First solo trip to Uwharie

I've always felt very vulnerable when i picture myself wheeling through Uwharrie by myself. It's like i'm a little boy again, lost in the woods all by myself...

Anyway, i had a friend bail on me and decided, what the heck, there's always a first time and when you find yourself married with 2 kids, well, another first time actually sounds kind of fun! Exhilarating almost!

So, i packed up my gear, put the entire top on, took the doors off and headed toward the outpost. i went as cheap as i could and splurged for a sixer of Heineken.

At the outpost i pulled a most painful, yet typical (for me), move. While disengaging the sway bar and airing down the tires, i placed my sunglasses on the front bumper. After purchasing my day pass and a couple bottles of water i was on my way, ready to hit the trails solo! Solo i was, with no sunglasses. Frick! i hate that.

not 10 minutes off the road i was hung up. i came down on the passenger side frame right when a few jeeps rounded the corner of the trail coming the other way. They were courteous and helped me stack some rocks and spotted me. In less than 5 minutes i was on my way again. i didn't hit any advanced sections and pretty much just went to check things out. I went down trails that i had not seen in a while.

i had a great peaceful day and i highly recommend a solo trip for any experienced wheeler. It keeps your mind in check. i find myself all too often wheeling with a couple friends and i'm like, 'hey that obstacle ain't sh1t'. Oh look i'm stuck and i damaged my jeep. Doh!

Don't underestimate the power of the han solo trip. Just make sure the force is with you. Check out a few pics and 1 vid from my trip here. Thanks Picasa!

The 85 dollar 13 cent fix

Ahh yes, Chrysler. i love to support American made products. No really i do!. i bought a new jeep and suffered the abuse from my wife for CHr1st sake!

However, i'm not to keen on the idea of paying 653 times the cost for simple parts. You may (probably not) remember the post where i told you not to let friends help you put your top up. Well, i went to the 5 star stealership to get a replacement windshield clamp for my soft top. i was surprised to find that the very simple lever was 85 dollars! Yes, US dollars. That's just for one side!

So, i hit Home Depot, no luck. i hit Lowe's, no luck. Finally i went back to my roots and hit up the lowly Ace Hardware. What an amazing place. Not only do they have Fels Naptha soap to cure my wife's poison ivy from hell, they also carry the perfect steel rivet that fixes said windshield clamp. Total cost, $.13 (Thirteen United States of America Federal Mint pennies).

I brought the broken part and the rivet home, put the rivet in the hole, placed it in the vice, squeezed it against a nail, and voila, clamp works better than new. A little shout out goes to my wife (who is also happy with Ace Hardware) for turning the vice whilest i held said part in position.

Ace is the helpful hardware place. Chryler is the 'we have no clue about economics' place.