5th Annual Badger Creek Camp and Hoo Hah - March 2011

[hambone]

It's not as bad coming down from the Dalles.

[Westy78]

It's not as bad coming down from the Dalles.

It is for me. Going through The Dalles is 30 more miles than 216. Probably faster though since it's all highway. Decisions decisions.

[Gypsie]

I will be taking the Dalles Route for the maiden camp voyage of the wagon.

Should be fine but wanna be on a main road ifn' thar be issues (I mean more than the little voices and tracers...)

Flyin' light and solo cause I'm preparin' to do some body work in the nxt few months so I have removed all the crap from stowage.

Lookin' forward to gettin' out even if it looks to be colder than a brass monkeys b---s. Prolly pull in late as usual. Hope Y'all save a beer for me...

[hambone]

It's gonna be a blast! Can't wait to see all of you.
I did some Google Map scopin' yesterday, looks like there MAY be a very special camp at the end of 140. I'm excited to check it out. Heck, I live for this stuff...
You guys bringin instruments?
Geez I hardly slept last nite, tonite will be worse! Like a kid.

[Gypsie]

Last time I went on this March trip my fingers bled from playin' in the cold. I will bring the git fiddle but may not play too much.

Make sure y'all mark the turnoffs well ifn' you go too far down 140. Comin' in in the dark is a real challenge when there's not a place certain...

Are you talkin' about the "end" where the two creeks meet (atop the atoll), app 3 miles from the "creekside campsite"? That road looks a bit rough....Yeah....

[ruckman101]

Wish I could be there. Have fun youse folks.

neal

[LiveonJG]

Yes, I will be bringing my bass, I'll also most likely be coming in under the cover of darkness.

Neil, you will be missed.

What about Spiffy?

He seemed to be saying he was onboard, but now not a freakin' peep out of him?

Whatupwithat?

[hambone]

I dunno, but miss him around these parts...

[Gypsie]

MOTHERFRITCHEN-BULLBEATIN-BELFASTARDS!

I'm out.

Too many little things acting funny with the wagon.

Cold start problems. Braking. Throttle adjustment hinky.

I've only put 60 or so miles on it since I put the engine back in and I am not feeling comfortable enough to head out solo on lightly traveled roads with spotty cell service at night.

Gonna spend the weekend dealing with some of these loose ends.

Have fun.

[hambone]

What? I'm sure he's kidding folks.

[Gypsie]

I wish I was. Went out and bought a bunch of camp foods and beer. When I was packing last night it took me almost half an hour to get it fired up. Throttle wants to either go flat and idle down too low or hold on too high after release (need to fix that linkage length issue). Brakes want me to stand on the pedal to make it stop, (need to check out the front calipers and make sure they aren't siezed).

I am just too unsure about reliability to take this out into the backwoods at night, solo, with no cell service, and the possibility of a breakdown, because I haven't put it through the full paces yet. I am not going to rush it after such a long downtime and $$$ thrown at it. I will eliminate the uncertainty first, then go camping.

Totally bummed.

Gonna get on it this weekend and take it for a good 100+ mile run to break it in a bit.

[glasseye]

Nice to know I'm not the only bailer. After delivering Hammy's *superb condition* bench seat, I high-tailed it for Canby, OR to get Frito's long-suffering keyless entry system looked at by local Sprinter computer expert. Knowing that I had little time and far to go, I informed Bob that I wouldn't be camping with youse. Sorry.

It gets worse.


The Frito repair job was not fun. I needed to get his security modules re-programmed in order to recognize his new keyless entry system, but something went wrong with the coding. When I got all the way down to Grants Pass from Portland, I went to start him after fuelling up and got a "start error" message on the dash board. Not good. I managed to get him running eventually and then I had to drive all the way back up to Portland to get the trouble fixed. A day later and THREE trips up and down I-5, here I am in Cali at last.

Now in Eureka, CA, southbound, rain-soaked, looking forward to scoping out some surplus electronics stores in the Bay Area.

[hambone]

Great trip, it was epic.
Glasseye sorry to hear of your troubles. Safe journeys.
I am tired, that is a long drive.

[Westy78]

Glad we got out of there when we did. I hit snow and hard rain coming over the pass. I think it was going to be a wet day there today. We lucked out yesterday.

[deschutestrout]

Awesome one-nighter! I'm partial to that area as it's in my backyard. Great campsite you guys picked out....one of the best up there yet! Much more to explore for sure. Ready for the next...and the next....and the next. John...your bass sounded great! Very cool instrument...I know why you're excited...I get that way too when I get a new instrument...keep playin' ... that bass will add big time to our 'lil jam sessions in the hills...and I'll keep workin' on figurin' out the violin...tis a beast. We'll get some finger-cymbals for Jasan so he doesn't feel left out of the music. Until next time!