Nathan's Grand ExPoordition - Finally Departs Prescott
I'm excited to announce that the ExPoordition is finally on the road! I left Prescott at 0130 AM after several days of scrambled preparation. Preparations included not only packing clothes, food, tools and gear, but several last minute and critical repairs.
Repairs included installing a new parking brake cable and idler arm. These part arrived the day I needed to leave thus delaying my departure time increasing the frantic factor to about 90%.
The parking brake cable went in surprisingly easy however. Routing the cable was pretty simple and painless but the real teaser was figuring out how to get the severed cable end out off the “E-Brake” handle slide. After some unnecessary disassembly, fruitless FSM consultation, and desperate internet searching, I figured out (on my own) that the little “clicker/lock”mechanisms (both of them) needed to be pushed aft to unlock the slide to extend it far enough forward to expose the cable end and allow it to be removed and replace with the new one.
Next was the idler arm. This was easy and most satisfying as I used the biggest impact gun I could find and took to bolt extraction with a vengeance after the irritating brake cable ordeal. Nothing major about the install, just have a ball joint remover tool, a mallet, and its super simple.
I also installed a new back up light switch which is a simple un-thread and thread-in affair. What a novelty to have back up lights again. No more excuses for backing into trees anymore.
As midnight approached I raced frantically to finish the organizing and packing. With the help of my dear friend, Katrina Lopeman who graciously helped till the end, I managed to get all the tools, water cans, recovery gear, spares, clothes, and extra Overland Journal issues loaded and secured.
The first leg of the journey ended in Flagstaff at 0300 AM at my friend Jonathan Hannah's apartment. He graciously stayed up till I arrived and then had coffee, blue berry pancakes, and bacon crackling before I awoke in the morning. What an awesome friend.
Day 1. The Rush to Salt Lake
From FLG I headed North on HWY 89. Some where around the turn off to Page I came upon a fellow named Tyler, and his family in their Series IIa Land Rover. They were headed to Lake Powell for some beach camping before heading back to their home in Utah. He said he found two of these trucks in a field and from the two built the one. It was an inspiration to see them rumbling along at 53mph, loaded up with he baby in the front, dog in the back, and the canvas top flapping like sail headed on course to family adventure.
I doddled ahead, stopping to snap photos along the base if the intensely scenic Vermillion Cliffs. To make my inefficiency worse I soon became faced with my first decision to drive pavement or dirt. I chose dirt. I have always wanted to explore a particular off highway connector that wraps to the North of the Paria Plateau and eventually connects 89A with 89. This was a lovely road, with many tempting trails begging to be explored.
Before long I was back on the black top and making high revolutions North from Kanab still on HWY 89 to connect to HWY 70 and then finally I-15 into the city. I stopped at a swimming hole on the Virgin River I found an a previous trip, but the water was murky and somebody cut down the rope swing.
Day 2. Outdoor Retailer 2009
The rush to SLC was by Scott's encouraging, as he thought it would be good for me to attend the last day of the national Outdoor Retailer show. Here's a few photos of some of the popular vendors in attendance. It was here I had an excellent of conversation with a Choco rep who had several recommendations for summer back back country skiing and wheeling in Colorado.
Following the show a few wheelers and Portal friends have gathered at Paul May's lovely Frank Lloyd Wright inspired home for a pleasant evening of burgers and brew dogs.
Tomorrow we head East into the Wasatch to start our journey off highway to Leadvillle. Should be good!
