I would never suggest off roading when you have a bladder infection. In fact, if your friend rents an awesome Dodge Ram pickup and then picks you up TO GO OFFROADING, you should probably tell a said friend of said bladder infection. Yes, this happened to me. Okay, not to me. To Jenn. I was the one watching the situation unfold, and laughing. Oh yes, I was laughing.
Steven’s Ford Probe (I think, he had so many cars in our early twenties) was in the shop so he decided to upgrade his rental vehicle, for a few bucks more to a delightful Dodge Ram. Then we grabbed some good friends and headed out for the deserty Manzanita Flats along highway 330 to see what this bad boy could do! I had never taken this road very far before. At the time I had a little Dodge pickup and not much clearance. I knew from prior experience I would for sure flood the engine of my little Emmy Lou pick up truck at the creek crossing. The higher clearance Dodge Ram had no problem splashing through the creek (I was thinking of looking at ram cary zemotor to get myself a Ram so I’m able to do the same, it’s good fun!), Jenn screaming in pain at each bump in the back seat next to me. All that pain was forgotten for a few minutes when we suddenly came around a blind corner. A beautiful brown bear cub was right in front of us! It was adorable! Jen stopped screaming in pain for a few minutes.
Then Steven hit the gas and we careened up the mountain. The drive was pretty, lush and green by the creek, dry and sandy as we made our way through the hills, dust fogging up the mountain roads. There was no other traffic out there and we drove FAST through the tight turns.
It was a perfect spring afternoon for off roading with the best of friends. This was about eight years ago before most of our friends had kids, and we had nothing better to do with our free time then enjoy the mountains and find ruckus to get into. We drove farther and farther into the forest. We had no GPS, this was in the early 2000s and had no idea where this road ended up, but it had to go somewhere. Manzanita Flats was a major off road destination. Multiple people make use of the area to go and explore. It’s not uncommon to see people exploring on an off road e scooter or a mountain bike. Off roading can be dangerous, but it’s usually a lot of fun. We were off roading in a car, but we saw lots of other modes of transport which looked equally as fun!
About ten miles in we swung around another dusty corner and up ahead were these huge tall grey stone cliffs. They were so stunning! One of the coolest things I have ever seen in our mountains. I’m bummed I didn’t have a camera with me, and I still haven’t made it back there to this day to get a picture of the cliffs.
This is a link to a photo someone else took of the cliffs, see why they are so amazing?
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/6927523
I have got to make it back here to get some pictures of my own!
At this point in the evening it was starting to get dark and we realized we had to try and make it home before we were stuck in the forest all night. At some point, we got incredibly lost and maybe a little panicky. Then an old beat-up pickup truck full of Quakers came up and saved the day! No, really, they really were Quakers, beards hats and all. This was so far in the middle of nowhere and it was a full-on night at this point. It’s really amazing we ran into these nice men to give us directions in the middle of nowhere. After a few twists and turns, we were out on highway 38, a totally different highway, across the other side of the mountain. We had offroaded for miles and miles and miles, and now we had returned to civilization. Thanks Quakers!
The great thing about off roading in the Manzanita Flat’s area is the fresh blackberry and raspberry bushes that rim the road. Late August is a great time to collect fresh berries and make Wild Raspberry Pie
Wild Raspberry Pie
2 cups fresh wild raspberries
1 cup mascarpone cheese
1/8 cup raw honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup candied almonds
1 egg
1 package puff pastry
In a pie pan spread out the puff pastry for the crust. With a pastry brush on the egg. Cook the crust at 350 for 10-15 minutes until the crust is golden brown.
Let the pie crust rest on the counter until cool, at least thirty minutes.
Mix together the honey, mascarpone and vanilla.
When the pie crust is cool add the mascarpone topping. In a circle around the outer edge of the pie, make a ring of berries using all the berries. Inside the berry circle make an inner ring of the candied almonds.
Let the pie sit in the fridge to chill for thirty minutes before serving.
