I had an awesome photo shoot with a client last night and another today has me pretty excited as well.  The client is legally blind due to a condition.  She runs track, plays volleyball and dances.  I am inspired and hope to create images for her and her family that they will love.  She has vision peripherally and it will be a challenge to photograph her but I am determined.

Jayson has another baseball game on Sunday that we will actually get to go to as we've missed the last two weeks for Jeep events.  He is doing really well based on what we have heard and seen via video.

Leaving this here.

My King shocks have arrived and I was able to get all of the mud off my Jeep with about an hour of power washing yesterday.  It is still dirty, just mud free.  I need to get it cleaned up the rest of the way and then load all of the parts in it to get it out to the shop this weekend. 

It's time to turn our attention back to Jodi's Jeep as she wants some rock lights and I'm going to get her a rear bumper.  She may wind up getting my Poison Spyder rockers too as she does not like her step bars and I'm wanting something different for mine.  I'll have to have them stripped and powder coated again for her as they show some signs of abuse on the underside.  That's what they are for but she won't be using them for that, just a step.  I like the Rockslide Engineering step sliders.  Not cheap but what do I like that is? 

I have photo shoots the next couple days and then a consultation and two sale sessions on Saturday.  October is going to be crazy busy with 18 sessions booked, a new record for a month at our studio. 

Came home from work to a little surprise waiting for me.  One King shock.  Yep, one.  The Fed Ex driver had come to drop off a package from our photo lab and said he happened to notice this box on his truck that wasn't on his delivery schedule.  Tracking showed it all arriving today so apparently one package made it early.  I opened it and this thing is a beast.  Holy cow.  I have an appointment for Monday morning to start the installation.  Cannot wait!

I've been considering adding 35 spline RCV's to my front axle but I'm struggling with the overall cost compared to just upgrading to one tons.  Axle shafts, locker, truss and install is going to be pretty high, almost the cost of a Pro Rock or Rock Jock 44. One tons are definitely an expensive upgrade.  I figure I can do 40's on a beefy Dana 44 with 35 spline RCV's if trussed.  One day I'll make up my mind.  Today isn't that day.

We had two ordering appointments and a consultation yesterday and today I have a full day off.  I have to get my Jeep cleaned up for sure.  It's still wearing it's sexy coat of mud from SMORR.

  

We stayed at the Hampton Inn in Springfield which was about 30-35 minutes from the park.  We like nice things so the hotels near SMORR weren't for us.  We had a good nights sleep in a King suite and then had a pretty fantastic breakfast at the hotel prior to heading out.

We only had about 4 hours to wheel before we needed to head home as I had a photo shoot with my model team scheduled for 6pm.   Upon arrival, we visited the main office and bought a SMORR hoodie for Jodi and a long sleeved tee for me.  We then joined our group in the staging area.

It was a bit drier than the day before but the steeper trails were still out for the day.  Most in this group weren't going to be in for anything all that extreme anyway so the plan was to stay on the intermediate trails mostly.  Our plan was to do the other Jeep Badge of Honor trail "Guardrail and then hit some areas we hadn't been in yet, which there were many.

I once again got the honor of leading the group and we ran Guardrail first thing.  Not really a tough trail but very steep on both ends.  The trail turned into Yellow Jacket and then we worked our way down to an area where we had top make a decision.  There were three choices to make and the trail leader has to make a decision that works for everyone in the group.  The easiest rated trail was a steep climb and it was obvious to me that even if some of us made it up, it would be too greasy for those that followed so that was out.  I walked ahead to see the two other options.  Disturbed was definitely out as we had a couple rigs without lockers and there was no getting over the first obstacle without them.  That left Largo, which had a pretty rocky section at the beginning and would be a little challenging for some but it was really our only option outside of trying to turn everyone around and go back the way we came.  I said I would run it and see how things went.  I chose to do it without lockers to make sure it was doable and I had no issues so I relayed that back to the group and told them to move forward, that I would spot them through.  The first rig behind me was an unlocked XJ and he had a little trouble getting over the biggest rocky obstacle but I worked him through.  I spotted the rest of the group through with no significant issues and we were off again.  We wound up doing some moderate trails the rest of the morning and by Noon, we were ready to head out since we would have had to travel a lot deeper in the park to hit areas we hadn't been in and we didn't have the time for that.

.What a great trip it was hanging with friends and getting to visit for the first time.  Naturally we wish it had been drier but we had fun nonetheless.  We are currently planning on going back Thanksgiving weekend with a group of friends for their Turkey Day event.  Our intent is to go down on Thursday night or Friday morning and wheel 2 to 2 1/2 days before heading back.

