Hi
Desert Roundup 95'
Scarecrow and I met Knuckle Head and Happy Face at their
home around 2:15 Friday afternoon. We left their house at
2:30 to meet Montego at the 91 and the Scales. Scales came
and went and no Montego. We made great time arriving in camp
at 4:30. There was the usual poker playing going on. Rooster
made sure he was sitting in the shade so no one could read
his cards. Like that really helped. Friday night brought on
the Poker run with 100 vehicles. One Eyed Jack rode with
Grumpy while Jenafer and I rode with Scarecrow. We were
vehicle number 93! It was an easy run with a couple of nice
hills. It was harder trying to find the Trinkets! We found
Six and ended up getting lost around camp trying to find the
end of the line to pull our cards. We didn't even pull a
pair. We arrived back at camp around midnight with almost
everyone in bed. Lynn and Zookeeper were up and Zookeeper
was feeling no pain! Even after he fell over the pile of
wood, backwards.
Saturday morning came a bit too early but it was time to get
ready for the Achy Braky Run. Fearless roused the rest of
the Rough-wheelers out of bed. One Eyed Jack was the first
in line and the rest of us followed. We left about 8:30 with
105 vehicles in tow. The first steep hill brought Montego
with some sliding but he made it up without a tow (this
time)! After the second by pass that we took, left Fidget in
sort of a nose in the air feeling. Sandman had to pull her
off of the rocky incline at the same time pulling her
muffler off. They got back on the trail with a lot more
noise but at least she kept going. The second really steep
hill left us sliding a bit but Scarecrow did not want to
back down. Even though Rooster had no faith in his ability
to get the stock Toyota up the hill without a strap. we made
it, NO PROBLEM! But Montego just didn't have enough humph to
make it up, so he had to go back down. Believe it or not,
Fearless got stuck on the next stop! I am pretty sure that
someone has a picture of it cause we were all screaming for
a camera. Scarecrow took the by pass but decided to go over
the biggest rock (that he could have missed by a mile) and
put a big 'ol digger in the door. That wasn't the first dent
of the trip or the last! Gadgetman also had a hard time with
this one, but made it through. The next tough spot was for
short wheel base with posi and lockers only. (We went up the
hill and became on-lookers). Of course Footloose had the
hood up part way through (sure it was to start the
com-pressor). Since Knuckle Head was running open he had to
almost run over the trail hand to get up the last part of
the hill. Montego got stuck even before the trail started
and needed help! Everyone else made it through without any
problems. About 11:30 we stopped for lunch. You could buy
lemonade or cookies if you liked. Gasman was having problems
with his clutch and thought he was going to have to go into
town to have it fixed. Lady luck was with him and it just
needed to cool off. Lunch was short but sweet! We were
almost done now. We met Kingfish and Su at this point. They
had to go into town to get a tire tube. One Eyed Jack must
have had both eyes closed for he was trying to defy gravity,
again! Bridget was riding with One Eyed Jack and he didn't
know who was screaming the loudest, him or Bridget. The next
hill brought us some good laughs. As you can all guess
Montego got stuck. It looked like he was going to go end
over end over end if he didn't stop. But you all know
Montego "let me try to get up this hill" no matter how much
he digs in. Sandman came to the rescue again. As Sand-man
was trying to pull Montego out some other club people
thought it would be a good idea to pass them on the left.
Sandman DUSTED them! It was a sight to behold. Montego
flying over the back seat, trying to steer and trying to see
with all the sand flying. I kept telling Steve that we
needed a video camera so we could send the tape to Toyota.
It would have made a great commercial! Maybe we get a dent
free Toyota out of it. We ended up with the bed shifting
that made a dent in the cab and one dent on the lower part
of each door. We made it back to camp without any other
problems. Most of us took the short route because the
horseshoes were calling. Back at camp I had to bribe Rooster
with a wine cooler just to let Fidget and I play. So we
lost, but we gave it our best. I don't think there was any
real champions this time. But I was informed over the phone
by Knuckle Head that him and Rooster kicked butt again.
