Harlan KY 09

Sorry, I have to make it official. Even though Nester and I both thought we'd be on our way to Harlan KY tomorrow morning (apparently excitement fogged reading comprehension), plans changed and next week is a go. When I thought this was this week I thought who the hell else could make a last minute ditch to Harlan. Called Nester figuring with both work for our grumpy old man and it was looking like a go, but I'm dumb! Anyway, I'll still be making the trip with Joe, Mandy and Matt next week!!! I'd be lying if I said I wasn't bouncing in excitement. Matt will be coming along for the adventure in both seats and you all have seen the trouble the 2 of us AND Joe can get into. I'm pumped and just hope the Jeep cooperates with me. Actually spent some money on the rig for the first time in I'd say 8 months or more. Got new rear Bilstein 5100 shocks, new shock mounts, fixed the rear brake line and calipers, new bumpstops and thanks to Randy Wood I'll have the yukon super joint grease and rebuild kits at my door by tuesday or wednesday just in case!

Look like some very entertaining trails!!



Another: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJoucKqukiI

Pirate thread - Harlan Must hit trails

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=782063

I want to do Lion's Den and watch the grand windows pop rig by rig

More:
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=787783
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=683745

i'm glad I changed my mind about going and i'm really siked now that you and matt are going As of last night the jeep was mechanically ready to rock and roll. Which gives me all weekend to do all the small crap that i've been putting off on the jeep and truck. Hell it will be nice to clean my truck so all the mexican funk is out of it for a change. I'm alot more confident with the jeep now that i have alot of the small issues worked out.

As for next week, nick did you and matt want to come over wed night so we can get everything squared away in the trucks for the weekend? I really think we should sit down and come up with a list on who is bringing what so we don't double pack stuff or forget something all together.

Joe, I planned on coming down wednesday night so that sounds like the plan. What I'm concerned about is the camping arrangements. Do we have a specific site for X amount of people or is it big dogs style in a field? When I was looking at those pirate threads last night I saw they suggested the one specific campground.

where are you guys staying is the camp site right on the trail head. If so it's a great camp ground.

Not sure yet Paul. I was hoping you were gonna chime in here. I was actually gonna try to get ahold of you for some info. The picture of that campsite you had when you went has been in my head since I've seen it.

The GSSE group has numbers 3, 4, 6, 7, 9 reserved so when we get there we just need to grab a site close to those. were meeting up with a few more people in va on the way down that will also be sharing a site with us. Come to think of it you know the guys, its the other matt from bigdogs and the guy that had that black wj on 1 tons that was also with matt at bigdogs.

I think the best part is that were meeting up with a lot of people who run this place all the time. so we should be able to cover alot of good trails rather quickly without getting lost.

Ok sounds good. Yah I remember those guys, we always hang out with them a bit at big dogs so that's cool. I want to run that lion's den trail looks bad ass!

Locked_N_Loaded wrote:

Not sure yet Paul. I was hoping you were gonna chime in here. I was actually gonna try to get ahold of you for some info. The picture of that campsite you had when you went has been in my head since I've seen it.

here it is Nick

http://www.harlancountycampground.com/

If you guys are going with somone that has been there before it will be much better. Some of those trail even may be hard for you. Mason jar is also a hairy trail we did not do it or see it it was foggy that day.

well I went and flexed the jeep out yesterday and relized that it flexes totaly different with springs then it does with out

anyway non of the bump stops that I did are working so its back to drawing board on those.

Other then the bump stop probs it seams like everything else is working really well.

Hey nick and matt check this thread out for more info the trip.
http://www.mallcrawlin.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18954&page=5

Also they said we need to make sure we bring all the beer you were going to drink becaue the closest beer store is a 45min drive one way do to the fact that its a semi dry county.

I discovered a good cheaper beer this weekend. Moosehead lager. I started drinking it once I ran out of Heineken so I might be a little off but I thought it was really good shit. Might be my beer of choice for a while. I've been looking for something to replace Heineken but haven't had any luck. I like Yuengling Lager but it fills me up after about 4 or 5 of them. But point is, it was good timing on a cheaper beer because I would have spent more money on Heineken for this trip than god damn gas! I'll be loading up on beer, no worries there!!