Not many pics from Day 2 but I did get an opportunity to be a poser while in the creek bed.

Leading on the trail.

Bill's red LJ doesn't look too red after a couple runs through the deep muddy water hole.  

 

We returned from our trip to SMORR yesterday evening, tired but excited for our next trip down.  We had a blast and did not get to do half of what we intended.  The weather kind of put the kibosh on doing some of the tougher trails as traction was hard to be found to get up some of the ledges and hills but we got some good wheeling in and have video to prove it.

We rolled out at 5am Saturday morning and arrived around 8:45.  There was a very light rain underway when we got into the Springfield area and it continued for about an hour or so, stopping about the time we got out onto the trails for the first time.   We started out in a  group of about 10 Jeeps and we quickly found out that some of the tougher trails weren't going to be doable in the wet conditions so we wound up running creeks for the first hour or so.  It was also clear that much of the group weren't going to attempt anything too tough that some of us were up for so 4 of us split off from the others to go find tougher trails that we could at least attempt. 

We did a trail called Honky Tonk and it was pretty much all off camber traversing throughout.  There was one area where we were leaning pretty far over close to a tree.  The guy behind me called that section a "butt pucker". 

I led us up the main road and spotted a trail called Rocky Road.  It looked pretty knarly at the entrance but we decided to give it a go.  Wild Bill took first crack at it and I think the girls said it took 35 minuted for him to complete the trail.  We had to stack some rocks to get his LJ through a section or two and their was a fair amount of diff dragging going on but he made it to the top.  The rest of us were 4 doors and we had some concern about one section in particular where it was a really tight squeeze getting around a large boulder.  My thought was to take what would be a more  difficult climb to the other side at that section but the others were unsure as well as unsure of the trail for them.  I said I'd be giving it a try and we walked back down the trail.  I'll let my friends video do the rest of the story telling.  I would go to Youtube and watch it by clicking the Youtube logo on the video. 

Note the video length.  I was being kidded for the amount of time it took me versus Bill.  I said I thought I saw Jodi and Paula waving a checkered flag at the end of the trail.  I don't know slow and easy and it works, obviously.  

Ray, who shot the above video wasn't so lucky.  He got stuck about 2/3 of the way up the trail and we did everything we could to get him over one of the tougher obstacles.  We stacked rocks for 30 minutes and attempt after attempt failed.  We finally decided to try to winch him but there was nothing for him to anchor too.  Our biggest problem was that he was at least 400 feet from the end of the trail and there was no way we could drive to him and then back out, the trail was just too difficult for that.  I decided to drive down the trail to the point of no return and brace my Jeep against a large boulder.  We ran my winch line out almost as far as it could go and then we attached it to a couple tow straps to reach Ray's winch line.  We tried to winch him up but he was pulling my Jeep off the boulder as it was sliding in the slippery conditions.  Bill went and got his rig and we strapped him to a tree and then he ran his winch line to my rear bumper.  Now we were set.  We started to winch Ray up the obstacle and there was a really loud noise followed by slack in the line.  Ray's winch mount had broken and his winch was basically torn in half.  His grille took some damage too.  It appears his winch mounting bolts had broken.  We had to reconfigure our winching setup but we wound up getting him over the obstacle and off the trail.  At this point, the other Bill in our group decided to pass on the trail.

We wound up doing another tough trail called Rocker Knocker.  I went in first and it was a bit of a battle getting over and around the first obstacle.  We kept sliding toward the boulder and I was attempting to keep from bashing in my door.  I wound up having to go left more than I would have liked and we got a bit tippy as we made it over.  Jodi doesn't like tippy.  :) 

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We ran one of the Jeep Badge of Honor trails later in the day and then we all had steak and other good food for dinner before going out for some night wheeling.  I got to lead because I have THE light bar and we had a fun time at night, which is definitely a different experience than the day time.

We got to the Hotel around 10:45pm after a long day.  We would head back out bright and early for Day 2 and I'll share more about that adventure tomorrow.

  

They've taken the rain out of the forecast for Saturday now so we may get a pretty decent weekend of wheeling in.  We have rain in the area today but the sun is suppose to start peeking through this afternoon which will be good for my scheduled photo shoot.  I decided to work a half day so that I can get my bumper on since that didn't happen last night.  We went to dinner with our Jeep group, followed that up with ice cream at Dairy Queen and that didn't put us back home until about 9pm.

I was told that my King shocks were shipping yesterday.  I didn't get a tracking notice so I doubt they did but maybe I'll see them next week.  I should have them on and ready for Kreepy Krawl in October.   

