Well, we start our 7 day trip to Moab kicking off the start of 4X4ORD. This trip was full of memories, laughs, and $$$$.

Day One - We begin our trip driving on I-70 through Colorado, but wait, I-70 is closed? Because of the fire near Glenwood Springs, the interstate was closed. The detour brought us all the way up to Steamboat, which took us 3 hours out of our way. $30 ,gas. Well, eventually we finally made it to Moab, where we set up camp, waiting patiently for the next day to come.

Day Two - We begun our day 
traveling to Arches NP where we drove on Tower Arch trail. This trail went smoothly (the only one). Once we reached the end we took a spur road finding the secret entrance to Arches. While on that road we were cresting the top of a small hill. We slam on our brakes! We see probably the only big mud hole in Moab at that time. WaaHoo!! Anyway, after "playing" in the mud for about an hour, we finally decided to go back to Moab and wash out our engines and get street legal again. It was a blast! Well, we finally got back to camp all thinking the rest of the week would be the same. Or would it?

Day Three - We started up North-East to some trails: Top of the World, Rose Garden Hill, and Thompson's Canyon. We began with TC where we found out that it really wasn't that hard. Oh well! As we neared the end of this trail, there is one more steep hill. At the top, there is a gate. Stupid gate! Once I opened it, I got back to my car. Click! Click!    Click!       Click!             Click! My car was dead. Lowell jump started it and we were on our way again. We started up the Kokopelli's Bike Trail which would take us to Rose Garden Hill. It's going fine, then my car dies again. Shoot! It must be the alternator. After about an hour of jumpstarting, towing and hoping. We leave my car on Fisher Valley Road. We run back into town to get a battery, then ran back to put it in. The battery was just enough so I could get back into town. We checked the alternator, yep. $200, alternator. So much for that day.

Day Four - With my car working again, we decided to go and finish the other trails. We finally get to the bottom of Rose Garden Hill. Holy Crap!! We walked up it to see what it is like. Dang! Well I tried first. I got about an eighth the way up, and could not get over this one boulder. Lockers would have been a good idea. Well because that was the easiest obstacle, we didn't want to chance it. I have no lockers or winch, and Lowell's Bronco is purely stock. So we back track all the way around to the start of Top of the World. Since I am a photographer I had this whole plan of being at the lookout right when the sun is setting, but that wouldn't happen either. Well we start up. This trail wasn't too bad until one obstacle. I actually had to put it into 4WD for this one. As we got out to look, I noticed a very small leak, tranny fluid. ARG!! I have had tranny problems since last year when I went to Moab. Well because it was a small leak we continued. All of the sudden Lowell yells STOP!! I get out to find that the fluid is pouring out of my tranny. We took a look, right where the tranny meets the engine. Stupid $2 gasket!! After breaking (almost) my toe on my tire (I don't know how that happened), we decided to take our chances and get of the trail so Lowell could tow me if I needed it. We did make it back to camp, and looked again, the leak was small again. Phew!

Day Five - We headed back into town again where I went to the Ford Dealership. That was pretty much all we did this day since they would have to drop the tranny. $500, gasket.

Day Six - We picked up my car around noon, then headed for The Needles district of Canyonlands NP. We finally made it to the beginning of Elephant Hill. This was the trail we went to Moab to complete. We made it over the hill with no problems. The rest trail went fine, until, PSSSSSSSSSTTTTTT!!!! What the? Because I was passing from direct sun to shade, I could not see the trail in front of me. And a very nasty rock was waiting for me. Well thankfully we were at a nice sandy, flat area to change a flat. Except, because of my body lift I could not get my spare off, the chain was too short that held the tire in. After an hour of trying to cut the chain and eventually getting the spare on, we were on our way again. Because of this we decided to not finish the trail, but take an easier road that loops through the NF and back to the highway. Back to Moab again.

Day Seven - In the morning I went to a tire dealer and found out my tire could not be fixed. $100, tire. Needless to say Lowell's car handled fine. No problems what so ever. Then, the long trip back home that went fine. Oh Well! We had a blast anyway.