I've been knocking down those miller 64 here lately. With only having 64 calories and 2% alcohol I can drink them all day with out getting drunk or fat

P.S.
3 more days bitches

I getting excited. So is there anything you guys want me to bring?

I jus wander what XCUSE Nick is gona have NOT to Go

i'll sit down tonight and figure out what i'm bringing or have room for and we can go from there.

jealos-z wrote:

I jus wander what XCUSE Nick is gona have NOT to Go

Hell I didn't get fucking paid last week and I'm making this no matter what it takes. Harlan ranks a bit higher than a field full of shiny Jeeps. Talk all the shit you want but this last trip wasn't my fault. Jeep was loaded on the trailer and ready to go, I wasn't too happy about missing the day but didn't feel like riding alone.

Anyway, Joe and Matt, I plan to go to the store tomorrow night and get whatever I need. I'm working on a very small budget so nothing fancy. I won't have a hard time surviving the weekend on beer and hot dogs. I guess I'll ask more specific questions on the area on the mall crawling board since they seem to have some experience of the area. What time do we plan to leave thursday morning Joe? What time do you want me to get down to your place on wednesday night? I am disgustingly excited!!!!! I'm scrapping a third car tomorrow to make this trip possible hahahah. I got really lucky they came along.

I should have extra room in my truck for stuff too. I know you're bringing the queen and you 2 aren't much for roughing it!!! Just keep in mind that I should have plenty of room for your extra stuff. You know your shit talking about the Nissan keeping up might be partly true, but only because I'll be stopping for gas more often

we'll probly be leaving here around 10 am so we can meet up with matt in va around 1:30 or so. Any time you want to get here wed night is fine with me. The earlier you get here the more beer we can drink

I had a mean bender this past weekend and I honestly think I'm still recovering. Nicki was in OCNJ so me and the boys got a little carried away. I don't know if my throat hurts from screaming so much or if I'm f'ing sick! Nothing more beer can't fix! My only concern with leaving at 10am is that I think it's gonna make it a real bitch to show up late in Harlan. The main reason I say this is because of making sure we buy our passes and square away the camp site. I hate early mornings but I think we'd be better off leaving at like 8am.

what route are you guys taking? I'd like to intercept Nick along the way to pick up a part and drop off some stuff to him.

well be running 70 to 81 out, so we'll be comming right by you Bill.

now nick, easy there boy you act like i'm flying down the road with my lug nuts loose. Reason were leaving at 10 is so we can meet up with the other matt in va about the time he gets off of work and gets on down the road at 1:30, 2:00 which puts us in harlan around 6:30, 7:00. The passes are for sale 24/7 at the gas station about 5 mins from the camp. We were going to stop in before we went into the camp ground. If all goes well we should be relaxing and drinking beer at our camp site by 8:30 watching the sun set.

Now relax take a breath and chill

damn I really have forgotten what its like not to be in a rush before an outing. I really see something major breaking now.

P.S. you don't know nothing about traffic till you have seen 695 out by 70 at 8am, a good day is a 20 min back up.

Ok, I figured that it had something to do with meeting Matt.

Joe just to let you know it took us 12 hours to get there. we left about 5:00 am got there about 5:00 did stop for breakfast and lunch. Have a good time the trail are great.

Damn paul 12 hours that must of been one hell of a breakfast and lunch you had. Map quest has the trip at 8 hours and 45 min. Two years ago i had to run down to a place just outside of knoxville to pick stuff up. it took me round trip 15 hrs with me stopping one time for fuel and to pick the parts up. My truck with trailer averages about 8 hrs drive time (when doing the speed limit) My guess is that nicks truck will be around 5 hrs or so for a fill up ( probly having us stop two times) plus stopping to meet the other matt and crap should put us around 10 hrs tops.

Anyway I talked to the other matt today and he said it wouldn't be a prob if we met earlier so we could get out of here a 9 am. Any earlier then that you going to be fighting rush hour unless you leave at 7am or earlier.

I know when we go to Avon in the OBX it says like 8 hours and it always ends up being closer to 10. I think the earlier we leave the better.