One heck of a Labor Day weekend

Labor Day weekend is always the start of our wheeling year in Moab so it's always welcomed with much anticipation! This year was no different, in fact, we were even more eager than usual seeing as we hadn't been rock crawling since mid June AND have a new, improved Lemon Joy. Chris had spent most of his August nights working on the girl and finally, Friday morning dawned and it was time to put her on the trailer. After multiple errands, a visit to the Chiropractor, and random work stuff, we rolled into beautiful Moab about dinner time. We went straight to the Slickrock Campground to meet up with our friends, Jack and Kendra Bridges. They had dinner waiting for us which was awesome! Right as we were cleaning up, some friends from Salt Lake, Chad and Chelsea, pulled up with their Jeep in tow. As the sun was setting on the red rocks, we jetted out to Poison Spider Mesa for a night run. It was phenomenal!! We made it to the top of the Wedgie in no time and all hopped out to enjoy the evening. It was insanely warm and there were a million stars out that night. After hanging out for a bit enjoying each other's company, we began the trek back down to the trucks. About 3/4 of a mile from the trailer, there was an awkward "ka-chunk" sound from Lemon Joy's undercarriage. We thought the transfer case had just fallen out of gear. Well, we were wrong. Turns out that ka-chunking was the transfer case actually falling off. Thank goodness for skid-plates! To make a very long story short, we were broken before even checking into our hotel. Thankfully Jack's Toyota stepped up to the challenge of pulling LJ's big ole bahookie off the trail so we got back to the trailers and went to check in and unpack. Saturday was a beautiful day which Chris spent 12 hours of laying on our trailer in 95 degree weather dropping our transfer case, fixing a funky idler shaft and then putting the whole mess back together again. Whilst under there, it was discovered we had a bad heim joint as well so he had to replace that since it's integral to our suspension system. The day ended with Lemon Joy all back together and fully operational, I know, my husband is amazing! Chris was so filthy by this point, he actually washed his entire body and head with liquid Ajax that evening. That's just awkward right there.

Now, for those of you who are wondering if we realize how crazy we are, the answer is yes! I read once that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting a different result. Well, we're not totally insane as we expect the breakage, in fact, we even anticipate it so that means we're only mostly insane. And now comes the inevitable question: Why? So many people have asked me that and ironically enough, I don't have a pat answer for you. And I've come to embrace that maybe that's part of the addiction. What I do know is this; rock crawling is what reminds me that I'm alive and man, do I love it!

After the very stressful Saturday, it was decided that Sunday was my day. I was going to drive Coyote Canyon! Now, Coyote is only about a quarter mile long, but it's a nasty boulder filled ravine that thrives on breaking rigs. I'd decided some time ago that I would really love a chance with Coyote, but I was very intimidated by the difficulty of the trail. I made the "mistake" of telling a friend my aspirations and in not so many words, he called me a chicken shit and said just go do it. So I did!

Here we are at the entrance. I must admit to being a little freaked out here. What was amazing though, is once I started driving, I wasn't afraid anymore. And that felt AWESOME!!



Scorpion aka Jack

I love that sweet face! :)

Lemon Joy and Chad's Jeep

Look at that mad Toyota flex!!

I love when she gets all twisted up like that!

Chloe Belle, Alyssa Joy, and Sophie Divine

Believe it or not, Lemon Joy didn't even feel tippy there hence the reason I'm smiling! I absolutely adore our 4 link suspension. Seriously the best thing EVER!

Chad's Jeep is bad ass!!

The last obstacle of Coyote. Ironically enough, this is the first trail that I have ever driven in it's entirety. I still can't believe I did it, it was truly amazing! Now the only problem is, who gets to drive it next time??? Yes, Chris is worried....and well he should be! ;)

The rain moved in just as we came off of Coyote. After sitting for a bit and debating our options, we headed back into town to re-group. The Bridges went shopping at the Maverick, and we snuck off to Milt's with Chad and Chelsea for some celebratory Root Beer Whips and fries. So freakin' delicious!! By this point it was about 5:00 so we decided to finish our day with Hell's Revenge.

The girls at the top of Hell's Gate

I love this picture

Dropping into Mickey's Hot Tub.

Look at those cute boys!! And Miss Sophie

Monday came too quickly as it always does. Somehow I pinched a nerve in my back late in the day on Sunday. I was in quite a bit of pain on Monday and since everyone was heading home, we decided a nice jaunt up Bull Canyon was just the ticket. Alyssa Joy had been asking to drive so she drove all the way in up the wash. And then Brendon piloted Miss LJ back out.

Playing on the great sand hill

Miss Alyssa's parking job at our lunch spot

And that would be my crazy husband

My fearless companion

And there you have it: our zany, but wickedly fun Labor Day weekend!