Be safe, have fun. Looking forward to your trip report.
CK5
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'91 K5 Four Wheel Camper
This is the build for my 1991 V1500 Blazer, AKA the K5.3. It started out life being sold to the U.S. Government with a 350 TBI/700r4/241 combo. 4 years with a 5.3/700r4 Combo and now moving to an 8.1L Vortec and NV4500 5-speed.
If you still have it and the rest of the old trasharoo is still good, I'll buy it as I need a new(er) one and the way I mount mine requires the straps to be cut off anyway.
The plan is to have fun for sure. We have safety in numbers and redundancy. The group is well versed in all things off road, trucks and repairs. We work well as a team to problem solve too. Plus we all bust each others balls quite well. Lots of laughs for sure.
The full trip report will come post trip as usual, but if you are on Instagram, I'll probably post a shot or two along the way, maybe go live on the road where we have cell coverage and pop on when ever we have coverage. My IG handle is @robzulian, Larry's is @bigassgas8.1. That goes for all the guys around here to watch that feed. Once we get in DV, the cell coverage is very limited at best so we may not catch a signal to post to anything until we get back to civilization. Plus I'll share the link to the GPS Spot that Larry sets up to track us live along the way once he sets it up.
I wish I did still have it. The little SOB broke the strap while I was driving between Canon City and Denver. It was on there when I left and not there when I arrived in Denver. It would be on the side of Hwy 115, I-25, Hwy 105, Hwy 85, C-470 or I-70. Never saw it flap in the mirror so I've got no clue where it ejected itself and landed who knows where. But it's all yours if you find it!
A little update from my fun lately. Two days ago my service advisor had to take off early to tend to his father who is late stages of terminal cancer. This has been going on for a couple of months but it's at the point of in home hospice. Bottom line is, since he's my only backup at the shop, I'm putting myself to the sideline as far as the desert trip goes.
I'm not the kind of person to expect anybody to be at work when a parent is on their deathbed. I'm also not the kind of person to leave my employer high and dry without help just to take some time off regardless what I had planned on doing. The only right decision to make was to pull the plug on me going on the trip.
It really tore me up to come to the decision, but being the manager it's part of the deal. The shop has to continue to run.
I'm severely disappointed for sure. A years worth of planning is out the window. The work on the truck wasn't a waste in preparation but I won't be using it tomorrow. I'll miss my desert rat cohorts while they have fun in death valley while I follow them from work on Spot.
I haven't heard from my coworker today at this point. He's going to call me with an update of what the latest is. If and only if he wants to come back to focus on work and get his mind off of what has happened I might still go. I will not pressure or prod that he has to come back for me. If he wants the time, it's his to take off.
I have to start shifting my brain into something more positive. My attitude is effecting my work. So what might be missed may be an opportunity in a way. This may open up a possibility of a trip to Moab for Blazer Bash instead. I should have a better idea of the current plan working or not working by the end of the day or tomorrow. If I can't go on this trip I'll be making arrangements for Moab.
I'm not the kind of person to expect anybody to be at work when a parent is on their deathbed. I'm also not the kind of person to leave my employer high and dry without help just to take some time off regardless what I had planned on doing. The only right decision to make was to pull the plug on me going on the trip.
It really tore me up to come to the decision, but being the manager it's part of the deal. The shop has to continue to run.
I'm severely disappointed for sure. A years worth of planning is out the window. The work on the truck wasn't a waste in preparation but I won't be using it tomorrow. I'll miss my desert rat cohorts while they have fun in death valley while I follow them from work on Spot.
I haven't heard from my coworker today at this point. He's going to call me with an update of what the latest is. If and only if he wants to come back to focus on work and get his mind off of what has happened I might still go. I will not pressure or prod that he has to come back for me. If he wants the time, it's his to take off.
I have to start shifting my brain into something more positive. My attitude is effecting my work. So what might be missed may be an opportunity in a way. This may open up a possibility of a trip to Moab for Blazer Bash instead. I should have a better idea of the current plan working or not working by the end of the day or tomorrow. If I can't go on this trip I'll be making arrangements for Moab.
Sorry to hear this. But kharma will be on your side.
Sucks, but I admire your decision.
Thanks guys. My advisor and I had a feeling this might go down with the most sucky timing possible. When he came to me the other day to let me know hospice was expecting his dad to pass at any time he knew it would effect my trip. I didn't have to think about it, the word was go be with your Dad. Nothing else is important at that point. He needs to be with family.
It will put me on the plus side with karma too. Full believer in that.
It will put me on the plus side with karma too. Full believer in that.
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Sorry for you, but I admire what you are doing and saying.
I admire your positive attitude and it says alot about the kind of person you are. Come hell or high water I will be going to Blazer Bash, hopefully we can meet up and cruise out together.
Thanks brother. You got 3 months to be ready. I'm going to hold you to that one. Let's plan on it. That would be cool as hell to do that.
Well I met up with the boys this morning as the plan was to leave from Larry's place at 6:00am. The route planned goes right past my shop in Canon. Why not at least be with them for the first 30 miles or so.
GPS spot link for those that want to follow along.
https://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0v6Rlob93kMcaExIc8U5mRn378feiJhFQ
https://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0v6Rlob93kMcaExIc8U5mRn378feiJhFQ
My heart goes out to your coworker. That is a terrible experience. I've been there. What you did for him makes it a little easier.
I was able to talk to him yesterday. His voice was shot and just sounded mentally wiped out. But the thing was he was worried about me and missing my trip. I'll I could to was assure him I'm ok. I can do my thing anytime. What's important is he be with his Dad and family right now. I told him we will handle the work stuff, the guys pull together and help me get stuff moved when I need it so we are fine at the shop. I told to not feel bad or guilty about this at all. The strain on his voice seemed to let up a little and thanked me.
I've had our owner and owner's son both come to me and give appreciation for sticking with it and making the hard call. It's pretty rare to hear that, but it also means when it does happen it's heartfelt. I know they mean it. That gives me comfort that they understand too.
And that is what makes ck5 so good, people who care for others more than themselves.
Since I had nothing to do today, we met up with another local squarebody guy and picked up my nv4500 I'm trading my spare 4l80e for. 
Sucks to hear about him and good for you (except for missing the trip). We will all be in his place some day. I already was. When I walked into my clients office one day, the manager looked surprised and asked if my dad had passed and can he do anything? I said no and no. He asked whet the he11 was I doing there. Taking care of clients that I could not afford to loose. He kicked me out and called the other dealers in his group and banned me from the lots. I went back to Arizona for 3 weeks.
Not many people like that around any longer.
On a good note, we will have a blast at Blazer Bash.
Not many people like that around any longer.
On a good note, we will have a blast at Blazer Bash.
Thanks Wade.
I've wanted to go to Blazer Bash for a while. As much as I hate missing the Desert trip, this will be a new adventure. Plus my son will ride along, maybe I'll let him drive a couple of trails. It's hard to let go of the wheel though...
The Desert rats are camped south of the racetrack as far as I can see from the spot view.
