2018 WAYALIFE New Year's Kick Off Run HIGHLIGHTS

[wayoflife]

For more years than I can remember, Cindy and I have been kicking off a new year of wheeling by heading out to the Mojave Desert, during the first weekend of January and do so with old friends and new alike. This year, we decided to change things up a bit and did so by taking our friends out to a different part of the Mojave and just for fun, throw in a few optional rocks to play on. Along the way, we would get to see some of the oldest living anything on the face of the planet, stand in the center of an old WWII bombing target, ponder the mystery of a 50' concrete boat in the middle of a desert and try to decipher the cryptic writings left behind by people who lived in the area, a long time ago. The following are highlight photos from all the cool stuff we saw and all the fun we had on the 2018 WAYALIFE New Year's Kick Off Run - we hope you enjoy.

Before the Fun Run
Getting ready to head out. Being that we had just been out wheeling, Moby was pretty much loaded up with tools and supplies.


Packing up some essentials and for old time sake, decided to make it American Honey. Okay, more accurately, Bee Stings which is American Honey mixed with some 101.


I suppose it was a good thing we hadn't washed Moby before the trip especially being that we saw some rain as we left home. With any luck, the wet stuff would stay up north for the weekend.


Breaking up our drive by taking a break at one of our favorite stops along the 395.


After being on the highway for the better part of the day - we finally arrived at our home for the night.


As luck would have it, some of our friends were already here.


Starting off the evening with some tasty vodka tonics compliments of Tony and Steph.


Check it out - they even got limes that had #WAYALIFE stamped on them


After moving over to our room which was a bit bigger, Moochie poured up some of the liquid gold.


To a hell of a good time to come - CHEERS!!


But wait - there's more - CHEERS AGAIN!!


With a few drinks in our system, it was time to head down and swamp one the local eating establishments.


What a surprise - after dinner drinks? CHEERS!!


WAYALIFE New Year's Kick Off Run
What a bummer!! The morning of our New Year's Kick Off Run didn't exactly start the way any of us would have preferred. It was bad enough that someone slashed Adam's rear window and stole his box of fluids but after seeing some gear oil under Tony's Jeep, I noticed his trussed and sleeved front axle housing was cracked just past the c-gusset.


Fortunately, Tony's folks lived near by and he was able to drive and leave his Jeep there. He and Steph then jumped into Moochie's Jeep and joined us out at the meet point.


Pick a sticker - any sticker and memorize the number that's on the back of it.




Tom is excited to be 24.


Getting in a quick drivers meeting before heading out.




On the move at last and with all the colored Jeeps in the front of the pack.


Some dark clouds up ahead but so far, no rain.


Off of pavement and time to air down!


There was a reason why we stopped to air down where we did and before heading out on the trail, I lead every out to an area just on the other side of the road.


About 11,700 years ago, a single Creosote bush began growing in this remote part of the Mojave Desert. As the bush began to die, new bushes or clones of the original began sprouting up from the edges of its roots. Today, this ring of bushes known as King Clone measures almost 70 feet in diameter and is recognized as being one of the oldest living organisms on the planet.


Like standing inside a time machine.


Back in our Jeeps and heading out to have some fun!


Working our way across the dusty desert


And, here we are - our first stop of the day.




I couldn't tell you who put it out here, how it got here or why it's out here but I can tell you that for at least the last 30 years or more, this crazy 50' concrete sail boat has been sitting out here, upside down like a stone dolphin and this is what we brought everyone out to see.








On the move again, we blasted our way across Soggy Dry Lake.




After rendezvousing in the middle of the playa, we lined up to take a group shot.




To the 2018 WAYALIFE New Year's Kick Off Run - WOOT WOOT!!




Getting back into our Jeeps, we made a short drive just past the ancient shores of Soggy Dry Lake and made another stop.


Back during WWII, a series of circular targets measuring 600 feet in diameter were made in the Lucerne Valley and used for bombing practice.


Standing on top of the bullseye and sharing with everyone why we stopped here.


Bits and pieces of practice bombs can still be found scattered throughout the area and here I'm holding a piece of the spotting charge detonator.


Everyone looking around for bomb bits.


The rings of the target were made out of asphalt and you can just make out one of the inner rings here.


On the move again.


Much like the King Clone, Mojave Yuccas grow much in the same way in that they tend to clone themselves and grow in rings. Our next stop was over at the Upper Johnson Valley Yucca Ring Preserve and it is here that you can find impressive specimens that have been around for about 2,100 years.

[wayoflife]

Departing from all the sight seeing we had been doing, we entered into part 2 of our run and that included rocks! Here's a shot of Moby ahead of the pack and climbing up to the top to give a helping had as needed.


The rest of the pack lining up a the foot of the first obstacle.


No shame in knowing your limits. Running a stock YJ, Brett worked his way up the bypass.


Robert followed him up.


I would have preferred Vic had rocker guards instead of side steps but he wanted to give it a go and ended up being okay.


Here's a shot of James showing just how close you get to the driver side rock.


Don starting his climb up.


Here comes Casey with his shiny new Chamber Pro II's.


Dan up on top like it was nothing.


Tom working his way up.


Matt setting up for the climb.


Hey Joe, did you forget to disconnect?


