Southern Indiana: anyone up for wet wandering next weekend?

"Just Jeepin'" (macintux)
10/17/2018 at 11:50 • Filed to: oppo meet

Leaves are turning, winter is coming, my beautiful summer of topless Jeeping is over but there’s still some beauty left in the land before it all turns brown and grey for months and I once again wonder why I live in such a crappy part of the country .

Next Saturday, October 27th, it’d be nice to join a few Opponauts for some back roads exploration. I’m taking a few Jeeps from my club (and maybe a Jimny too) on a trip from Rushville to Madison this Sunday, and I can repeat the trip next weekend.

So if you have something you’re comfortable driving through water crossings, and you’d be available to spend the day appreciating the scenery, chime in here. Plan on leaving around 11 , wrapping up around 6.

(Sorry for the short notice, next year I’ll do better.)

DISCUSSION (43)

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Just Jeepin'
10/17/2018 at 12:01

meeeeee! i wanna come meets

how much of a walk is it from portugal... dya think ill make it on me rental mtb?

or should i get a vespa?

Just Jeepin' > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
10/17/2018 at 12:11

Jimny with a reallllllllllllllly tall snorkel.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > Just Jeepin'
10/17/2018 at 12:13

Sees Madison, gets excited to join..........Realizes Madison Indiana , goes back to hoping for something local.

Just Jeepin' > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
10/17/2018 at 12:13

Sorry for the false alarm!

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Just Jeepin'
10/17/2018 at 12:14

ill see if i can find one of those... theres 4 places that do rentals near me villa.. one of those is bound to have a waterproof jimny

(i think we call them samurais over here)

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
10/17/2018 at 12:16

Hopefully you’re a good swimmer or this is your Vespa

Kinja'd!!!

Link in case of Kinja

http://www.bikesrepublic.com/featured/meet-biski-amphibious-scooter-can-change-jet-ski/

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/17/2018 at 12:20

that looks fun

and im not a great swimmer

i float by on my natural bu oyancy

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Just Jeepin'
10/17/2018 at 12:22

It’s a bit far for me...if you ever do anything in northern Indiana though let me know...that would be a more doable drive

Just Jeepin' > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
10/17/2018 at 12:22

Samurai is the same vehicle , but I don’t think they call them that anymore. Not sure.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Just Jeepin'
10/17/2018 at 12:25

i think the new one will be a jimny here too

but the 90 somes i see running about are samurais

Just Jeepin' > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/17/2018 at 12:29

Curvy hilly s cenic roads are harder to come by in northern Indiana so I don’t have anything in mind. Maybe Michigan? I’ve never been sadly but by all reports there are some gorgeous roads.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > Just Jeepin'
10/17/2018 at 12:31

I love driving the back roads in the UP...I’ve only done it for attending the LSPR but I really want to take a dedicated trip up there just to drive the back roads. Never been to the lower peninsula though

Just Jeepin' > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/17/2018 at 12:34

An extended trip to the UP is high on my priority list. Twice I’ve registered for the Jeep Jamboree on Drummond Island but both times I had to cancel, sadly.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/17/2018 at 13:04

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Phoenix,+MI+49950/Copper+Harbor/Eagle+Harbor/Eagle+River/47.3882738,-88.2777129/@47.4287476,-88.2239916,11z/data=!4m27!4m26!1m5!1m1!1s0x4d509e8e77c28915:0x44570d78c7615996!2m2!1d-88.2775!2d47.38889!1m5!1m1!1s0x4d5a83ab442ba0eb:0xca056ee77d4c790c!2m2!1d-87.8903203!2d47.4683113!1m5!1m1!1s0x4d5a78234d8680b3:0x3366fb6f7fbb8944!2m2!1d-88.1623259!2d47.4582448!1m5!1m1!1s0x4d509e490d992845:0x9955288882a0373f!2m2!1d-88.2956606!2d47.4138051!1m0!3e0

The best route (on road) in the UP imo (I attended to Michigan Tech). M-26 is the only road that ive ever encountered that I feel should have a much lower speed limit.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Just Jeepin'
10/17/2018 at 13:05

The best route (on road) in the UP imo (I attended Michigan Tech). M-26 is the only road that ive ever encountered that I feel should have a much lower speed limit.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Just Jeepin'
10/17/2018 at 13:07

I would like to tag along but the Mini cant off-road. Can I ride with someone?

