Hey, Look what I found!

Retrieved it this morning less than 30 miles from my house. Here it is on the roof of my 96 Dakota.

Need a hint?

The Gen II Dakota Travel bug Jon dropped in CO during the National Meet. Ray's 92 Dakota is pretty fast.

Now I have to figure out where I'm going to drop it. Hmmmmmmm.


Quote of the day: "I Use A Multi-Billion Dollar Military Satellite System To Find Tupperware In The Woods, What Do You Do?"

Track logs updated

I've been going back and updating the track logs that I had previously posted. I'm caught up with our westbound trip, through July 14. Now I can start filling in the logs that I had saved from the actual meet.

Blogger allows for the dates of posts to be modified. I've been changing my posts about each day so that they appear on the actual days. That'll make it easier to create an overall meet report from this blog, but it makes it more difficult to find the posts since they won't appear at the top of the blog.

So, I'm going to post links to my recently changed posts for convenience. Here is what I've updated so far:

http://dmlmeet.blogspot.com/2006/07/july-10-track.html
http://dmlmeet.blogspot.com/2006/07/july-11-track.html
http://dmlmeet.blogspot.com/2006/07/july-12-track.html
http://dmlmeet.blogspot.com/2006/07/july-13-track.html
http://dmlmeet.blogspot.com/2006/07/july-14-track.html

Walt-n-Ingrid's Blog

This is a link to our personal Blog. Now that were home again, I've made it public. It has a lot of the same posts at the DML National Meet Blog and some additional. I'm working on updating both right now.

We are home!

Rolled into the driveway about 9:45PM last night. 6322 miles doorstep to doorstep. 473.58 gallons of gas at a cost of $1,413.27 with an overall average of 13.349 mpg.

Had a small problem in PA, yesterday, that required a 3-4 hour visit to a dealer. The hard line for the rear brakes ruptured. The line itself was all rusted up and of course it had to pop right behind the fuel tank so they had to drop the tank (which of course was full) to replace it eating up about 4 hours on us. Was able to slowly limp it to a nearby dealership since we had no brakes. Because of the delay, we skipped 3 final stops on out itinerary Centrailia, Cabela's and OCC.

I also have to take a look at the AC. It quit working sometime after I was cleaning on Sat morning before the DTW NGTG show. The compressor kicks in and has enough pressure (50-60 psi on the low side according to the gauge I put on it), but it just blows at outside air temp and not cold. However, the line running from the condenser to the firewall gets cold enough to have condensation on it. Sunday, it was cooler to run with the windows down vs. up with the AC (even in the 100 degree weather). I'm hoping I just knocked loose a connector for the blend door or something like that. I think it quit after hitting the engine compartment with the hose at the car wash. I'll have to poke around a bit and see if anything stands out.

Met up with Gary Hedlin in St. Louis. Both he and I took "Top 10" trophies at the DTW event.

I stopped updating the blog just before leaving CO, so I have some catch-up to do. At one point, I couldn't update my personal Blog because it would time out while publishing over the cellular connection. I had to open a Remote Desktop session with my 2000 server at the house and publish to the blog from it, however, that was a time consuming process so I just gave up after a few times. Give me a day or two to get situated and I'll get back on that.

Home again, home again

We've actually been home for about 25 hours now. We've been in recovery mode trying to catch up on lost sleep and work out all the various aches and pains that we got from sitting in one position for four days. We had a pretty uneventful trip home, although I've decided once and for all that Michigan is the most annoying state I've been in (sorry Dave and Jan and anyone else from Michigan). More details to be posted over the next several days as I go back and fill in our perspective on the meet before I forget it all.

The GPS trip computer says we traveled a total of 4178.6 miles over our total vacation. Stopped time 58:28:18, moving time 96:42:44 (clearly spent a lot of time stopped looking at stuff). Moving average 43.2 mph, overall average 26.9 mph. Keep in mind that includes all of the Colorado sight-seeing, off-roading, etc. We also didn't get much high-speed travel in to improve the average while pulling the trailer. It's not conducive to moving very quickly, particularly with a headwind (I thought the jetstream was supposed to move west to east, how did we have a headwind out of the east the whole way back???)

