1st Nyroc @ Martinez 02-14-17-08
Oh Boy, another Excellent Adventure for the record books. Jeff (Azgolfer) set up a super adventure with people from several other states for the weekend of February 13th thru the 18th. What a fun time was had by all who attended. The weather could have cooperated a little better but the rain just added to the adventure.
We went out Thursday afternoon to meet up with the early arrivals. Since it was nice the ones there went for a ride on the lower and upper Woodpecker trails. It was fun watching and helping a few of the new people I had never met over some of the rock obstacles. I think Sharon's eyes were very big a few times. She later said she had only ridden 5 times. I can't believe someone with that little experience would even try a trail like this let alone have a blast. She did a great job and never got throttle happy as some new riders do. Maybe it had something to do with her eyes being a big a saucers.
As Jeff has said Dave made the best impression on the 1st day. As we came to the end of Woodpecker he kept looking at a big boulder trying to figure out how he could make it over it. Well, this time the boulder won as he was climbing to the top he slid off into the crack and rolled onto his side. At least all he hurt was his pride. As we were riding back to camp Zane was in the RZR going up a hill climb with a jump at the top. One time he was turning around in the sand at less than 10 MPH when the RZR caught a rut and turned on it's side. He climbed out and put it back on it’s wheels by himself.
Late afternoon it started to rain so no camp fire on this day. We stayed under Steve and Sharon's awning talking for quite a while. They no how to bring in newbie's to their camp. They had a big heater hooked on top of a propane bottle shooting out heat. We all huddled around the heat until it was time to turn in a bit on the early side. It rained hard all night.
Once again the weather person was way off. It was supposed to rain a little Thursday and be sunny and warm on Friday and Saturday. WRONG!!! It rained most of Friday as well and was cloudy on Saturday.
Even though it was raining a good number of us put on our rain gear and headed out for a ride. We decided to go through Box Canyon, over to the derision dam to make sure the gate was open for out planned Saturday ride. It was fun riding through Box Canyon with water in it. We went over to the sand hills so some of the riders could play. Insane Zane made it look easy. That guy is one heck of a rider. NM Steve tried making it up a steep sand hill in his new RZR but got stuck near the top. So he backed up a little further and nailed the throttle to attack the hill. He almost ran over a tree near the top and rolled over onto the left side, he stayed on the gas, throwing sand and some how righted his RZR making it over the top. We were all laughing our heads off. What a show. After this show we headed behind the diversion dam where there are some other sand hills. This is where Dave decided to show us his version of the flying buttito. He hit a small burm for a jump but when the front came down it stuck as he went flying over the bars taking out his right front fender in the process. His quad tried to get on top of him to ride him but he fought it off. Thank goodness he was not hurt. So far Dave is 2 for 2. 2 days of riding and 2 rolls.
Saturday we had 21 riders ready to take on Mother Nature. Everyone put on what ever they had for rain gear and headed off for the Martinez cabin/processing plant. The desert is so green it is hard to imagine that this will be all brown in a few short months. We took the route that winds along the tops of the mountains for some stunning views. There are a few times where you switchback down one mountain ride through the running wash and back up another mountain.
The entrance to the cabins is gorgeous. The mountains are a brilliant red color. With the contrast of the cool rushing water it is a beautiful site. As we arrived at the cabins I tried to explain some of the history as well as asking who wanted to ride up the tough boulder strewn stream and who wanted to stay at the cabins. We were going to go to the processing plant about 1/2 mile upstream and back.
The stream was running more in this area than I had ever seen before so it added to the difficulty of the boulder crawling. It was a blast watching rider after rider twisting and turning, getting off balance, and almost going over. Vidwiz (Rhino) and TJ (RZR) won the contest for getting their front wheels the highest in the air. Everyone did a great job with no one going over.
The processing plant is always an interesting place to visit. There is lots of large equipment throughout the building. Unfortunately some of it has been vandalized which may cause it to be closed at some time. There were a few close calls coming back to the cabin as we came down a small waterfall with a hidden hole under the water.
From here we left for the Coke Ovens. The road to the ovens is very rough. There are lots of ledges, boulders, and loose rocky hill climbs. Once again everyone did a great job. For a large group like we had we made good time when we were traveling.
There was one strange thing that happened on the way to the ovens. Ken was riding Jim's (Montana rider) quad when he noticed something wrong. He stopped and looked at the A arm and sure enough a bolt had fallen out. As I was coming down the hill they stopped me as they were walking towards the hill. Unbelievable Steve (Luke) found the bolt. As Steve (from NM), Ken, and Jim were crossing the stream, I saw the shot and I took it. I hit the gas and soaked them. I was laughing my but off but Steve was not very happy. I just couldn't help myself.
