One can ask where one day ends and the next begins.. for me it’s when we set up camp.  Setting up camp signifies the end of the one adventure and the starting of another..  Sometimes that adventure starts that night – or at 2 AM in the morning..

After we had tried to find the backroad to Tulameen from Wells Lake with BushPiggy we headed back to the campground and thought it might be time to join in the fun.  We grabbed the marshmallows and headed down with the others to see what was on the agenda and see what a “group” camp involved – the smells off the grill were intoxicating.  There was a lot of commotion as people were settled in, Gavman and his friend Raymond had just shown up with a couple Toyotas following – so there was no midnight rescue missions of going back that would be needed.

Jordy brought over chairs and we sat down for a bit, me with my marshmallows all set to roast them over those coals that looked so perfect – Bruce had the grill set over the campfire with a pan full of perogies that had onions in them – but alas one thing was missing… what would that be?  Hmmm Garlic.. the finishing touch to the perfect meal that he was making.. he pulled out the biggest container of Garlic I’ve ever seen – would last us about 2 weeks!

I sat down and put the marshmallow on it’s stick and indulged in that delicacy of all delicacies - .. you know when you take the marshmallow and just slightly burn the top layer then wrap your lips around it and slowly take it off.. and underneath it’s warm and gooey.. where the whole marshmallow is starting to slowly melt off the stick.. and you turn it just right and then thrust it back into the coals to get the next layer toasted just as tantalizing…

We continued to visit and get to know people, and there were some good laughs in amongst the times.  As the night slowly came on, the Blood Collectors were less noticeable, the generator was turned on – and much to my surprise I didn’t even notice it(That’s impressive! And non intrusive.. really cool) the lights quietly glowed.  Jordy and I craving a bit of togetherness escaped off to our Shaugnessey division camping locations.. Then at 2 AM heard some commotion.. so it was likely a good thing we were a bit away so we could sleep..

Morning came upon us too soon, but then we discovered the 2 AM adventure that we missed out on!  What was that about PSI..lol   We don’t know if perhaps it was the Silly Bugger Juice that was speaking or if it was another influence but a solid debate started up regarding tire PSI.. well being that we were in the land where pheromones run strong & testosterone can impact even the sanest of those that otherwise would just step aside.. the competition was on and things had to be proven.. A contingency of Bushpiggy, Swampbugg, Kona & Kevin – I really can’t give all the details, however in the end the lower PSI did win.. I will leave the remainder to your imagination so there will be left quietly a few inside jokes.. J

We got up and Jordy concentrated on making breakfast for us as I wandered over to pick up the chairs – everyone was just a little quiet that morning.. wonder if the staying up until the wee hours had anything to do with it.. he he  The morning view over Wells Lake is amazing, when it’s quiet there you can watch the butterflies and interact with the Whiskey Jacks.  If you stand there so very quietly with your arms outstretched beside you, feeling the warmth of the sun making your skin tingle.. watch the whisky jacks.. put a few pieces of pretzels in your hand and they’ll fly down and grab them right out of your hand – enough to give your skin shivers of how much of an amazing experience that is.. how trusting they are.

It was then time to pack up and head out (after Jordy and I found a beautiful place to put the next Geocache – we placed 4 through Whipsaw to be activated next year) and head towards Falcon hill.  We all headed out at about 10:45, passing another small lake along the way.  Another neat site you’ll see is an abandoned Scout – it’s been there for years, and is taking a beating as more and more abusive people come through – and made it to the bottom of Falcon Hill about 30 minutes later. 

Falcon hill – a really cool spot -  A few years ago while passing through here, Jordy sacrificed a rear axle to it.. had to leave the truck in the bush for about 10 days, and change it right there on an angle at falcon HIll – but that’s another story all to itself for another day.  Falcon Hill, a true tribute to those that went before,  the plaque is still attached to the tree.  Decades have passed since the first attempt, and the proof can be seen in the bottles and antique cans that can be found around and up and down the hill.. funny how what seems like trash today is a treasure if it’s a beer bottle from 40 years ago.

