 |
Archived Newsletter |
 |
November 2000
SCHEDULED EVENTS
For more trip information, see TRIPS. |
CONTENTS |
PLEASANT CANYON RUN
by Rick Schaffer
The pre-run up Pleasant Canyon his year was the best ever. 12 vehicles and 24 participants made for a great day and lots of food at the potluck. Most arrived Thursday (the retired folks), or Friday, and the only one that showed up on Saturday were the Matulas. The weather on Saturday morning started out great. Jerry MacDonald said that on Friday it was really hot. We had a clear morning but by the time we got up to Clair Camp, you could see clouds building up in the west. By the time we reached the summit, the clouds were darker and much closer. The rest of the trip was un-eventful. Everyone had a great time. The brush that we cut back last year has grown back already. I guess we'll have to plan another work party before next year's PVD. We got back to camp around 5 and started preparing for the pot luck. By now, the clouds had darkened and we could see it was raining to the north of us. Then the wind came! Large gusts threw sand, and it started to rain BIG drops. Our new member Tom Morey was in a dome tent with his daughter, and his niece Lynn and her husband Paul were in a small pop up trailer. They were suffering the worse, so, decided to pack it up and head home. The Matulas scrambled to the luxury of their motel room in Ridgecrest. The rest of us hit the pot luck then took shelter inside our motorhomes (a total of eight). Little group parties everywhere. The rain by now had dwindled and was blowing sideways! After a while it stopped, so we tried to have a campfire. That lasted about an hour with the wind still blowing, so we gave it up early and hit the sack. We picked up a new associate member, Paul & Lynn Benabise from Pahrump, Nevada. They come down this way often to visit Tom Morey, so they are familiar with the Big Bear trails, et al. They're going to let us know of some trails around their area. Should be interesting. Club members in attendance were: Rick & Suzy Schaffer, Mike & Carol Kelly, Bob & Pat Matula, Jerry MacDonald, Dennis Sullivan, Andy Vique & Elaine Sullivan, Dave & Grace Trice, Jon & Dale Rice (Jon is doing fine following his surgery), Tom Morey and daughter Amanda. Guests were: James Sullivan & Mel Montgomery, Donald & Becky Clevenger, Robert Day & Sally Kinsey, and Paul & Lynn Benabise. A little side note. (Well, not so little for one couple). Andy and Elaine first met out at Panamint two years ago when he was a guest of Dennis'. Elaine rode with Andy that day and they have been together ever since. This weekend Andy proposed to Elaine (after a heart to heart with Dennis) and announced their engagement to all of us there. CONGRATULATIONS ANDY AND ELAINE!!!!
JOAN SULLIVAN MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
I reported previously about the passing of Dennis's wife Joan. There has been a scholarship fund set up in her name and the club is making a donation to it. We are also taking personal donations if you are so inclined. We currently have about $200 in donations. If you would like to donate, please give Rick Schaffer a call.
TRIP COMMITTEE MEETING
We are having a trip committee meeting at Dave Felando's on Wednesday November 15th. at 7:00. If you are interested in attending, leading a trip, or suggesting a trip, please call Dave.
NOVEMBER MEETING
In the past, when we remembered it, the November meeting was held a week early so it wouldn't conflict with Thanksgiving.
Well, this year, it works out that there isn't a conflict, so the meeting will still be the last Wednesday of the month.
This premier sand toy play area has come under the attack of the eco-freaks and 1/2 of the area is now closed. It's going to be interesting there this Thanksgiving when 10,000 recreation starved people converge on it and find out that they are confined to a small area. This area gets a lot of crazies that do a lot of drinking and riding. It should be mayhem. Probably a good place to stay away from.
TOYS FOR TOTS
It's time to start planning on how you are going to be decorating your vehicle for the annual Toys For Tots run. The club will be donating the usual $100 worth of toys this year. If you can't make the run, but would like to donate an unwrapped toy, please give Carol Kelly a call. If you haven't ever attended this event, this is a fun run where you caravan from the Block of Orange to the lakes near the 91 and 55 freeways. They also have a great raffle.
