It Could Only Happen to Us

So we went to Safari Jeep Tours and met our tour guide Lorne and prepared for our 4x4 adventure.  

We started out up Schnebley Hill Road. We saw Snoopy Rock 

The sphinx rock

Eagle rock

The carousel

And had views like this

We drove up and got the quote of the day (thus far). 

After driving over some huge bumps with us screaming and laughing:

Lorne - 'you girls ok back there'

Amy - 'oh yeah, the roads in Boston are just like this'

Here's a picture of the 'road'

We then reached the Vortex. We got out of the jeep and hiked up to the female then the male and took some photos. 

Clare didn't want to climb up to the vortex so she hung back with Lorne

We got back to the Jeep and it happened.  Old Number 11 wouldn't start. Lorne said it was the battery (I still say it was the alternator but he claims it wouldn't make any noise....I say the clicking with dim head lights is the alternator).  Oh well.  he called for reinforcements and we had to wait 1/2 hour for Bruno to come with a second jeep.  In that time, Lorne left us to go back up to the vortex to watch for Bruno and we became part of everyone's tour as they drive by us. 

I say when your driving over bumps like this your bound to have car issues. 

Mind you the above photo was the road we had driven over right before the jeep broke down. 

Finally Bruno showed up but it was too late for us to go to rattlesnake canyon so we went to Seven Canyons instead. And for some reason, when he got to us, before we could leave, Bruno had to go in the woods and pee.  Honestly, didn't his mother ever teach him to go before he left home.  Clare almost fell out going down the hill. 

Driving up to Seven Canyon was just as bumpy as going up to the vortex. I swear I thought we were going to tip.  Again lots of screaming and laughing but we made it.  There's a cabin there too where a guy was robbed and executed for bootlegging.  

And then the sun set on our 4x4 adventure. 

As we were driving down out came the second quote of the day:

Lorne: 'no, you wouldn't want to take an RV up here'

Me:'I don't know, maybe Harvey would like to spread his legs...I mean stretch his legs, stretch his legs'

As we got out of the jeep we had to ask about this sign on the visor of the jeep (turns out they bought the jeep from a guy that owns the motel down the way and they have no idea about the sign either)

So now we're back in Harvey having dinner and discussing tomorrows plan (which, per Clare, has to include a sleep in)!

Oh, and on a final note, we also saw the following on our tour:

The Wrigley house Lucille Ball used to own which is now owned by one of the double mint twins,

The rehab center Robert Downey Jr goes to,

Oprah and Madonnas houses out here (Clare wants to know if Oprah does the tour all the time), 

The tree that gave Walt Disney the inspiration for the scary trees in Snow White,

And finally how Prickly Pear Cactus were the inspiration for Mickey Mouses ears