Downieville, Colorado - In the week prior to our trip we heard of a 3 hour wait at the rock garden due to slow traffic, snow traffic, and stock traffic. Also it was reported that the bypass was blocked by tree trunks. Timeliness by the Solihull riders prevented all that potential distraction and resulted in a pleasant ride in the mountains.
Empire, Colorado - We started out the trip to Bill Moore lake by meeting at Idaho Springs Safeway. It was a warm sunny day and I had the soft top on my 66 IIA, but didn’t need a coat.. While waiting for everyone to show up, we got to talk to some new members who were going on their first club trail run. These were Erica Meylan and Kristy Long in a 95 D-90, and Tom and Sherry Henry, friends of Jim Molter, in their new used(11,000 miles) Toyota 4-Runner. Other participants included Jan Smith in his 95 D 1, Scott Launer in a 97 D-90, Dave Whitney in a full sized Ford Bronco(Pinz is broken), Marc Richardson in a 92 RR, Jim Molter and his brother Bob from Florida in a 95 D-90, Carl Padgett in his 97 D-90, and Tim, Coleen and Bronwyn Clair in their 90 RR.
Webster, Colorado - Enjoy some breathtaking scenery not far from the Denver area.
Jefferson, Colorado - Ahh, Kenosha Pass. Back in the day, Kenosha was a post office and railroad stop for the Denver , South Park & Pacific Railroad, a narrow-gauge that was used mainly by miners to transport their ore. The name Kenosha is likely derived from a tribe of Chippewa Indians that once inhabited this beautiful country. The Ute Indians also thrived in this territory. Now, with the natives gone and the railroad tracks long having been dismantled, all that remains is an extensive network of trails nestled among aspen and pine trees that’s treasured by hikers, bikers, and four-wheel drivers alike.
Johnson Village, Colorado - Unlike last year, when Rich Dekker was democratically voted into responsibility at the gas station, this year Ralph Bradt took it upon himself to lead the new and improved Chinaman’s Gulch Trail. New and improved because an obstacle has been added to the backside of the oval course, but access to the lake has been blocked by large boulders and a cable.
Moab, Utah - The Solihull Society kicked off the official 2004 4-wheeling season with its annual spring trip to Moab, Utah During the weekend of April 16 th . This trip was a special trip for the Vali’s as Ali and Kirsten had their 21month old son (Peyton) with them for the first time in Moab and boy did he have a good and safe time. The spring trip participants were the Vali’s in the green camel Rangie, Mark Stolte in his very clean D-90, Larry Grubbs in the monster Rangie, Mark Handlovitch, Jim and Mary Molter in their D-90, Yousef Hamzeh and family in their Series II Discovery and Brian in his Series II Discovery.
Hall’s Crossing, Utah - When a fellow wheeler says to you, yes, we had a great trip, what does that really mean? This is what it meant to the participants of the Hole in the Rock camping trip: new trail, volatile weather, some navigation, stunning scenery, intriguing food, reflective music, new acquaintances, lucky finds, fresh admiration, musical discussions, political discussions, technical discussions, vehicle discussions, food discussions, no breakage, and solid friends. On the downside, there was lots of highway driving starting from Denver.