Log by Walt_Felix for Peakpeek (Traditional Cache)

Thursday, July 20, 2006
Log by Walt_Felix for Peakpeek (Traditional Cache)

Last post from Lone Duck

Norah and I are enjoying our LD breakfast, and I thought I'd log in and make a quick post. We're the last stragglers left in the area. My parents left for home yesterday afternoon, Walt & Ingrid and Mike left the day before that, and everyone else was gone by Saturday. It's weird to be around camp without any DML shenanigans going on. There's a large church group pulled in to the group area. They've built a virtual city in there, but as near as I can tell they don't have any plans to do anything other than hang around camp. Our setup was elaborate enough for the amount of time we spent there. Oh, and they do have a pop-up trailer in there. When I talked to LD, they told me the group area was for tents only, but I guess pop-ups count as tents.

I have lots I want to post, I just haven't been very dilligent about logging in to post it while on vacation. I get in to "unplugged" mode pretty quickly, and given a choice between sitting around a camp fire and walking up to the office to use a computer, I've been taking the fire. I'm going to go back and fill in the details from our perspective after we get home. Blogger allows for the date of posts to be altered, so I'm going to fake the posting dates in order to keep the overall record in order. That'll make it difficult for anyone to find the new posts, so once I'm done I'll post another post linking to my previous posts. Posthaste.

We're already looking forward to the next meet. Any ideas? :-)

Dakota Hideout

While driving down CR-123, we passed by a gate that we just had to get a photo of. Since we are in CO to attend the DML National Meet, the gate marked Dakota Hideout, on Dakota Lane, was just about a perfect close to the week. Here are a couple of photos of Mike's Dakota by the gate.

Friday's ups and downs (by Jan)

After we went UP with the group up to Pikes Peak (yay!) with the group, David and I headed off to try a last shot at seeing the Cave of the Winds. We got tickets to the 5pm lantern tour and killed some time at Garden of the Gods climbing on Balanced Rock. (we have photos, but I don't know how to load them)

The tour of Cave of the Winds took us DOWN into the cool cave which looked like a great place to have a Halloween party, with stone walls and illuminated crevices, courtesy of modern day electricity. Our tour though took us further into the cave where there are no lights, and we had kerosene lanterns to carry. The large part of this tour was stories of the guy and his friend who owned the place, and how they became not-friends over ownership, and mentions of "George sightings" in various forms... life form, ghost form, etc. The guide told us that they've had a tough time getting maintenance workers to go down there; apparently those who have won't return... apparently there have been apparatition sightings. George had a mummy, one of his gimmicks to get tourists to come, and one day the mummy was gone... and when we were led into a certain passageway and told to blow out our lanterns into complete darkness, we were told that the mummy had been found in this very hall, and that it announces itself nowadays by grabbing your ankle, wrist or blowing in your left ear.... thanks a lot to David, who thought this would be a great time to play a joke on Jan... (made me say "hell" in front of the little girls who were actually doing quite well).

The tour felt a bit short though it did last the appointed 1.5 hours. It was enjoyable. I could do a better job at this story, but we've got to pack up and head out this morning.

Thanks for being a fun group and for the great ideas and roads we traveled!

