Topic: I've Been to the Desert in a Ford With No Name

[Oz]

One Week Off-Roading in the Mojave Preserve; For Work!

I leave tomorrow for a week in the desert going to a lot of places that are off-limits to regular folks. I will be video surveying defunct water wells that are slated for abandonment. This is what I get to use out there:





























'09 E350 V10 4X4 From Quigley. I think its got a Dana 60 front. Rancho Suspension.

I will take LOTS of trail picts when I'm out there and hopefully some flex picts (I hope my boss doesnt ever view this site!)

Be back Saturday with picts from the trail!

--

ACTUALLY

Here's some picts from today:

04-27-09

Here's the start and where we end up at an abandoned ranch. On the way out we helped a clueless census taker who got her jeep stuck. We asked her "What are ya counting, Lizards?" but we helped her anyway.

























































- - -

4-28-09

Pretty slow day - About 12 miles south of where we were yesterday. Not a lot happening so just a few scenic pix



















More tomorrow!

- - -

04-29-09

A little bit more interesting day - its nice to wheel behind locked gates with a Park Ranger! Came across some wildlife today too.

<< Pump crew has to pull all this column pipe before I can survey the well; takes hours.







<< My van and I getting ready to do out thang



<< My well video camera

<< Camera and Drawworks





<< Poseur shot

<< Lava Fields



<< Gate at Morning Star Mine



<< Red Racer Snake; just laying in the road sunning hisself



<< Our escort's ride



<< Some wheeling behind locked gates

















<< Water done in the mine (some perspective; its like 500' across)













<< Somewhere out there is our next well



<< Another user of the roadway





- - -

4-30-09

Busy busy day. Got a lot of work done and had some fun too!




<< There is tremendous irony here - the National Park Ranger is using his back hoe to clear a path for me to wheel in! Certainly not 'treading lightly"   Actually the concern was a fire could ignite from the exhaust so that's why he was clearing a 'road' for me



















<< Yeee haw!  3 Wheelin' the work truck



- - -

5-01-09

Work got cut short today! Trail Damage!

Not Me! But the pump rig.

Some of you who may have been following my week in the desert may recognize this truck:





Today we finished the first well about 1030 am and were heading east on the 'whoops' of the Mojave Trail. All of us were only able to maintain 20mph because of the equipment in our rigs.  I was following the pump rig and there were a few watermelon-sized rocks in the sand and whoops; no big deal just kind of dodge them - usually trail stuff. Pretty dusty and after about 20 miles I see a rock/boulder come flying out the pass side rear of the pump rig but he keeps moving like nuthin happened. I mean that rock flew like it was made out of rubber. We get to the Kelso Depot Visitor Center and I pull into the parking lot and see this:







Its now noon and the Geo takes Dale to Baker where hes called a tire shop and they have 2 tires and a rim (he tore up both outer tires on the dually). No prob 1 hour round trip and we're working again. 3 hours later he tells us the guy in Baker is jacking him for 800 bucks so they say screw that and went to Barstow to rape a rig from the yard. Short story long I get to cruise back to the hotel early. I dont mind cause its been 12 hour days all week!

- - -

5-02-09

Last day in the desert. We're all tired from 12 hour days all week. But some of the best picts from the week I got today from the southern edge of the reserve.

We traversed 1.8 million acres driving over 800 off road miles this week!

[xperienced]

boy I need to find a new profession... Great pics Oz!

[kxterra]

great pics oz... that things like a sportsmobile, having the quigley 4x4, just no camper amenities

[sturndog]

Cool pics Oz,  glad it is not July yet in the Mojave!

[Oz]

Cool pics Oz,  glad it is not July yet in the Mojave!

Weather's been GREAT so far. here's some from today

4-28-09

Pretty slow day - About 12 miles south of where we were yesterday. Not a lot happening so just a few scenic pix

[AV Xterra]

We really need this van for our next Area 51 Xcursion.

[Paul]

No pictures of the snorkel? 

 

[Oz]

Here's some from today

04-29-09

A little bit more interesting day - its nice to wheel behind locked gates with a Park Ranger! Came across some wildlife today too.

<< Pump crew has to pull all this column pipe before I can survey the well; takes hours.







<< My van and I getting ready to do out thang



<< My well video camera

<< Camera and Drawworks





<< Poseur shot

<< Lava Fields



<< Gate at Morning Star Mine



<< Red Racer Snake; just laying in the road sunning hisself



<< Our escort's ride



<< Some wheeling behind locked gates

















<< Water done in the mine (some perspective; its like 500' across)













<< Somewhere out there is our next well



<< Another user of the roadway

[Oz]

Came Home Saturday night - was a good trip. First post updated with picts of last day. Enjoy!

[Bobby B.]

Time to get that van fixed up.  Some shag carpet, a hot tub...

I've Been to the Desert in a Ford With No Name

Nice pics man.

[FrankB]

Nice pics Oz.  Was it very hot out there?

One thing, many of the shots loaded up two or even three times when I loaded the page, so it took forever. You may want to check the links in the post.

[AV Xterra]

I quit trying when it said 140 items remaining.

[Oz]

I quit trying when it said 140 items remaining.

Damn dialup!

[Soylent Yellow]

Damn dialup!

Damn 140 picture posts.  Maybe a link to a photo sight would be better.

[Oz]

Damn 140 picture posts.  Maybe a link to a photo sight would be better.

Wah!