UnSvending (relatively) Successfull!

[Taylor Martin]

Thanks to @jminer and a ton of other friendly Oppos, I managed to find an off-road area where I could dirty up my car for that film shoot. Now, it didn't go perfectly, but it got the job done.

We'll start with the good. I left my apartment at 8:00 am for an hour drive to Ocala national park. The front half of the drive was pretty typical, 3 lanes, people going 15+ over the speed limit, Florida roads. But the back half was chock-full of wide-open one lane roads splitting through the countryside. It was a beautiful sunny day, which made it all the better. Stopped to take this photo:

But upon my arrival I discovered the roads weren't actually gravel, they were sand. Hardened sand. This meant it kicked up absolutely 0 dust and I had to get creative. So I drove pretty deep in and found a little nook with some soft sand. Spent about 30-45 minutes filling up various water bottles with the stuff. From there I used one 2L botle full of water (which I thought would be enough) to dampen the car and sprinkle it with the soft sand.

This was the result:

By then, I was nearly out of water and the sand wouldn't stick. So I drove a bit further and ended up asking some hunters (intimidating at first with their huge trucks and caged dogs, but very nice) where I could go to dirty up my car. They offered a few suggestions like towing me through the mud and kicking dirt up towards me, but the solution we went with was a little alcove off the beaten path with a river. I could get the car wet, then sprinkle the sand on and collect more as needed.

Best solution ever:

It was silent, still, and downright beautiful as I tediously filled a small plastic bottle (I had 5 in my car, 4 for sand, and one for water. Very useful). Would dampen a spot, sprinkle sand, dampen a spot, sprinkle sand, and continue until it was done.

By now it was about noon, and I drove home with a dirtied up car (got some priceless looks from other drivers wondering where I'd been). We only needed it dirty for one scene, but the effect wouldn't have been the same. But as I said, it didn't go off without a hitch. There are a couple of new paint chips on the roof, likely from driving home for an hour with small rocks on my roof (though I sifted through them pretty well), and I got bit up real bad by mosquitos (usually mosquito bites itch, but these feel like bruises).

I'm not terribly bothered by the paint. You wouldn't notice most of them unless I pointed it out, they could all be buffed, and my roof had some scratches on it already (I know that'd kill a lot of other Oppos, but I don't mind imperfections. In fact, it's better that way). No major dents, massive tears, or anything direly serious like bottoming out on some of the bumpier, sandier roads, and because I got a phenomenal road trip out of this, I'd call it a win. We shot the shots, rinsed all the sand off, and took her to a car wash to get all cleaned up. Looks good as new now, maybe better.

I'll be going back there to explore the trails next year, without getting my car as dirty. Till then, take care.

[Just Jeepin']

Parts of my family live near there, in The Villages. They’ve always warned me against exploring Ocala with my Jeep, but I guess the safety concerns aren’t as serious as they used to be.

[jminer]

@Taylor-Martin glad I could help. Those photos look beautiful too.

[TexturedSoyProtein]

@just-jeepin said in UnSvending (relatively) Successfull!:

Parts of my family live near there, in The Villages. They’ve always warned me against exploring Ocala with my Jeep, but I guess the safety concerns aren’t as serious as they used to be.

I thought the only thing you had to worry about there was rampaging hordes of MAGA golf carts.

[Taylor Martin]

@just-jeepin What, like safety concerns as in you'd get shot if you're not careful? Or safety as in your Jeep couldn't handle it because I'm here to tell you it could.

Though maybe it's better to explore with a buddy.

[sn4cktimes]

@taylor-martin said in UnSvending (relatively) Successfull!:

Though maybe it's better to explore with a buddy.

As someone who’s spent a night out in the bush with only spicy chips to eat and a half bottle of iced tea to drink... yes, bring two vehicles whenever possible. One friends’ poor turning decision led to said event. Never lift...

[Taylor Martin]

@texturedsoyprotein Saw quite a lot of signs, but none in the woods. Though it might be safe to assume if I'd slapped a Biden magnet or sticker on my bumper the hunters wouldn't have been so kind. Glad we didn't dive into politics to find out though haha.

[svend]

@texturedsoyprotein
lol.
I had wrote something else but that parade and what they were saying, dear god, lol.

[svend]

@taylor-martin
That picture is giving me twitches in my right eye.

[WhoIsTheLeader]

@svend Svend, vanquished by the anti Svend. Is Chariot at S yet? Better watch out.

[Just Jeepin']

@taylor-martin As in, large encampments of homeless with ill intent.

[Taylor Martin]

@just-jeepin Oh. Didn't realize that was an issue. Though I suppose it makes sense, after all, it is public land.

[Taylor Martin]

@svend I've found your kryptonite, sorry about that.

[svend]

@taylor-martin
Lol. I'll get over it if I'm allowed to thoroughly clean it.

[VincentMalamute]

@Taylor-Martin That is nice getting out to somewhere new and doing something you haven't done before.

I ride mtn bikes in the National Forests near me and shooting is allowed all year. I haven't really worried about that even though my anxiety gets worked up on a lot of other stuff. Just once, I jumped when someone shot off a rifle as we were coming around a corner. He was very close but shooting away from us and the road. He didn't have a good back drop; that part wasn't reassuring.

[Taylor Martin]

@svend I'd happily bring her by if 1.) I knew where you were and 2.) it isn't 1000s of miles away haha.

[svend]

@taylor-martin
I'm a handful of miles away from the Scottish/English border.
So ye', maybe some thousands of miles away. Lol.