Log by Walt_Felix for Peakpeek (Traditional Cache)

Log by Walt_Felix for Peakpeek (Traditional Cache)

Log by Walt_Felix for How did this get here? (Traditional Cache)

No big loss, it's just an S10

David and Jan's version of Thursday

We returned to the zoo to visit the Shrine of the Sun, which is accessible by a road only available through the zoo. By DML standards the paved road is extremely mild, although the switchbacks might freak some uninitiated folks in cars. At the top, you visit a stone tower -- pretty cool -- that has rooms in it memorializing the actor Will Rogers. The point of the shrine is to have a place for the ashes of a couple by the last name of Penrose. They're responsible for a number of places around here, and lived quite a nice life and they spend eternity there in a beautiful chapel high from the city in peace and quiet. I'm envious! At any rate, the elevation is about 9,000 and the views of the city are just amazing. (David took photos) Unfortunately "they", whoever they are, closed off the observation deck atop the tower which deprived us of the full height but we managed to make our way through a door on the second or third floor, which went out onto a tiny deck and displayed spectacular sights. I'm not sure if we're supposed to be able to exit there or not, but after a bit of toying with the deadbolt, we got the door open and went out onto the little ledge. Sure glad that door wasn't secured with one of those darn Master locks that were everywhere else. But the trip up there was well worth it, I think.

David wanted to go higher up Cheyenne mountain via a road that took off from the paved road, but I pointed out the sign said "no vehicles beyond this point". Shoot. Another road we passed on the way down didn't have a sign saying to get away, but I pointed out that we were solo and the road looked a little iffy. Yes I'm part chicken sometimes... but oh well.

After that we headed down to the nearby World Figure Skating museum, which I know isn't on the hot list of most DMLers, but personally it was like a mecca to me, to actually be near memorabilia from my very elite peers, whom I could never emulate but always admire. I skate for the enjoyment of flying across ice, they skate and earn millions. But whatever.

We had planned to visit the Cave of the Winds afterward, but the last lantern tour was at 5, and we got stuck in traffic. :-( It's on our list for Friday, after we go with the group to Pikes Peak. It's then or never, so I hope we do make it.

The group kinda split up a bit today, and I hope everyone found what they wanted out of the day. At least the lightning around Colorado Springs was the wickedest I've ever seen... lots and lots of cloud to ground spikes, in vivid purple. I can believe now why they warn against being high up when it strikes!!!

Log by Walt_Felix for Mt. Deception (Traditional Cache)

Log by Walt_Felix for Mt. Deception (Traditional Cache)

David and Jan's Wednesday antics

David and I took a different route on Wednesday and explored the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. As far as American touristy sites go, it's pretty good. Avoid most of the foreign-made unrelated junk in the store, but certainly enjoy the range of freedom you get with this site. The "doors" into the various rooms are open for you to enter, if you fit. I felt like a kid again as I crawled through small door openings into the rooms. Hot day, but pleasingly comfortable inside. David took some liberties with the freedom though... we thought it would be fun if he hoisted himself upward using the wood beams spanning the small rooms. He will post photos I took of him standing up there. After the dwellings we went to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. The animals there don't seem to like each other. I've never seen a bear charge another bear in the habitat, until today. Ditto for the tiger. That was worth a scream. The poor tiger was relaxing in the water in their habitat, and the larger tiger slunk around behind it, easing itself into the water until it was just behind the resting one, and then lunged at it, grabbing its hind leg in its mouth!!! The attacked one responded with a great roar. Good show, guys. Oh, and guess what, Patrick has an example of him at the zoo! Yes, they've got a quaker there in the bird room. He wasn't as neat feather-wise as Patrick though -- a little picked on the head. We missed the trip to the Will Rogers Shrine up there, because they closed the road early but our receipt was validated so we could return Thursday. David hopefully will post some photos of our antics in the kids park... the spider web was just too tempting for David to leave alone. We've got Thursday and Friday to get the rest of the sights in. Our plan next is to visit Cave of the Winds on the lantern tour, return to the Shrine so we actually see it, stop by the World Figure Skating Museum and of course go to Pikes Peak with the group. All in Thursday and Friday. We leave Saturday at noon, so the National Lampoons trip is in full swing.

Guess I should get around to posting!

