Page updated: 04/23/2005 04:54 PM

I know I said two months. This is a subject that I "thought" needed to be done!!

Another Offroader’s “Thoughts”
primergray

The other day I had to make the decision on which Organization to join that would help me fight for the Trails in my area. I “thought” about joining the American Sand Association or the San Diego Off Road Coalition. I was already a member of the BlueRibbion Coalition. So who else to join?

Many of you are not sure which Organization to join. I “thought” I knew which one was “best”!! There really isn’t a sure fire bet on which one to join. The ASA protects the ISDRA, the SDORC protects the Southern California Areas and the BlueRibbon protects where they can Nationwide.

Now, before all of ya start screaming and yelling that I forgot your Org, listen up!! The Rubicon has the FOTR, the TinBenders have their Org to Reopen Surprise Canyon and God only knows how many other “Org’s” are out there protecting the local trails that you frequent.

I “thought” that I could join a couple orgs, sit back and watch my money at work.

WRONG!!

Without my own emails and letters I was just sitting on my ass watching everyone else do the work while I went out and “enjoyed nature”. Without getting out on the trails and volunteering my time during Clean Ups, I was just “spinning my wheels” so to speak. I would read something in the newspaper, get mad for a few hours and then forget about it. Sure, I would pick up trash on the trails and “packed out more than I packed in”. Hey, I was helping in my own way, so I “thought”.

Then came a time that I was out enjoying a quiet ride through Los Coyotes, lo and behold we find a log burning along side the road on the way up to the “Tower”. Who in their infinite wisdom lights a log on fire and then leaves? After spending about an hour hacking up the log and trying to put the fire out, I “thought” I had seen everything!

NOPE!!

As we were putting this fire out, not one, but two rigs drive by and just look at us. No “do you need some help” or the friendly “wave”!! They looked at us like we started it!! That we were the “1 percenters”!!

Now some of you are wondering how all of this fits in with the topic about joining an Organization. This happened before I had joined anything. Maybe the lack of stickers on my truck made me look like a “1 percenter”, who knows.

It’s great to join ANY Org! Just pick one and go for it. Just remember that it doesn’t stop there!! Get out there and make a showing with anyone who will join you cleaning up OUR Trails! That 20 or 40 bucks that you donate is a great start, ya got to follow it up with some of your time also.

You see, I “thought” I knew everything about being involved in Land Use. I “thought” that my money was enough to get the job done and I could go on my merry way. I “thought” wrong!! I have a fellow Off Roader who I consider my mentor in the Land Use Area. To him I am ever grateful!! That’s another article!! Hint, Hint.

Now, I am not talking about spending every minute of your personal time devoted to Land Use. I am talking about just a few minutes a day of your time. Any Org that you join offers stickers for your type of vehicle. Put them on!! Keep their Web address in your glove box and pass it on when some one asks.

One of the most memorable Land Use incidents was when the wife and I were up at Corral Canyon wheeling one weekend. We were sitting at camp drinking coffee to shake the cobwebs from the night before and two guys pulled up in a pickup with a couple of dirt bikes in it. We paid them no mind as the area is open to all. They started unloading and then I hear, “Hey look at that!” I “thought” they were talking about my truck. The ego kicked in and the chest swelled up!! Nope, one of the guys comes over and says, “Hey!! Where did you get the BlueRibbon sticker?” Instant deflate right there. I told him that I got it when I joined. He then commented that he was a member also and hadn’t seen one of them stickers in all of the time he had rode at Corral Canyon.

WOW!! I “thought” every one knew about them!!

In closing, I just want to remind everyone. It doesn’t matter what or how many Org’s you join. Just please join one to keep OUR trails and Public Land open for all!!

These comments are mine and mine alone. I am no way affiliated with any Organization mentioned other than being a member of the BlueRibbon Coalition and the San Diego Off Road Coalition.

Jack “primergray” Ducummon, Jr
Moderator Land (ab)Use
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