All loaded up with my new to me 205/75/14 tires.

There was lots of headwind going up the passes. That and a little car with three people and gear made for a slow drive. We stopped in west Vail for food and to make sure all was good with the car.

From there it was easy going. The tercel would cruise at 75, though it seemed most happy at 70. The big tires helped with the freeway speeds. We stopped in Grand Junction for last minute camping gear and gas and continued to the desert.

Off the Cisco exit towards Moab:

We cruised through the canyon, stopping at a few cool places. Our friend John was on his way over to meet us, but a few hours behind so we were in no hurry.
On the Colorado river:

We got into Moab, hung out and got some shakes. Then we went up to the Sand Flats Recreation Area and found a campsite.


Later that night, John and his friend showed up in his Landrover LR3. We woke up the next morning ready to run Fins n' Things, one of the popular Moab trails.

On the trail:




Had I not been so freaked out driving down the slickrock "Fins" I would have gotten a pic of the maxed out inclinometer!

The rear wheel lift you see in the last pic caused the rear end to slide into a bump resulting in this:

And this:

John took his LR3 straight down this one which caused him to do a bit of plowing:

I took an angled approach and got hung up on the rear tow hook/ bumper:

One of my favorite pics:

More inclinometer maxing-out slickrock:


On a cliff!

Forum shot!

I'll put day three in another post