4-Wheeling Adventures

I wish I were better at remembering to take pictures!!  I have no excuse... my phone is my camera.  99% of the pictures I own are from my phone.  But as I'm experiencing life with my family -- I just don't have the desire to get it out at take pics.... bummer.  Afterward, I wish I did have pictures.

Thor's long lasting wish to FINALLY go 4-wheeling was accomplished this past weekend -- at the Palmer Gulch (campground).  The kids and I tried to have the camper as ready to go as possible -- Dirk was home by 5 -- and we were parked in our campsite ready to have fun by 7pm that evening.  :)

Everyone wanted to take the ATVs out immediately, but Dirk knew there was only about an hour of good sunlight left, so we opted to check out the swimming pool instead.   For those who have been to Palmer Gulch KOA, you know it's more like a resort than a campground -- two swimming pools, a riding stable, a playground, a sprinkler park, a water slide, BB courts, volleyball, mini-golf and a "jumping pillow" (sort of like a trampoline, but air not springs).  They also have quite a few miles worth of ATV trails right from camp... so we had determined last summer to bring the ATVs and check it out.

Saturday morning we set out after breakfast -- Thor on the Blaster, Dirk and Anika on the Kodiak and Mom, Liv & Lars on the Grizzly.  Thor's ATV is "old school" - clutch/shift operated -- which is good for learning experiences like starting on an uphill climb (yuck, even I hate that).... and a bit of mud bogging (not much -- it hadn't rained yet).... and one pretty long bumpy rock climb.  We had a great morning out -- saw some great scenery, etc.  Anika had her first experience driving with mom coaching.  She was a great driver, but did NOT like going down steep hills, especially with rocky terrain and a few steep ditches.   Drivers Ed cannot start too early :)

The dust and pollen were getting to everyone, so unlike most other campground we ATV from, we had the option of going back to camping and jumping in the pool!!  Which sounded heavenly!!  So we did.  :)  I wasn't sure the kids were ever going to get tired of swimming -- but sooner or later everyone got hungry so we headed back to the camper.

After lunch, the rain clouds moved in -- along with quite a bit of wind.  So guess, what -- we had hail!!  Oh boy!! a pretty good hail shower!!  Everything was fine - no damage at all.  But we did take in one passer-by with a little boy about Lars age.  They were trying to get back to their tent, but the hail came up quick.  They waited it out with us inside the camper -- I think it might have been pretty dangerous with a few golf-ball sized hail falling.  (mostly smaller - but some were that big)

It's a rainy Sunday afternoon for us now ... so today we are just catching up on laundry, etc.  Just looking forward to our next weekend out over the 4th of July!!