Riding……A Family Tradition

We went riding this past weekend at my Great Uncle Donnie’s property near Gorman, CA. My daughter Bailey has graduated from her 50 to 85KX. This was her first trip using a clutch and she was very nervous about the new bike, it is much bigger and faster.

As soon as we got there Uncle Donnie came out and started talking to her, teaching her about the bike. “You need to let the clutch out easy at first and get on the gas pretty hard”. I heard him telling her. All of a sudden I had a full circle moment. “OK, a little more gas...more …more….let out the clutch a little more”. Stall, “Ok let’s try again”. This went on about three more times and then….off she rode. It was like I was 10yrs old again, sitting on one of Uncle Donnie’s old dirt bikes, stalling out. I got a little choked up and then it occurred to me, Uncle Donnie has taught my whole family how to ride dirt bikes.

It’s funny I never thought about it before. But he has taught generations of my family to ride. My dad, my uncles, his own children, grand children, me, my brothers and now my daughter all learned to ride from the same man. He even gave us a place to ride when he bought about 80 acres of land with Uncle Eddie in the early 60’s and that has been the family gathering spot ever since. There are a couple of tracks for the kids to ride. My Great Aunt Betty would be yelling at us all day for breaking all the rules. But we didn’t care, we were riding! Little did I know I would be yelling at the kids saying the exact same things she once said to us?

I wonder if they knew they were starting a family tradition so strong in our family that it would carry on from generation to generation. It would even impact who we would marry, because if you didn’t ride, you weren’t even on my radar when I was dating.

I want to give a little background about Uncle Donnie and Aunt Betty. My grand mothers little brother was born and raised in Kansas City, MO and later lived in Dodge City, KS. He married Aunt Betty when they were very young. That is where he discovered bikes. They moved to California in the 50’s. He has been riding and racing dirt bikes since the inception pretty much. His first bike was a Triumph.

He can mesmerize you for hours with his stories. From selling bootleg when he was a kid with his dad back in Missouri to riding with Steve McQueen. Even though he has lived out here a long time he still has the greatest accent. The best time of the day was always sitting around the fire and listening to his stories. Now days we get the stories in the morning, he doesn’t like to stay up late anymore.

Aunt Betty died a few years ago and my grandma followed not to long after. I know they are watching him from heaven and Aunt Betty would have been proud of me for giving him a hard time when he put on his baseball cap and sun glasses to "cruise" the desert to visit the neighbors.

Bailey likes to say “My Uncle Donnie is a real cowboy”. I have to agree with her, only his horse is a dirt bike. He is just a rough rider that continues to teach us riding is a very real part of our family. It is what we all get together and do all year long and keeps this family together.

So, this one is for you Uncle Donnie & Aunt Betty!! Thank you both for bringing the desert into our lives. I don’t now where we’d be without it.

Places to ride dirt bikes in Southern California

Places to ride dirt bikes in Southern California

Here in Southern California riding season starts the end of September/beginning of October, depending on the heat. Although there are a few places to go in the Summer I will tell you about later.

This year it’s a late start but it has finally arrived!! Now…..where to go?

Over the years we have camped and rode our dirt bikes all over Southern California Ocotillo Wells, Red Rock, Slash X, Jawbone Canyon, Red Mountain, Kennedy Meadows, Gorman and many more. I will take you to each of these places over the next few days.

Ocotillo Wells/ Anza Borrego State Park

Located off Highway 78 near Salton Sea (http://www.desertusa.com/ovr/du_owinfo.html has a great map and some important phone numbers) in Southern California. This used to be “our spot”. We would camp there 4 or 5 times every year; Halloween & Thanksgiving were big weekends and a tradition for our family and friends. Over the last few years this has become a “hot spot” for all riders in So Cal. This means HUGE crowds on holiday weekends.

Here are some tips for camping in Ocotillo Wells:

Make sure you go by the ranger station and grab a map. Most people don’t do this and miss out on the best Ocotillo has to offer! I personally believe the ranger should be doing more than just giving out tickets, so I am constantly bugging them for info. The result is better trips for us!! We have been on AMAZING day trips out there because rule number one is to find the spots the locals go to. And out there the ranger is the local.

Most of the washes and roads are marked with street signs. The maps they have are awesome and will help you get around and explore the area.

Some of our favorite rides are: Pumpkin Patch, Gas Domes and The Hot Springs.

If you are going to 4x4 in a street legal vehicle, check out Box Canyon. There are tons of canyon’s to explore. Make sure you are in the right vehicle for the right areas. They hand out tickets pretty liberally in Ocotillo. Military Wash is fun to. Follow it as far as you want. It goes on forever with some really fun spots.

Blow Sand, Devils Slide and Shell Reef are great places to watch hill climbs and for the better riders in your group to play on.

Make sure you visit the local bar. Leave your money on the wall. Have a beer. Good Times!

On a typical day in Ocotillo we will get up, possibly a little hung-overJ, make a big breakfast, pack lunches, snacks and drinks and take off for the day. The “big” guys might go off on a “fast” ride while the Mom’s take the little ones. There is usually a day dedicated to taking the kids on a “big” ride. Otherwise they usually ride on the hills near camp or go on short rides. We love to 4x4 with the kids. Finding places for them to explore while we relax! We will usually pick a spot and a time to meet up with the dad’s somewhere on the trail for lunch.

Camping Conditions:

There are designated spots w/ picnic benches and wood awnings.

Bathrooms are scattered throughout the park.

You can basically camp wherever you want here. I believe the only private property is the airport. If you are iffy about camping somewhere DON’T camp there. I like my space and we are usually a loud group so we found the perfect spot about 30 years ago that has been ours ever since. We NEVER have neighbors but are still close to the night spots like Blow Sand and Devil’s Slide.

For your first trip you should stay in a nice, safe area. During your stay, scout out the park. Find “your spot”. Make sure you look at the sand conditions and how you will get in and out of the spot. There is nothing worse then getting stuck on your way out of camp, except getting stuck on your way into camp!!

Try to camp way off the main roads. Dust is a problem in Ocotillo, so try to stay away from heavily populated areas. Don’t be afraid to go “off the beaten path”. A camp spot a little higher than everyone else is good because the dust settles close to the ground.

The wind in Ocotillo can get brutal. I have chased many a tent, pillows even underwear through that desert. Make sure everything is attached to the ground. Once we came back from a ride and our tent was gone. We found it later about a mile out of our camp by following the trail of clothes!

We have spent many nights wearing our goggles around the fire due to high winds.

Whatever you do don’t leave. Try to ride it out. The next day will be beautiful and most of the people that couldn’t take it have left. You will have the next day all to yourselves to ride without worries!! Some of our best trips have followed some serious wind storms!

Go to Ocotillo Wells and have fun! Ride, Ride, Ride! Enjoy your kids, family and friends! The best place to bond with them is after a day of riding, by the fire!

Be Safe, Barbie

Dirt Bike Riding Gear Bag

Dirt Bike Riding Season is here! It’s time to get out your gear bag and check out your gear. Does everything still fit? Will it still do what it is made to do...protect you? Here is a short list of things you should do BEFORE you go riding!

1. Make sure the kids try on ALL of their gear before the first trip. You DO NOT want them getting out there and figuring out their helmet is too small, or their chest protector doesn't actually cover their chest anymore. As we all know, it only takes ONE second, ONE crash, for you to get hurt. So you should not take ONE ride without being protected.

2. Make sure your helmet is secure. It should not be tight, but it should not wiggle around. Put it on and grab it by the chin protector. Move it firmly. It should not slide from side to side or up and down. If you crash, your helmet should not move from the areas it is made to protect.

3. Goggles used to be optional. Now they are a must, especially if you ride with a group. Rocks are flying off back tires, and they go straight for your head, face, and chest. P.S. Don't follow too close to the person in front of you. Stay at least 20 to 30 yards back. Show your kids what 30 yards looks like before they ride.

4. For me and my family Jersey are optional. When it's hot t-shirts are fine. Jersey's can protect your arms from light scratches from bushes and such.

5. Gloves can be optional too, though I "have" to have them. They really just save you from blisters and bush scratches.

6. Chest Protector is a must. It must fit properly. It cannot be too small or too big. When warn properly it can save you some major bodily damage, shoulder, upper arms, chest and back should be covered and the protector should not move around too much when moved. Grab it by the collar and give it a few good shakes to make sure when you crash it doesn't move too much.

7. Leathers should fit kind of like pants. There are so many styles now that it is just a personal choice. They have saggy ones for the "younger, cool" people, some legs zip off for hot rides. Just remember, your leathers will save you from burns and road rash. So take a look at yours. Will they serve those 2 purposes?

8. Boots are a must. I know some people will ride with just steel toe work boots, well that's great for your toes, but riding boots protect way more than your toes! Your boots will protect your chins, ankles, toes and feet, from a huge number of accidents. There are so many bones to protect down there that take months to heal. Your boots will also save you from the famous "inside ankle burn" that all "new"" riders get and all "seasoned" riders have! Let’s not forget the old, "I'm just going to kick start my bike, so it can warm up while I put my boots on". I have seen more than my share of bloody chins from this. Those pegs have teeth!

9. Riding socks are optional, nice to have, may save a blister or two, but still optional.

10. Camel Back, I hope you emptied and cleaned it after your last ride, if not, throw the bladder away and buy another one! Empty and clean yours after each trip. After you dump whatever you are drinking out, flush out the line with the mouth piece and rinse it out. Stuff some paper towels in there. Leave the cap off and you should be good for the next trip!

So go have fun! Ride, Ride, Ride! Enjoy your kids, family and friends! The best place to bond with them is after a day of riding, by the fire!

Be Safe, Barbie