SUV Event 2005
Tillamook trails

After a quick breakfast we all did final preparations for the trail run.  I had packed up the Cherokee the night before so there wasn't much to do but double-check everything and get in line...so I thought!

As I swung around to get in line I heard a strange sound from the front end.  Crap!  I crawled underneath to look around and noticed the passenger wheel had standing fluid in it.  I was hoping it was just condensation but it wasn't.  Brake fluid!  I asked around and Richard "the Jeep guy" came over to take a look at it.  It turns out the caliper piston was leaking fluid pretty good. 

To say I was disappointed would be an understatement.  Making this run wasn't looking good. 

Well thanks to the help from Richard, Sean, and a blazing trip to CarQuest in town "we" (I watched and learned) were able to get the caliper replaced in no time.  Once the Cherokee was all put back together we set off.

A few others had stayed behind since they knew where the trailhead was and we didn't.   Darryl gave me a hard time later about doing this on purpose to get my own "personal" tour.  Ha!

Cecil and Sarah (red 4Runner) led the way.  We were next while Josh (blue Wrangler) and Richard (red Grand Cherokee)  followed.

It didn't take us long to catch up to the second group.  A relatively stock Chevy truck got high-centered near the top of one the first steep hills.  As such we were advised to take the bypass which was OK but I later wished we'd tried it.  I think we would have made it.  While waiting at the base of this hill climb we aired down. 

Soon after we stopped for lunch on a hill top with a bit of a view.

Continued - Tillamook trails (Part 2)