22 Trucks heading up Falcon Hill, this wouldn’t be a quick run, but surprisingly it was only about 35 minutes from start to end – but it would be fun.  Everyone made it through it safely, no damage was done at the time.. but the video’s and pictures show it best.  Funny how after living a lifetime of being in these backwoods you never tire of it.  Growing up like this you take for granted that a vehicle can go anywhere and that there are no challenges (except the slight moment of anxiety that you go.. ummm shouldn’t there be at least 2 tires on the ground). But it truly is driver ability, and I look forward to the lift kit (I got for my birthday) in the jeep & get tires so I can try to drive it and get the lessons and lectures on which way to do it as we all know what female drivers are like. (I need to prove that wrong)

About 10 minutes after leaving falcon hill we came upon “the ledge” – well there were a few stories that happened there – We stayed back while watching Kevin’s  Silverado try to make its way up the ledge, it took a few tries (watch the video) and the ledge took out Terry’s  tire with a vengeance!  The Silverado made it’s valiant tries on a couple of approaches and then as we sat back watching.. you can feel the tension and you almost want to reach out and give a “vitual” push thinking that it will help.. and it does you know all that mental energy makes a difference!

We got up to the top and then realized that there had been a casualty.. a poor tire full of memories and adventure that had travelled many miles had been sacrificed to the ledge.  It had hit a jagged edge and with a sudden final moment of climax expelled its air and the shreds fell to the side.. Terry already had the highlift up and under the bumper (although a little on the jilted angled side).  Razman and team were there to help out and were pushing on the jack to make sure that the truck didn’t slide out from under it.. kind of makes you realize how important having that solid base is.

We stopped to help out, Jordy all ready to provide help and show off his drawers in the back of the truck, however they really didn’t need them.  But we make Jordy feel important with them.. it helps that ego of his.. we all need to feel loved!  Terry’s tire got back in running order, tossed like a old sack of potatoes into the back.  The amazing thing was that it only took about 8 minutes from start to end – I’d like to see Terry on my race team!  So if he can do tires on an angle, Jordy can do rear axles on an angle – what other amazing talents does the rest of the team have with their hands?

We meandered our way towards the next beautiful meadow, wanting to find a place to do a perfect group shot with all the trucks passing a small group from the Coquitlam Crawlers going the other direction.  It was now about 12:30 and we all happily gathered in a row, we made sure that everyone was in one piece – and the awesome photo’s will always stay in our memory as the neatest site.  Hunter & Vic took off and scooted around us to get to Princeton to pick up a permit so Hunter could continue on for the rest of the trip.

We had one final obstacle to make, just a little puddle – we’d been through it before, we thought no big deal.  Well to say time has taken its toll is an understatement.  Prior to this year there has never been such a ledge there.  Now this is a fun place where I would love to take the Yeep – get it dirty and muddy.. where I could just get my tires sunk deep and then gear it down and then gently use my best skills to manoeuvre things into the right place.  As I was watching the trucks make their way through I realized how grateful I was that we have the skid plate through this run, allows us to just go without worrying about anything.   Best birthday present I could have given Jordy was to pay to have his head pipe modified to get just the right angle so the skid plate would fit.

We’ve listed a few videos here, and all the trucks made it through until we got to the 2^nd to last.. a stock F150 – Raymonds.  He had done extremely well so far, but the ledge wasn’t going to cut it.  People scoped out the scene, projecting angles – figuring out winch positions.  What would the best way be to get that truck up without bringing on a catastrophic position – going back on his own all the way wasn’t really an option.. another way must be found.  The guys stood around walking up and down the hill, looking at ways to hook up a winch.  But again men will be men and not think about what their resources are – they go with the tried and true – it takes a woman to lead those men!  From there I also spied a child falling in up to his knees into the mud.. lol

I wandered down the side road at the top of the hill wondering what goes left must go down if it’s that well used – it came out around the corner at a slightly better angle.  Not perfect, but a much better position for that cable to be hooked up to.  We asked Jordy to help out, in reality it should have been that bright orange beast, as his winch is bigger, better  & stronger – however that would have been thinking to soundly, which in the heat of the sun and the wondering didn’t occur.   

I took the tree protector and tied it around the base of the tree, and we secured it to the truck (making sure to turn back the bolt in the shackle  a ¼ turn so when it gets tight you can undo it – see I am learning).  Luc then became Jordy’s Winch Wench and pulled the cable down the hill to the F150 and they secured it.  With the Turtle Tank in place & secured and the Winch Wench having attached the cable  to the tow points Jordy was ready.  With Winch remote in hand, tucked safely behind his door they started.. slowly.. deliberately  & methodically moving the truck up through the pit and the hill..

