg.
2 cups off coffee early Sat. and the new one was in, still was a $117.00 light though, they sell them by the once.
Hope you have a taste for brake fluid, and twisted up brake lines, and MAYBE the bolts will come out of the backing plate to get the old wheel cyl out. I'm feeling your pain Brother, just did that job on the 1 ton a month ago.
CAPT
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I'm an adventurer in a state without adventure. Illinois has nothing! I am planning a trip to upper Michigan in July though. I is supposed to have some public access trails.
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Keith,
The UP is Great, only warning I can give.......DON'T RUN ON UTILITY RIGHT OF WAYS !!
Big Fines in Michigan!!
I was up to the old farm stead in May. Had a hoot going to Saxon Harbor & Little Girls Point by Ironwood & Hurley Plus a bunch of rustic dirt back roads.
CAPT
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Thanks for the tip. I have somewhat of an idea where I'll be going. In the Hiawatha National Forrest it looks like there are a good amount of trails.
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Hey, I love this idea of seeing backyard America! I just bought my Samurai, a 1988, mostly stock with 30" tires. When are we planning this event? If next summer, I may have my ride ready to go by then. But that sounds like a lot of fun! I'm not sure about the midwest (new here), but the Moab area of southern Utah is an awesome area of red rock, arches, ghost towns and dirt.
Hope to see you all there!
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Solitude,
Sorry for the slow response, I have been on an pipeline project here near my home (65 miles away)
but we are on day 26 straight !! of 12 hr days !!
Today we got a rain out mid morning, catching up on all my e-mails & etc.
On a "Cross America Run" it was just an Idea thrown out there to see if any were interested; when would be a good time of year, Ideas of routes.................
On a side note; I am seriously considering the "Budapest to Bamako Endurance Run; Touring Class" in 2014. Already bought a 1988 Sammy with 68,000 original miles as a starting chaise. (Body is toast being from Wisconsin). Looking for leads on a good body.
CAPT