Graves Mountain -- y'all missed a good'urn.

Just got back from the MV rally at Graves Mountain (Syria, VA) put on by Cabell Garbee.

I had issues and had to get towed back from the first trail ride. Turned out to the be (HEI) coil (I think, didn't happen again after swapping out). Went on a good long backroads convoy on Saturday a.m., got in a good dayhike, spent time in the pool, and met some great folks.

For those that thought about going, and didn't, you sure missed one heck of an event.

Pics tomorrow after I download from the camera...

One funny story from the weekend before I crash...

I went fishing and caught a Mustang convertible. :eek:


A few of us were hanging out around camp Friday afternoon. The wife of one of the guys came back from town, and said there was a fisherman stuck off the road a couple of miles down the road. She and Neil (Hendrix?) in an M35A2, and me in my 715 headed off down the road to help. Who could turn down a rescue mission?

Get down the road...Neil pulls off in the M35 to the side of the road, and turns on the convoy lights. We walk down, the guy is about 50' off the paved road, down a grassy path, and has the rear wheels of a 'stang dropped off the washout at the edge of the (small) river. We formulate a plan, I nose down to him, and strap him out, no problem.

The fisherman is very grateful. We tell him it's cool, it made our day. He then says that he has no money, but there is an ATM up the road. Neil and I start tugging out our wallets, saying, "oh, you need some money too?...do you need gas money"...guy is flustered... "no, no, no, I want to give you something for helping..." :D None of us had a camera...as payment, we had him take a picture of his car and us, holding the tow strap, with his cell phone, and made him promise to show it to his wife when he got home. I hope it wasn't her car. :)

Finally, a few pics, in no particular order....

"average" view thru the windshield:

http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/7198/dsc3847f.jpg

I spent some time right here....zzzzzzzz:

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1518/dsc3872t.jpg

and here:

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/5946/dsc3875.jpg

Couldn't have asked for a prettier weekend...property backs up to Shenandoah National Park...

http://img694.imageshack.us/img694/1760/dsc3878m.jpg

Renee and Blaze in the M715:

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/5359/dsc3904.jpg

M37:

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/9325/dsc3939.jpg

M35 and M38:

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/9692/dsc3940f.jpg

M38:

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/6471/dsc3819.jpg

In the creek:

http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/3306/dsc3830.jpg

M37 again:

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/8905/dsc3832.jpg

A few more misc pics:

http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/503/dsc3893d.jpg

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/5015/dsc3895e.jpg

http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/4253/dsc3897y.jpg

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/1954/dsc3920.jpg

Looks like a nice place. By the smiles of Renee and Blaze, seems to have been a successful weekend.

I'll tell one more story, and take my lumps (actually, already have...)

I've played offroad with Jeeps since I got my CJ in 1986. This past weekend was the FIRST time ever having to be towed back to camp. I've pulled/helped others plenty of times, but this was a first for me in 24 years. I overheated on a hill climb, and it wouldn't restart, even later in the afternoon. Next morning fired right up when I tried. This was on the first day out.

I got to figuring the coil was breaking down...replaced it (HEI), and no more trouble for the weekend.

It's a BAD feeling coming home on the end of a tow strap.

Might want to get the chip for the inside of the HEI to carry around in the future. As many spare parts you have stuffed and hidden all over your CJ, I am suprised you don't have a spare HEI duct taped under the cab or something on the M715.

I have put an MSD box in the 715, but the original module is in the parts box. For this trip, I actually threw in a whole distributor...that way I'd have cap, rotor, coil, module, etc all in hand.

is this an annual thing or was this the first time? wouldnt be a bad trip from NJ for next year. I really hear nothing going on in the Northeast.

Duane

Nice pictures.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Duane

is this an annual thing or was this the first time? wouldnt be a bad trip from NJ for next year. I really hear nothing going on in the Northeast.

Duane

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Hopefully will be every year, this was the 2nd year....I plan on going back next year...should be Labor Day weekend again. Cabell Garbee puts this on. It was posted here under both the Southeast Regional events, and non-zone events forums

Pretty good wheeling...pretty smooth trails mostly with some good ups and downs (running fire roads and horse trails), and a road convoy or two during the weekend.

Website for the trailride:

http://www.gravesmountaintrailrides.com

This is the website for the lodge...neat place, great food (and all you can eat, family-style). We are already talking about going back for a weekend. :D

http://www.gravesmountain.com

Great photos and stories from last year!

We are holding the event again this year, same basic plan but with even more off road trails up on the side/top of the mountain... All very doable in a M715. :)

September 1-5, 2011 are the dates this year. Same website as posted earlier in the thread, flyer and thread for this year in the non-715Zone events forum.

Hope to see some of you there.

Those photo's show what weekends are really for. Not sitting inside and watching sports, but getting out and enjoying the scenery, people, and of course your truck! Great pics.

nice pics looks like fun .the land here in Louisiana is flat unlike that stuff i see there,i cant say i have seen a rock here.lol:lol: