d.shaw 2012 DCSB build

Epic stuff!

 

Cheers - def good for the soul

 

I need to get out of California and explore ASAP. I did a big Utah trip last fall and it was epic. Been itching to hit the eastern sierra at the very least.

 

yeah - I def feel the need to get away a bit further, but time isn't always on our side - so I try to take what I get and smile at all the amazing spots in the country

 

Glad you found it. And the pictographs, too; those aren't well-known!

Love the comment about two nights in one spot - I'm as guilty as you with moving around. We just found a spot that I mentioned to my better half, that I'd like to return to for a couple days to just relax. We'll see if it ever happens.

 

A change of scenery is always nice but even the quick/close trips are better than just being parked at home.

 

Hence why I’m going to the Lost Coast to camp at a buddy’s ranch this weekend. Why not!

 

Probably would not have had I not read your trip report (and the kayaker) but the not moving for a couple nights was actually really cool - stress free and fun to just be there, maybe we will do it more. (perhaps its an actual thing....?)

 

Very true mate, we have done a couple quick trips with family that were in town recently, its fun to show them a little bit of why we camp -

 

The last time we camped in the Lost Coast we went to a place called http://www.cowlicksicecream.com/ in Fort Bragg for ice cream - for breakfast. they had 'Hokey Pokey' which is a New Zealand classic, and 'mushroom' which I really enjoyed to be honest

Also passed a place up there with zebras in the pasture with the cows and stuff....

 

Oh I’ve heard of this place! We will definitely stop.

 

Walking around the truck before departing camp recently I saw a load of debri from the two track roads we were driving, all caught up in the skid plates. They hadn't caught on fire yet but at camp I used the air compressor and the small blower thingy the get rid of as much as I could. I don't run a tank so it was lots of short bursts - but it cleared it quick enough...



We had some transmission heating problems during the climb up to search for other camp spots - and after having had similar issues last year in DV (in July) and having to replace the blocked radiator - once home I decided to take a look. These things were stuck thru the radiator etc, so I removed the skid plates and had to try to pull them back out one by one. Like they were several inches long......thru the radiator



Couldn't get them all but got as many as I could, and made a note to wash down the fins....see how it goes -

 

A few months ago decided that I really have no use for the rear seats - so for my birthday in June Sally and Grace gifted me a Goose Gear 60% rear seat delete. We ordered thru our local dealer @ https://ursaminorvehicles.com/campers/jeep-camper.html who make wedge campers with Jeeps (they were super friendly - but ensure you know what you want / part numbers etc as they are Jeep people) and the Goose Gear arrived in @5-6 weeks. It was an easy install as I have previously removed all the seats and laid down some sound deadening (to both our trucks) and as I have the factory subwoofer - I loose a little bit of that extra space, but should be able to keep our med kits in the old behind the seat storage part



I was unhappy about the now difference in angle of the homemade platform and the Goose Gear - so I set about to attempt to even them out, simply by installing the homemade portion the same way as the GG - using the bracket of the underseat storage (instead of the hinges of the stock seats). I am for sure not much of a carpenter but happy with the result and my attempted use of randoms tools - although the angles are not perfect - it should be alright (until I decide to order the GG 40% at least) hmmmm perhaps a drawer system now.......? who wants new back seats - for sale cheap

 

My sister came out to visit recently, my oldest sibling she has always looked out for me and helped me in a tremendous way over the years, so when she asked about coming out and it coincided with Oscar being in town, we jumped at it. She has not been camping for I dont know how long so we took her to our favourite local spot for a night. It's about a 3 hr drive so not too far, is at a little bit of altitude so good in the summer time, has trees and a decent view. we lit a fire, cooked some steak, ate tacos and roasted marshmallows ( and had a couple drinks) Oscar slept in the hammock which was not so great as the night was quite windy, but teaches him a decent lesson about how spoilt we are in the trucks

It was a good time all around and brought a big smile to my sisters face - so thankful to have the opportunity

 

I approve of this thread!

Some days I miss that Drifter.

 

Gidday mate, trying to take good care of her and show her about a bit as well. Was happy to see your truck get some love lately, its looking good !

 

To follow up on sister visits, a couple years ago I got to take my sister on a tandem skydive, which was really cool for me and something I thought would never happen, but one day when I was still living on Long Island NY my sister visited and was at the drop zone all day and watching (whilst I was working doing tandems and stuff) and relaxing and at the end of the day said "man, everyone is so happy when they come down, I kinda want to go do it and find out" - of course she was leaving the next day so fast forward several years and here we are in San Diego - Sally was flying her wing suit past us and stuff too

 

Rad!

 

My brother lives up at Fort Bragg. Need to get up there.

 

Super fun for sure, I was honestly shocked she wanted to do it, but also very very happy