Meet and Greet at Valley of Fire, October 7-9,2011

[Jeffrey-SMB]

looks like we might get some rain but only 40% chance on thursday

http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/V ... +NVSPVF:13

Long shot, but that would be fabulous. Nothing as exciting as a desert rain. Oh yeah, I have an agenda, REALLT GREAT desert photography.

 

[macmcintire]

Long shot, but that would be fabulous. Nothing as exciting as a desert rain. Oh yeah, I have an agenda, REALLT GREAT desert photography.

Your photographs are fantastic on your website. You're going to have to figure out a great shot for a group photograph at the Meet and Greet!

 

[Jeffrey-SMB]

I will certainly do that, Mac.

 

[daveb-SMB]

Long shot, but that would be fabulous. Nothing as exciting as a desert rain. Oh yeah, I have an agenda, REALLY GREAT desert photography.

Totally agree. It always makes for a nice change in pace.

 

[horsepower-SMB]

First post from a lurker. Been thinking of going over to Austin to see some these machines as I narrow my search. But it is just a couple hundred miles further in the opposite direction to come here. Unfortunately, my work week is Thursday through Saturday. Is there anyone arriving as early as Tuesday, by chance? Or early Wednesday? I have to be back in Artesia NM by 10 pm on Thursday. Just wondering out loud if I might get a chance to gawk or if it would be wiser to plan on just making a run back east to Austin. Perhaps someone is passing by within a couple hundred miles of SE New Mexico on Wednesday headed there or on the way back out and we could meet. Have bike, will travel to see a rig or 26!

Robert

 

[bettyford-SMB]

Call in sick

Ron

Anybody else bringing there motorcycle Duel sports?

 

[macmcintire]

First post from a lurker. Been thinking of going over to Austin to see some these machines as I narrow my search. But it is just a couple hundred miles further in the opposite direction to come here. Unfortunately, my work week is Thursday through Saturday. Is there anyone arriving as early as Tuesday, by chance? Or early Wednesday? I have to be back in Artesia NM by 10 pm on Thursday. Just wondering out loud if I might get a chance to gawk or if it would be wiser to plan on just making a run back east to Austin. Perhaps someone is passing by within a couple hundred miles of SE New Mexico on Wednesday headed there or on the way back out and we could meet. Have bike, will travel to see a rig or 26!

Robert

The arrival dates of everyone are in a post just a few up from your's. Sadly, none will be there on Tuesday. Bettyford and Daveb will be there on Wednesday. I will be arriving early Thursday morning.

 

[kmessinger]

First post from a lurker. Been thinking of going over to Austin to see some these machines as I narrow my search. But it is just a couple hundred miles further in the opposite direction to come here. Unfortunately, my work week is Thursday through Saturday. Is there anyone arriving as early as Tuesday, by chance? Or early Wednesday? I have to be back in Artesia NM by 10 pm on Thursday. Just wondering out loud if I might get a chance to gawk or if it would be wiser to plan on just making a run back east to Austin. Perhaps someone is passing by within a couple hundred miles of SE New Mexico on Wednesday headed there or on the way back out and we could meet. Have bike, will travel to see a rig or 26!

Robert

I assume you want to see one of the 4wd's. My Sprinter and Presley and I will be in Roswell on the 21st and leaving the 22nd. Busy schedule but maybe Saturday afternoon if you want to see an SMB Sprinter.

 

[macmcintire]

I'm hoping all who are interested will be able to drive the Bitter Springs Scenic Byway together on Saturday morning of the Meet and Greet. It would make a great picture to see a lot of rigs driving on that trail. Here's a picture of the route in red. The Valley of Fire roads are in green:

[photo:107irjun]17382[/photo:107irjun]

Hopefully we can also get a group picture of everyone sometime on Saturday. We have several great photographers (even some professionals) among the group.

This is the only "organized" activities there will be at the event. The rest of the time is just relaxing or doing whatever one wants to do for fun!

I'm looking forward to meeting those I have not yet met and seeing again those I have met.

P.S.: This map also shows how to get to the Valley of Fire from I-15. For those coming from the south, exit at the Valley of Fire exit at the Moapa Indian Reservation. For those coming from the North, take the Logandale/Overton exit and wind through those communities until you get to the Lake Mead Recreation Area.

 

[Ford_6L_E350]

I'm in. We need to get a great picture to give to Alan as partial thanks for the T-shirts!

