FJ Bruisers Pink Ribbon Poker Run

This past weekend the FJ Bruisers held their annual Pink Ribbon Poker Run to benefit the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, since DRT is all about saving the ta-tas I had to make it a priority.

On Saturday morning I loaded up the Land Cruiser and headed out to Green Ridge State Forest which is just outside Flintstone, Maryland. It was an easy drive out to western Maryland that only took about 2 hours (coming from DC), and it didn’t hurt that the forecast was calling for warm weather and sunny skies.

I rolled into the rendezvous area at Green Ridge State Forest which was at the outdoor rifle range, it was pretty easy to find with all of the FJ Cruiser’s parked out front.

We were all there to participate in a poker run which is a rally where participants drive to five different checkpoints and draw a playing card at each one. The goal is to have the best poker hand at the end of the day, and winning is pure luck. To open the day the poker run organizers had us fire 3 rounds at a target using a .22 rifle to determine who would be eligible to draw an extra card. I shot a great group but my grouping was about an inch low (I’m pretty sure the sights were off;)…). We drew our first cards of the day and headed out to the trails.

Our first checkpoint was an overlook right across the street from the Town Hill Hotel Bed & Breakfast. The views were great and we got an opportunity to line up the trucks in group 2. I drew my second card and was on my way towards a flush.

Our second stop was an overlook along the Potomac River with great views of the West Virginia countryside, I also took the opportunity to get my bearings straight and find the next checkpoint.

We quickly made our way to the third checkpoint located at Bond’s Landing, where we stopped for lunch and talked trucks. I also drew my third heart so I was even closer to a flush; all I had to do was keep Lady Luck on my side.

At the fourth checkpoint we got to enjoy another overlook but I also drew a spade, luckily I was still in the running for a straight so I’d have pray for a good draw on the river. More importantly though I was shown that FJ guys know how to parking lot pimp it just like the rest of us.

Our last checkpoint was the field in the group campsite field – I pulled a club and it was all over for me.

After the winners showed their hands we hung around the campsite to enjoy some grilled burgers, hot dogs, and good conversation.

The FJ Bruisers are some of the most easy going and genuinely nice people I have hit the trails with. If you have the time to make it out to one of their events I really encourage you to give it a shot (it is usually OK if you don’t drive an FJ!).  I had a great time with them and my only regret is that I wasn’t able to stay overnight and camp with them. Fortunately I’ll be able to link up with them at their Mud Fling event in May and we’ll be able to put some more mud and offroad miles on the tires.