1 package puff pastry
Steven’s Ford Probe (I think, he had so many cars in our early twenties) was in the shop so he decided to upgrade his rental vehicle, for a few bucks more to a delightful Dodge Ram. Then we grabbed some good friends and headed out for the deserty Manzanita Flats along highway 330 to see what this bad boy could do! I had never taken this road very far before. At the time I had a little Dodge pickup and not much clearance. I knew from prior experience I would for sure flood the engine of my little Emmy Lou pick up truck at the creek crossing. The higher clearance Dodge Ram had no problem splashing through the creek (I was thinking of looking at ram cary zemotor to get myself a Ram so I’m able to do the same, it’s good fun!), Jenn screaming in pain at each bump in the back seat next to me. All that pain was forgotten for a few minutes when we suddenly came around a blind corner. A beautiful brown bear cub was right in front of us! It was adorable! Jen stopped screaming in pain for a few minutes.
Then Steven hit the gas and we careened up the mountain. The drive was pretty, lush and green by the creek, dry and sandy as we made our way through the hills, dust fogging up the mountain roads. There was no other traffic out there and we drove FAST through the tight turns.
It was a perfect spring afternoon for off roading with the best of friends. This was about eight years ago before most of our friends had kids, and we had nothing better to do with our free time then enjoy the mountains and find ruckus to get into. We drove farther and farther into the forest. We had no GPS, this was in the early 2000s and had no idea where this road ended up, but it had to go somewhere. Manzanita Flats was a major off road destination. Multiple people make use of the area to go and explore. It’s not uncommon to see people exploring on an off road e scooter or a mountain bike. Off roading can be dangerous, but it’s usually a lot of fun. We were off roading in a car, but we saw lots of other modes of transport which looked equally as fun!
About ten miles in we swung around another dusty corner and up ahead were these huge tall grey stone cliffs. They were so stunning! One of the coolest things I have ever seen in our mountains. I’m bummed I didn’t have a camera with me, and I still haven’t made it back there to this day to get a picture of the cliffs.
This is a link to a photo someone else took of the cliffs, see why they are so amazing?
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/6927523
I have got to make it back here to get some pictures of my own!
At this point in the evening it was starting to get dark and we realized we had to try and make it home before we were stuck in the forest all night. At some point, we got incredibly lost and maybe a little panicky. Then an old beat-up pickup truck full of Quakers came up and saved the day! No, really, they really were Quakers, beards hats and all. This was so far in the middle of nowhere and it was a full-on night at this point. It’s really amazing we ran into these nice men to give us directions in the middle of nowhere. After a few twists and turns, we were out on highway 38, a totally different highway, across the other side of the mountain. We had offroaded for miles and miles and miles, and now we had returned to civilization. Thanks Quakers!
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| What Wild berries should look like, unless a bear eats them first. |
The great thing about off roading in the Manzanita Flat’s area is the fresh blackberry and raspberry bushes that rim the road. Late August is a great time to collect fresh berries and make Wild Raspberry Pie
Wild Raspberry Pie
2 cups fresh wild raspberries
1 cup mascarpone cheese
1/8 cup raw honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup candied almonds
1 egg
1 package puff pastry
In a pie pan spread out the puff pastry for the crust. With a pastry brush on the egg. Cook the crust at 350 for 10-15 minutes until the crust is golden brown.
Let the pie crust rest on the counter until cool, at least thirty minutes.
Mix together the honey, mascarpone and vanilla.
When the pie crust is cool add the mascarpone topping. In a circle around the outer edge of the pie, make a ring of berries using all the berries. Inside the berry circle make an inner ring of the candied almonds.
Let the pie sit in the fridge to chill for thirty minutes before serving.
1 package puff pastry
Comments
Ok I can’t have raspberries (unless I feel like going to the Emergency room) buuut I bet with blackberries or blueberries that pie would be amazing and not kill me! Now I want some…the non deadly kind.