We arrived at the Ovens at mid day. The area was packed with Jeeps. There were so many you could hardly get to the 5 30 foot buildings to look inside. Our original plan was to go past the ovens across the river, over the rail road track, around a large mountain and back through box canyon to camp.
We left the ovens toward the river but in the area that is over grown with trees was flooded with water and MUD. The 1st mud hole was about 100 yards long. It looked very ugly to say the least. I asked the group if they wanted to try to make it or turn around. Of course the ones in the back said "Go for it" Well we did just that. NJ Steve (Roy's neighbor) asked me if I would winch him out if he got stuck. Of course I said. With that he took off through the mud. Oh my, was it deep. I couldn't believe he made it. I followed with my wife behind me then Bob and his wife. His wife got stuck towards the end and another rider Tip Over Tim got stuck because he had to stop. Then came TJ in his RZR. He made it fairly easy but the mud came up onto his seat so his pants were all full of mud. About this time a Jeep cam from the direction we were headed and said we wouldn't be ale to make it through the next mud hole because it was half way up his door. He opened his door to show us there was water inside his cab. Oh well nice try but we yelled at the group to stop coming across. As the Jeep tried to go across the mud hole we just came through he got stuck. He has a winch so NJ Steve jumped in to hook it up for him. After he was out of our was we made it back one by one through the nasty mud. Now for the rough ride back to camp. Once again we took a very scenic ride after the rough stuff along the tops of the mountains.
Our reward for a hard days ride was a pig roast that Jeff had prepared before we left. Everyone brought side dishes to go along with the feast. Larry (Walker az ranger) used to be a butcher in a previous life so he was good enough to carve up the pig. After dinner we had a huge campfire. It was nice to sit around trading stories around the fire drinking adult beverages with new and old friends.
On Sunday some people had to leave so the ones left went out for a ride. Once again we went out through Box Canyon, played on the sand hills and back over the tops. This was beautiful sunny day and the poppy's were just starting to spring out. We went out for one last ride in the afternoon. This time we took 2 RZR's and a Ranger for an exploratory ride.
What a blast meeting some very nice people. For as many as we had everyone got along and ride at a good pace.
Read MoreWe went out Thursday afternoon to meet up with the early arrivals. Since it was nice the ones there went for a ride on the lower and upper Woodpecker trails. It was fun watching and helping a few of the new people I had never met over some of the rock obstacles. I think Sharon's eyes were very big a few times. She later said she had only ridden 5 times. I can't believe someone with that little experience would even try a trail like this let alone have a blast. She did a great job and never got throttle happy as some new riders do. Maybe it had something to do with her eyes being a big a saucers.
As Jeff has said Dave made the best impression on the 1st day. As we came to the end of Woodpecker he kept looking at a big boulder trying to figure out how he could make it over it. Well, this time the boulder won as he was climbing to the top he slid off into the crack and rolled onto his side. At least all he hurt was his pride. As we were riding back to camp Zane was in the RZR going up a hill climb with a jump at the top. One time he was turning around in the sand at less than 10 MPH when the RZR caught a rut and turned on it's side. He climbed out and put it back on it’s wheels by himself.
Late afternoon it started to rain so no camp fire on this day. We stayed under Steve and Sharon's awning talking for quite a while. They no how to bring in newbie's to their camp. They had a big heater hooked on top of a propane bottle shooting out heat. We all huddled around the heat until it was time to turn in a bit on the early side. It rained hard all night.
Once again the weather person was way off. It was supposed to rain a little Thursday and be sunny and warm on Friday and Saturday. WRONG!!! It rained most of Friday as well and was cloudy on Saturday.
Even though it was raining a good number of us put on our rain gear and headed out for a ride. We decided to go through Box Canyon, over to the derision dam to make sure the gate was open for out planned Saturday ride. It was fun riding through Box Canyon with water in it. We went over to the sand hills so some of the riders could play. Insane Zane made it look easy. That guy is one heck of a rider. NM Steve tried making it up a steep sand hill in his new RZR but got stuck near the top. So he backed up a little further and nailed the throttle to attack the hill. He almost ran over a tree near the top and rolled over onto the left side, he stayed on the gas, throwing sand and some how righted his RZR making it over the top. We were all laughing our heads off. What a show. After this show we headed behind the diversion dam where there are some other sand hills. This is where Dave decided to show us his version of the flying buttito. He hit a small burm for a jump but when the front came down it stuck as he went flying over the bars taking out his right front fender in the process. His quad tried to get on top of him to ride him but he fought it off. Thank goodness he was not hurt. So far Dave is 2 for 2. 2 days of riding and 2 rolls.