Maxima Speed > Just Jeepin'
10/17/2018 at 13:11

Not sure the Toyota would handle that.

random001 > Just Jeepin'
10/17/2018 at 13:12

Ooooohhhh....maybe!

Define water crossings? Like, how deep?

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/17/2018 at 13:15

Yea, I drove that route actually...took 26 up to Copper Harbor and 41 back down. I do remember going slower than the speed limit for much of it. Having a fully loaded car and people who don’t care for spirited driving meant I did not get to enjoy it nearly as much as I would have liked to.

Just Jeepin' > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/17/2018 at 13:16

Let’s see whether we get any takers. If not, I don’t want to make the drive with a single vehicle (it’s no t that risky, but I prefer to have a safety margin anyway) but we could try something different that your Mini would work well for.

Just Jeepin' > random001
10/17/2018 at 13:18

There’s one that’s a little deeper, maybe 6 inches, but I suspect it’ll be lower without any recent rains. Everything else is probably <4”.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Just Jeepin'
10/17/2018 at 13:18

Sure! My Mini likes IN135 . We could go there or if you know other good road we could go there as well.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/17/2018 at 13:20

Even with no one in the Mini and 340 treadwear tires, I was just about reaching the speed limit.

You should definitely do it again with no people in the car, you can catch air fairly easily.

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/17/2018 at 13:22

It definitely would be a good trip. I love the UP and always wish it were a quicker drive to get there ...though 5-6 hours really isn’t that bad

Just Jeepin' > Maxima Speed
10/17/2018 at 13:29

Not the ideal vehicle, no.

ItalianJobR53 is interested in a more traditional road trip around southern Indiana , we could schedule something more car-friendly for November 10th.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
10/17/2018 at 13:30

6 hours? Pffft. I need to drive 11 hours to get there :) But like you said, completely worth it.

Mercedes Streeter > Just Jeepin'
10/17/2018 at 14:50

How deep are these water crossings? lol

Kinja'd!!!

Just Jeepin' > Mercedes Streeter
10/17/2018 at 14:52

The worst one we’d likely tackle is about 6" deep if it rains between now and then, and it’s only a narrow channel that gets that deep.

Mercedes Streeter > Just Jeepin'
10/17/2018 at 15:07

Oooooh I have to tell Madame DeLorean about this. Sounds like a smart car can handle this!

Just Jeepin' > Mercedes Streeter
10/17/2018 at 15:08

I agree!

random001 > Just Jeepin'
10/17/2018 at 17:51

I don't think that would go over the sidewall on my tires....

Just Jeepin' > random001
10/17/2018 at 17:52

So come join us!

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > Just Jeepin'
10/17/2018 at 18:07

If I packed a few gallons of oil for the Xterra, and fix the wee coolant leak between now and then, it just might make it. I’m only 25-30 minutes away anyways. Could take the Subaru. Might see if the wife is up for it. Would I really need 4wd?

Just Jeepin' > GoodIdeaAtTheTime
10/17/2018 at 18:09

Clearance is more important than 4wd for the water crossings, although the deepest one is a little tricky.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
10/19/2018 at 16:22

See you there!

https://www.spotmydive.com/en/news/seabike-new-underwater-bicycle-for-scuba-diving-and-snorkeling

Roundbadge > Just Jeepin'
10/19/2018 at 17:32

Hmm.

...

I’m super interested...but at the moment probably only 20% likely to be involved. I’m in NE Ohio, and t his sounds like a safe bet for a 2wd Taco...this is the kind of Oppomeet I’d be interested in.

Just Jeepin' > Roundbadge
10/19/2018 at 17:40

That’d be a long drive for sure. I wouldn’t do it and I love these rides.

Just Jeepin' > Mercedes Streeter
10/23/2018 at 09:56

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/southern-indiana-rough-riding-this-weekend-1829932710

Just Jeepin' > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/23/2018 at 09:59

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/southern-indiana-rough-riding-this-weekend-1829932710 (don’t grab a ticket though , since you’re just riding along)

Just Jeepin' > random001
10/23/2018 at 09:59

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/southern-indiana-rough-riding-this-weekend-1829932710

Just Jeepin' > GoodIdeaAtTheTime
10/23/2018 at 09:59

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/southern-indiana-rough-riding-this-weekend-1829932710

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > Just Jeepin'
10/23/2018 at 10:27

Nice!

Just Jeepin' > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
10/23/2018 at 10:30

We’ll see. Fingers crossed.