Been trying for a long time to get some Canadian friends down our way to go wheeling for awhile now. And as the saying goes, when it rains it pours. Literally, the rain up our way has been nonstop for what seems like months now. Normally the rain doesn’t seem to matter to me but this year it just hasn’t stopped.
But along with the rain came a whole bunch of fellow wheelers from the great white north. Sadly my buddy Rob couldn’t make it but the bunch that came down were a fun bunch of guys.
Normally when we put together runs we can count on about 4 or 5 rigs making a day of things but not so this time. 8 guys along with some better halves made the trek across the border to join us at Walker Valley. Lots of diesel rigs and of the 8, four of them were Right Hand Drive, which during the day made spotting all that much more fun. And the fact that about half of them were named Greg didn’t help with the confusion either. Justin brought his BJ42, Ronald was in his LJ70, Greg B was in his BJ74 and Lance, Graham, Paul (Justin’s brother) and Two more Gregs all came down in 80’s. Neat to see the RHD’s.
Also along for the day was a friend from Seattle, Tor as well as Wayne, Gabriel and Don. Fortunately with the help of my fellow club members and friends we were able to split the group in two, sort of a dents and no dents seperation which would prove to be a bit on the truthful side of things…. So all in all a pretty full group to run through the narrow confines of Walker.
Lucky for us the weather held out, didn’t get rain all day until we were gathered up in the parking lot to go our seperate ways. Doesn’t mean the trails weren’t a muddy mess though. Lots of them we had to bypass due to the real possibility of carnage, which none of us were keen on. Don, Gabrielle and I grabbed up 3 of the 80’s, Justin and his BJ42 and Ronald in his 70 and headed out to avoid dents. The other two 80’s along with Greg in his BJ74 headed off with Wayne and Tor.
Something new for me on this trip as I actually got to air down my tires for once! Airing down my old 9.50’s wasn’t much of an option but my new KM2’s have enough width that airing down is a viable option. Sure rides better on the washboard roads too. Never new what I was missing….
Mostly I had hoped to show our Canadian friends just what Walker has to offer. While we did bypass some of the wilder trails everybody got a solid taste of what is there and the added bonus is that they want to come back for more. That and I want to get up their way for some wheeling too.
While our group faired really well in the dents department not so for Greg B over with Wayne. His poor BJ74 took a pounding. And he even had gifts that kept on giving. Popped his hood the next morning and found one broken engine mount and a torn tranny mount! Not the way I would want to drive home but it says a lot for Toyota toughness. Sure helps that he has a side business selling Toyota parts….
A pretty mild ride to the upper gravel pit but I made sure they knew Walker doesn’t let you out easy. Had the usual halftime entertainment on two wheels but most of them were pretty mild. Can’t say the same for our bunch. The rock pile at the pit proved too tempting for Wayne, Graham and Lance. 
Wayne did manage to get stuck and need a pull but once again proved that there are not too many places you can’t take a mini. Graham went pretty easy but his winch got a bit of a workout pulling Wayne and Lance off the rocks. And those rocks got the best of Lance too. Managed to bend the relay rod and after a drive home with a vibration found out he had bent the rear driveshaft as well.
Off to the second half of the day. Managed to get stuck on pretty flat ground when I caught the rear diff on a rock! After Justin gave me a little yank to get off the rock he couldn’t see what all the fuss was about till he dragged his diff on the very same rock. And even though we were on the easier downhill route, it doesn’t mean it is without its 
perils. The big rock on the upper part of Pats has gotten really dug out. Massaged a little sheet metal in the drivers door on my rig getting through but decided it would be for the best to stack a few rocks and pile some logs in the rut to get everyone through without damage.
Greg took an interesting line that proved a little too interesting. But a little side pull from Ronald to keep him from sliding off the rock did the trick and after that is was just some careful crawling to get past it. Lots more crawling 
over the rocks and through the trees. Had to save the Rock Face for another trip as it was getting late. But like I said Walker doesn’t let you out easy and the trees and hairpins lower down on Pats helped close out the day. Made for a bit of fun with all the wagons. And once again I thought I would get out without carnage but it was not to be. Dropped into a rut and on a muddy bank I ripped out the center of a taillight lens. I really should buy stock in the company that makes those things. But we did manage to get everyone through without further damage, all in all I think my minor dent and the tail light was the only damage in our group.
One last plunge down the exit of the lower gravel pit and back to the parking lot we went. Another great day in the woods and Thanks to our Canadian friends from Coastal Cruisers who made the trek down here. I had a great day and think everyone else did as well.
