We
spent a pleasant night at the high-dollar RV park and then did a supply
stop at the local supermarket. We also found a fruit stand that
had some good stuff and we stocked up. Finally, we found a Thai
restaurant and had a tasty lunch. From Bend, we headed south a
ways and went into the Paulina Lake/East Lake area is a volcanic crater
region south of town. We found a reasonable site in the National
Forest camp and set up for the night. Sadly, there were more
mosquitoes than we desired, so we retreated into the camper rather than
having a campfire and had to settle for watching a DVD. Next
morning, we headed out toward Northwest MogFest in Sheridan, OR.
The photos below are what we saw.
Next
morning, when the sun was behind us, we could see some of the volcanic
peaks to the west of our camp across East Lake. There were plenty
of campers in the area enjoying the scenery and the nice water.
Further
down the road, we got a better view of the tortured volcanic landscape
of one of the craters.
From
a road-side turnout, we got a nice view of the Sisters outside of Bend,
OR. The peaks still had some snow from the heavy winter.
One
of the peaks to the southwest had substantial snow still on the high
peaks.
Between
Bend, OR and Sisters, OR the road gave us a view of Mt. Jefferson, or
so the map would indicate.
On
the way to NWMF, we passed through the Willamette Valley and stayed at
a very nice state park near the river. The cost was reasonable
and they had electrical, water and hot showers. Next day, we
headed through the wine country and stopped at the Erath Winery and got
a few bottles. From there, NWMF was just a few miles away.
After we arrived, checked in and setup, a very nice 1300 extended cab
DOKA fire rig pulled in next to us.
We
were actually a day early for the party, so we just chilled and talked
to folks. During one of the conversations, this monstrosity came
down the driveway to the farm. After the usual "WTF?" comments,
we discovered that this is the "Walking Beast". WB is powered by
a propane-fueled small block chevy motor running a custom drive
train. The legs are mechanically activated through a Rockwell
5-ton truck differential and an automatic transmission. Something
a LITTLE different.
The
design of the Beast does not allow "stepping up" obstacles, so great
care us used getting the device off the transport trailer. The
hydraulic mechanism under the belly is used for turning the Beast,
loading and unloading. The Beast is raised off the trailer,
rotated 90 degrees, lowered and then the trailer is driven out
from underneath.
The
early stages of the rotation. Note the chains. These are,
in theory, used to prevent it from tipping over should they lose
control. But, given the mass of the Beast, I think all it would
do is to twist the trailer into a pretzel. Note that the driver's
compartment is in the entrance/exit position.
Rotation
complete; ready to lower.
An
in-motion photograph. Note that the driver's compartment has been
raised to the travel position and the operator is in the pilot's
seat. The inside legs are at the top of the stroke and on the way
down.
Center
of a full leg cycle. All legs are on the ground during this
portion of the forward motion cycle.
The
outside set of legs in the middle of their cycle.
Enough
of 8-legged creatures. Back to the REAL world of Unimogs.
Above is Mike Rowe's new-to-him U100. This truck is virtually new
and is in great shape.
Our
hostess, Emily, manning the check-in booth.
One
of the cool out-structures on the farm.
Over
the next few days, plenty of vehicles filled with folks showed
up. There were plenty of mogs, Synchros, Pinzgauers and Volvo 303
and 304s. Above is a seemingly custom 404 that is clearly still
work in progress. Or so I hope.
Jim,
our host, told a couple of young girls that they could decorate one of
his vehicles. Then he gave them several cans of spray paint.
I hope he was pleased with the result.
Our
friends Steve and Sharon arrived in their DAF/camper combo. The
DAF is big, even by 1017 standards. Jim, our host, is on the
right, Kathleen on the left.
The
boys were playing in the obstacle course that Jim and his helpers had
built with their trac-hoe. Above, a G-wagon gets hopelessly stuck
in a muddy portion of the pit.
Eric
backs his rig up to give the G-wagon a tow.
Yuck.
Nice thick, sticky clay-based mud that will block the cooling of the
fan/radiator if not cleaned off before travel.
This
looks like a ton of work and a real mess to clean. The mud has
the consistency of peanut butter.
On
Saturday, the trucks lined up on the field for a group photo.
Above is the western portion of the group.
West-center
portion.
Center
portion.
East-center
portion.
East
portion including the Beast.
The
DAF got it's own photo.
The
Sheridan Fire Department brought in an older ladder truck to provide an
overlook for the group photographer.
Next
day, as we were building up air pressure preparing to leave for the
Pacific Coast, the 1017's motor sputtered and died. Thinking it
was a dirty fuel filter (the truck has only one as opposed to the dual
filter configuration of the mog), we tilted the cab and changed the
filter. Several things were discovered. First, the filter
was not that dirty; the real problem was the priming pump seal was
letting air into the system because it has come unscrewed due to engine
vibration. We changed the filter anyway since we were there and
in the process dropped the copper washer that seals the bolt that holds
the filter cup to the mounting assembly. We were many miles down
the road before we smelled diesel. A visual inspection caused us
to return to the farm to re-open the cab to debug the situation.
Brandon spotted the absence of the washer and I got a spare from my
kit, re-primed the system and we were on our way again.
Spotted
on a vehicle hood. My thoughts exactly. In fact, I am going
to have some at lunch.
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Copyright Bill Caid 2011, all rights reserved.
For your enjoyment only, not for commercial use.