4Wheeling Misery

It's taken me a week or so before I could even put into perspective what a short trail ride with a "manly" man jeeper in the mix can do to one's morale.

Last weekend I'm sitting at my computer, pounding away at the keys when my backdoor open in runs someone, opens my refrigerator & throws some stuff in it. Wondering what in the world is going on, my friend Kathy just informs me that her husband is on his way...we are going to Misery for a quick trip.

Needless to say, I'm not really ready...my truck's battery is dead and my husband is welding on his buggy. But I haven't seen Misery this year yet and wondered what the trail looked like, so I jump start the Toyota and grab a couple of water bottles & trail bars ---ready to go. My husband closes down shop, Kathy's husband shows up along with a friend of his named Chris. Chris in a Jeep, a manly Jeep, with little tiny axles, no front locker and he broke the last 4 times he went out. (I'm having second thoughts already)

Misery is a very short 4x4 trail, named because it used to be misery for full size 4x4s, promoting an off camber into rocks that dented & tore body panels from full size trucks. Not quite the case anymore, because the big boys love this trail and have gradually made it wider from constant use.

Needless to say it's a short distance from the house, offers some cool little rock waterfalls, and is easy to walk home from if something happens unexpectedly. If I was trail rating, is an easy trail very DOable without lockers but you will need some ground clearance and a good spotter for a couple of places.

Kathy's husband Steve got rid of an extreme capable Samurai buggy and started a build up of a Jeep. To go from a rockcrawling buggy back to a Jeep was to say the least a big disappointment. Nothing works the same, he had to learn to crawl all over again.

The first break of the day was Steve's Jeep, he got to the first little rock outcropping and bent his tie rod (steering) and couldn't turn left. After 30 minutes of rebending, we got it straight enough to turn left again. Chris who followed Steve's line didn't have a problem and ribbed Steve unmercifully.

We followed the trail for quite awhile, and being locked & loaded with extra low gears compared to the Jeeps, I took the road less traveled and every rock outcropping, V notch, and obstacle there was within the trail. Steve took a few of them, but babied his bent steering and Chris just followed Steve. But everytime we stopped Chris had a few comments about my truck, nothing positive - every comment was pissy. Could be his wife was giving him a hard time because she would have ultra nice comments.

Chris couldn't do the lines I took, I stayed in the back of the pack - but his wife must have told him to tone it down, because he quit ragging on my truck and started pissing on my driving ability.

"I am woman hear me roar" - I can take some good natured ribbing, some kidding, but don't, I repeat DON'T tear into me because YOU can't keep up.

Women all over the world have to put up with the Manly Man attitude at some point in their lives. Been there, done that -didn't like it.

Manly Men Attributes:

Manly men can put out the bull crap but they can't take it.

A Manly Man is larger than life, the only thing larger is his ego.

A Manly Man may think about others but only if it ultimately comes back to him.

A Manly Man has a total disregard for others, a lack of sensitivity.

A Manly Man is a rock, hard - immovable - craggy.

A Manly Man will never, ever concede he is wrong.

A Manly Man truly believes he is superior to every woman and 99% of other men.

Chris is a portrait of the Manly Man - not the first one I've met or wheeled with and definitely not the last but it is a miserable way to spend an afternoon.

Looking for a few good comebacks that will make you feel better when you encounter a "manly man" -

"Looking a little green there pal -- sort of the shade of envy"

"Don't let your mouth overload your brain"

"You Wish"

"Better men than you...."

Of course the best comeback to Chris's attitude that day came from his own wife....."Next time we come out I'm riding with her, she's much better at it"