NC to OR on the TAT in my 4Runner

[SirWilliamGoes]

DAY 17 & 18

WOW!! Man what a last couple days!!! As with many things in my life the past couple days have been lessons wrapped in blessings!!
When I started planning this trip in 2012 it was based off of a forum I was reading (like y'all ) about someone in a Tacoma (I work in Automotive and LOVE Toyota and they have paid me well!!) Traveling across the US. I started mapping places I wanted to go in mine, these place are in the map I shared on here. About a yr later I found out about the Trans America Trail and it was everything I wanted. Off road and I could enjoy most if the places I wanted to see in my map. I figured the perfect time to take the trip was Apr. Winter would ve too cold and summer too Hot i was available spring so None the less, long story short I never planned for snow!! After all where I'm from its 90° right now!

I should have known after the first time getting stuck scare for 3hr on the side of mountain with no cell signal in the snow. Snow is my nemesis!!! I can across some today and thought again like a dummy that I could handle it!! Well turns out hauling *** toward a batch of snow is not the best approach!! I was stuck from 2-3pm pst till 10ish the next day, I know I'm a dummy!!!

After trying to get out I decided to try cell signal to call for help but nothing. Lucky I had stopped to get groceries, and I have made a habbit of getting gas at half a tank or b4 big climb, so I could camp if need be. I was still stressed though because ultimately I was fine however I didn't have the choice to leave when I wanted as I have always had. So I changed into dry undies, and slept very well for the circumstances believe it or not. Once I woke up I was hoping that running the engine for hrs the day b4 and then hrs in the am (I turned it off to sleep) would melt the snow enough to get out, I was wrong. I was still WAY stuck. So I cooked some breakfast and had started to make coffee when out of nowhere I was blessed with Tony, his son Garret and dog to help me get unstuck!!!

I have lots of video that I will get out soon!

After getting unstuck I continued on and got rerouted a couple times today because there is NO WAY I will go through snow again. I came to the conclusion that I wanted a hotel and deserved it. The ones in the little towns I was in were too high so I looked in a town I knew the name of, Eugene OR. Turns out a bunch of motivated people got together and decided they wanted to run FOR FUN!! So all the hotels were taken, also interesting notes when u look on Google for a hotel, the phone sets it's own date not today's date. That said I'm overpaying tremendously for a room, that's 100miles from where I need to be (slightly misinterpreted themap!!) I will get the video up tomorrow, tonight I'm ready to chill and relax. Here are the pics from everything!!

In Oregon I stayed at Farewell Bend state park which was only OK. I would have rather tayed down the Rd on the side of the river. Nine the less the scenery leaving was great

Made it all the way to Oregon without one of these

My Nemesis showed up early

At one point I had to break out the chain saw and cut a tree blocki g the path just to come up to snow I refused to drive on.

Then out of nowhere I got ballsy and decided that I could do it!! Well I was stuck. I tried everything. Even this!!!

The back bumper is officially ready for replacing between Moab and my redneck engineering!!
Knowing I was stuck I figured that I would make a sign just so if anybody came up on me during the night.

Lucky I'm out now!! Thanks for those that were concerned. Know if you don't hear from me for 24full hrs theres probably a problem!! I have tons of video hopefully I can get loaded but I'm best so I will talk to y'all l8er

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[chuppie]

SirWilly,
Your adventure is really turning into a REAL adventure!. I'm not trying to tell you what to do and I know you know this but people have died getting stuck in the mountains even this time of year. Local knowledge is always good. Ask around before attempting mountain passes off season. A bit more advice, ask more then one local. Gas stations, auto part stores, and local restaurant patrons are my first choice. Farmers are my last choice unless you can easily hail them from the road. Also, if there are no tire tracks in the snow, there is usually a reason. Solo in unfamiliar mountain passes is always risky, pair up with somebody if possible for at least the hazardous unknown section. There is usually always a quad rider around. Please stay safe, we want to read more from you in the future.

Regards

 

[SirWilliamGoes]

SirWilly,
Your adventure is really turning into a REAL adventure!. I'm not trying to tell you what to do and I know you know this but people have died getting stuck in the mountains even this time of year. Local knowledge is always good. Ask around before attempting mountain passes off season. A bit more advice, ask more then one local. Gas stations, auto part stores, and local restaurant patrons are my first choice. Farmers are my last choice unless you can easily hail them from the road. Also, if there are no tire tracks in the snow, there is usually a reason. Solo in unfamiliar mountain passes is always risky, pair up with somebody if possible for at least the hazardous unknown section. There is usually always a quad rider around. Please stay safe, we want to read more from you in the future.

Regards

Thanks, yes lesson learned!! I assure you this guy will not make way through any more snow!!

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[SirWilliamGoes]

DAY 19

I woke up this morning and decided to upload the YouTube video and then head on down I5 to meet back up with the Trail. I had misread the map and went northwest instead of Southwest. So I was about 150mi away. I also was upset that I spent 120 on a hotel room because there was apparently a marathon was in town so they gouged me!! Nonetheless I headed out after getting some decent sleep.