CLUB PICNIC
The club picnic was a rousing success. There were about 30 people there for dinner. The run was on some interesting trails around Calico, led by who else but Rick Schaffer. We even had a phantom member present Matt Battaglia, showing up for a free meal.
FURTHER ADVENTURES OF SIR JEEPSALOT
Sir Jeepsalot of the Body Scratcher (B.S.) Jeep club was out one Sunday on a scouting trip when nature called. as he was making his way back to his Jeep, he came across a HUGE bear looking down on him from above. Turning to run, he tripped and got his foot caught in a crack in the rock.
As the bear approached, he started to say a prayer, "Lord, I'll never go Jeepin' on Sunday again, just let the bear be a Christian!" When the bear got to old S.J., the bear got down on his knees and prayed, "Thank you Lord for the meal I am about to receive."
CA4WDC CALENDAR
The CA4WDC calendar for 2001 is out and the club is well represented with 6 pictures of club members, and an additional 7 submitted by club members (Rice, Enoch & Battaglia). For some reason my favorite is February!
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS
The Environmental Affairs Committee is having a Route Day in the Rice Valley area.
LA TIMES Sunday, November 5, 2000
Environmental Groups Destroy Recreational Use of Public
Lands
by RICHARD SCHAEFER
A day seldom goes by when I don't read of another loss of access and use of our "public lands." It's nearly always the result of a lawsuit by one of the many "eco-elite" or "environmental socialist" groups.
These groups are determined to close down any group or activity that does not conform to their "environmentally correct" agenda. Most recently, the area closed down to off-road use was 48,000 acres of Southern California desert. Off-road vehicles were banned in order to protect the milk-vetch plant. The closure was the result of a lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity. This organization is responsible for litigating to close many areas of "public" lands for one environmentally sensitive reason or another.
Now most people will say, "Oh, those four-wheelers are a destructive lot and shouldn't be allowed to tear across 'our desert.' " Personally, I don't use an off-road vehicle. And I've met some off-roaders who are indeed irresponsible, and I've met others who spend the weekends picking up the trash of those who rode horses or hiked into the back country. I guess off-roaders come in all types, just like the rest of us.
Now I used to take my two little boys fishing in Sespe Creek, in the mountains above Ojai. Well, the Center for Biological Diversity litigated on behalf of the arroyo toad, and closed the campgrounds and access road along Sespe. I can no longer take my children fishing where I grew up fishing and hiking. I guess my children and I were a threat to these toads.
Environmental groups are destroying the access and recreational use of our public lands by an organized assault against all groups that don't conform to their environmentally correct, eco-sensitive agenda. It's the death of a thousand cuts, each slash destroying the rights of a particular group or restricting access to a certain area.
This ongoing war of attrition has spread across our nation, leaving in its wake a plague of locked gates, fences, closed campgrounds, and roads and signs that read "Keep Out," "No Fishing," "No Hunting," "No Off-Road Vehicles," "No Snowmobiles," and on and on.
The entire nation is infected with the disease of environmental socialism. It's disenfranchising; farmers, loggers, hunters, fishermen, RVers, equestrian groups, off-roaders, snowmobilers, prospectors, fly-fishermen, home builders, boaters, scuba divers, surfers, target shooters, recreational property owners and more.
Then there's the biggest group that's being forced from public lands. It's the old, the very young, the infirm, the handicapped and the out of condition among us. The public lands shouldn't become the domain of only the young and healthy who are able to hike with backpacks many miles.
The wild areas shouldn't be the focus of lip service by the wealthy members of the "eco-elite" who jet off to the "eco-tourism" resorts around the world while the rest of us crowd into the few remaining campgrounds. It is supposed to be everyone's outdoors. Yes, even the unattractive, unfit, politically incorrect, aged, infirm, handicapped and families with small children.
I hope Americans wake up before they find themselves fenced not just from their land, but from their freedom and heritage as well.
Please check to make sure that you meet these minimum requirements. Click here.
Copyright© 1999-2004 Fun In The Sun Fourwheelers. All Rights Reserved.