Lynn, Rhonda, Zookeeper, Bob Baker, Jenafer, and I decided
to play poker. Well at least I tried to play. My mind was
too fogged to try to remember how to play HI-LO. That's OK I
had Gadgetman's help, for a little while anyway. At least no
one busted. Dinner stated at 6:00. Of course we had to live
up to the Roughwheelers reputation and be rowdy as hell in
line. Rooster kept telling Footloose that his ticket was a
child ticket, and kept trying to give him day old steak that
had been sitting on the grill all day. He also kept trying
to give it to everyone else that had yellow tickets. Little
did Footloose know that Rooster's ticket was the same color
as his. Dinner was great. (So they tell me. I only ate the
salad.) There was more horseshoes and poker playing after
that. Mr. Chicken (Rooster) kept trying to get me to give
him another Bartels & James but I just told him this was
my last one! Knuckle Head volunteered to do the Star Gazing
Game. So our club name did get into print. He was hoping the
cloud cover would stay but he was out of luck. Scarecrow and
I went to bed early that night. But I do know that Lynn,
Jerry, Montego, and Jenafer decided to visit other camps.
You know that went over real well. They just sort of sat
down next to their fire and gave them hell. Hey Montego I
hear you were Dancing up a Storm out there. Do you
remember?
Sunday brought us a beautiful day without any cloud cover.
It was hot on the hill. The potato race was first of course.
Even Fidget and I got in on the fun. We didn't win, but I
tried to take one of the tires that held the potatoes with
us, but they wouldn't let me. Footloose and One Eyed Jack
took first. Having the best time of 59 seconds in High
Desert history. Kingfish and Wayne took third. Notice they
were both driving Toyotas! Next was Blindmans Bluff. We had
to wait a long while for this one so everyone went over to
the Wet Lap. Jason dumped the clutch so Bridget got soaked.
(We all think he did it on purpose). Lynn and I decided to
saw some logs. I felt we did great but there was no way that
we could best those buff women. Fidget and I tried twice as
well, boy was I sore. We also hammered some nails into a
board, along with my thumbs. Scarecrow at this time had to
change a tire, thanks to a barrel cactus. He tried to blame
me for it, but I wasn't allowed to drive yet. He didn't
quite have the correct jack. He claims he forgot and left it
back at camp. Gasman came to the rescue and let him borrow
his Hi Lift Jack. The rest of us just watched or played Wet
Lap. Walt and Su walked away with an award in this one. At
Blind Mans Bluff Zookeeper drove while Bob Baker gave him
directions. They took first in Men's Long Wheel base even
after having a 5 second penalty for running over a cone. I
tried to give Scarecrow directions but he couldn't remember
his right from his left (like I could). I even tried to make
up new directions. It was getting late so we headed over to
the Balancing Act with everyone else. Rhonda was trying to
beat her best time, while Jenafer and I got into line.
Scarecrow couldn't see straight by this time. I took first
for Women's Long Wheel base while Rhonda won first for
Women's Short wheel base. I know that Footloose and One Eyed
won for something else but since I wasn't told until Sunday
night that I was doing this, I have to go by memory. Sorry
if missed anyone that won an award. The kids games stared at
3:00 and all the adults got in on the Desert Drags using the
kids wagons. Jenafer took second In the Star Gaze. During
the awards Gasman and Mary were trying to leave but he
forget to check his gas gage. Lady luck was with him again.
Diane happened to have the CB on and heard Gasman calling
for help. Sandman towed them into camp. (How many
Rough-wheelers does it take to look into a hood of a Jeep?)
Most of us were beat after all this, I know I was. We went
to bed and all I could think about was this trip report.
Monday, others had already left, then Iceman and Wayne,
while Gasman, Mary, Gadgetman, One Eyed, Knuckle Head, Happy
Face, Scarecrow and I finished getting ready to leave. We
had a nice drive home without any traffic!
Carol don't call me Cheryl