After about 2hrs of driving I finally got back on the Trail then, after about 3 or 4hrs of more off road driving I MADE IT!!! I had finally made it to the Oregon coast!! I was in Port orford at a beach with only a few people. I thought it would be a good idea to drive on the beach, guess what happened, Yep, I got stuck!!!! So after being Stu k for a while some locals came down freaking out saying that the tide was about to come up. I told them I wasn't slightly worried because I had full coverage and the ocean taking the car would mean no more payments, I just needed a ride to the airport!!! I let all the air out the tires and worked at it for a while and finally I got unstuck. I hund around with some folks I meet and drank a beer and watched what I thought to be the absolute best sunset I have ever seen in my life. Everything always happens for a reason and I truly think that I was stuck so that I could see the sunset. After that I was able to make it up to the local bar. Which is where I'm at now. Here's the pics from today's journey

For what ever reason my phone isn't letting me get all the pics loaded. I'll try tomorrow.

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[SirWilliamGoes]

Everything is made of Myrtle wood here this was a t the bar called aggots I think that's how you spell it. I know it's a type of rock

This stuff is a hot commodity back home

Some TAT riders that have made it to this same bar

I had to explain to everyone what the TAT stood for on the bathroom, they have never known. To top it off its OK to write on the walls here.
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[SirWilliamGoes]

Okay I have the week three YouTube video!! To include Moab and Getting stuck!!

https://youtu.be/XSkHUsSphco


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[chuppie]

Excellent
I enjoyed your trip immensely.
Have a SAFE ride home.

Regards

 

[SirWilliamGoes]

Excellent
I enjoyed your trip immensely.
Have a SAFE ride home.

Regards

It's not over!! Only half way

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[SirWilliamGoes]

I'm in California headed down 101 and would love to meet up with some folks and maybe do some Trail riding and have some beers. If anyone is down y'all just tell me where to meet!!!

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[SirWilliamGoes]

DAY 20

Last night after staying at the bar till last call!! I had meet Mitch and his brother. Mitch said to come crash at his place right up the Rd. I agreed that was a better idea than driving around looking for a spot to camp. So we headed to the store, for beer of course, and then to Mitch's. While we were chilling outside he was telling me that they had like 4or5 generations living on the same 5acres. I'm familiar with this since that's how my family was in SC Mitch's family however was a bit different from mine. Come to find out we had to sneek the beers because Grandma and Grandpa were strict Mormon's and alcohol was not to be on the property at all!!

After crashing at Mitch's I woke up and was going to start my trek down south after I stepped at Cape Blanco. According to Mitch's Grandpa that was the furthest point West you can get in the continental US with the exception of Alaska. So that's where I went, and I got to see up closer those rocks I watched the sunset over the night b4. Here's the pics from last night and today!!

Mitch and I, this is a screenshot of the video since I didn't take a pic

Cool chair at Mitch's house

Car fans this is a Nash metropolitan

The lighthouse at Cape Blanco

Very first time ever having a scone. It was good

I went to Arcata CA which was cool saw this neat photo. For almost $400 I'll get my ol'lady to pose in front a pine tree!!! ********!!

Not sure who he is but evidence shows he was important. I did t read about him!!

After messing around a little in town I went to Patrick's point and was told I had to pay $35 for a camp site!!!!!! Considering 2more dollars got me a room at a casino in Nevada I was out!!!! So I moved on to Big Lagoon where I'm at for the night. I have to say I like it here. I have everything g set up, even re arranged the truck to where I can ride with everything and the rear seats up!!! Paid $1.25 and got a hot shower now I'm sitting on the beach watching the sunset writing you guys
This is right outside camp

Tomorrow I have to find a laundromat and other than that nothing but driving!! South!! Till tomorrow.

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[SirWilliamGoes]

ADVICE NEEDED

So it was mentioned earlier in the thread that I need to eat my veggies or eat better! I couldn't agree more, that being said I wanna here what's y'alls favorite healthyish camp site meal


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[calicamper]

Gramps use to pack in shrimp, and whip up a killer fresh salad with shrimp on it. That was back country horse packing!! Er camping..
I've found that old gramps was onto something given I've done that a few times now also.

 

[SirWilliamGoes]

Gramps use to pack in shrimp, and whip up a killer fresh salad with shrimp on it. That was back country horse packing!! Er camping..
I've found that old gramps was onto something given I've done that a few times now also.

Hrm, Ive never had shrimp salad. I'll have to look for a recipe. Now its not like tuna "salad" u know just tuna and Mayo!!

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[calicamper]

Just fresh salad with fresh shrip tossed in. That and apparently shrimp makes for good trout bait too.

 

[94Wrangler]

Glad you finally made it to the end! It was only fitting that you got stuck on the beach!