The rear window fell out of the MJ 1/2 way through the day. luckily josh(Nw-99-XJ) was stuck behind us on trail, Packing Gorilla Tape:worship: Life saver! by this point the gas gage in the MJ was going from working to tacked full on/off about every obstacle on the trail. the o2 sensor went out causing the thing to try to die, and the TPS died too(bogging bad in 1-2). so I was mainly using the rail shifter to compensate, as it was working the best. (loving it!)
This one is kind of Erie...
we hit a couple more trails, but most were blocked after being waived off at rocky uphill the small group that was left headed for camp.
My son josh was DIEING to sit by the fire, so we made our way over there. I was surprise That Scott had left earlier in the day as we had made a commitment to "burry the hatchet" so to speak. I also expected there to be another large group of xj's and there owners. i was surprised to see it was actually fairly dead. we soaked up some free heat waves for a bit and headed to make some dinner. Adam seemed itching to run minirubicon so I headed to camp to wait for them to head out.
Brandon rolled in to say his goodbye's. This club has made me some very good friends over the years Brandon being one of them. I was surprised to hear he was headed out that evening (I had given him some shit about camping) he had a very displeased look and aura about him. I was curious so I asked. What I herd, well, it was an all to similar story to what has been going on around this chapter for a long time now. Talking Shit, Screwing with people, And over all Disrespect. I had herd the comments on the radio, seen some of the inuendos throughout the day and not connected the dots until Brandon and I talked. Ive been in those shoes, I understand where he was coming from. its a hard thing to over come in this chapter, I know it, you could ask Josh, Aaron, Brandon, Rob, Dick brakey, Scott was even in those shoes. But then , On the other hand, Im the Elected President for the next year. Im suppose to back the club no matter what right? support it and uphold its ideals. So I found myself doing just that, trying to be understanding, but make it out like...meh it will pass, its all good, that's just how those guys are... like I have in the past. our conversation ended kind of abruptly due to adam rolling out to do minirubicon. we finished up with that and headed back to camp. Brandon headed home.
dinner was made and we came back round the camp fire to finnish out the night with the fellas. After that nights fire conversations started to take place I really started to think. about why I was there in camp that night. I had my son, he and I were having a blast. but we could do that anywhere, anytime right? then I realized that the shit talk was not there this night, but the same people were. im not saying that everybody took part in the disrespect, But nobody Stood up to stop it either. Now its gone, completely(weird) Its the same people at these events EVERY time. this club has not grown, there is no willingness to change, and it was obvious when I started to listen to the conversation that was taking place. This chapter is not what it was when me and my family were drawn to it. all those reasons are gone now. I seldom meet new members, and when I do, they never return. Its the same people at the runs. it all started to add up, pyle up. like a weight on my chest. How can I associate myself with this group, they just shat on each other, all day long, behind each others backs, and the ones who know about it, who could do something about it(sway things) Never do, nothing ever get done, or even called what it is. Now im suppose to "take over" and even have a shot at it. Maybe, if Scott had stayed at camp and to do what he told me he would. For the sake of this chapter.His response was, "your not worth my time." What can I do anymore? I have what I need from life. Wife, Kids, Home, Helth, Jeep X2. F-it right?
I listened to the conversation some more. 10 or 15 min worth. It didn't take long for me to get the (lets go) feeling. Did you know? All people on food-stamps, are POS drug addicts, that get $1500 cash, on top of there food allowance, and there housing, That they can withdraw at any time from an ATM.
I was done...At that point I felt like I had a difference in opinion, and would get Chastised on the forum and amongst the group, let alone around the campfire, for speaking of it. I felt like the campout was pointless and that I could have not pushed to bring the MJ, and just day tripped it in the XJ. I was second judging my company, second judging all the time and monie I had put into being able to make the event, and second judging How I could even associate myself with a group of people that can treat each other like these guys do. OR to just stand Idly by and Let it happen, or watch it go on. I Cant lead this group, I cant change what doesn't want to be changed.
Who the hell am I and What the Hell am I doing Wasting my families time on

's runs...
It was Eye Opening for me.
Bronze.