Saturday we had 21 riders ready to take on Mother Nature. Everyone put on what ever they had for rain gear and headed off for the Martinez cabin/processing plant. The desert is so green it is hard to imagine that this will be all brown in a few short months. We took the route that winds along the tops of the mountains for some stunning views. There are a few times where you switchback down one mountain ride through the running wash and back up another mountain.
The entrance to the cabins is gorgeous. The mountains are a brilliant red color. With the contrast of the cool rushing water it is a beautiful site. As we arrived at the cabins I tried to explain some of the history as well as asking who wanted to ride up the tough boulder strewn stream and who wanted to stay at the cabins. We were going to go to the processing plant about 1/2 mile upstream and back.
The stream was running more in this area than I had ever seen before so it added to the difficulty of the boulder crawling. It was a blast watching rider after rider twisting and turning, getting off balance, and almost going over. Vidwiz (Rhino) and TJ (RZR) won the contest for getting their front wheels the highest in the air. Everyone did a great job with no one going over.
The processing plant is always an interesting place to visit. There is lots of large equipment throughout the building. Unfortunately some of it has been vandalized which may cause it to be closed at some time. There were a few close calls coming back to the cabin as we came down a small waterfall with a hidden hole under the water.
From here we left for the Coke Ovens. The road to the ovens is very rough. There are lots of ledges, boulders, and loose rocky hill climbs. Once again everyone did a great job. For a large group like we had we made good time when we were traveling.
There was one strange thing that happened on the way to the ovens. Ken was riding Jim's (Montana rider) quad when he noticed something wrong. He stopped and looked at the A arm and sure enough a bolt had fallen out. As I was coming down the hill they stopped me as they were walking towards the hill. Unbelievable Steve (Luke) found the bolt. As Steve (from NM), Ken, and Jim were crossing the stream, I saw the shot and I took it. I hit the gas and soaked them. I was laughing my but off but Steve was not very happy. I just couldn't help myself.
We arrived at the Ovens at mid day. The area was packed with Jeeps. There were so many you could hardly get to the 5 30 foot buildings to look inside. Our original plan was to go past the ovens across the river, over the rail road track, around a large mountain and back through box canyon to camp.
We left the ovens toward the river but in the area that is over grown with trees was flooded with water and MUD. The 1st mud hole was about 100 yards long. It looked very ugly to say the least. I asked the group if they wanted to try to make it or turn around. Of course the ones in the back said "Go for it" Well we did just that. NJ Steve (Roy's neighbor) asked me if I would winch him out if he got stuck. Of course I said. With that he took off through the mud. Oh my, was it deep. I couldn't believe he made it. I followed with my wife behind me then Bob and his wife. His wife got stuck towards the end and another rider Tip Over Tim got stuck because he had to stop. Then came TJ in his RZR. He made it fairly easy but the mud came up onto his seat so his pants were all full of mud. About this time a Jeep cam from the direction we were headed and said we wouldn't be ale to make it through the next mud hole because it was half way up his door. He opened his door to show us there was water inside his cab. Oh well nice try but we yelled at the group to stop coming across. As the Jeep tried to go across the mud hole we just came through he got stuck. He has a winch so NJ Steve jumped in to hook it up for him. After he was out of our was we made it back one by one through the nasty mud. Now for the rough ride back to camp. Once again we took a very scenic ride after the rough stuff along the tops of the mountains.
Our reward for a hard days ride was a pig roast that Jeff had prepared before we left. Everyone brought side dishes to go along with the feast. Larry (Walker az ranger) used to be a butcher in a previous life so he was good enough to carve up the pig. After dinner we had a huge campfire. It was nice to sit around trading stories around the fire drinking adult beverages with new and old friends.
On Sunday some people had to leave so the ones left went out for a ride. Once again we went out through Box Canyon, played on the sand hills and back over the tops. This was beautiful sunny day and the poppy's were just starting to spring out. We went out for one last ride in the afternoon. This time we took 2 RZR's and a Ranger for an exploratory ride.
What a blast meeting some very nice people. For as many as we had everyone got along and ride at a good pace.
