Overlanding with my GTI

"LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com" (limitedtimeonly)
08/04/2019 at 21:08 • Filed to: Camping, Gti

Of course not. But I did carefully drive forest roads in Pisgah near Asheville, NC, do some roadside primitive camping and some nice hikes.

Arriving at my target area on Friday night, all of the designated roadside campsites had tents already on them, or large groups. Fortunately one had an individual who was present and who was okay with me setting up my tent in the area. He and I talked cars by the fire and he explained that he was a local who typically liked camping in the winter because there are fewer people. Sounded like he really appreciated his Jeep and it’s abilities, and made a lot of use of them in offroad trails and deep snow. This is nice to contrast with a co-worker who has to get a 2-inch lift on his new Wrangler and 33-inch tires or else it is too “girly” - but who tells me that he doesn’t off-road it (he does have a farm, so I’m sure it sees SOME dirt, at least).

He took off while I was out hiking on Saturday, so Saturday night was quiet and all to myself. Well, except for the fellows who showed up late in the afternoon at the campsite around the bend and had the subwoofers booming down the valley for a good hour and a half. I considered heading home early, but they stopped eventually, so all was good. Back to me, the hornet that fell in to my beer and got drunk before I poured him out to live another day, the hummingbirds, and the sounds of the little creek.

This morning I finished packing the car and found that all the time with the doors open finished off my 3.3 year-old (original to the car) battery.

Wouldn’t start the car. I had no cell service and was 20 minutes drive from a paved road. Fortunately, the two young guys at the campsite just around the bend (the ones with the subwoofers) were only seconds away from taking off, and one had jumper cables and kindly helped me get the car started. So I headed straight home instead of going for another hike, and this allowed the car to be dead in my driveway for AAA to come out and sell me a new battery.

All worth it.

DISCUSSION (9)

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
08/04/2019 at 21:29

I hear that’s a beautiful area.

Coincidentally, my girlfriend is in Asheville visiting her parents right now!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
08/04/2019 at 21:58

I accidentally took a shortcut in that area from the BRP and ended up on a dirt road in my Miata for a good 30 minutes or so. Dodging rocks was not particularly enjoyable. I didn't get the excitement that AiM seems to get on his forest road Miata adventures lol. I spent the whole time going 5mph and lightly scraping on things.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
08/05/2019 at 06:29

It is beautiful, I’m grateful that it is a national f orest. It is rejuvenating.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
08/05/2019 at 06:40

With my ride height it was fairly fun, but with a good bit of last minute braking for erosion in the road. I could clear almost all the rocks and easily avoid the others. I thought of AIM in the fun parts and could see the fun in having a car where i wasn't worried about tearing something off the underside . . . But it was busy enough that going too fast risked an accident with oncoming vehicles, including bicyclists, during the middle of the day.

functionoverfashion > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
08/05/2019 at 09:26

I was just in that area myself! I will post about it later. Beautiful area, but being from the north I was hot all the time. Asheville is a great place though.

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > functionoverfashion
08/05/2019 at 09:41

Hah, it was nice and cool as far as I was concerned at 80 degrees F, compared to the Charlotte area at 90 or more .

functionoverfashion > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
08/05/2019 at 10:07

When we got to Charlotte on Friday we went out for dinner with our friends who live there, it was 85 and blazing sun and my kids were miserably hot. I pretended not to be hot for their sake, but wow. And everyone kept remarking on how nice it was that the “cooler” air had come in. I’m not made for the heat haha

M.T. Blake > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
08/05/2019 at 11:25

I have a motto at work, “If it has four wheels, it must be four wheel drive”.

This is a very fast way to send a supervisor into a tail spin early in the day.

MrSnrub > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com
08/05/2019 at 12:05

a co-worker who has to get a 2-inch lift on his new Wrangler and 33-inch tires or else it is too “girly” - but who tells me that he doesn’t off-road it

Kinja'd!!!