I've decided to head to SMORR no matter the weather.  I'm ready to wheel and for a getaway so me and my buddy Wild Bill will be getting after it on the trails.  We are kind of double trouble out on the trails and our wives know things can get a little sketchy when we wheel together because we are bad influences on each other.  Hopefully we make it back in one piece.

I'm happy to have an evening off of shooting since it's suppose to be hot again.  It looks the weather turns toward Fall on Friday when I have another shoot.  As long as it doesn't rain, we're good with that.  High's in the 60's next week will be very welcome by me.  We do have a sales session tonight and then I have to get my front bumper back on for the trip so it isn't an evening off.  What are those?

Another fun shoot done last night and another lined up for today.  Too bad it's going to be 94 degrees with a heat index around 100.  So over summer!

In better news, today marks my 30th anniversary at Ford Motor Company.  It's a great feeling to know that I can walk out the door any time I want now.  Point me to the person that has the buyout checks. 

I should have time to put my bumper on tomorrow evening.  Just have to look to see how the skid plate mounts to it.  Ready to get some wheeling in. 

I was able to get my bumper and other items from the powder coat shop yesterday and now just need to find the time to get them installed.  They all turned out great and I'm ready to get my Jeep finished up.  I'm still waiting on my King shocks and it may still be awhile.  They are slooooooooooooww! 

The weather doesn't look great for SMORR this weekend.  That sucks as I really want to go and have the top and doors off.  I may bail on the trip and go in October.  Maybe I'll have my coilovers installed by then too.  Hoping the forecast changes though.

I'm ready for it to cool down around here. It's hot again and last night, my tee shirt was soaked at the end of my shoot.  At least tonight is a boy and we'll be getting in the car every 15 minutes or so.


 

I wound up having Saturday off as one of my co-workers said she would work my OT if I wanted her to.  Be my guest!  So, I got to do a couple sales sessions with Jodi (that were awesome by the way) and then we began our prep for the Jeep Invasion at the lake the following day.  We went to the store and bought meat, charcoal, buns and more stuff that we donated to the event and got everything ready for the next day.

On Sunday, we arrived at the lake about 11:15 and started setup.  By 2pm, we had about 60 Jeeps there.  We did some aerial drone shots and I grilled up the meat with the help of a couple friends.  It was a fun day and we stayed until sunset.  Everyone enjoyed the day and wants to do it again next year.

Video I took at the event.

I made a new friend at the event as well.  His name is Dexter and I got to love on him a lot.  Really miss my dogs.

We had a great sunset too.

  

I'm heading to the powder coater today to get my bumper, skid and coil over parts.  Need to get the bumper on by the weekend as we are headed to SMORR Saturday morning at the butt crack of dawn.  

We missed Jayson's 2nd baseball game but through video, we got to see some of his hits (he had 4).  This one was a screamer over 3rd that apparently took the hat off an opponent!

I'm doing a creative photo shoot in a nature sanctuary today with one of my models who will be wearing Jodi's creation.  There is a waterfall and I plan on using some dry ice to create some fog too.  It may be an epic fail but going to give it a go. 

Our Jeep invasion at the lake this Sunday looks like it's going to be a really big event.  We may wind up with 100+ Jeeps.  I hate being an organizer really but I wanted to do something different than just get together at a bar and grill.  I hope it turns out well. 

I have 4 photo shoots lined up for this week and 4 more the next.  Crazy busy.  We had some really good sales sessions on Saturday so we are hitting our sales goals this year.  I was thinking early on that our volume might be down this year but so far we are doing well.  I need to book about 5 more sessions in October and I will be satisfied. 

It has begun again.  It's been 20 years since JD's first baseball game.  Yesterday, we attended Jayson's first baseball game.  He got hits in both of his at bats, recorded the only out on defense by both teams by fielding a  grounder while playing first base and touching the bag and he threw really well too.  The most impressive thing was that he stayed focused the whole game.  We really enjoyed seeing him playing and there were a lot of laughs watching the little kids play. 

I spent yesterday afternoon and evening doing 4 pre-session consultations and then followed those up with an ordering appointment.  We are in a very busy period and won't see much of  slow down for another couple months.  This has been a very good summer for us and fall looks very good too.  We still have some openings in October I hope to fill but our goal is 12 clients per month and we have exceeded that thus far with the current class. 

We have a pretty good sized group going to SMORR in two weeks.  Two of the people I most like to wheel with are going so we should have a great time.  We're all staying at the same hotel too so we should have some fun nights as well.

