I invited my 78 year old mother to go on a trip with me to her farmland so she could take a tour of her Iowa farmland her father left to her. My wife and sister decided to join us on the trip.
Our first stop was into some bottom land fields that I knew were filled with wet areas that had stranded me with an old JD tractor when I was a teenager. Mom was first to say this was a big mistake and that we were going to get stuck. I told her that a jeep can go through mud very well. She soon found out I was telling her the truth as I went out into a nasty 50' x 200' wet muck area. To her amazement we plowed and chewed right though it with out much trouble.
We went over several wash out areas crawling in and out with out slipping a wheel. When we left the fields I pointed the jeep right at a bluff area which went abruptly vertical for about 100' up to the highway as it drops down from the uplands and a highway coming down into the bottoms along the Iowa river. My mom said to stop messing around, expecting me to turn right toward the far gate about 400 yards away. My wife looked at me with in terror as I dropped into low 4x4 and when I clicked the lockers on. She said "Mom you should have used reverse psychology".
I just eased into the climb with steady slow throttle and we went up, up, up, and all we could see was sky. When we reached the highway shoulder the front end was pushed slightly more vertical, my sister let out a loud scream, and at that moment I felt the front wheels grip the edge of the pavement. Once the front tires were firmly planted on the highway I gave it more throttle, the hood started going down, and we went up onto the highway. A cheer went out from all the girls as my sister jumped for joy.
I suddenly noticed a state trooper was just below us on the highway. I pulled over on the shoulder with a sick feeling and as he came up to my window he started clapping. It seems he has a CJ with a V8 himself. He was really impressed with the Rubicon on the climb. It turns out they are watching the area as people have been stealing equipment to sell it to scrap yards. He told me he saw us go for the bluff and thought there was no way we would make it up that steep climb. He congratulated me and told us to have a good afternoon. What a relief...

When we got mom back home dad was out on the porch. I pulled in the drive, we barely got stopped before mom opened her door and slid out her seat to the ground. She went over to dad as the rest of us were getting out. We could here her from 20' away as she proceeded to tell dad about her adventure. I have never seen her so happy and excited in my life. PRICELESS
She wants me to take her to her other farmland later in the month now. We had a very rewarding day thanks to JEEP...

 

Good story!

 

When I saw that officer I thought I was done wheeling for a while. It was so great that he was a jeep fan or I could imagine other officers might frown on my approach to the highway.

 

sounds great glad the cop was a jeeper

 

Very cool story - thanks for sharing.

 

I hope I'll be able to take my mom for a ride in the JK when she's 78.

Good story.

Think I'll stop by her house on the way home and give her a hug.

 

Cool story! Most cops I know are fans of cool automobiles - Jeeps, muscle cars, etc. I have both.

 

Very cool, but I thought Illinois was fairly flat? Next time out you have to take a picture there, plus wherever you are. Great that your mom enjoyed it!

 

Great story! Jeeps have a unique way of bridging all kinds of gaps. Glad to hear your Mom had a great time.

 

right on