Dad showing how it's supposed to be done.


Steve taking a line further to the right.


Moochie turn at it.


Just a walk in the park for Ed.


Garrett setting up.


Kevin getting it on.


Wait, what? Being in the back so long, Ray forgot to put it in 4WD and forgot to disconnect as well.


Moving on to the next obstacle.


Being in a 2-door allowed James to wiggle his way through this obstacle with ease.


Don getting in some flex.


Vinny articulating his way through.


Dave reaching the limits of his droop but riding his way though without too much effort.


Even without lockers, Adam manages to clear the rocks without too much fuss.


Casey didn't have lockers either and being in a 4-door, had to work it a bit more but was still able to make it through without too much trouble.


Vince working his way through.


After a nice relaxing lunch break at the top of the obstacles, it was time to get back on the move.


Working our way up the wash and taking on small obstacles along the way.




The next big obstacle was totally optional and really, made for rigs running at least 37's. Running a set of 40's, clearing it was just a hop, skip and a jump for Cindy.


Sizing Dan up to make sure he's clear of any hang ups before giving it a bump up.


Rachel rockin it up like a pro!


Tom killin it!


Samuel gettin in the launch position.


Vince clearing the top.


Adam giving it a go but without lockers, just couldn't quite get it up.


Et cresting the top.


Moochie following his lead.


Ed walking his way up.


Jim in the process of bumping his way through.


Garrett setting up.


Kevin working his way up.


Last but not least, Ray up and over.

[wayoflife]

With the biggest rocks behind us, it'd be smoother going for a while.


A few rocks here and there made it interesting for the stock Jeeps in our group. Here's a shot of Brett making his way through in his YJ.


Robert's TJ was a bit more built so it made it through a bit easier.


Kirk climbed his way thought a trickier section of rocks just before the last big climb.


Coming up on the last set of rocks for us.




Don working it until he cleared it.


Ken unintentionally dug himself in and on top of a boulder that wouldn't let him move forward or back. Needless to say, we had to break out a strap to help him out.


Vinny helping out with the recovery.


With Ken freed up, Vinny took on the last set of rocks.


Not realizing he was low on oil, Chris found he couldn't get into the gear he needed but still managed to bump his way through the rocks and without lockers.


James doing a great job of clearing the obstacle.


Vince squeaking by.


Steve getting in tight but making it through.


Moochie on the move.


Jason flexing his way up and over.


Ed riding the tips.


Dan setting up to follow the same line.


Rachel starting her way through.


Jim just clearing the obstacle.


Samuel up and over.


Still connected, Joe got some serious high five action going!


Kevin getting ready to make his way up.


Adam showing how it's done without any lockers.


Here comes Garrett.


And finally, Ray as well.


Out of the rocks, we began making our long descent back down into the valley.






Our last stop of the day was over at a small canyon, up in the Rodman Mountains and is known for its amazing petroglyphs. Parking was a bit tight here but we managed to get everyone in.


Hiking our way into the canyon.




And here they are - all over the place and on both sides of the canyon.












With the sun all but set, it was time to start working our way out of the desert and back to pavement.


Unfortunately, Moby had other plans for us. Soon after leaving the parking area, we flexed our way through a rut and heard a noise that brought us to a stop. Guess the last set of whoops that we bombed across left a little present for us. Of course, I don't think 8 years well over a 100,000 miles of abuse didn't help any.


The wonderful think about redundant parts like a 4-link suspension system is that if you break one, you still have 3 to get you off the trail and home for that matter.


13 minutes later, we were rolling again.


Off the trail and airing up after a great day of wheeling.




To a great day out on the trail and kicking off another year of wheeling with all our friends - CHEERS!!


Cindy and I would like to give a BIG THANKS to Rachel for sharing her pics with us so that we could post them up on this thread. We'd also like to thank everyone who came out and joined for the 2018 WAYALIFE New Year's Kick Off Run as we really had a great time with all of you! If you have any pics from the trip, we love it if you could please post them up and share them with everyone here. Hope to see you all again soon

[Oreo_penguin536]

I had to take off right after airing up, I got a long drive. But was a super rad time!!!!


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[jesse3638]

I had to take off right after airing up, I got a long drive. But was a super rad time!!!!


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Damn pushing it home tonight? Be careful may be icy and watch for deer. October 2016 on my way up there I took one out just past the June Lake turn off. Was no match for my LoD stinger but scared the hell out of me none the less. Safe travels.

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[Oreo_penguin536]

Damn pushing it home tonight? Be careful may be icy and watch for deer. October 2016 on my way up there I took one out just past the June Lake turn off. Was no match for my LoD stinger but scared the hell out of me none the less. Safe travels.

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Almost home lol, to Monterey actually then up the coast, nonetheless rhanks man🤙🏾.

I bet you’re glad you got that stinger glad to hear everything’s good after that regardless of how long ago it was


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[wayoflife]

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[RESURECTIONJK]

Thanks all for letting us join all of you. Hoping to catch a few of you in the morning before we start our long drive home.

[Chillin' The Most...]

Had a great time today it was awesome!!! Thank you Eddie and Cindy for letting us join you on this run...


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[ExpatKen]

We really enjoyed the run today, thanks for letting us the group and spending a fun day of wheeling.


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