Well, the morning started out early as we left for the meeting place in Madison, Virginia.  It was at a McDonalds on Route 29.  While we were there we noticed the Capital Xmas Tree in the parking lot across the street.  They had decided to eat there too.  It�s from NC this year.  The caravan consisted of 4

vehicles, 2 tractor-trailers, one was a flat bed carrying the tree and another enclosed trailer carrying I don�t know what, a Nat�l Forest Service Van and a Nat�l Forest Service Cherokee.  I�ve seen the tree many times set up but this was the first time that I actually caught a glimpse of it being transported.

OK, the Capitol Tree left and the OCC (Off Camber Climbers and guests) showed up.  We had a total of 6 trucks for the run.  Not bad for November.  The

vehicles consisted of an Expedition, 2 Jeeps , a Sidekick and 2 F150s.

All the vehicles on the trail, I don�t remember why we stopped because we had all decided not to air down because the trail wasn�t going to be all that rough.

This was the first major obstacle we encounted.  It�s a washed out area from one of the recent hurricanes.  It�s easily passible will a little attention given to exaclty where your truck is.  All of the vehicles made it through without a hitch, except form mine which was last, many felt that I had gotten to close to the edge for their comfort.  I may have gotten a little close but I was doing it for the effect it would give the photo as shown below and on Bill�s page.

Below is the view as seen from the washout.

The second major obstacle was another washout, this one was a little tighter than the previous one but you had plenty of room on the passenger�s side.

We found two easy stream crossings -- this is the first one.

This road wondered in and out of the Rapidan Wildlife Management Area.

We then turned up another road which offered some spectacular views as shown above and to the right.  Unfortunately, the road came to a dead end so we had to run around and continue on the original road where we ran across another stream crossing as shown in the pics below.

This road was a dead end also so we had to turn around and go through the streams again.  I never complain about getting to run through the water.  :-)

All the vehicles made the run successfully without major damage -- hey it was billed as an easy run.  The only damage that I saw

at all other than brush scratches was the white F150 had it�s bumper bent as it was coming out of the stream crossing, the departure angle on an unlifted long bed just couldn�t handle the steep stream exit.

We got back onto pavement at around 4:15 and had plans of going to meet the remaining four-wheelers for dinner but got into town and realized that we were really tired so we just headed home.  While on the way back I got a ticket for 80 in a 65 because I had inadvertently remembered that my tires were 10% bigger than the stock tires, when infact they are 20% bigger.  Meaning that when I was doing 67 thinking it was 74 it was really 80.  Doh!  That�s probably going to be a $75 mistake, kinda cheap compared to others that I�ve made.

Bill and the OCC members on the ride made us feel at home.  Thanks!  Also special thanks to Bill Haegele for coming up with the idea and getting everyone together! 

Please contact me with questions or comments.

© Copyright 1998, Edison Pettit, All rights reserved.