Relay for Life 4x4 Run pre-run

This Saturday June 15th will be the 1st Annual Relay for life 4x4 Run.  It will be a great day to support a great cause. All proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society. It should be lots of fun, with lots of cool prizes from some awesome sponsors. Click here to see sponsors and raffle prizes.




This evening I hit the trails with one of the Trail Guides for the event to pre-run a couple trails. It was a much needed break from finals week!

We started with Stick in the Nose. 

The view of the rock crawl 

We ended our night on Bates Road trail. No photos of that trail. I don't have enough hands to hold a camera and navigate a hill climb LOL 

Play Safe and Tread Lightly! 

A 4 Wheeling Mom

Lesson Learned

As many of you  know and for those that don't, I use Pelican cases
on a roof rack to store survival gear and tools. These awesome cases are weather proof. They have been up there for over 2 years and my gear stays nice and dry no matter the weather condition. That is until recently. 

Well water did not get in to the case, but water sure couldn't get out. I decided to upgrade my spark plugs today, as they have been sitting on my desk for four or five months. Guess what I found when I opened my case? Oh did I mention I had tossed a half case of water in the same Pelican case as my hand tools?  I bet you have an idea where this is going now. :-) 

Yep you guessed it, several of those water bottles broke open and turned my case in to an indoor swimming pool for my tools. All that water was sealed tight in my case along with my tools. I know have pretty red-ish brown tools. 

 The wrenches fared much better than the sockets did.



























Moral of this story is don't 
store water in a weather proof case with your tools.




We will clean them up best we can and use them until they break I guess LOL Good thing we have several sets of tools between Dad and I. 











Play Safe and Tread Lightly!
A 4 Wheeling Mom 

A Date With Dad

Dad and I have spent so much time between school and homework we have not gotten to do many one on one things. So this last week we had finals week, and after my last final I decided I was taking Dad out for the day to celebrate decompressing from finals and an early Fathers day present.

What do you need to have a good date in our house?

• A picnic lunch
• 2 full tanks of gas
• 2 Jeeps ( if one we only argue over who will drive) 
• Junk food
• A Map of  the Tillamook State Forest OHV park. 

We have found for the price of a movie and dinner we can spend a full day on the trails! Friday we spent 10 hours in the woods. If we go to a movie and dinner we get what maybe 3 hours of entertainment? 

We headed up to the Tillamook State Forest for a day on the trails. 

We ran 

1. Bates Road # 24
2. Power line b,c, #4
3. University Fire power (both sections) #10
4. Cedar Tree  #13
5. Hogs Back  #18
6. Played at the bottom of Little Rubicon Power line E  # 4
7. Power line b,c,d  #4

The Day's starting point. 

Dad and I are to tall to drive under the Cedar Tree so we backed up so we could at least have some Tree photos LOL 

Mom drove up Hogs Back for the first time! WOOHOOO

Dad sitting at the bottom of Little Rubicon Day dreaming about trying it :-) 

 It was an awesome day, just what we both needed! We both came home relaxed and with huge smiles on our faces! 

For more photo's click here 

Play Safe and Tread Lightly

A 4 Wheeling Mom

Helping on The Tail

I love that the off road community helps each other out. I have received help in the past and have given it.

Today while taking a break , two motorcyclist past us. Nothing unusual there we are in an OHV park after all.  A few minutes later a loan rider returned. He asked if we had any tools with us. His friend had popped the bead on his rear tire.  After a bit of talking, and trying to figure out what tools he would need we decided just to drive up to where he was.

We had what he needed to get his tire back on and re-inflated. They both where thankful as they where on the opposite side of the park as their camp and tools. Would have been a long walk.  Their thank yous where more than enough payment for our help. I was glad to be able to pay it forward so to speak.

As I was putting stuff away in the back of my rig and Dad was in the back of his, one of the kids yelled  from where he was something about my drink. I figured he was telling me not to forget it as it was on the fender of  Dad's Jeep. When I walked up there, they had placed a $5 bill under my cup. I grabbed it and said Oh no you don't need to pay us. As I walked forward to hand it back they both speed off so I could not give it back.  Those little stinkers!!!

When I stopped to think about it, that is a testament to the fine young men they must be, and to their parents for raising such thoughtful children.  The thought of payment for our help NEVER crossed my mind, If they had asked I would have told them to pay it forward to someone else on the trails. I don't help others for payment of any kind, well ok a thank you is nice to hear :-) but I do it because it's the right thing to do, and I know I appreciate it so much with others help us.

I just had to share this story of these 2 young men so if they ever see this, I want to thank them for being so thoughtful and appreciative of our help.