Mike

 

[larrie-SMB]

I wish you all an enjoyable and safe weekend.


Larrie
89 Ford RB

 

[jsaavedrav]

Mac: The Bitter Springs Scenic Byway is only suitable for 4WD? My SMB is 2WD and not lifted.

 

[macmcintire]

I have gone on the Byway in my 2WD Suburban that is not lifted. The only possible problem is sand in some washes. But there will be enough 4WD rigs there to pull anyone out if they get stuck. There is no rock crawling on this road. It's just a dirt road that may be rocky in some spots and sandy in others. But mostly it's a pretty good road. I will call the BLM office this morning to find out the current conditions of the road.

 

[Gooseberry-SMB]

Oh oh Oh I want to use my recovery gear and put my winch training to use.

really the only thing I would worry about is parts that hang down or body moldings. My dad drove a 2wd chevy all over the desert and never was stuck.

My Co2 will air up a couple sets of tires and Im sure that we have alot of on board air set ups.

Mac: The Bitter Springs Scenic Byway is only suitable for 4WD? My SMB is 2WD and not lifted.

 

[macmcintire]

I went out to the Valley of Fire in the morning a few weeks ago to finalize a few things for the Meet and Greet. On the way out, near the Bitter Springs Byway turnoff, I saw a small car out in the middle of the desert. It seemed strange to me, so I drove out to check on it. When I got near the vehicle two heads popped up from the ground outside the vehicle. It was a twenty-something couple. They ran to me and asked if I could pull their Mazda 3 out of a ditch. They had been stuck out there since the day before. I pulled them out, unhooked my tow strap, and they immediately drove off without saying a word of thanks or offering to help put away my recovery gear. What's with some young people these days? Didn't their mothers teach them the magic words?

 

[BroncoHauler-SMB]

I went out to the Valley of Fire in the morning a few weeks ago to finalize a few things for the Meet and Greet. On the way out, near the Bitter Springs Byway turnoff, I saw a small car out in the middle of the desert. It seemed strange to me, so I drove out to check on it. When I got near the vehicle two heads popped up from the ground outside the vehicle. It was a twenty-something couple. They ran to me and asked if I could pull their Mazda 3 out of a ditch. They had been stuck out there since the day before. I pulled them out, unhooked my tow strap, and they immediately drove off without saying a word of thanks or offering to help put away my recovery gear. What's with young people these days? Didn't their mothers teach them the magic words?

That's sad to hear.

Unfortunately, it's behavior like this that makes some people charge money to help people in similar situations.

Hopefully, Karma will repay you for your generosity, and repay them for their discourtesy.


Herb

 

[bettyford-SMB]

It really only matters that you helped them. Im sure they were great full.

Still its nice to hear.

Ron

 

[macmcintire]

Just had number 27 RSVP. VANquisher, from Reno, will be joining us on Friday.

Make that 28. Tapatio will be joining us on Saturday.

Since there are only 28 campsites in the Arch Rock CG, we will either take them all (if all of the stars align for that) or share sites in Arch . . . or we will spread out with some in Arch CG, some in Atlatal CG and some in the Group Site I reserved. Thank goodness I got the Group Site as an overflow. I'm hoping we don't have to use it since it is about a mile away from the other two campgrounds. But at least it is there if needed.

I'm not worried about finding a spot for everyone, although I did have a dream the other night that when I got to the VofF the entire campground was taken by people at a married couples retreat. Almost everyone coming said they are willing to share their space and/or are flexible on where they stay. Actually it will be fun seeing all of those rigs in such a beautiful area. I hope we get some absolutely gorgeous pictures of everyone and their rigs.

Is this cool or what?

So, anyone else going to join us? I'm still waiting to hear back from danamrak, stiggs, Advanturetrek and witoke.

 

[Ford_6L_E350]

I have an air compressor and a generator to run it, so if anyone airs down, I can air it back up in just a couple of minutes/van. '

Gooseberry - save your CO2!

Mike

 

[macmcintire]

Daveb, you must have a lot of pull with the weather Gods. The highs on Thursday and Friday will be in the 60's with the possibility of rain. The highs on Saturday and Sunday will be in the high 70's with clear skies. Of course, the rain in the desert usually comes in short cloud bursts and flash floods. Then it's perfect after that. Today in Vegas we've had a wonderful lightning and thunder storm. They showed some great pictures of the lightning on the evening news.