The tension maximized in the winch line as the front of the truck was pulled down, we safely tucked the children away behind the trees.. the front of the truck again strained and the taunt line was maximized.  I started wondering if the line would snap.. trying to take video but also knowing that the line could slice me in half – and truly I didn’t want to be the next casualty on the trip..

The winch line made a sound, Jordy worried and checked it – and alas there was 2 flat spots in it… but the truck was half way up so there was no rest for the wicked.. we continued  watching as the truck inched its way up the hill to the top..

Alas a breath was taken in and a weight lifted off the shoulders as we knew that no one would be left behind, but some would be better prepared for the next round through them these here parts..Now almost an hour after we started we could move on to the next amazing location – Lodestone lake..

Lodestone, our back yard, only 20 minutes from our real home – it’s amazing.  It is unfortunate we didn’t get a chance to show anyone the peak as it is a 360 degree view up there of all around you – but to take 22 trucks up and have to turn around would not be an easy task – perhaps next time without the time delays we can experience that.

We arrived at Lodestone, which had the first official outhouse (very much appreciated by some) and applied the 4^th layer of OFF for the day.  Resting there enjoying the photo opportunities and contemplation the serene nature of watching the fish jump and children playing on the logs enjoying life as it’s meant to be.. free of societies need to be like everyone else.. free to run after the toads and skip rocks..

Alas it was time to move towards gas, ice cream, beer refills and ice.  Jordy and I scooted ahead at this time to get home quickly, taking of course all shortcuts down – figuring we’d be well ahead of the crowd to take a shower! (yes ok I got to take a shower ahead of everyone with no fear of hot water running out.   Even during our May event with 150 people we never had that many trucks in our driveway at the same time.. quite an amazing sight.  The kids ran towards the swings and played, people sat down at the tables.. and I checked on the Robins eggs.  They had finally hatched, but alas were lame little pink blobs still!  I packed up what we needed, beer, ice, BUG ZAPPERS!

The guys all made their way towards town to refill up on the needed supplies, some hurried back to base, others sat and enjoyed an ice cold ice cream cone from the Tulameen Trading Post.   Tmax of course can’t know about this as he’d be shaking his head going – Dude – let’s go!  But it was priceless – too bad Jordy didn’t have the camera for that.  We then got back to base and all got ready to head to Shea Lake.    We had originally planned a long cut through the mountain tops, but being as it was already 5:30 that wasn’t going to happen this time.   Next time though if we stay on schedule (or we get visitors up there) we will take people through.. the vistas are so amazing!

We made our way up the valley, Jordy being here for 44 years tends to forget just how breathtakingly beautiful it is through here.   The valley filled with rolling meadows, little side brooks, trees & the deer and other animals you can see.    When you drive through something so often you start to fail to see the beauty in what lies before you and see only the normalcy and complacency – and it leaves you craving to see new and exciting.  When you get to see it through the eyes of others you see it so differently.  You see the amazement and awestruckenness  of those that haven’t been here.  But then again that is why we miss it when we are not there.

The goal was Shea Lake, one of our favourite places in the world.  The fishing in the lakes leading up are awesome, but they are normally populated with campers, ATV riders.  We were aiming for something much quieter and serene.  There was a meadow here, one by our favourite tree that reminds us of an alien.   We arrived there about 6:30 making our way through the side road passing by one of those oddities a Cow Skeleton that had been set up on a stump.

We then came around the backside of the lake where Beast, Lone Ranger & 4lo had arrived ahead of time.  One of them had a VHF & called Jordy to make sure we were the “crew” and they joined in the convoy.  We made our way through the rolling fields to the abandoned structures, structures that give but a small taste of what was here before.  The meadow amazing, beautiful & unique – but no “designated spot”.  We still think this gave Sass & Bruce a challenge.. not knowing how to pick a spot.. lol Too much space and nothing telling you “where” to go.. he he

We all found our spots.. and camp was set up..

As day 2 came to a close, people gathered and laughs were enjoyed .. and the story was to continue to be told for another day

(Day 3 coming soon!)