Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

Home. Harsh reality…

 

Damn... Glad you made it safely in one shot without another stop for the night. Did you sleep inside?

 

I'm techno challenged, but here goes.

 

That’s PhD level financial advice. I concur.

Hmmm, long travel, armor…river crossings…this might check out


Maybe the spinners are for clearing mud lol

By the way, how did the field repair on the rear window hold up?

 

Won't be airing them down...

 

I have all of the internals, doesn't look like your cover is badly damaged. Let me know, I can get them to you.

 

There's another Wally's. It's on I55, north of Bloomington.

 

That would be fantastic! I still have to get in there and figure out what's all broken. I'll get back to you on that. Helping out my daughter and the drama club at her school today, building set pieces for their upcoming performance of The Wizard of Oz.

 

Going to do a day by day report out on the TWARK trip for you guys (like it or not...) while it is all fresh.

Day 1: Meet at SMORR in Missouri. This is a very first-rate operation. Connot recommend it enough and I definitely will be going back! Not at all like what we are familiar with in Wisconsin. This place has fun at every level and there were machines of every color to prove it. We had a great campsite all to ourselves for two nights. Everyone got to camp safely and it was a fun reunion that night with good food, stories and pre trip jitters.





The trails are rated from 2-6. 2 being easiest-you might have to put it in 4x4 but probably not (@Pixeltim approved...) 3's get a considerable bit more difficult and are subjective, as we had some 3's that probably could have been 4's and vice versa. We mostly stayed on 3's for the day. Some were tight and scratchy.






All had big climbs and descents-often VERY steep. The ground was a mix of dirt and rock. When it is dry the dirt gave good traction-muddy? Not so much. They state that every trail goes up in rating if wet. The rock is rough and there were fun ledges to conquer.





At the time it was a highlight to drive the creek and play on the natural obstacles in the creek bottom... Little did we know...




Overall a fantastic day of play that challenged everyone and was a super good primer for what was to come. Again a fantastic facility and I do recommend it. Clean, knowledgeable staff and just a well thought out experience.

 

Oh, c'mon Pat. Show Adventure Hill and how we showed up the 2 jeeps.

 

I didn't get any pictures there-I was adventuring...

True story: We came around on a trail to a massive boulder drop. Big boulders and huge sluices. Could not have easily walked that much less done anything about it with less than a dedicated buggy. Anyway, there was a bypass-rated a 3- that was a stinker. No way we could get up that either, but down was doable. Sitting there were a group of jeepers looking things over, hemming and hawing about if it was doable. I took a look jumped in the truck and proceeded down followed by the rest of the Tacoma/4Runner crew. No hemming or hawing. Dave had a sheet eating grin the rest of the day...

 

TWARK day 2:
After a great sleep under the stars, I got up a bit early and took my last shower for the week. Load up wasn't to bad and we got out of camp by 9:00. A bit of pavement, gas up and we started up the Glade Top National Scenic Byway. This is a pretty dirt road ramble along the top of a rather large ridge. I didn't get any pictures here as I have done this last time I came down to Arkansas. The others can post up pictures here.
After a bit the adventure section began with a nice side hill descent and climb onto another ridge. This road was not as civilized and quickly deteriorated into fun... (note that tire wave!)












The trail then began a long undulating climb that consisted of lots and lots of stairs and ledges. This was a fun section. Made Dave smile! Although fun, this was taking a large chunk of the day. I had not done this section before so it was new to me and we still had a big looping section yet to get on. Fortunately, we met Daniel. Daniel was a KTM riding redheaded character. He knew what we had ahead of us and let us know that it was rougher than what we had just completed. With a small bypass, we headed off to Arkansas.





Caution: Truck Porn! Nice Flat Ass there Taco...
Part two coming soon.

 

Beautiful Pat, keep them coming!

 

TWARK: Day 2 Part 2:

After a bit of pavement pounding we descended our first Arkansas dirt to a beautiful ford of the Buffalo River. The Buffalo is a National Wild and Scenic River and is sought out by people to paddle. We chose to cross! I had done this last time through but it was MUCH more civilized this time.







This was our first "real" ford/crossing of the trip. It was a good test and a wonderful level to build confidence! We needed it. There is great drone footage out there-sure to be posted later!
After the crossing we stopped at the old Parker-Hickman Farmstead and wandered around a bit Seriously beautiful place!



From here we wandered over to Jasper AR and gassed up. Onward and upward we dodged Priuses and other vehicles that probably DON"T belong in the backwoods of the Ozarks to top out at Knuckles Creek and camp (the highest point in the Ozark Mountains!). Very long day. Fantastic camp. Unfortunately it decided to rain. We knew it would, and those rascally weather persons said it wouldn't be much; however, in typical fashion they were wrong and it rained. Hard. All night and all the next day. Hard. Lots of rain...

 

Nice bit of cargo on the flatbed there

 

Second time through for that one...

 

As a former Wagoner owner I wish I had spent some more time looking at these.

 

Rear window did great with keeping out the rain and dust. I really missed being able to open the rear slider on the interstate though

 

TWARK Day Three:
So... Did I mention the rain? Very wet morning. Wet pack out. Group meeting-rained all night and that equals rising rivers. Planned route? One way trip down to Dixon Ford (across the Buffalo River)... We opted out and found a fun little detour to Oark AR for breakfast! Dave charged and ready to FORD!



After a bit of discussion we went down to Dixon Ford from the other side just to check it out. Dave REALLY wanted to try it but was concerned about the depth. Me too. Eventually I went out to see, and well just went across. It was deep and moving. Different animal than Erbie Ford the day before. I don't have pictures (I was busy), but they exist of the flatbed river dance. From there we wondered off to continue the days adventures in the pouring ass rain.
Eventually after several smaller crossings we came to the Little Piney. I just drove across. Dave gave me a double bird (from the other side mind you) but did it! The cherry is popped and now the game is changed.



A bit more wandering and we came to Car Wash Falls-an Ozark must. Really could have used this later in the week...





Caution: Truck Porn!



A bit further down the road we came to a bit bigger ford of Big Piney creek. This I did not remember from last time, but then again, it wasn't raining either. This was a big crossing for the crew! Unfortunately, I took mostly video here, so here is Alf taking a dip!



At some point during the day we ducked South and got gas. Here I must confess that we came to a crossing that looked like a roaring river from Hollywood. I made a POOR decision and crossed. Did i mention that it was f'in raging? Deep too. Up onto the hood of the flatty. SCARED the sheet out of me. As a trip leader I now made a bad decision and split the group (on opposite sides of a raging river!) I sent everyone else back around to where my trail was supposed to go-a rather convenient rendezvous point. Unfortunately for me about a half mile or so up my side of the river (creek...) I came to a bigger badder version of what I had just crossed and made a quick Oh Hell No decision and turned back. Yup, I now had to go across where is scared me and help was all gone. Dumb funking decision making! Well, nothing for it I plunged in (literally) and made it across. water hit my windshield. It was really scary deep! I, on an adrenaline rush raced ahead and caught the group-"hey Dean. Look in your mirror" was my call over the radio. Eventually we wandered back towards Oark and made a fantastic camp along the roaring Mulberry River near a ford that was suspect at best. Therse were taken the next morning, but it was a great camp listening to the river all night. Rain finally stopped about 8 pm.

 

Pat, I just have to say a huge thank you once again for setting this up and leading us through. I had a great time. I should be able to start digging into my photos and videos tomorrow.