Adventures of Megaweapon!

[Ray Dunakin]

Thursday was our 37th anniversary, which we celebrated with our usual tradition -- we loaded Megaweapon to the brim with toys and delivered them to Salvation Army toy drive.

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[rochmpr]

Thursday was our 37th anniversary, which we celebrated with our usual tradition -- we loaded Megaweapon to the brim with toys and delivered them to Salvation Army toy drive.

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Congratulations! That's a great way to celebrate.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

 

[Ray Dunakin]

Snow Day: Julian Road Trip 2021


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32oS56txFp8&feature=youtu.be



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This video features highlights from my January 2021 road trip to Julian, CA during a winter storm. Along the way are scenes from Sunrise Highway, Mt. Laguna, and the Lake Cuyamaca area. It's a little different from my usual videos. I wasn't able to fly my drone, so there are no aerial shots. But there's plenty of beautiful, snowy scenery and interesting sights. I think it's the next best thing to being there, and I hope you'll enjoy it.

 

[ElectroBoy]

Nice trip, Ray. 4Runners sure handle the snow well. I kept waiting for you to pick up a little speed and have that load of snow on your hood blast into your windshield!

 

[JohnTheLuck]

Great video Ray. It is sure very different than desert scenery. How did you like driving in the snow and ice with your KO2? As a canadian, I know real good winter tires are a must in our conditions. When departing from home during my previous winter trips to California and Arizona, we encountered ici conditions and the KO2 felt like no match to a good winter tire.

 

[Ray Dunakin]

Great video Ray. It is sure very different than desert scenery. How did you like driving in the snow and ice with your KO2? As a canadian, I know real good winter tires are a must in our conditions. When departing from home during my previous winter trips to California and Arizona, we encountered ici conditions and the KO2 felt like no match to a good winter tire.

The KO2s handled it better than I expected, since they usually don't have the best grip in slick conditions. There wasn't any time when I felt like it was coming close to losing traction. Of course part of the reason is that I kept my speed pretty low. The video seems to make it look faster than it actually was.

The only trouble we had was getting over the pile of plowed snow and ice that blocked us in where we had parked. I was going to try one of the 4Runner's automated settings to see if it could get itself out, but then that guy offered to clear the snow for us and I figured I'd better accept the offer while I had the chance.

 

[Ray Dunakin]

On April 5th my wife and I made another overnight trip to Julian, CA. Here are a few photos I shot during that trip...

Some flowers we saw east of Lake Cuyamaca:

Blossoms on a tree in Julian:

Trees, a robin, and a spectacular sunset:

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[Ray Dunakin]

Recently I made a short trip out to the desert and did a little photography...

A cliff swallow came to check out my drone:

The badlands in early morning:

Teddybear chollas:

Me and Megaweapon:

I found a large, solitary palo verde tree in full bloom in the middle of a wash:

There were a lot of birds in the palo verde. Here's a little warbler:

And here's a Bullock's oriole:

A honey bee visiting a mesquite blossom:

While flying my drone over a patch of mesquite, several turkey vultures came close to investigate it:

On the way home from the desert I stopped in the mountains and got a couple shots of these chaparral whitethorn bushes. Their lavender, blue, and white blooms brightened the hillside:

Enjoy!

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[ElectroBoy]

Very nice adventure pics, Ray. Your carpet of goldfields looks great.

 

[Ray Dunakin]

I finally finished the video using footage I shot on my recent desert trips. I hope you'll like it -- I put a lot of effort into this one:

Desert Dawn: Bees, Birds & Badlands - YouTube


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It’s night in the southern California desert. Gradually, the sun rises and reveals a fantastic, otherworldly landscape of incredible beauty. As the morning progresses, the desert comes to life. Colorful birds and insects such as the tarantula hawk wasp flit among the flowers of mesquite, palo verde, and other desert trees.

Music:
“Native American Dreams“
by Ramiton
Licensed by AudioJungle
Native American Dreams by Ramiton | AudioJungle

“Cinematic Folk”
by ColorFilmMusic
Licensed by AudioJungle
Cinematic Folk by ColorFilmMusic | AudioJungle

Additional sounds by: prosoundfx

 

[Ray Dunakin]

Over the weekend I gave Megaweapon a good hand-wash and wax. I also noticed that most of the black trim and black painted items were starting to look dull and gray, so I restored them with Mequiar's "Ultimate Black".

The reflective tape I put on the rear bumper is faded and flaking apart. I need to find a way to remove the rest of it and replace it with better material.

The original floor mats in the front were in bad shape too so yesterday I replaced them with Husky Weatherbeater mats:

I decided not to use the rear mat. The original mat is still in excellent condition since I rarely have any back seat passengers. Plus I often keep things on the floor back there during trips, and with the carpeted mats stuff doesn't slide around as much as it would with the all-weather mats.

So... if anyone in the San Diego area would like a free Husky rear mat, just let me know.

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[Ray Dunakin]

I had to cancel my annual Nevada & Mojave trip for 2021. My wife Cris has several chronic health issues, and one of them has taken a turn for the worse. She is now in end-stage kidney failure, and has chosen not to do dialysis.

 

[WaldoJPL]

I had to cancel my annual Nevada & Mojave trip for 2021. My wife Cris has several chronic health issues, and one of them has taken a turn for the worse. She is now in end-stage kidney failure, and has chosen not to do dialysis.

...Ray....I'm so very sorry to read this..you are both in my thoughts, Pal....

 

[WaldoJPL]

I had to cancel my annual Nevada & Mojave trip for 2021. My wife Cris has several chronic health issues, and one of them has taken a turn for the worse. She is now in end-stage kidney failure, and has chosen not to do dialysis.

...Ray, I am so sorry to read this...you both are in my thoughts, Pal...

 

[thennen]

I had to cancel my annual Nevada & Mojave trip for 2021. My wife Cris has several chronic health issues, and one of them has taken a turn for the worse. She is now in end-stage kidney failure, and has chosen not to do dialysis.

I’m sorry to hear this, Ray. My heart goes out to you both. I am praying for you.

 

[max rockatansky]

Sorry to hear it brother.

 

[TPz_Fuchs]

So sorry to hear about your wife. G_d Bless you both.

 

[TRD PANTHER]

Sorry to hear about your wife. You were blessed to have her for 37+ years.
Prayers to you, your wife and family.

 

[jrandom]

Terrible news! Sooo sorry to hear. Best wishes, I know the two of you can make the best of this situation. Take care friends!

 

[Ray Dunakin]

Thanks for the kind words, guys. Cris and I really appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

Earlier this summer I did a few things to get Megaweapon ready for my Nevada trip, before I had to cancel it. The splash guards in both front wheel wells were completely shot, so I replaced them with a new set from Rad Rubber Designs. These appear to be better quality material than the originals, and the fasteners they provide hold them in place without the annoying squeak of the originals.

I also put on a new set of Goodrich KO2 tires:

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