- Jan 30, 2005
- 644
- 0
this is way happens when you try to take the family out for a day in the woods. :whoa:
Bonnie tried to spread her wings on the trail today... lets just say, she needs to rethink her plan of attack on learning to ride a motorcycle. She'll get it, but it's gonna take some effort.
The line up: Stephan and his buddy Conner out front, followed by Darien, then Bonnie, and me on sweep. Speed Bump and Conner took off and left the group almost immediately, and went exactly where they were supposed to on the SE loop. Darien, struggling to catch up, took a wrong turn and went up the north loop, unbeknownst to me since Bon was struggling to just keep it rubber side down and moving forward. She eventual gave up at about the 1 mile-ish mark and headed back to the truck. There she realized she had a flat front tire. Her day was done.
so now I'm FAR behind all 3 boys and got on the gas to catch up. about 1/2 way into the SE loop I intercepted the 2 older ones. but no Sign of the 6 yr old.
So I give instructions to SB and friend, go back the way you came and turn onto the north loop, I'm going to cut across and try to intercept him and we'll meet in the middle. STAY ON THE TRAIL! this was ( at the time ) I thought the best plan. NEVER TRUST A 10 YR OLD TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS!!! I hauled ass and found Darien waiting for someone to finally show up where the north loop crosses the road. I cant say how proud I am of him. not only did he make it that far completely on his own, but he knew enough at that point to STOP AND WAIT. Good job son. :cool: So now with the youngest leading the way, we begin backtracking to where the older boys SHOULD be... all the way back to where I first found them. no sign. we see 2 groups of riders and neither have seen them. well it now abundantly clear to me that they did , in fact, leave the trail and got on the 2 track some where, but the question was WHERE. ANd how do I catch them towing a 6 yr old around. Answer: 2 track it back to the parking lot and leave the boy with Bonnie.
so now, on my own, I begin my search criss crossing the areas they SHOULD be in based on where I last saw them. 4hrs have passed, and did I mention Conner is a diabetic, and I have his meds in my camelbak. things are getting serious. as I sweep and area I mark it on my GPS. at intersections I stop and walk the area, looking for signs of their passage. About 6 miles from the intersection of the SE loop and the main 2 track.. I hit pay dirt. 2 lone tire tracks winding down the jeep trail that could only have come from a pair of small displacement trail bikes. so I begin to follow these winding, tracks in the sand till they suddenly disappear. at this point I'm about 4 miles from the parking lot and pretty certain they are heading the right way. then I hear my radio chirp. they are at the parking lot....with a state police escort. :yikes:
cop was cool about it, seems they change course again and ended up out at the main road where they were spotted and escorted back to the lot. so it ended ok.. but I swear, I think Woodsy's been giving my kid lessons on the sly. :laugh: :ride:
Bonnie tried to spread her wings on the trail today... lets just say, she needs to rethink her plan of attack on learning to ride a motorcycle. She'll get it, but it's gonna take some effort.
The line up: Stephan and his buddy Conner out front, followed by Darien, then Bonnie, and me on sweep. Speed Bump and Conner took off and left the group almost immediately, and went exactly where they were supposed to on the SE loop. Darien, struggling to catch up, took a wrong turn and went up the north loop, unbeknownst to me since Bon was struggling to just keep it rubber side down and moving forward. She eventual gave up at about the 1 mile-ish mark and headed back to the truck. There she realized she had a flat front tire. Her day was done.
so now I'm FAR behind all 3 boys and got on the gas to catch up. about 1/2 way into the SE loop I intercepted the 2 older ones. but no Sign of the 6 yr old.
So I give instructions to SB and friend, go back the way you came and turn onto the north loop, I'm going to cut across and try to intercept him and we'll meet in the middle. STAY ON THE TRAIL! this was ( at the time ) I thought the best plan. NEVER TRUST A 10 YR OLD TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS!!! I hauled ass and found Darien waiting for someone to finally show up where the north loop crosses the road. I cant say how proud I am of him. not only did he make it that far completely on his own, but he knew enough at that point to STOP AND WAIT. Good job son. :cool: So now with the youngest leading the way, we begin backtracking to where the older boys SHOULD be... all the way back to where I first found them. no sign. we see 2 groups of riders and neither have seen them. well it now abundantly clear to me that they did , in fact, leave the trail and got on the 2 track some where, but the question was WHERE. ANd how do I catch them towing a 6 yr old around. Answer: 2 track it back to the parking lot and leave the boy with Bonnie.
so now, on my own, I begin my search criss crossing the areas they SHOULD be in based on where I last saw them. 4hrs have passed, and did I mention Conner is a diabetic, and I have his meds in my camelbak. things are getting serious. as I sweep and area I mark it on my GPS. at intersections I stop and walk the area, looking for signs of their passage. About 6 miles from the intersection of the SE loop and the main 2 track.. I hit pay dirt. 2 lone tire tracks winding down the jeep trail that could only have come from a pair of small displacement trail bikes. so I begin to follow these winding, tracks in the sand till they suddenly disappear. at this point I'm about 4 miles from the parking lot and pretty certain they are heading the right way. then I hear my radio chirp. they are at the parking lot....with a state police escort. :yikes:
cop was cool about it, seems they change course again and ended up out at the main road where they were spotted and escorted back to the lot. so it ended ok.. but I swear, I think Woodsy's been giving my kid lessons on the sly. :laugh: :ride:
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