Trail Run: Miller "Lexus" Trail

[Roberto Miranda]

some pics...

when I was out of the rig, I was spotting... I had few pictures...

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slidesho...e&conn_speed=1

have fun,
Roberto

[RAT]

some pics...

when I was out of the rig, I was spotting... I had few pictures...

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slidesho...e&conn_speed=1

have fun,
Roberto

Roberto,
I'm not used to seeing posts from you that don't include waist deep mud, raging river crossings and log bridges. Miller must be boring after that all that! Nice pics, as usual. So not all Ford "exploders" are canyon runners...

[Roberto Miranda]

That is like asking a little kid which one you liked better, dad or mom?

I liked apple pie…
I liked orange juice…

My 4x4 school was mud, but rocks and sand are a different class… I’m still learning…

Is not boring at all, is just different…

Allow Buttercup to crawl, barely touching the gas pedal is a technique that I’m not use to, but I’m getting better each time…

take a look to this video, Venezuelans in dunes... that is weird... but of course, they ended at the beach, drinking bear and cute girls all over the place...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOiva9gJjvE

[steelman]

Roberto!

It was good being out there with you on Saturday, and to see your rig getting dirty again! Good times!!

[Roberto Miranda]

thanks !

Miller Lexus Trail – October 18, 2008.


I had major issues with Buttercup’s head gasket back in January 2008. I worked with Joe for several weekends to fix that until the job was done with my own hands. That is a BIG accomplishment. Then, I did some paved runs, just to make sure that everything was in place properly. A moment for a real test knocked my door last weekend.

The Off Road agenda for the following weeks is full of options until late November. I choose Miller trail because I know the trail and the must important to me, I know almost every single person that went on that trip very well. I’m hanging out with them for the last few years.

My first concern was the engine temperature, so I had an eye on the dash board gadgets all time. Believe or not, I forgot to bring extra water, just in case. My second concern was about any loose bolt on the engine due to vibration related to the off road activity. I just failed with the CB ground, I forgot to connect it and the A/C belt was not tight enough, so the belt makes the typical noise of a loose belt.

A total of 12 rigs show up on Saturday morning. Two more than expected, and I was one of them, shame on me. We met a Frazier park gas station at 8:30 sharp. We air down at the trail head and the trip begun. The Miller Lexus trail (that is how I call it) is located in Los Padres National Forest, at north of LA. With ideal weather conditions, I considered it a moderate trail with few hard spots that requires some sliders protection. With some rain or even worst, some snow, could be a nightmare, so our club avoid wet days due to bad experiences in the past. A broken Jeep was stuck in the snow for several weeks and the gate was closed, so no they had no chance to get in with the spare parts to bring it back.

We had no issues this time; all rigs went through the trail, even the ones with open differentials. The worst scenario was spotting someone, and that is not bad at all, is part of the fun. I just missed the opportunity of some good action pictures, but I loved to spot my friends. We had at least three break times, one for lunch and some other just to chat close to a creek and enjoy nature. The dogs, kids and adults had a blast on the trip. We ended up at the Mexican restaurant and had dinner there. Then, we drove back and we had the typical traffic crossing LA.

Roberto L. Miranda