Sunday the 16th is my Jeep Invasion event at Smithville Lake.  We have 72 Jeeps currently RSVP'ed for the event and hope to add many more.  We have a lakeside pavilion rented and will grill up a lot of food, have raffles and talk Jeeps. 

Here is some recent work we have done since I haven't shared in a bit. 

I was able to get my front bumper and coilover kit hardware to the powder coater yesterday and I should see them back in a week or so.  It appears they shipped my skid plate over to 4 Wheel Parts with a load of other parts so they have to retrieve that from them.

I stopped by the Ford dealer later in the day to get an oil change and tire rotation on the Taurus.  While there, I couldn't help notice this F-550 sitting on the used lot.  What a nice tow vehicle that would make.  I texted Jodi about it and she said "keep walking".  :)

The rumors are pretty strong these days about buyouts at work to assist in the restructuring plan.  A new rumor in the press is buyouts at $120,000 per employee.  Wow, what a nice parting gift that would be. 

Jodi and I had a nice weekend as we both took a break from work for a couple days.  Saturday evening we went to the casino with friends.  I won $300 and Jodi lost $100.  We didn;t get home and to bed until about 12:30am and then we were up bright and early at 6am for a day of wheeling at Kansas Rocks.

Our group was small as many don't go wheeling over the holiday weekend.  We arrived at Kansas Rocks and of course, I was again chosen to lead the group, which means not much in the way of video and photos.  We had one guy who was not locked with our group so we had to keep it more to the tame side the first half of the day.  The trails were a bit slick due to the rain and there was standing water in the typical places.  Going up the steeper grades was more challenging because of it and the rig that was open couldn't make it up the first steep climb.  We wound up having to winch him.

We decided to head over to the older section of the park where there is more rock on the trails and we had a lot of fun for a couple hours.  Before heading back to the staging area, I decided to give Zuk's Squeeze a try.  I gave it a go but the buggies and krawlers have it so dug out that I don;t have the clearance needed to get through.  I was bottomed out on both sliders.  Here's a screen grab from a  video of me climbing up into the squeeze.  Once the left front came down, I was bottomed out. 

After lunch, we went back out to give Carnage Canyon a try, another area I had not been in before.  All the trails in the area are black and with the slippery conditions, it would be double black.  We felt that Bad Axe was about the only trail we had a good shot at making and just me and another guy would give it a try.  The other guy went up first and made it with a lot of skinny pedal.  Naturally, he made it more slick for me spinning his tires up the trail and over the rocky ledges at the top.  I took a more slow and steady approach and powered through a couple spots where it was really slick.  Bad Axe done.

Next up was Bear Tracks and I didn't know what I was about to encounter.  I was just told that if you wanted to flex, this was the trail.  Holy crap!   They sent me in first to see how it was and we wound up pretty much laying on our side driving through huge, deep ruts that put us way off camber with our nose up in the air.  At one point, I was unsure if I should continue powering my way through but I kept going and made it through the first area only to find similar immediately afterward.  The muddy conditions definitely made this trail much harder than when dry and it took some power to get over some deep ruts and obstacles in the trail and I got my first trail damage, my license plate holder!    The next rig through didn't make the second area and we had to back him down the trail and get him out of the deep ruts by going sideways and over the ruts. The other rigs didn't attempt the trail.

 

That led us to one of the funniest moments of the day, well, for most of us.  Bill took the lead from me and we cam across a big water hole.  His wife told him to stay left of it.  Bill decided to go through it.  Bill's decision was a bad one.  It was pretty deep and he was stuck, not able to get out going forward or backward.  The right side of his Jeep was lower than the water and mud level and it kind of filled the passenger side of his vehicle.  His wife is not a fan of mud period, (she jumped out during their adventures on Bear Tracks) and was freaking out a bit.   We were basically in a mud bog and my hope was to be able to find a place to turn around and get my winch on him.  Luckily, I didn't get stuck and wound up being able to turnaround and position myself in a somewhat dry area to winch him.  After getting him out, we got to see how much mud had oozed into his vehicle along with how much he had splattered into the interior spinning his tires trying to get out.  His wife was not thrilled but we couldn't help but laugh and razz them a little about it.  He was going to have fun cleaning his Jeep!

It was time to head home and we aired back up for the drive home.  It was a fun day and we capped it off by stopping at Imo's in Overland Park for some pasta and pizza.  We got an extra pizza and dropped it off to JD and Megan on our way home.

Last night, I pulled my bumper off and have it ready to go to the powder coater along with my coilover kit parts.  Since my photo session scheduled for today is rained out, I'll have a chance to get that over to them.