Enthusiast III
- 676
- First Name
- William
- Last Name
- Clawson
- Member #
-
24817
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KI6MKX
- Service Branch
- Volunteer Fire
Picture is Somewhere South and West of the Sheldon National Wildlife refuge NV. We dropped in out of the east side of the Warner Mountains. After camping near Patterson camp ground. Maiden trailer voyage.
Moved RTT from top of LX to trailer. It was tippy with the 6” lift and leaned way over in corners. Several times pulled a wheel up and could never tell how far we could lean it without flopping it. With the trailer, Mostly mild back roads and did run the Strawberry trail out of Kyburz CA about a 4 on 10 scale. No issues hardly knew it was there. It was awesome!
Now for the rest of the story......
After a late start out of the Placerville area we stopped in Susanville for lunch. Someone left his credit card at the restaurant and had to go back.
Fortunately only 10 min out of town. We finally reached camp just before dusk and began setting up camp looking forward to dinner, a beer and campfire but not necessarily in that order. We had a guest passenger on board and were unloading their gear when they asked have you seen my sleeping bag? To which I replayed “I packed everything you brought over” and as I said those words I had that sinking feeling.... their bag never made it out of their garage. Neither had ours. For some reason right where we were my wife got just enough cell service to see that Walmart in Susanville was open till 10 pm. It was 7:20 pm. 23 miles of forest dirt roads and windy 2 lane to hw 395. Then 80 miles from Likely to Susanville. Quick unhitch the trailer, climb in to the Temptress, strap in and go. Rolled out at 7:30 on the dime. Made the turn at Likely at 8:33. Great it’s dark 80 miles to go and lots of night critters I hope I don’t meet. You can push her to 75 or 80 on a freeway, but on a lonely two lane highway in the dark that’s silly. Even 65 was to fast, but Walmart closes at 10 and we don’t have sleeping bags. Just extra clothes some tarps and towels so we could survive the mid 20s temp coming that night if we had to, but Walmart was in my sights. I buzzed along as fast as I dared and finally made the turn to Susanville at 9:49. Oh no I forgot they were night paving the highway between me and Walmart. Tick tick tick now 9:53. Call Walmart explain situation to gal on phone. She says just a minute let me git my manager. I am thinking great, drive 103 miles of backroad and two lane HW and come up 7 min short. Looks like I am staying in a hotel while Wife and friend of Wife roughs it. Now 9:56 pm. Walmart manager gets on I am still sitting in traffic. I explained situation again 103 miles to get sleeping bag blah blah blah... she says no problem, get here as soon as you can, middle front door open, come and meet my assistant manager Robert and he will help you out. Traffic finally moves, pull into lot and snag a front row spot dash in at 9:59 Wait for Robert. 10:02 Robert arrives we grab a cart and dash around the store to sporting goods and grab 3 bags big warm 20 degree Colman bags some fuel for the jet boil, some d batteries and some red hots. Cash out. Back in the Temptress @10:16 and motor back arrive at camp 12:27. Girls still by the fire and pretty silly by now. Now go to bed toasty warm after what was supposed to be a leisurely drive to camp. Instead almost 600 miles in the day.
moral of the story? Double check your checklist....doh!
Moved RTT from top of LX to trailer. It was tippy with the 6” lift and leaned way over in corners. Several times pulled a wheel up and could never tell how far we could lean it without flopping it. With the trailer, Mostly mild back roads and did run the Strawberry trail out of Kyburz CA about a 4 on 10 scale. No issues hardly knew it was there. It was awesome!
Now for the rest of the story......
After a late start out of the Placerville area we stopped in Susanville for lunch. Someone left his credit card at the restaurant and had to go back.
Fortunately only 10 min out of town. We finally reached camp just before dusk and began setting up camp looking forward to dinner, a beer and campfire but not necessarily in that order. We had a guest passenger on board and were unloading their gear when they asked have you seen my sleeping bag? To which I replayed “I packed everything you brought over” and as I said those words I had that sinking feeling.... their bag never made it out of their garage. Neither had ours. For some reason right where we were my wife got just enough cell service to see that Walmart in Susanville was open till 10 pm. It was 7:20 pm. 23 miles of forest dirt roads and windy 2 lane to hw 395. Then 80 miles from Likely to Susanville. Quick unhitch the trailer, climb in to the Temptress, strap in and go. Rolled out at 7:30 on the dime. Made the turn at Likely at 8:33. Great it’s dark 80 miles to go and lots of night critters I hope I don’t meet. You can push her to 75 or 80 on a freeway, but on a lonely two lane highway in the dark that’s silly. Even 65 was to fast, but Walmart closes at 10 and we don’t have sleeping bags. Just extra clothes some tarps and towels so we could survive the mid 20s temp coming that night if we had to, but Walmart was in my sights. I buzzed along as fast as I dared and finally made the turn to Susanville at 9:49. Oh no I forgot they were night paving the highway between me and Walmart. Tick tick tick now 9:53. Call Walmart explain situation to gal on phone. She says just a minute let me git my manager. I am thinking great, drive 103 miles of backroad and two lane HW and come up 7 min short. Looks like I am staying in a hotel while Wife and friend of Wife roughs it. Now 9:56 pm. Walmart manager gets on I am still sitting in traffic. I explained situation again 103 miles to get sleeping bag blah blah blah... she says no problem, get here as soon as you can, middle front door open, come and meet my assistant manager Robert and he will help you out. Traffic finally moves, pull into lot and snag a front row spot dash in at 9:59 Wait for Robert. 10:02 Robert arrives we grab a cart and dash around the store to sporting goods and grab 3 bags big warm 20 degree Colman bags some fuel for the jet boil, some d batteries and some red hots. Cash out. Back in the Temptress @10:16 and motor back arrive at camp 12:27. Girls still by the fire and pretty silly by now. Now go to bed toasty warm after what was supposed to be a leisurely drive to camp. Instead almost 600 miles in the day.moral of the story? Double check your checklist....doh!
