This was my first event ever with Expedition Portal - all I can say is WOW - :wings: - I'm still riding the high.
The most amazing part of the event wasn't the fantastic trucks and modifications and camp setups - it was hands-down the people. What a group this is. It was so wonderful to meet everyone.
I've done a lot of outback group camping in Mexico when I was diving a lot, and lead trips into Mexico, and it's always an ordeal dealing with the usual group putzes. Well, no putzes on Expedition Portal!
Everyone is generous, polite, and best of all - a laugh a minute. My smile muscles hurt.:sombrero:
Thanks a million to Scott, Chris, Brian, Pasqual and Kristina - great job guys! - the sponsors (Paul, Wil and Jen, Mario) - great contributions from Stephanie and Sharon (chimichurri sauce - wow) - and all the competitors willing to give it your all.
And thanks also from the bottom of my heart (beginning to sound like a beauty pageant here) for all your support of African Conservation Fund and our efforts - I can't express how much it means to me, as I'm struggling to get things going on this important effort. It's food for my soul, too - not to mention some sweet cash after that auction! Scott - you're awesome for inviting me to give my spiel.
Favorite moments for me:
- Brian's Jeep in flight and the looks on all our faces (Brian: did you file a flight plan?)
- Justin and Miles following suit - with an Adventure Trailer attached. Oh my.
- Watching the Mighty Mouse blaze through all the courses (Jeff's Vitara)
- Amy tearing up the course (did a GREAT job blindfolded), and bustling up the cliff with sand ladders on the group challenge - 6 months pregnant. I'm not prone to using this vernacular - but you rock Amy!
- The auction after my presentation Thursday night - thank you everyone!
- The stunning landscapes we explored - and the renewed sense that we live in such a wonderful country where we have the foresight to protect these places before they all become like . . . Anthem (which we drove through on the way back - shudder with great fear and loathing)
- Driving the whole route without losing a mud flap. I had no idea you guys actually take them off. I think I'll just see how many tough trails I can do with the stock flaps in place ;-)
- Cherokee and Dezzy and Olly playing
We don't have many photos, as we were either marshalling events (jumping out of the way of blindfolded drivers) or busy driving. But here are some to share.
My favorite new African Conservation Fund supporters - and our team videographers who worked their tails off getting great footage. Pasqual and Kristina - stylish belt and hat there, girl!
If there had been a Quickest and Most Styish Cool Camp Competition, our Trophy Winners would have taken that, too. Here's Team Tacozona's camp, complete with - yes - a Williams-Sonoma barbeque set. Style.
And all my other shots are of the great modifications on many vehicles, so I can get my Taco-Zebra up to speed - but I must say I obsessed on this great mod on Justin/Miles' Jeep setup. External lights under the body for great visibility. I had the hardest time on the last day when we had to drive the tough rocks with the zillion-foot dropoff on the left - in the dark!
It was the sole moment on the trip where we had a Marital Moment, maneuvering around that dang cattleguard: Jonathan kept saying "you have to get closer to the edge" and I kept NOT doing it and he kept saying "more driver more driver!" and I kept doing more passenger more passenger - But we made it without rolling off into oblivion. But I really want this little lights:
That's it for now. sorry no flight shots - you'll see plenty soon.
Jonathan and I didn't compete in the Trophy this year - but next year, watch out: Grendel commeth.