I havn't had time to post anything since I left for Colorado friday. Its been interesting heh. I didn't leave wisconsin until 7:10 pm central on friday. I made it as far as Winona, MN where I grabbed a room at a best western for the night. After a restless night sleep, I hit the road the next day at about 9 am or so saturday morning. The drive was long and mostly uneventful except for rendering some roadside assistance. I responded to a truck driver saying that there were two women stranded on the side of I-80 in Iowa, trying to change a flat tire, which turned out to be a woman and her 6-7 year old daughter. I helped them change their tire and got them back on the road. She was very appreciative of the help and thanked me over and over. That was a good feeling :)

The drive seemed to drag on a very long time and I made it into Lone Duck at 2:30 am MST... with approx 1200 miles on the clock. Thats about 1050+ miles in a single day over an approximate time of 17-18 hours. I slept in the cab of the truck when I got to the campground. Woke up at 6:45 sunday morning after no where near enough sleep. We bummed around camp most of the day and went to Seven Falls waterfall later that night and saw some really awesome rock formations and waterfalls.

Monday was pretty awesome too. We set out for Garden of the Gods rock formations. Adam Jackie and Mike and I went walking around a few of the many trails in the area - seems like every where you turn around here theres one skyline or another thats more awesome than what you just saw. We met up with Jon and Ed afterwards and hit some trails for some great photo ops.

Tuesday we set out in the morning for Dakota Hill and other areas which I can't remember the names of right now. Dakota hill was pretty cool actually. The only signs of civilization was the communications and cell towers that were posted up there. I was able to get some lightning strikes on video. The trees up at that elevation are all very thick and stubby and short. There were what Mike guessed to be, mining test holes, dug out and filled in, with 20-some year old trees that had taken root, all over the top of the hill... adding to the eery landscape.

We set out for the highland afterwards and eventually topped well over 11,000 feet elevation. We made it to the top of this particulat mountain range, the name of which escapes me... at the top the wind was blowing something feirce and it was cold. We were well above the tree line and had spotted a couple herds of elk on the way up. The trail was moderate/easy. With lots more bumps than really difficult sections. Jason and Norah's stock quadcab made it over them just fine. The views were more than breathtaking. Its a sight I will not soon forget and one that I hope I'll see again. Everyone remarked that they had a wonderful day.

Wednesday decided to throw me a curve ball. A sound I was hearing tuesday night, turned out to be both front axleshaft joints on the Ram's front DANA axle, grinding their rusted, non-greaseable, factory OEM u-joints to peices. After runing around town all morning fetching u-joints and having to buy and entire craftsman socket set just to get a single 1-11/16ths socket for the spindle nut, I started taking stuff apart and saw that the bolts that hold the wheel bearing units to the spindle, are a funky ass 12 point dealy. A bolt head that I do not have a socket for. I am pondering if I should run all over kingdomcome trying to find that socket, or just have a shop change the joints and be done with it. As it is I can't get any parts. I'll have to put everything back together again to go look. Everyone else is out in town. I missed the brewery tour this AM and unless someone comes back to camp, I'm going to miss the drag racing at Bandamire, to say nothing or participting. Somthing that I had *really* been looking forward to - as I have never done that before. Anyway... I'm not really sure what to do at this point. I think I'll make a few phone calls and see what a shop will ream me for to change the joints.

Log by Walt_Felix for THE TEDDY BEAR WENT OVER THE MOUMTAIN (Traditional Cache)

Log by Walt_Felix for THE TEDDY BEAR WENT OVER THE MOUMTAIN (Traditional Cache)

We dropped out 3rd travel bug,

Walt-n-Ingrid's Virtual Roadtrip #3 - Mustang

Log by Walt_Felix for Ghost 4 - American City (Traditional Cache)

While Off-Roading, I saw the Ghost 4 - American City Geocache on my GPS and decided to stop quickly. Dropped one of our vacation travel bugs. "Walt-n-Ingrid's Virtual Roadtrip #4 - Dodge Dakota".


