Well, just got back yesterday, well, technically REALLY early today. From where ? Rockport Off Road Park

Well, it was a haul. Took me a total of 16 hours travel time, each way. Should only take 12, I think I could do it in 14 in the future, but man, it's a LONG haul.

Left Toronto around 9:30 am on Wed. June 2nd. Crossed into Detroit from Windsor, and proceeded on my way.... hit SERIOUS traffic on I94, as Michigan state rebuilds the entire highway. Made it to Mokena (sp) Illinois on day one. 12 hours on the road. Grabbed a hotel, called some people that were coming in from Ohio, that were going to meet me on Thursday. Took a shower, ate, watched some TV, and slept.

Met up with the Ohio-ans around 2pm on Thursday, and headed for Rockport. Made it there for 6pm.... Setup camp, got the intros out of the way, and sat around a fire for a few CC&G's.... passed out some Keiths for my new American friends, and started to get to know these people outside of the net. Apparently my "accent" was a lot of fun for them... I was basically a novelty, as some of them had not met a Canadian in person before.

Friday: Prerun at the park Hit Fox Hollow first, a 1 out of 3 star trail.... Was off camber the WHOLE trail.... managed to loose my drivers side mirror... it fought with a tree, and lost. However, was a short trail, and the end of the trail lit my eye's up.... 3 pro rock crawling courses we were allowed on !!!!! (Those came day 2) Next we hit Rottweiler Ridge. I'd put it at around a Rathburn level... it was classified a 2 out of 3... I managed to bend my front bumper in, wreck my license plate, and in general, have a blast. Lots of hill climbs with very tight turns between trees... I had to back down one hill twice, as I had to do some winching to rescue people... I told everyone that the trails were so easy, that I had to drive them backwards to make them a challenge.... Third trail we hit was a 3 star.. Tall Dog... we had no business in there... really.... got about 15 minutes in, and decided that the jeeps with the 31's need to get out. No room to turn around, and I tried to back up over the first little hill... no go... tires were slicks from the goop they call mud there, and just had 0 traction... ended up backing out of the way to let the only other jeep with a winch (who managed to turn around) get past and winch me out backwards. Everyone else decided that we were gonna call it quits. Good idea, as friends went in the next day, and were in there for 9 hours, broke on 9" rear end, and hit lots of skid plating. Back at camp, more CC&G's, more Keiths handed out, and a good time was had by all. More people showed up, and we had quite the gathering going.

Day Two: Trail Runs I played videographer, since they were the same trails, and I did have 1200+ kms to get home.... so in the morning, while we ran Rottweiler, I took a bunch of footage, including a YJ getting 3 feet of air in the front ! The afternoon, I was back in my Jeep for a private guided trail from the owner of Rockport OffRoad, nothing hardcore, but amazing views. Late afternoon, everyone else wanted to head out and hit some trails, and mud, and such, I decided it was rock and roll time. Not having a trusted spotter, or a tow vehicle, I carefully checked out the three rock gardens.... found one, that I MAY have been able to do, had I had a good spotter... the stage 3 was just no go... 4' rocks at the entrance steered me clear. I did find part of the stage 2 trail that met the stage 3 that looked good. Set up the tripod and video cam at the bottom, and went up to give'r. Was a rocky ride, REALLY had the Jeep tipping and tilting, almost bit a tree, but managed to control it, and made it out with no damage. The park treated us to a dinner, and a good time was had by all. Went back to the campsite for one more nite of drinking, and fun... and fun it was. Gave out some more Keiths, and laughed as the American's got drunk on lite beer... hit the sack around 3am.

I was up at 6:30 on Sunday, and started to roll up camp... I wanted to get a jump on traveling so that I could make it home in one day. Was off at 8:30... stopped for food at 11, and noticed the clutch was a little weak... but still worked... engine was overheating, even after power washing it, but not bad. Stopped at 12:30 for gas, and the clutch was working fine again. Around 4, I stopped at a rest stop, and my clutch peddle hit the floor... She was still working, but barely.. ground reverse bad while backing out.... on the interstate, I kept checking the peddle, and it kept fading... at 5, I stopped again, and checked everything, found a rear axle seal leak, but no leak on the clutch. After letting the jeep cool for half an hour, the cultch peddle felt better... a jeep that was at camp with us, came into the same rest stop, and chit chatted, came up with ideas for if I wanted to grab a motel, and find a place to fix it on Monday, or if I should run for the border. I chose run.... only 2 hours to Detroit. While getting on the highway, my clutch failed completely, the peddle had zero pressure. I bump shifted into 5th and kept on my way.... than I hit a construction zone.... bump shifted my way down to one, made it through, and back to fifth, wiping my forehead all the way.... had to stop for gas... not good, since you have to get off the highway, and go through lights to get gas in the US... I pull off an hour from Detroit, at a TA truck stop, fill up, and stop to think.... no clutch, I know there's BIG construction just past me as I head to Detroit, so I give up, I call CAA... 8pm, a flat bed shows up. Can only tow me to the bridge, can't tow me across due to duties. The tow truck driver rocked, he even helped get my Jeep in position so that when the light went green, I'd be able to start in gear, and hit the bridge with no problem. Stalled at the tollbooth, paid, starter crawl onto the bridge, bumpshift across, stall twice at customs, get through with no issues, only scared the customs girl, and was on my way... one red light in Windsor, and than the 401.... was now close to 9pm, and no way in hell was I not getting home ! I gave'r. Stopped to answer the call of nature... starter crawled back onto the highway with more bumpshifting. Fell asleep at the wheel a couple times passing through London (Bad Kev, BAD!) Stopped at the Timmies on the highway in Woodstock, bought a coffee, some timbits, and slept for 30 minutes. More started crawling, and bumpshifting, and I was on my way.... hit every green light on the way to my house, and pulled in at 2am.... an 18 hour trip to get home.... now my jeep is in the driveway, parts are enroute to get her going again, and I had a farging blast.