Crusin' Machine - first road trip evaluation

[Ol'TrailDog]

Well, last night I got back from my annual spring SouthWest canyonland tour. I like to vamoose the snow and take in some spring sunshine in the canyonlands. Had 36" in the front yard when I left, but now it is down to 20".



Unfortunately, my backpacking partner couldn't make it this year. So, it was just me and the border collies (good company).



I covered 3. 7K and averaged 18. 5 mpg. I 'm happy with that considering I only have almost 10K on the truck. I am very happy with how the 04 cruises the blacktop and gets around on the rough backroads. Much smoother than the 98 or 02 especially on the rough backroads (ran into a GEN1 who turned back after a half mile of washboard on the Escalante Cottonwood Canyon Road). I know what he was thinking because I was thinking the same after going down the 50mile bench road last year in the 02 - yeesh. I'm also quite happy with the 3:73 ratio. Gotta love the ebrake for mountain cruising. XM worked great except in a few tunnels, deep canyons, and road cuts.



Slept in the palacious "Shack" on the flatbed and had room for mounting my bike on the side rail for some slickrock cruising at Moab as an additional diversion.

#ad




Oh well, back to work, sigh...

 

[Casey Balvert]

Glad you had a safe trip and a good time. Don't you just hate coming back to reality? Hope to escape the cold weather in exchange for some serious sunshine in Alabama in a few weeks. Our two Border collies will be along for the ride too.



Casey

 

[TCDiesel]

Trip

Traildog,When you left you took all the snow with you,I was going to stay a the hatchet for a week for snowmobiling but to much hard pack,I also check cooke city,snowy,and big horns,Alpine. Was out in mid-Feb snow was O/K,WHO TURN OFF THE SNOW MAKE AFTER JAN 1. You had great snow up to than.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Casey, even though the border collies had a good time they were VERY happy to be back to the snow country.



TWest you are right about the snow being turned off in January. We had the makings of a decent winter until then. I went out and poked a couple of test holes in the yard again today since it has been melting like mad and the road are either clear or mushy enough to suck a rig in



I still have about 12" on the roof and 20" in the yard. However the south slopes are clear or clearing fast! I took some pictures but the profile guidelines specify rig pics only.



To bad about the snowmobile trip. I live about a quarter mile from the Hatchet. You missed some great snow in December and January. Better luck next year.

 

[TCDiesel]

Trip

Trail dog,I will be back next year, already plan trip.