Play Safe and Tread Lightly
A 4 Wheeling Mom

Mom Vs The Caliper

Dad and I were outside listening to the not so comforting sounds his very old, very over work engine. I turned around and saw what you see in the photo to the left. OH Crap was my first thought. I don't need to have to replace anything on my Jeep! One Jeep on it's last leg is enough in this family. 





So I head out first thing this morning and start taking the front end apart. 









I check the brake lines, dry as a bone, I then check out the Caliper seal, it too is dray as a bone.




















Dad Double check everything and he agreed, no leaks where visible from any brake parts, or axle seals. We take a closer look at the dripping on the tire, hmmm it is not oily or greasy looking any more. It is dried, hmmm. We are now thinking maybe a cat sprayed it the night before last.  We have way to many that run free in our area.  



                                                            I start putting it all back together and was asking Dad if the caliper bolts need to be torqued and if so to what? When all of a sudden SNAP!! and the wrench moved easily in my hand!  NOT GOOD! 

The bottom bolt snapped off halfway down the threads. NOT GOOD!  Dad was able to wiggle the caliber off and the bolt was sticking out a hair. He was able to get needle nosed vise grips on it and get it out! WOOHOOO  My Hero! 


We did have a small discussion about him taking over and me not learning if he just does it. I heard blah blah blah If I break it worse I can't blame anyone else.  O.K. I can live with that! LOL HEHEH I'm not a dumb woman, I know when I have a get out of jail free card!  LOL  I took his Jeep down to the parts store and got new bolts and pu her all back together! WOOHOOO! My breakage only cost $3.29 why is it when Dad breaks something it cost WAY?more? Maybe I don't want to know 0_0


Oh and I got to use my new ratchet set! Dad got me for my birthday!  I didn't have borrow one tool from him :-) I had everything  I needed in my own kit! 


Play Safe, and Tread Lightly
4x4 Mom

Mom Installs Her I-Rack System

I have had this thing sitting in my living room for oh 6 + months.  It just never seemed more important than other things that needed being done. You know like playing in the Jeep LOL Until the night we got stuck on the Mountain.  Our friend  popped a tire right off his rim.

Well, he and I are both on the less than tall side, and getting the Hi Lift off the top of my Jeep was not an easy thing for us to do by ourselves.  Especially on uneven ground with that passenger side pointing up word LOL

We were able to get it down and get the tire changed! WOOHOO US!  but I didn't bother to put it back up 

Today was a beautiful day and Dad and some free time and was able to give me a second set of hands when needed so we got it installed. Oh and I only ended up with a hand full of left over parts! LOL 

No Pj's today but I did wrench in my slippers!

Now I need to decide what to do with the mounting brackets on the passenger side of my rack.

Play Safe and Tread Lightly

4 Wheeling Mom

Getting the Juices Flowing

The Ugly Duckling has been giving us issues. If you remember from The Trails Bite Back  Dad broke down and some awesome friends helped get us off the mountain. The fuse for the fuel pump blew so Dad replaced the fuse, and all was good for about a week. She started having issues starting after being shut off. Dad thought maybe it was the fuel filter because the issue was intermittent.Dad changed the fuel filter out and there was no change. He still had issues getting her to start after shut off, then one day she just wouldn't start again. The next logical thought was the fuel pump.

Dad had bought a fuel pump when we bought the Ugly Duckling, but never got around putting it in. Dad spent a  long wet windy day a few weeks ago replacing the fuel pump. If you have never dropped a gas tank it is not an easy task for one person. Dad didn't ask for help so he struggled. Note, Boys and Girls if you need help ask someone.  He got it all done and back together and nothing! He was a bit frustrated to say the least. Unfortunately do to weather and school the Ugly Duckling has had to wait to be fixed.

Today was the perfect day! No school, no rain, no wind, and the sun was in the sky! WOOHOOO!

Dad crawled under the Jeep before we started the process of dropping the tank, and found this wire. It was pulled part way out of the connection and fraying. Dad called me out to
take a look and snap a few pictures. This wire is located  between gas tank and the frame of the Jeep. Not a an easy place to work. So even though we could see the issue we still had to drop the tank to fix it.
















I was not there for the tank dropping last time. This was a whole new experiences for me. Lots of jack work and wiggling the tank to get it out with out dropping in on one of us. We used 2 bottle style jacks and a floor jack to lower it down. The tank is an over sized tank and can't drop straight down it has to be loosened then pulled over and down at an angle.





                                                         



And it is out!

When we got the tank all the way out Dad unplugged the fuel pump and this is what he found. The plug on the new pump had come apart as well. Luckily we still had the old pump and where able to scavenge the plug from it and splice it in. I don't play with electricity or electrical wirering. So while Dad did that part I organized my recovery and survival gear.

