2nd Annual Calico Christian 4x Jamboree

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What an awesomely God filled event!!!

It's hard to find a place to start. So I guess I'll start chronologically.

A few of us had arrived early Thursday and found that several early birds had beat us there. We unloaded our junk and had to do the obvious and hit the trail. But prior to us hitting the trail, we were just informed that Clint Eastwood was directing a Stephen Spielberg film in the main canyons that we were planning on using for the event. We were told that security was allowing the Doran Bi-pass until some others in another earlier group had abused their privileges and ruined it for anyone else until the film crew was out (04-06-06). So now we have a problem! The Doran and Odessa trails was believed to be off limits. With that mentioned, what do you think we did? Yes, PRAYED hard. We already knew  that weather may be an issue, so now we have two things to pray for.

God is so awesome! Thursday afternoon we had talked to the security guard at the entrance to the canyons and he stated that everything above the waterfalls were open but no through traffic was possible due to the fact that they had sets constructed literally in the Doran Waterfall and equipment everywhere. 

So we did a re-con mission and found that we could in fact access the two canyons via Mule Canyon. That's what we did. 

On Saturday for our scheduled runs, we headed up Mule Canyon and took the entire group up to the Bismark Mine for a central gathering and starting point. We all got up there with no difficulties. We had our Driver's meeting and group prayer before we dispersed. 

Cuz led a large group down the Doran within yards of the film crew at the Doran Waterfall. And I led a smaller more capable group down the Odessa, also within yards of the film crew. There were a few others that led their own smaller groups around and also Andyman took a group down Doran after Cuz's group had topped out.

 Here are a few random shots of us playing around the days before and after.

Andyman going down one of the other larger Doran falls-> More Andyman-> BluesClues and Pastor Paul     

Catfish flex'n his Samota truggy->  

Dave Tenbrook behind the wheel->     

Leonard go'n for the Doran Fall   

LouBell and family play'n around off the trail   

A-ron->                 

Greg Rogers with his freshly built X-Chassis->  

Our Sunday group up at Bismark Mine->  

Cuz flexing it out on a side shoot I found along the Doran just above the smaller of the two Doran Falls->   

Greg Rogers sports a pair of hand-me-downs boots that is to be on any new trail rig for good luck-><-They remain until the next rig in the group is built, I think that Tad will be the next proud bearer.  

This is the group I led down the Odessa trail. Buzzard's rig sure was fun to watch, especially with his wife behind the wheel->  

LouBell at the Odessa falls->  

Samantha, Catfish's daughter paying close attention to the line on the wall->  

Sam And Dave Tenbrook having fun cruz'n up the Odessa waterfall->       

Anthony1 kinda finding his own line until we literally heard and saw parts fall off from under his crossmember->       

Here is BroncBoy in the Odessa Canyon testing his awesome driver skills-> Only left a little mark!->For a young man, he sure has a natural gift of fabrication and driver skills not to mention a very sharp guy. He was fun to watch!       

Shwag get'n it->   

Registration table-><- T-Shirts and tire raffle. Re-acquainting with the General->  

Taco Time! And dogs for the little folks who don't go for the tacos-> The crowd starts to gather-> And the tacos start bend'n. Taco benders-><-Mike Reynolds...Julie, Cuz's wife-> Serving-> Flip'n->  Shwag, aka John Switzer leading us in worship-> <-And what an awesome time. Then Pastor Paul shared the Word and did an awesome message at that-> <-Pastor Paul also asked for a few to come up and share a brief testimony. Then he closed us in a communion service. 

I am convinced that the Saturday evening of events are most definitely the highlight of the Jamboree. Awesome fellowship for sure as well. Was great seeing friends that were made last year as well as those met via the Christian forums we frequent as in Our EW4C forum , Arizona Christian Wheelers , NorCal 4x4Him , UCORA , ChristianFourWheelers , 4x4Him.com , and soon to be, 4x4Him.org 

Sunday, we were given access through the main canyon that leads though all the movie sets at the mouth of the Odessa and Doran canyons. Here are a few photos of us passing through to the Doran bi-pass. Here you can see the infamous Doran waterfall, filled with a production bunker->  

Catfish reporting back that them axles are too worn out for his next catfished project->                      

 View from above, via the bi-pass <-It was said that this is a movie done around a true story of a Japanese soldier that came to the states to train before going to Iwo Jima. Supposedly it's not a war flick, just has some flash-backs of his past.    

We somehow wound up with a few appearances from Bobble-Head Bob Tech (BHBT) while on the trail.

First off, I managed to break both my rear shocks, one on Thursday and the other on Friday. BHBT had pointed out that due to my faulty fabrication, I managed to place my rear seatbelt quick-disconnects too close to my shock and while at extreme articulation the qd wedged it's self between the frame and shock and caused a dent in the body of the shock. The plunger in the shock could not pass the dent and shortened the travel and caused it to snap->  

Then BHBT had witnessed Cuz Jiggling Every Electrical Part to get his Jeep to charge->  

Greg Rogers was having cooling problems and it was solved by strapping on an electric fan to his radiator using Bungee cords. BHBT had to inspect the fine "In-a-pinch" work->  

Monday, Cuz met up with BHBT again to replace a leaking sidewall-> 

However, BHBT would not have surfaced for such a minor event as a flat tire, but he had caught wind that during the tire change a Hi-Lift Jack was in service. But unfortunately BHBT busted Cuz on the improper use of said jack-><-Note the point of purchase   

So now that ensued a tail-gate safety meeting with BHBT and all of those around-><-BHBT sure can chew some hide when he wants. When he speaks, we listen.

Here is the new and improved General's ToyHauler->  From the front, it looks like he's pulling a Tear-Drop trailer->

Here is what was left of camp on Sunday afternoon looking in from the Doran bi-pass-> Camp on Monday just before our final run->

I've got to say, this was the most wheeling we've ever done in just a few days. Thursday through Monday and every night. That's 5 days of wheeling and some days was multiple trips and 4 nights of wheeling past midnight even till after 3:am. Yes, I'm beat, but looking forward to the TinBender Toyota Jamboree in three weeks for another 3 or 4 days of wheeling at the Hammers...Ya-Hooo!

Well that's it for now. But if anyone wants to add some of their photos, send'm and I'll post'm.

God Bless,

sp

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