Daniel Boone National Forest 09/97 - Jeepaholics Anonymous

Page updated: 08/14/2000 07:52 PM

Daniel Boone National Park - September, 1997
Written by Al Bsharah

The main reason for this trip was to install my new Old Man Emu suspension and sell my Trailmaster. I found an OME over the 'net (guy was in Atlanta) and got a good deal, so I told my buds in Kentucky that I was comin' down to borrow the garage and their wonderful National Park! They were quite happy to ablige, being the Jeepaholics that they are.
	Well, my excitement was delayed for QUITE a long time. Something like 3-4 hours. Apparently they were tearing down a bridge. Unfortunately, all the pieces were landing on the FREEWAY! Nice.
	For you Willy/CJ/YJ/TJ enthusiasts, this is where your vehicle was built. Toledo Assembly in Ohio. How about the windshield wiper in the picture for effect?
	Finally! Workin' on my baby! Old Man Emu. If I held one of the springs really quietly, I could feel it twitching. Just waiting for the moment when it would get the chance to flex its muscle.
	Occasionally you have to teach an ornary bolt a lesson...
	Jason's garage. My Jeep. Almost done! The suspension is pretty much fully in place. The body lift is almost done. Every muscle in my body is sore. Just need to put on the finishing touches, and she'll be ready to roll!
	Jason and Sweitzer installing Rubicon Express swaybar disconnects and borrowing a tube bumper for the trip. What a couple of clowns, 'eh?
	I told you Old Man was twitching. Right now he's poised for the pounce! This is a play rock we have a little fun at...the next pics show Jason coming down from it on the other end.
	Jason's also got an OME suspension setup as well as the same 2" body lift I have.
	Look at this stuff. Just stretching out a bit...
	Heading up Carburetor Hill. Pictures really don't do it much justice, but let me tell ya. It took me a LOT less time to get up with the OME than it did with my TrailMaster. Rockin! I was VERY happy at this point...
	Headman (Jason). Head's his last name...don't get any funny ideas. On his way down from Carburetor he ended up breaking a chain in his tranny. Nice sound too...You shoulda seen the look on his face! I've got it on videotape, actually.
	Unfortunately we took more videotape than pictures, so I have NO shots of us on Upper and Lower Staircase. What a riot that was! Next trip I'll definitely be keeping the web page in mind, and taking a better array of shots! By the way, here's a nice park in Ohio .

Jason Head's rendition of Stairway to Heaven, based on a trail called "Stairway" in/near Daniel Boone National Forest:

There's a Jeeper who's sure / All that his new Emu is gold / And Al's climbing the Stairway to Heaven / When he gets there he knows / If the trails are all closed / With a bow saw he can get what he came for / Ohh, ohh and Al's climbing the Stairway to Heaven.

There's a sign on the road / But Kyle wants to be sure / 'cause you know sometimes trails have two entrances / Turn right at tree by the brook / or was it left after washed out bridge / Sometimes all of our directions are mistaken / Ohh, it makes me wonder / Ohh, it makes me wonder.

There's a feeling I get when I look at this hill / And my old 258 is crying for leaving / In my rear view I have seen / Rings of smoke through the trees / And the voices of those who stand looking / Ohh, it makes me wonder / Ohh, it really makes me wonder.

And it's whispered that soon / If we all call the tune / That Kyle will lead us to stairway / And a new day will dawn / For those who broke down / And the forest will echo with laughter / If there's a bustle in your T-Case / Don't be alarmed now /It's just a loose chain or so Mr. Embry says.

Yes, there are two paths you can go by / But in the upper run / There's still time to change the line you're on / And it makes me wonder / Your Jeep just stalled and it won't go / In case you don't know Alvin's calling you to join him / Dear Sweitzer, can you hear Al's Jeep go, and did you know / He's never going to let me live this down / And as we wind on down the road /Our tires taller than our soul / There drives a Jeeper we know / Who's grin shines and wants to show / How his Emu climbs over everything in Boone / And if you try very hard / The line will come to you at last / When all are one and one is all / To be at the top and not to have rolled / And Al's climbing the Stairway to Heaven.