After dad got the wires all done and hooked back up we started her up before re-installing the gas tank so that we were sure it was working before going through all that work to get it back in place.

Dad did let Me put the filler hose back in place and re-install the licences plate frame! :-)


I am happy to report that the Jeep started up several times with no issues and Dad took her for a test drive and made it home! WOOHOOOO!













Play Safe and Tread Lightly
4 Wheeling Mom

WOW How Time Flies!

I started this blog and my Facebook page on a whim on this  day 2 months ago. I had no inkling I would have over 1600 blog views in that time or over 170 followers on Facebook.  Everyone I have approached about interviews has been more than willing to participate. I have met some really awesome people along the way too! The off road community has been so welcoming and supporting of me. Thanks everyone.
Special Thanks to Starlie at Poison Spyder for being my first victim err I mean Interview! Thanks to Lucas from Land Pirates Off Road for taking the time to let this crazy lady he knows nothing about interview him.

I'm having a total blast keeping the blog and Facebook page up. I hope to be able to share my adventures and interview some more cool people along the way. I have a ton of ideas bouncing around in my head. Yes that is the hollow sound you hear when standing next to me.  I just hope I get the chance to do them and share them with you guys! I want to take some road trips and interview people in their natural habitat :-) But we will have to figure out funding for that :-)  I have a couple interviews in the works, but it is the busy season for people in the off road race circuit and in off road product manufacturing. So as soon as I get them back I will get them up.

Again thanks to everyone that has made this blog and my Facebook page such a successes.

The Slide show at the top of the page is from the Wrangler Groups very first event. We drove over to Long Beach Washington, drove up the length of the beach had lunch and drove back down. It was an awesome first event.

We even got a little winching class in! :-) this poor youth group drove a little to far down the beach and got stuck.  So what do you do when you drive a 4x4 with a winch LOL you un-stick it LOL

Play Safe, Tread Lightly

4 Wheeling Mom

Pack Out What You Pack In

Illegal dumping has been an issue for many generations. I hate it when I see dump sites in nature. It bugs me just as much to see someones McDonald cup tossed on the side of a trail or road. To me it's all the same, a big black garbage bag full of your crap or just a fast food wrapper.

Not only does it look nasty, but it is harmful to the environment, could cause health hazards for humans, and is costly to clean up. I could go on all day about the harm it can do to wildlife. For a little more info Check out this PDF from Green Sweep 

On the off road front, dumping trash of small or large amount can get trails and road closed down. As Off Roaders we have so many things to worry about to keep our trails open, but one of the easiest to avoid is littering.

The problem starts with one person thinking" It won't matter if I toss this one thing out the car window"  Then the next person comes along and thinks the same thing. Next thing you know you have 10 or 20 people thinking tossing only one item won't make a difference, but it does! You now have 20 pieces of trash where there was none.  Now this one spot on the trail looks more like a garbage dump than a beautiful trail in the mountains, desert, beach, mud or where ever you wheel. This goes for all off road activities boating, hiking, horseback riding, biking skiing ect.

Is it that hard to keep a trash bag or a roll of them in your rig? No I didn't think so. Is it that hard to stop and actually take it out and put your trash in it? No I didn't think so.  I'm proud to say I know many off-road enthusiast that pack out more than they brought in! I strive to be that type of person, but I'm not perfect. I don't always take out more than I bring, but I never leave anything behind!


Check out this video from The Vermont Jeepgirl. She found this dump site while out on a drive. It breaks my heart! She wanted to organize a trail clean up, but found out it had already been closed :-(

Check Vermont Jeepgirl out on Facebook by clicking here 

Don't let this happen to your favorite trail! 

4 Wheeling Mom

Drive Safe, Have Fun, and Tread Lightly!

Mom and Dad Have a Different Sort of Adventure

Cooking Pot

We went to dinner at the home of some good friends of our. They introduced us to a traditional winter dish from China. They called it Hot Pot.  This dish is an ongoing meal you eat as food is cooked adding different things along the way such as beef, fish, tofu, pot stickers, leafy veggies, mushrooms and other goodies. It last for a couple of hours. It made for a great way to gather around the table and have a great conversation with friends.

I did not  tell Dad what was for dinner until just before leaving. HAHA Dad has a  little picky eating issue and doesn't like to try new things.

When we walked in the dinner table was set and each spot had chopsticks. One look at Dad's face and they offered him a fork :-) In the 20 + years we have been together I don't think I have ever seen Dad use chopsticks, and last night was no different :-)  I admit it had been a while since I had used chopsticks but after a few fumbles and bits of dropped food I was proficient enough I was in no danger of starving :-)  Dad ended up enjoying the meats they had :-) See what happens when you try new foods :-) I still can't get him to eat his veggies!  HAHA

After we ate our fill we sipped on blooming tea while we finished our conversation. 

