Well, we are home.
Was another fantastic trip.
Here's the weekend, the brief version:
Patti and I arrived Wednesday afternoon, setup and relaxed the rest of the afternoon and evening.
We had a nice fire under a clear sky and the near full moon in the middle of the night was great.
Thursday we drove into Franklin and picked up a few things at the store.
Thursday afternoon, Woody, Flutterby, Blackflag and Chief57 rolled in and setup.
Also, Dish and RubiRocket arrived about an hour later.
Stumper arrived with his YJ and pop-up camper a little later and set up.
We all had dinner and started a fire and hung around it until it started to rain.
Then we all congregated under two canopies we had set side by side and we partied for a couple hours there.
The rain stopped and the fire was still burning so a few hung out there for a while longer.
Friday we rode up to Flagpole Knob and had lunch and then went on to Meadow Knob.
A few headed back to the camp from there, while the rest of us planned to hit another trail or two.
On our way Chief57 came on the radio and said his steering was weird.
We pulled over and discovered his passenger side caliper had locked up.
We jacked it up on the side of the road, removed the wheel and caliper, which was still smoking hot.
After bleeding a little fluid off we were able to retract the piston and we put everything back together.
Woody headed in to Harrisonburg to get a new caliper and pads while the rest of us followed Chief as he nursed the TJ back to camp.
Once Woody got back, Chief changed the caliper and pads and we bled it and put it back together.
James78 was at camp when we got back.
Again we sat by the fire for a while until the rain started and we retreated under the canopies.
Saturday we warmed up running old RT 33 and Kephart and then headed up to the ATV parking area and had lunch.
From there we headed to Dictum Ridge Trail.
It's a long bumpy ride for several miles before you get to the infamous "stair steps".
Upon our arrival we met a group of Toyota guys from Chesapeake, VA. with one of their rigs stuck on the steps.
James78 winched him up and over.
After learning that there was no gate at RT 33 as had been reported, we decided to all go down the steps and drive out at it was only about 3/4 mile to the pavement.
Now there are two ways down the stair steps, the hard way and the so called "bypass".
Everyone with the exception of Chief and myself went down the bypass side with little trouble with some helpful spotting from the Toyota guys.
Chief made it down the hard side w/o too much trouble. I on the otherhand got a little too far off to the side and got into a little bit of trouble.
After sliding more toward the edge, one of the Toy guys helped out with spotting and got me down safely.
Big thumbs up 
to all of them for all their help.
After we were all at the bottom a couple of the Toyotas showed us there stuff by climbing up the bypass.
Here's where it gets fun.
Chief57 decided since he now has 35's that he would try driving up the bypass.
He tried last trip on 33's and had to get strapped up so I think he had a score to settle.
He started up and was having some difficulty make much progress.
The Toy guys were spotting, but as often happens Dana 30 + 35's + skinny pedal claimed a victim.
We heard a pop and after looking noticed the drivers side u-joint had spit the cups out and broke one end off the cross.
Problem now was he was stuck on the steps unable to move up or down.
He was able to winch himself up over the obstacle to where we could work on it.
Of course we had to carry all the tools back up the hill as the rest of us were now at the bottom.
We were able to get it apart, pull the inner, stuff a rag in the axle and get it all back together.
After a little trouble Chief made it back down the steps and we all headed back to camp for well deserved liquid refreshment and pizza.
We had a chilly but beautiful night around a great fire.
Today we all broke down and headed home.
There are loads of pictures and tons of video to follow.
As always it was a great time with good friends, both old and new.
while I did all the repairs myself. I guess I'll have to change my story now. ;D