Log by Walt_Felix for Ghost 4 - American City (Traditional Cache)

We are at the Summit of Dakota Hill

Walt-n-Ingrid @ Rampart Range Road 02 by carlschulz

While taking a mild off-road excersion on Rampart Range Road we foung Rampart Range Road 02 microcache by carlschulz

Walt-n-Ingrid @ Glen Eyrie RM2 by Colorado Papa

We found the Glen Eyrie RM2 Geocache today and dropped one of our travel bugs, "Walt-n-Ingrid's Virtual Roadtrip #1 - Dodge Ram"

Seven Falls

I've got a minute before I grab breakfast and jump in the shower, so I wanted to post an update of last night's activities. We managed to make it over to Seven Falls around 9:30 or so to see the night time light show. As it was dark, pictures were naturally difficult to get. I haven't downloaded mine, but after I turned the flash off I managed to get a couple that look pretty nice in the little preview window on the camera. It remains to be seen how nice they actually are. We got postcards though, so we do have pictures of it.

My review? Nice, but I'm not sure it was worth the admission price. There's so much else to do and see in this state for free that I have a hard time with the built-up touristy stuff. But, I'm glad we went over to see it, at least we can say we did something more than just bum around camp and go grocery shopping :-).

Today we're headed over to Garden of the Gods in the morning, where we'll be meeting up with Jon and Ed this afternoon.

Along the "Information Superhighway"

Internet access is limited but works. I spoke with the owner of the campground and he said he just discovered a broken antenna on one of his access points, which is probably why we can't get a signal down at the group sight.

It's official...

Hood up, working on a truck... it now qualifies as a DML meet.

I sure hope those canopies are fireproof...

DML HQ has been assimilated

They managed to get the banner up. Mike's antenna doesn't quite clear it, hopefully it'll stand up to the abuse. It took the entire group to figure out how to get the canopies up. The outside of the package said "Easy as 1-2-3!" which was a blatant lie. Walt figured out how to bridge between his canopy and Jon's, so we have a pretty nice large covered area set up.

Tom's here

6:30 AM, I take the dog out for his morning visit to the bushes, and I notice Tom's Ram sitting in the driveway of the campground. "Cool!" I think to myself, "he must be inside getting registered." I look inside... no Tom. I look in the Ram, there's Tom, asleep, stretched out on his bench seat. I have no idea what time he got here, but it must have been some time in the middle of the night.

Log by Walt_Felix for Pearl Street Webcam (Webcam Cache)

Log by Walt_Felix for Pearl Street Webcam (Webcam Cache): "Took a small detour while driving from Estes Park back to Cascade to hit this webcam Cache."

Log by Walt_Felix for The Power Of Water (Virtual Cache)

Ingrid and I stopped by this Geocache today. The Power Of Water (Virtual Cache) It's a small memorial next to the Big Thompson Canyon Fire Dept. In 1976, a flash flood in the area claimed 144 lives when the volume of the river increased from it's normal 200 cfs to 31,000 cfs in just 4 hours. People traveling the canyon were caught in their cars. The memorial lists the names of all 144 victims.

Walt-n-Ingrid - Friday July 14th

Ingrid and I drove up north to check out the B17 crash site. Had to drive down 25 miles of dirt road then turn off onto a 4x4 access road that is passable to cars but only those with high clearance. Followed that road as far as we could to we came upon a small parking area and a gate preventing us from going any further. Got out and hiked the rest of the way, which turns out to be about 3 miles straight up the side of a mountain. After an hour and a half, we found the crash site. Took a ton of photos that I will upload later when I have more time.

We then hiked back down the mountain, to the truck, took a few moments to snap some flex shots as this is the very first time I've had the Ram Off-Road.

Back down the trail and 25 miles out to the paved road. Amazing landscape.



Then it was on to Estes Park, through a really cool looking canyon the road just twists through. Once in Estes Park, dinner and drinks at the famous Stanley Hotel. By the time we were done, it was already 11pm, so we decided to stay the night at the official motel chain of the DML, a Rodeway Inn. We're going to kick around here for a while and then head back down to Lone Duck this evening.