It was an awesome night, we stayed way longer than we planed LOL did you know the freeway is empty at 1:00 am ?

Be Prepared

Even when Dad and I go out to play just for the day, with a group of people, we still take all our survival gear. It is better to be overly prepared than lost in the woods and no equipment. Maybe it's because Dad did Search and Rescue in his younger years, and both our boys gave 4 years to our local Search and Rescue team that I'm anal about being prepared.

   



We always carry with us:

1. Fire starting material:  flint and steel, wind proof matches, hatchet, and lint from our dryer ( works great as tender if you can't find anything near by. Some people I know use cotton balls dipped in wax)
2. First Aid Kit
3. Tarps for making shelter
4. Ropes 
5. 6 gallons of water. Water is good for drinking, cleansing, and putting out unwanted fires.
6. Water filtration system.
7. Food for several days per person. ( yes even if we are planning just a few hour trip I load the cooler up and toss it in) 
8. Hand and foot warmers
9. Several different weight jackets. I live in the Pacific Northwest. Weather can change quickly. 
10. Dry socks. 
11. Hat
12. If  Dad and I are going out alone we toss the chain saw in. We use this for clearing trails and for fire wood for the camp fire. 
13.  I NEVER leave home with out my Spot Locator device. I have the basic device with basic plan. Makes my family feel much better about Dad and I playing in the woods. 
14. Survival Knife
15. Shovel
16. and stuff I'm sure I'm forgetting several things that are always in the rigs

This list does not include tools and other such gear we carry all the time.

4 days of gear for 4 people

Another big thing is making sure someone knows where you are going to be. So if you are not home by X time or day they can send out the Calvary to find you.  Again Spot serves me well. I check in when I start my journey and it post on facebook we are OK and our location. I check in several times during the day and again one last time when we get home or back to camp for the night. That way there is always record of our last know GPS location.  Spot also has a 911 button so if we do have an emergency like being lost or injured so badly we can't make it out of the woods we can get help to us. I never want to have to look the SAR people in the face and say I'm sorry I wasn't prepared! I also don't want to be "that" story on the news. 

OH and NEVER rely 100% on your GPS. Get maps of the area. Look them over and get somewhat familiar with where you are and where you are going! 

Because we carry all that and more we can go to places like this and not worry so much about the what if's while we are there! We took care of the worrying while packing our bags! 

Play Safe and Tread Lightly
Mom

Shout Out To The Guys at The Shop

Dad injured his back on the job about 15 + years ago. He was a mechanic when I met him, and then moved on to metal fabrication. Oh the things we could do if only... We are lucky we found a shop in our neighborhood that we are very comfortable with, and the employees all live in our neighborhood.  I love supporting the local economy when possible! I'm sure we have made a couple vacation possible over the last year! :-) I love my shop so much the guys have become friends. They wheel with us from time to time. Not as often as I would like, but when you are an empty nester you can do things a little more often than those with kids at home still. Such is the nature of the beast of life.

I just wanted to say thanks to the guys for helping us get the stuff done we can't do ourselves these days. If you are ever in the Beaverton area and need work done to your off road vehicle or want to add some accessories to your car look up Patrick and Brian at Accessory OutFitters   Or look them up on Facebook 

Sir err I mean Ma'am!

One of the things that happens frequently to a girl playing in a mans world is you get called Sir a lot.  Men who don't know you just assume a toy like I drive must belong to a man. Only way a women would drive such a thing is if it belonged to her man. Only time my man gets to drive my toy is when it is blocking his in and we are to lazy to move rigs around! :-)

Every time I pull in to a gas station that I don't frequent, or a new attendant is working I get "what can I get your sir? Oh I'm sorry ma'am"?  In parts stores men are always surprised that I actually know what I'm talking about. OY! I don't know it all, but I  know a bit more than the average woman or man for that matter. I know plenty of men that don't know a thing one about cars, and really don't want to know. So don't assume women are to dumb to know or just don't want to know about cars. There are plenty of us out there that do.

Last parts guy I ran in to had the gull to ask me " you know what the part looks like?" with shock on his face. I told him " Yes I do. I do get my nails dirty" He was not sure how to respond to that LOL

So my friend at PSC had some pink Spyder logo's made up for her and her girlfriends.  I then had a friend with a vinyl cutter make me a couple stickers that say Her Toy!  in green ( the accent color I'm going with). I'm curious to see if this will change the fact I get called Sir all too frequently.

Yes the only clean spot is where I cleaned it to put the sticker on haha

With my luck it will not change a thing, but it will give me something to point at and say "can you read?"