WET AND WILD!
 
As we headed southeast to Clayton, Oklahoma, we were greeted by heavy rain and cool temperatures.  When the sun went down, the rain continued to pound the area.  I arrived just before dark, but was left to worry and pray for the rest of my crew who had to fight the dark, wet, slippery roads into the evening.  Shortly before 10:00 PM, my whole group had arrived safely.  The rain continued to pound southeast Oklahoma throughout the night. As morning rolled round, the rain stayed to keep us company.  Over 2” of rain had graced the area.  Around 8:00 AM, the rest of the die hard wheelers rolled into Minnetonka Camp grounds.  Yes, many of the faint at heart had chosen to sit this one out because of the weather.

When we gathered at the trail head we only numbered 8 rigs.  We hooked up for the first trail with 4 members of the Trail Chasers from Oklahoma City.  As the group crossed the first low water bridge (3” deep) and headed into the park, Big Yeller pulled from the parking lot and then rolled slowly to a stop.  The 465 Chevy transmission had hung in neutral.  As the rain continued to keep us cool Andy Austin, my brother Rex, who was on his first outing with us, and myself started taking off the top of the transmission.  After about 45 mins and by using a screw driver as a shifter, we were able to get the transmission into 1st gear.  This gave me 1st gear low range and 1st gear high range.  This would just have to do for now.

Across the low water bridge and onto the 1st trail we headed.  Greeted by plenty of water rolling down across the big rocks and plenty of mud. We fought for every yard gained and we headed upward.  With Mike Simmons and Randy Callison sporting the smallest of the rigs (locked Zuk on 31” meat) and having to work the hardest, we climbed on.  Mother Nature was really giving Mike a test on his first real trail riding adventure.  

Fighting all of the elements, both Mike and his little Zuk did a great job of clawing their way to the top.  Andy and Tracie began to struggle with an overheating transmission and had to be pulled up the last hill of the trail.  They were then able to drive it back to the parking lot and gave it the rest of the day off as they found seats among the other remaining vehicles. My brother Rex, also had to call it a day so he could get back to Oklahoma City to prepare his Sunday School lesson for the next day.  This had been his first exposure to this type of adventure.  We were very glad that he was able to come and spend some time with us and share in our hobby.

Once making it back to the parking lot Brad dug out 2 batteries and 2 sets of jumper cables and welded up my busted shifter and I reassembled my tranny and back into the hills we went.  Then we headed to the Black Sheep water fall and yes, it really was a water fall today.  Brad maneuvered up the 5+ rock ledges with his regular skilled driving. 

Next our new friends Doyle and Mandy Watkins from Clarksville, Arkansas took his shot at the Black Sheep with his well built TJ.  He made a gallant effort at the ledges, and the Black Sheep gave him some damaged sheet metal to remember her by. 

Next to attack the climb was Matt Austin in his tube buggy.  The Black sheep swallowed up his 42” TSL’s and wedged his right rear under the ledge requiring and extraction. 

The Big Yeller took her shot at the Sheep.  With the big 44” meat, we conquered the climb.  My wife Judy decided not to challenge the Black Sheep in the Urban Crawler that she had borrowed from me for the trip as she  had not gotten comfortable with driving a standard transmission yet. ( If you missed that part of my Blog, we sold her Jeep on Christmas Eve and left her afoot for the Tour De Sober.)  The score for this obstacle was Black Sheep 2 and Wheelers 2.

That pretty much wrapped up day one as we retreated to the camp for some hot chili, rest, and repairs.  Andy and Brad jumped on Andy’s transmission, dropped the pan and cleaned the filter.  Then blew out the tranny lines and refilled the tranny with fresh fluid.  It was a long shot, but they gave it a shot.  Against the odds, it worked out fine as the transmission worked great the rest of the weekend.  With our group now down to 6 rigs, the rain gave way to a little cooler weather for day two.  As if we didn’t get enough water on day one, we dove off into the Wet and Wild trail for this days adventure.  This trail climbs all the way up the running waters of an active creek.  And believe me, today it was still active.  This is a 4 rated trail which has you fighting a lot of water, large boulders, and huge ledges.  Then in the next section, known as Green Mumba, it changes into a 5 rating.  As Brad led us through the trail, we fought challenge after challenge.  Doyle and Mandy Watkins and Judy had to fight the hardest as they were sporting the smaller tires with 36” and 37” meats. 

The big stuff was plenty tough, even causing Brad to break the rear shaft of the big Rockwells.   This caused about a 1 hour delay as I drove back to the trucks and picked up a spare shaft.  The break was right at the locker and could not be retrieved from that side with a magnet.  Brad had to pull off the other side and drive out the broken shaft with a spare Dana 44 axle from the Urban Crawler.

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After the delay, we continued to fight the creek, obstacle after obstacle through out the day.  Then as we neared the end of the trail Matt busted a shifter cable while high centered on a large boulder.  He was unable to repair it and had no spare.  We placed the transfer case in neutral, pulled him backwards off his perched position on the boulder and placed the transmission manually into 2nd gear so he could drive it back to the trailer.

 
All in all we had a great time.  We got to practice our trail repair procedures and survival tactics.  We made some GREAT new friends for life and renewed old friendships, with other wheelers on the trails.

God really allowed us to enjoy his great outdoors and we thank our Lord for protecting us during our travels and adventures.
 
God Bless You and Yours and Lets go Wheelin,
David Austin (Wheels Up)