Rock crawling in the mountains Jeep Jam

We left early Sunday morning, and "S" and I went with Big Eric, and his faithful Jeep TJ ( nicknamed the little Jeep that could).
We met up with some friends of his. They really had some decked out jeeps ( lift kits, big tires, winch's, you name it)
Here is a picture as we gassed up for a ride through a mountain trail called "Bronco Peak".



















It is about an hour east of San Diego, at about 3,600ft elev. We made our way tpo the begining of the trail where another Jeeper asked to join us. He made a comment that Eric's jeep was not tall enough, or robust enough to make it through the trail, and its unforgiving terrain. As it turns out we made it up rocky hills that him and others got stuck on, and had to be winched off.













I found out that sometimes you get by with clearance, and some time it is better to be a great driver. We aslo had a narrower wheel base that helped, and a lower center of gravity.
My daughter "S" had a great time, and was quite patiant. she took pictures, and jumped out and help spot the trail. And she got very dirty.
Here is a picture of some trails:
























Here is a picture of Sidewinder,















and the climb that the little jeep got through:















and the big jeep got stuck:

Renegades arrive in Sacramento

"A" 's team, The San Diego Renegades. earned a berth to the Nationals at the highest level in Softball. The ASA (A) Nationals in Sacramento. It was a 500 mile road trip that the girls and I drove On Sunday morning 7/29/07. After stopping by Merced to see my extended family ( see previous post) we made it to Sacramento. The first day was registration for the girls ( "S" likes hanging out with the big girls):
















That night we stuffed gift bags for the first team we would face. We made gift buckets for them that would give them a taste of San Diego ( our home town) ( the first team we faced, as luck would have it, came from San DIego as well):



















There was a parade of teams for opening ceremonies, and a riual of pin trading:






















The girls got a team picture looked something like this:


















and the other version looked like this:




























The girls won there two pool games, "A" got to play in one of them. She hit the ball to left field for an out, and she struck out her second time up. She played right field, and did not see anything hit to her.












Amber got a chance to play in one of the pool games. Here is her hit




















Amber stole 2nd:




















She scored from 2nd!:



















We had time to visit the state capital in the Afternoon:
















As well as Old Sacramento. There was a lot of old vintage buildings, and railroads, and boats moored along the river. it was very nice:








On the way home, we visit Muir woods:

Driving to Sacramento

We left Sunday Morning at 5:30am. the plan was to get through LA before 8:00am.
We stopped in Merced to see my Aunt Estelle, and her son Eric, and his wife Shannon.
"T" was up From Azusa. "D" was out with friends.

Here is a picture of Estelle and I: