Wow!  Had my first experience on an ATV last night.  What a lot of fun!  A friend's husband had offered to take a few of us out on the trail and we finally managed to get together.  It's been many years since I rode a motor bike and expected to have a similar experience.  Was very surprised at how smooth our ride was.  We took to the trails just behind my rig.  What a difference from walking them.  Lee had filled us in on all we really needed to know, except-

The trail goes thru the pasture where the rodeo bulls now graze.  You guessed it!  Three were grazing along the side of the road.  Two remained very calm as we passed by them.  The third decided to walk across the road just as I came close to him.  He was very intimidating, staring at me with glazed eyes.  No way would I continue past him as he stopped in the middle.  I waved for Lee, as we had been told to do if we wanted to stop.  Stop, I did!  Lee turned around and sped back, scattering all the bulls and giving me a chance to get by.  Never had this happened on all the trail rides he's made with guests this summer.  Just my luck.

We continued on past a few small herds of deer and several large ravens and an eagle flying overhead.  We arrived at the north rim of Bryce Canyon and had a gorgeous view of the mountains, hoo doos, and east fork of the Sevier River as it cascaded down from the rim.  What a sight.

Returning from our ride, we took a different route and got to see a couple of elk after I almost bogged down crossing the River.  Actually, crossing was easy, getting up the far side was tough.  Wasn't worried about wet feet, just sliding back down into the river.  I forgot to push the 4wd button which would have made everything so easy.  Then, I didn't remember that I needed to use the hand brake to prevent backward motion.  Was a little nervous but managed to get through the ordeal.

We managed to get back with only a few other little errors by the group.  Even the helmet wasn't as great a bother as expected.  Such fun, such laughter.  Can't wait to ride again. 

Susan   

My Comments From: brodavid September 26, 2007, 12:14 pm Just be careful and have a great time, enjoy the colors and remember me when you get to myrtle beach, i am from there, brodavid From: nulwen_1 September 25, 2007, 12:12 pm HI Our whole family likes to go ATVing. we have had lots of times just like you described but a few times we have even gotten stuck and have had to pull each other out of the mud holes.   The ages of our group range from 65 down to 8.  Thou the ones under 16 ride double.  Glad you had lots of fun.  if you ever get in our direction look us up and maybe we can go.   nulwen_1 or known as LuAnn  From: gypsymama September 24, 2007, 4:09 pm Hi Susan, As you know, I just had my first ATV ing experience in Colorado in July.  It was the most fun I'd had in a long time.....up over huge boulders and lots of cow pies.....just the best.  Good for you!  I'm in Virginia now awaiting my sister to join me for the colors of the New England states....then back south to D.C., Williamsburg, Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach....then to Florida where our brother and his family are.  Then I'm driving cross-country to take my sis to Santa Cruz, CA (my home) spend the holidays.....then start all over again.   When do you leave Bryce? GypsyMama From: Greenlantern September 22, 2007, 6:52 pm Gotta hand it to you there, Grammasue, you are a brave one! From: colorado September 20, 2007, 4:36 pm Wow, that sounds like fun!  I've never been on an ATV but we want to go - there are sand dunes on the beach near here and a company that rents ATV's - expensive as heck but maybe we'll treat ourselves before we leave!!  Such a cool thing for you to do - but the bulls would have scared me too!!  You don't let age hold you back - that's great!! Bev