Everything was packed except the clothes and the ice chest, 3:30pm Friday afternoon. The best layed plans, Chris & Jaime hit the trail first thing this morning to reserve the Dirty Dozen camp for the large group that was expected to show up. Manuel showed up at 2:30pm waiting for us, Josh drove up from Sacramento and was sitting at Longs in Truckee waiting. So when does leave by 4:30pm now translate to pushing the clock ahead 2 hours. Excited to go, eager & ready now. Even Chris & Jaime were ahead of schedule getting to the Dirty Dozen camp at 9:30 in the morning, which is the time they were leaving from Reno....gosh, I'm already behind.

My old green truck, 11 year veteran of the Rubicon Trail, Manuel in his bright red 4Runner who says he's only been in the Loon Lake side before, and Josh in his teal 4Runner that hasn't been anywhere yet *note just built up, minor trail test performed showed suspenion flaw that was newly repaired. The goal: to get to Rubicon Springs before nightfall.

We hit the trailhead at exactly 5:35pm, leaving about 3 good daylight hours. Aired down to 10psi, 4runners off loaded from the trailers..we are ready to rock & roll.

6pm, everytime I looked back the 4runners were slowing down. Manuel didn't put his rear shock on the passenger side & he was swaying mightly. Josh was stuck behind Manuel. It's 11 miles of dirt cobblestones & 2ft water puddles just to get to the main turnoff for the actual start of the trail. We'd gone 2 miles.

At this rate it would take all night. I haven't even engaged the front axle yet.

7:30pm, we finally make the top of Cadillac...Manuel has a load cracking noise in the frontend, we can't figure it out...everything looks good. Josh's 4Runner will need a new motor soon, it's got the tell tale engine knock.

7:45pm, Josh is tired of following Manuel..I fell to the rear of the pack hours ago, I was traveling faster than Manuel wanted to go..so we let him lead. So much for reaching the Springs before dark. Taking a bypass to get ahead of Manuel, Josh hit the large rock all wrong & noodled his rear driveline. 20minutes later, we head down the trail..Josh in front wheel drive.

8:10pm, 5 minutes after taking off the rear driveline for Josh, Manuel turned the wheel but his 4runner doesn't turn...the loud cracking noise?...broken hysteer..sheared the bolts off the knuckle.

We have 20 minutes more at normal speeds to get to the springs. Now Manuel is down for the count...he wants to leave the 4Runner in the trail & continue on. Josh tells him no, LD says no, I say no; so he stays behind with Josh and our suitcase welder & high lift jack. We'll be back in the morning.

20 minutes later I pull into Rubicon Springs. The old veteran green truck that isn't pretty anymore.

Rubicon Springs is one of the most beautiful places, however there are many distractions...namely the other campers.

Before breakfast was even started, 6 campers tromp through our campsite to get to the swimming hole. Is there a more polite way to tromp? Sure, but apparently once you know 1 way to go you don't want to try a circlular route.

So now, breakfast is done & we head out to rescue the boys, Josh & Manuel up on the trail. 20 minutes & I'm there. Chris runs alittle quicker & he gets there in 15 minutes. Manuel is welded up, Josh is ready to go home...Manuel thinks he's going into the Springs. We get him turned around to go back to the staging area too. LD & Chris are not spending the rest of the weekend fixing Manuel's 4Runner.

Chris hooks up to Josh's 4Runner & heads up the trail with Manuel following & I'm bringing up the rear.

Part way up a down log creates an extremely sharp turn, Josh doesn't make it..with Chris pulling Josh blows a birfield (front axle component). Rather than fix it Chris decides he doesn't want to waste all day, repositions his buggie, jerks Josh side ways & resumes the climb out.

Top of Cadillac has been obtained....Josh has no oil in his engine, making a really loud knocking sound. No problem, throw in some oil...stick it in neutral and out we go to staging.

2hours out, Manuel tells Josh that he is going to go back into Rubicon Springs with us...we help Manuel put his rig on the trailer & strap it down.

Chris in his rush to get into the Springs on Friday morning, left his lights on in his tow rig, it takes 35 minutes to get it jump started...it was really, really dead. Grabbing a quick bite to eat, we say our goodbyes to the broken ones & head back to our campsite.

Quick stop after 15 minutes on the return trip, Chris decides he isn't going back to camp afterall....the alternator isn't charging. We changed his mind, afterall I don't think I can load all his camping gear & ours too in my little old green machine.

Top of Cadillac, Chris alternator decides to work again.

Back in camp, finally. I'm tired, twisted my neck & shoulder, have a headache and did I mention, I'm tired...it's been a long day & it's only 2:30pm.

Sunday, Father's Day

The weekend hasn't quite been what we all expected.

#1 - The 19 other rigs that were part of our group gave up, didn't show up..wives, jobs, money, fuel costs, etc... kept them at home

#2 - 4 rigs we didn't expect showed up - excellent

#3 - The people in the next camp - rude - walking through our camp, yelling until the wee hours of the night, & inconsiderate

#4 - Spending most of Saturday going back out & in again.

#5 - Postponing our return to civilization until Monday

The good things:

* Camping in the great outdoors

* Reading 2 novels I packed

* Downtime, no concerns

* Postponing the trip out till Monday

* Extremely quiet Sunday night!

* Lazy Monday morning.

The last thing that happened during our Rubicon Trip Father's Day Weekend - I split the sidewall in my tire going up Cadillac, no lug wrench (I think it got loaned out & wasn't returned, along with my scissor jack), but I did have a spark plug socket with a rachett & a bottle jack so it didn't take too long to change. Not to mention my spare tire, which hasn't been used in 8 years, still had 30psi & was in great shape.

All in all, our return to civilization was ok....wish I had a longer vacation though.

Next up Golden Valley, Gold Lake & the Snake Lake Trail, July 4th weekend!!