(SN) OVERLAND EXPO 2015
Guess I picked a fine time to drive a thousand miles to the expo where the weather was the real story.
I got to Flagstaff Friday. it was raining with snow predicted
I wanted a stocking cap and went to Walmart first. "We no longer have winter gear but sandals, sun hats and sunscreen are in aisle 6." No REI in Flagstaff but found the Big 5 Sporting Goods with several loaded jeeps in the parking lot. "Hats and gloves are over there with the crowd." I passed on the $25 ski hats and found a hidden stocking cap for $6. Apparently, those in the know went to a military surplus store for hats, gloves, boots and long underwear.
As I drove south towards Mormon Lake in the rain, several fully loaded Jeeps were coming back towards Flagstaff. Another bad sign.
When I got to registration, they said I could only enter if I had 4 wheel drive. I drove one loop in 6 inch soft mud, did a pirouette turn and lurched up on a small grassy spot almost running over some black tent ropes.
It was helter skelter camping. One thing I did not appreciate were those who put up yellow barrier tape on rebar stakes around their spot that blocked access to dry walking paths to porta potties and showers.
It rained, sleeted and snowed all night.
Saturday morning it stopped raining but everywhere were flooded mud flats. Fortunately, dust remained under control.
Vendors and customers were separated by a sea of slippery mud.
Some vendors prepositioned before the rain were underwater. Hay flakes, rolled car mats, tarps, planks, even smalls piles of gravel were thown down but ineffective.
There was no activity on the driving courses.
.
Here is the obligatory photo of the big boys circled like covered wagons in the movies.. I learned that some rigs are leased and the owners limit the mods they can make.
The 4 wheel campers were all huddled together, I guess to keep warm.
The permanent campground was not affected but the open campground and vendor area, anywhere with vehicle traffic, was standing water and deep mud.
I waddled back to my camper. A military deuce and a half was towing out vehicles that came early and were stranded in the muddy morass.
Then it parked near me, out of diesel. Someone was dispatched with jerry cans to get fuel. A woman in a new jeep Cherokee parked near me clearly upset. She did not know how to engage 4 wheel drive and could not reach her husband on the phone. I gave her instructions so she could escape.
Clearly no one anticipated this weather and most were not prepared to camp, display or participate in these conditions.
Then I decided that anything, even a hole in the ground, was better than this. I packed up and sloshed my way out. The incoming roads were backed up for a mile because no one would drive in and park in the mud.
As I drove east toward meteor crater, the weather cleared up, but storm clouds were still visible in my rear view mirror...
I got to Flagstaff Friday. it was raining with snow predicted
I wanted a stocking cap and went to Walmart first. "We no longer have winter gear but sandals, sun hats and sunscreen are in aisle 6." No REI in Flagstaff but found the Big 5 Sporting Goods with several loaded jeeps in the parking lot. "Hats and gloves are over there with the crowd." I passed on the $25 ski hats and found a hidden stocking cap for $6. Apparently, those in the know went to a military surplus store for hats, gloves, boots and long underwear.
As I drove south towards Mormon Lake in the rain, several fully loaded Jeeps were coming back towards Flagstaff. Another bad sign.
When I got to registration, they said I could only enter if I had 4 wheel drive. I drove one loop in 6 inch soft mud, did a pirouette turn and lurched up on a small grassy spot almost running over some black tent ropes.
It was helter skelter camping. One thing I did not appreciate were those who put up yellow barrier tape on rebar stakes around their spot that blocked access to dry walking paths to porta potties and showers.
It rained, sleeted and snowed all night.
Saturday morning it stopped raining but everywhere were flooded mud flats. Fortunately, dust remained under control.
Vendors and customers were separated by a sea of slippery mud.
Some vendors prepositioned before the rain were underwater. Hay flakes, rolled car mats, tarps, planks, even smalls piles of gravel were thown down but ineffective.
There was no activity on the driving courses.
. Here is the obligatory photo of the big boys circled like covered wagons in the movies.. I learned that some rigs are leased and the owners limit the mods they can make.
The 4 wheel campers were all huddled together, I guess to keep warm.
The permanent campground was not affected but the open campground and vendor area, anywhere with vehicle traffic, was standing water and deep mud.
I waddled back to my camper. A military deuce and a half was towing out vehicles that came early and were stranded in the muddy morass.
Then it parked near me, out of diesel. Someone was dispatched with jerry cans to get fuel. A woman in a new jeep Cherokee parked near me clearly upset. She did not know how to engage 4 wheel drive and could not reach her husband on the phone. I gave her instructions so she could escape.
Clearly no one anticipated this weather and most were not prepared to camp, display or participate in these conditions.
Then I decided that anything, even a hole in the ground, was better than this. I packed up and sloshed my way out. The incoming roads were backed up for a mile because no one would drive in and park in the mud.
As I drove east toward meteor crater, the weather cleared up, but storm clouds were still visible in my rear view mirror...
