WARNING;
Yet another long and rambling post from the old man… Got home at around 1:30pm from another great weekend.
First let me explain and apologize;
mixxali4 wrote:
… good times but 1st in OP it sad to be there at 7.30 than someone decided to go have breakfast and showed up only 2 hours later and then the same person cut reusable zip tie on DEniss rig...
I got into the KOA around 4 and they screwed up my reservation. First they set me up in a cabin with no shower/bathroom. F that! They fixed that I gave me a nice cabin;
Kyle was on his way so I called Dennis and asked them both to meet me at the dinner off exit 100 for something to eat. We had a nice dinner with a few beverages and then Kyle and I went back to the KOA. I was enjoying a cigar with a few more beverages when Nick and his buddy joined us. Had a few more beverages and just before passing out told everyone to meet at the same dinner for breakfast at 8 thinking for some unexplained reason that the park opened at 9. This is not an excuse, it is just what happened. I fucked up, I’m a POS.
One of the risks you take when consistently breaking everyone’s balls is that when you f@ck up they, in return, rip you apart. I fucked up and I am very sorry especially since I try a make a point of being on time and seldom forgive those who are not.
Again, I am sorry.
Now as far as the “zip-tie” incident;
I was helping Dennis by unspooling his winch line (while others where standing around taking pictures) and in doing so cut the zip-tie on the shackle holding the line to the truck. I was then informed it was a “reusable” one. Now come on, who has these besides Dennis? Give me a break yo…
Anyways, I got to the park around 9 where Mike and the rest of the Russian contingent (3 other guys) gave me (well deserved) shit right off the bat and for the next 15 to 20 minutes despite my numerous apologies. My lesson and now advice to you all is never piss off the Russian guy.
The place was packed!
Dennis said he wanted to run Blues in the morning so we all decided to run together and then split up after lunch. Ken lead us in and we ran 4 with Kyle, Dennis and me running Yellow Jacket (a Black, so yes, Black ‘N Blue).
Kyle;
Dennis;
I hope one of you has some pictures of me on Yellow Jacket! Post ‘em yo!
Right after running and almost flipping my truck on YJ I noticed the sticker Kyle added to the previously clean new rear window I replace after breaking it at the April Fools Run;
He is sooo funny…
A bunch of landrovers where playing on J so instead of waiting;
We took H down to 12;
Nick;
Suresh;
Mike;
On 12 Kyle’s friend (sorry, forgot his name) broke the rear track bar on his Jeep. Kyle and Dennis decided that it would be best to cross strap his axle to the frame so we could have him limp to the parking lot.
I had the only jack stands so I stayed to help and suggested that Ken take the rest of the group to keep wheeling.
After we got to parking lot Mike called me to say that he broke a leaf spring and they where now all heading out. We met them in the parking lot.
Mike left to try and find a leaf spring for his truck at Harry’s U-Pull. I’ll bet this will be the last time Mike’s friends will want to come wheeling with him. Sorry Mike but maybe it’s for the best. Wheeling Blues with three other guys in the truck with you isn’t the best idea and might have contributed to your leaf spring failing…maybe.
This is when Dennis noticed that my rear brake line was pulled away from the axle in a tangled mess. As I tried to gently bend it back so I could zip-tie it (with a non-reusable zip-tie) to the axle it started to leak at the fitting the goes into the drum. F! Dennis tried to stop the flow of fluid with some vise grips and after many tries succeeded.
So while Kyle made a bracket to weld onto the frame of his buddy’s Jeep Dennis drove me to the auto parts store in Pine Grove for a brake line. They didn’t have one long enough but Dennis got it to work well enough to get me home but not to wheel.
After Kyle got his buddy’s Jeep together enough to get him home we realized that Dennis was now under Nick’s truck changing the alternator.
Not for nothing but Dennis drove like 6 hours, wheeled for like 3 and then fixed Nick's, my truck and helped out with all the repair work of the day. This guy is the best, thank you Dennis.
Kyle also did a ton of work repairing the Jeep and did not get to wheel that much. He is also the best, thanks bro.
Dennis, Kyle and I went to O’Neil’s, look what was one of the specials;
Black & Blue Filet, I had to get it.
Despite the short wheeling day and the damage I had a great time hanging with some of the coolest folks I know. Thanks again Dennis and Kyle. Thanks Ken for leading. Thanks Mike, Nick and Suresh for coming.
I hope you all had somewhat of a good time and that you’ll take a chance and wheel with me again soon.
Tom