Quads.ca Christmas Toy Drive 2008
Chilliwack Area
November 16/08
Written by Greg and Highcountry
Dirtygirl started the Quads.ca Christmas Toy Drive last year, and we hoped to make it better for 2008.
Unfortunately, she was stuck working in Victoria, so Highcountry kick-started it this year.
Toys to be donated to the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau. They are the central warehouse and distribute to ten local Christmas bureaus.
Here's my post from the forum:
Wow, thanks to everyone's support for the 2008 Christmas Toy Drive.
Dirtygirl (the original organizer of this event), you missed a great opportunity to play in the muck, sorry that work is getting in the way of your leisure time.
Nice seeing old friends again, and meeting new ones.
Thanks to Highcountry for kick-starting the event after it's initial slow start, for getting all of the refreshments picked up and donations organized, and for cooking duties. Also thanks to Rich and anyone else who took over cooking duties when she wanted to go for a ride.
Highcountry will be posting a note shortly, including some figures.
Like many others, this was my first time riding at Gill Road. It was a positive experience.
WhiteRock (and Big Mike, who had to work unfortunately), thanks for letting me test-ride your Rhino for the day. It performed great, and my body wasn't all sore at the end of the ride.
Chevy55, nice meeting you finally, and thanks for donating the Canucks tickets. I am sure N2Q will put them to good use.
Thanks to the firewood gang for bringing the firewood; that was awesome. Glenn, Rich, and especially Jax! We stayed late, and others stayed later, and while we put a dent in the wood pile, it was just a dent. Good times around the campfire. Glenn, that story you told about accidentally leaving your toy hauler stereo on was hilarious.
Turborex, what can I say buddy, I looked at that lagoon earlier and said "not" and turned around.
WhiteRock broke a rear axle somewhere; that explained why he was getting stuck in places he shouldn't have. Getting his King Quad back up onto my deck was difficult because the single rear drive tire kept kicking his 2-piece ramps over even though they were strapped; thanks to the guys for assisting with that. Glenn, you're supposed to let go when you start getting dragged.
WhiteRock sort-of-accidentally roosted Jax with sand with his one-tire-fire quad; I think if his axle wasn't busted there wouldn't have been a roost and he wouldn't have been semi-stuck in that little sandy section. Jax, you've been christened and you're now part of the crew. WhiteRock, you can expect payback at some point! haha
In one particularly-muddy section of trail, most everyone had a problem making it up unassisted. It took me about 10 tries to make it in the Rhino with the diff lock on, as I kept sliding in the ruts towards a tree. But I finally did it. WhiteRock was having a serious traction issue, due in part to his busted rear axle and his worn rear tires, so he winched up, as did a few others. Meanwhile, MrsN2Q was sitting at the side of the trail down at the bottom, watching what everyone was doing, and learning from their mistakes. When it was her turn ("what's this yellow lever for??") she just rode up like it was nothing at all, big grin on her face. Excellent job!
Thanks to fishon63 for leading us on the loop; that was a lot of fun.
At the area down the dike, Stanjake was having a charging issue with his Polaris, so I hooked it up to the Rhino and started towing him back. But I stopped to take a photo of it hooked up so there would be evidence. I guess the Polaris didn't like the idea of getting towed into camp behind the Yamaha, so it fired up when he pull-started it. But I got the photo in case he tries to deny it.
Highcountry spoke to the two surveyors that we found in the bush. They were surveying for Scott Paper, so I'll let you all think about what that might mean.
Turborex wasn't kidding when he said he had a half-truck-load of toys and stuff; I watched him make multiple trips between his truck and Glenn's toy hauler (our collection facility) with armloads of goodies. I know that some of the guys were eyeing the RC toys!
And Glenn's toy hauler was definitely a "toy hauler" when we were done. There will be a lot of happy kids, thanks to the great crew from Quads.ca.
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Highcountry's update:
Wow, where to start. The members of Quads.ca have proved once again what a generous bunch you are.
So many folks to thank for making this possible. I sure hope I don’t miss anyone.
For the refreshments, I’d like the thank the following sponsors and members for the contributions for refreshments. We collected $185 for refreshments and spent $187.98. It’s surprising how quickly everything adds up.
Quadshop.ca
Mountain West Studios
Quads.ca
N2Q & Mrs. N2Q
Rich & Lorill
Pigpenbombs mom for the cookie contribution and my own mom for the rice crisipies.
Chevy55, thank you so much for the Canucks tickets, and your willingness to pitch in where ever it was needed, and for being a cheerleader for the event. I’m sure N2Q will enjoy the game.
Glenn, Rich and Jax for the firewood. I’ll know for next time when Jax says she’s bringing wood she means it, and with this bunch we need lots! Allowing me to get away for a ride and whoever else that was enlisted while I was away playing in the mud.
Thank you to Riverrider, N2Q & Mrs. N2Q, and Mellowyellow for the extra tables, bbq, and help with cleanup etc.
Also I'd like to thank so many others that pitched in where ever it was needed, from rearranging Glenn's toy hauler so he could actually get his quad back in, and to the folks that helped hang the Quads.ca banner. And of course Rroughcountry that had to help load and unload everything at this end.
And most importantly to all the members of Quads.ca that made this event successful. Once again you have proved that the members of Quads.ca rock.
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Off-loading firewood from Jax's truck
The early risers
The start of lunch
Glenn rescuing Turborex from the lagoon
Glenn's Grizzly diving for fish
Glenn's getting his Grizzly out of the lagoon
Collecting toys in Glenn's toy hauler
Highcountry's Explorer, packed to the gills with toys
Glenn's truck, packed with clothes and blankets
Cash, cheques, and gift cards, totalling $405.00
LMCB personnel unloading Highcountry's Explorer, as Glenn supervises
Unloading Highcountry's Explorer
LMCB personnel carting clothes from Glenn's truck to their warehouse
LMCB personnel unloading Glenn's truck
Highcountry presenting the cash, cheques, and gift cards to Chris of the LMCB
This is why the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau doesn't need any more stuffed animals
THANKS to all of the Quads.ca members and sponsors who made this a success!
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