Wheeling no no.

[spencyg]

This comment is embarrassing.:Wow1:

Well I guess I should hang out wherever you do as it apparently is more my style. Not all, but many of the folks involved in off-road activities up this way fall into the very stereotypical category described above. It is unfortunate, and I certainly don't like it, but I welcome anybody who questions me to actively participate in the "scene" and report back with a different opinion...

Mind you, those people of which I speak wouldn't find ExPo in the least bit interesting, as we (ExPo) aren't out there for the sole purpose of getting stuck, breaking things, and treading heavily....

 

[R_Lefebvre]

Well I guess I should hang out wherever you do as it apparently is more my style. Not all, but many of the folks involved in off-road activities up this way fall into the very stereotypical category described above. It is unfortunate, and I certainly don't like it, but I welcome anybody who questions me to actively participate in the "scene" and report back with a different opinion...

Mind you, those people of which I speak wouldn't find ExPo in the least bit interesting, as we (ExPo) aren't out there for the sole purpose of getting stuck, breaking things, and treading heavily....

X2 on everything you've said in this thread. I feel the exact same way. I have found some groups who are good though. I tend to find the newer the rigs, the better the group. Not as a rule, but as a guideline. I've been our a few times with some JK guys, and they're decent. I've been out with a rag-tag local group, and they were drinking and driving, tearing up virgin wetlands, etc.

It is not a big deal if you are prepared and experienced.

I agree, but it also depends on the level of difficulty of the road/trail. I've been on other more hardcore boards where people are ridiculed for going out alone, and then on the flipside, ridiculed for not doing hardtrails. For some guys, the only world that exists is looking for something on which to break the truck, and fun is had when your buds are there to see it, and drag your truck out. I think "hold my beer and watch this!" is a very common phrase.

 

[spencyg]

I think "hold my beer and watch this!" is a very common phrase.

Precisely! ...and you don't even want to get me started on the ATV'ers....

:sombrero:

Spence

 

[C Red]

Its interesting that I have found a couple of groups of wheelers that near me that are responsible when on the trail. I guess the Toyota guys and the Land Rover groups I have wheeled with have been very reasonable in their activities, and are concerned not to part of the problem.
I think if you broadened your search you would be able to locate some responsible wheelers in your area. They can't all be in my backyard...:smiley_drive:

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I wish I could say all Land Rover or Toyota owners were responsible. I was at one LR club event, and the club president almost ran down somebodies kid, blasting up the trail at full throttle for no reason at all.

 

[05LR3AZ]

Precisely! ...and you don't even want to get me started on the ATV'ers....

:sombrero:

Spence

I'm not sure this is a fair assessment of ATV owners/riders. As with owners of any type of vehicle or people who participate in any type of activity, there are going to be those that make educated/thought out choices and others that don't. I think some of those 'ATVers' that you mention would probably make poor choices in other facets of their life as well...

I wish I could say all Land Rover or Toyota owners were responsible. I was at one LR club event, and the club president almost ran down somebodies kid, blasting up the trail at full throttle for no reason at all.

That is unfortunate that you witnessed such an event but I'm sure every group has a 'bad seed' here and there. I'm an ATV owner and also a Land Rover owner that is part of a group that promotes and supports a tread lightly approach to off-road driving. :smiley_drive:

I hope somebody took the time to tell that club president that his/her driving could have injured someone... :yikes:

 

[R_Lefebvre]

I'm not sure this is a fair assessment of ATV owners/riders. As with owners of any type of vehicle or people who participate in any type of activity, there are going to be those that make educated/thought out choices and others that don't. I think some of those 'ATVers' that you mention would probably make poor choices in other facets of their life as well...

I agree with this. We have to be careful not to fall into the same trap of grouping everyone together, as it often works against us. My parents have two quads, and ride them responsibly. Occaisionally I take them out for some fun as well. They're just as much fun as anything else, and safe, when used properly.

My dirtbike friends always insult ATV riders too, but when one of them grabbed a fistfull of throttle into a tree and broke his arm, it was passing ATV's who got him out. Even returned one of us to the scene to get his bike out.

 

[CanuckMariner/Nomad]

Getting back the main topic: travelling solo!

I travel almost exclusively solo as I have abundant time, and the time to get south is at least 2 days plus, so I tend to dovetail trips together for longer periods. Few can take off for 1-3 months or more.

One the main reasons I joined this forum and a few others was to meet up with folks for various portions of my trips and this has worked out great. I have been lucky to meet up with a great bunch of people, made new friends and hope to do more trails in the future with them again.

As my trips can be length, I need time to organize these and ask for participants usually several month in advance as some portions are a week or more in length and people need time to schedule that in their life (work, family, vacation, etc.). Some show interest early and then can't make it (that's OK...I understand other priorities), some are into it right from the start and then bail (that's OK too, things happen!). But all I really want is for a few (say 3-4) to come along, to have some fun, new experiences, solve some worldly problems verbally, etc.

I look at it that there are places I want to go, see, explore and I want to get them in while I still can, things change. Health for one, priorities, family, interests and then there is the outside influences, regulations and closures.

Back to travelling solo: Scout's motto for sure applies here! Good maintenance and weighing risks, also play a critical role. Lastly, your driving skills and what your rig is capable of play the ultimate role.

Solo (just you - no GFs, spouses, etc.) travel is great at times, but I find that when I do travel solo, I tend to travel more distance in a given time period simply cause there isn't anything else to do and I travel late into t day just so I don't have to sit around waiting for sleep to take over. Exploring is more fun with someone, fireside chin-wagging is more fun with someone (I hate it when I answer myself as that means something is really wrong, LOL).

I can only stay at a secluded beach in Baja or a kool camp site in the desert for so many days, after which I get bored and have had enough time to myself. Small town cantinas, tavernas, pubs, etc. are only fun until the first ale or two are down, then who do you talk to? The bartender can only offer so much to the conversation and then what?

Suggestion: Since their are so many solo adventurers out there (>50% by Scott's estimate) let's see if we can get together in the future and do some trips with each other.

 

[05LR3AZ]

travel solo

If only I could have that much time to travel (1+ months?!).

CanuckMariner - looks like you've been to some really cool and unique places. From the pics it looks like great fun! :sombrero: