P.C. - Thanks for the Link to this Forum

[desert4wd]

Hi All,
A fine group of people here! I'm the same guy who goe's by oregon4wd on the DV.net forum. So why haven't I been on this forum? Who knows.... I'm just slower these days I guess. Intro: I'm 47 yrs old, married, teens, dogs, cat, goats, chickens, etc. I've been off-roading since the mid 70's. Ghost town exploring since the early 80's and since I retired in 2000, I've been able to step it up a bit, hitting the dirt roads somewhere between 3-5 weeks a year. I generally stick to the Great Basin and Death Valley, but sometimes I skip out to other regions in the West. I've had different rides: My brothers '73 CJ5 when I was younger, '77 Wagoneer, '94 Toyota 4x4 and a '05 Rubicon LJ. I've met a number of you good folks in the last few years and enjoy the company as I usually hit the road by myself since my kids are older now. Since I live in Oregon (about 70 miles south of Portland) my trips are usually about a week or sometimes longer. Other interests are photography, assorted areas of radio (KE6GMM- General Class being one of them), astronomy, gardening etc. Good luck exploring... be safe... have fun!
- Doug

[B-Spec]

[Panamint Charlie]

Hi Doug! We've got a good group of folks here also. Hope to see you on the trail someday.

[David_Bricker]

Welcome Desert4wd!

Thanks for the bio- it's nice to know the folks who come around here.

I understand the sometimes difficult process getting to the DV area when living some distance away. Upstate NY makes flying about the only option for me, though if I were in OR, I'd still probably fly.

David Bricker / SYR

[desert4wd]

Thanks for the warm welcome!
My perspective of distance has been modified I enjoy driving alot... Actually, I think I really enjoy the whole process of planning a trip, doing the research of possible sites, plotting a course, then the anticipation...lol. I've been doing this for some time now but I'm still just a beginner- everytime I make a trip, the places I want to go to next time doubles! Still, I like to visit some places over and over because they're interesting everytime and usually even more so because of something new I've learned about the history.
- Doug

[LarryW]

Welcome to our little corner of the desert!

[desert4wd]

Welcome to our little corner of the desert!

Thanks! And it's the Best corner I'm sure!

[desert4wd]

Guest Book Eh? Maybe I should say hi to myself - "Desert4wd" - the PV *newbie.....18 years ago. Not all tuckered out like this guy sitting in the chair writing this.
Well..... it "does" seem like 18 years ago - lol. I already perused the guest book and that was kind of fun and helped me recollect all sorts of people I've met or just talked to on these pages. I also don't recall really looking at these pages all as one long list.
Still looking for Heypilch, Freq - and someone named Earl Grey. Ok, Rumba too.
SO. How old do I have to be to do this again?
*Camped in DV and traveled through PV about 1966, plus a couple of times in the 80's. Explored DV more extensively in the 90's etc.

[D.A. Wright]

Oh, and here I always thought you were older than me ... I've got you beat by a few years ... But at least you got to retire far sooner than I did, by 16 years ... Well, anyway, welcome BACK to the board!

[Donovan]

Yo D.A. Wright, how do I access your web site?

[D.A. Wright]

You can't. I shut it down in 2012.

[desert4wd]

Hey David. 2012? That was a while ago, too!
Retirement.... well, that wasn't exactly planned but, (ok, totally not planned) in a sense, it all worked out.
I worked for the post office (letter carrier - on foot), plus the USAF reserves - I was planning on 30 years a piece but only got to 20-ish each because I wore out my knees prematurely. Had various work done on both legs and then a replacement on the left when I was 44. (Hasn't allowed full movement since it was done 21 years ago) In any case, the PO didn't want anyone who couldn't meet their lifting or walking requirements so I retired. I also knew I wouldn't meet the AF physical fitness standards, so I finished up there too. (One year late, due to 9-11), in 2002. Now-a-days, Doc says time to get the right knee replaced, and my left knee is saying it wants another go at it, first.....lol. Getting old is GREAT!
Good part is that driving around was fine and so was walking - carefully. Bad part was that I wasn't burning enough calories the rest of the time - lol. I finally figured that part out though, more recently. So, back to the retirement part which was kind of fortuitous, so I made the best of it. At this stage, I'm pretty worn out but am still able to have a bit of fun - usually with consequences though, if it's too physical.
Enough of all that.
Cheers and I hope all is well !

[D.A. Wright]

Yes, Doug. I understand your pain. I suffer with chronic knee pain as well. I know they need addressing, but I have a phobia of doctors with a big needle full of cortisone and an evil grin. I have other health issues stemming from my years working in Trona; but everyone I know that worked in industry and mining suffer aftereffects as well. Like my late father said, "growing old ain't for sissies." I have always struggled with my weight and at this age more difficult to shed the pounds; but since I moved to my acreage I have dropped to the same weight range that I was back in the 1990s. Lots of walking, puttering around the property, maintenance and projects. Interspersed with sitting on my covered porch, in my big wooden rocker, enjoying the endless views and having my firsts cup of coffee in the morning or a cold beer in the afternoon or a shot of bourbon at sunset.