Another ride with the boys.....and girls! by Cyndee Rigdon 11-9-2005
It started out normal enough: roll out of bed at an ungodly hour to get 'ready' for yet another jeep ride. As I had missed the past 4 or 5 rides, I didn't complain too much--even though Toads offspring decided to wake up at 3 a.m. and not go back to sleep..so here we go, off to the Cracker Barrel to meet the boys, my favorite source of amusement second only to my dear sweet partner. Mike and I pulled into the Cracker Barrel at around 7:15, and I was once again in a state of shock that they were even open at such an hour.
Enter Randy. Ah, Randy...bouncing in just as perky and smiley as ever, what a joy. Full of nice things to say I pull my seat as far away from him as possible, until he starts crying. Then I take pity on him and allow him to sit with me.
Next is Nathan. And a woman? I have to admit that my interest was immediately peaked as my nosy woman sensors went on overload. But much to my dismay, she was just a friend of his, and a very nice one at that. Nancy, come to find out, was a jeeping virgin...and going on her first ever ride with NATHAN, in the SCOUT. Heeheeeheee....I was already enjoying myself just a little.
Food gone and sarcastic barbs exhanged, we headed out to the Comfort Inn parking lot, where we would meet the rest of the boys and begin our adventure....did I even remember to put on deodorant this morning? I'll just stick close to Mike.
8-something: we are there, and so are lots of women! I cannot believe how many girls turned up for this ride. Terry, SHannon, DA's daughter (shoot I can't remember what her name is!), and Brad's girls as well. This is better already. After the boys got done talking (talk, talk talk, and they talk about US!) and I exchanged a few kid storied with the ladies, we headed out. The sun was shining, it was actually warm, and all seemed well. Mike forgot to tell me to wear orange again, I swear he takes me out here duing deer seaon only "wear brown honey, it's a good color on you!"...fortunately Shannon was looking out for me and hooked me up with a day-glo orange fleece shirt. (Not until I got up the mountain did I realize...hey, all the leaves are bright orange and yellow!!)
We entered the trail and stopped so that the boys could air down their tires. They were all so cute in a single file line concentrating oh-so-hard on the task at hand. You would have thought they were conducting a space mission!
That done, we rode on up a few rocks, a few hills, some sand, and then got to my favorite part, the pond. Now usually, the pond is quite full of water and the boys (um, I meant men) run through it a few times to see who can flood their engine first. Isn't that why they do it? That day, however, it was dry! I have been to Royal Blue quite a few times and have never seen it like that, it was just, sand.
My dear, sweet Mike was of course the first one faced with the challenging rocks that lie at the opposite end of the dried pond...so, here we go. I jumped out of the jeep...to get photos of course, not because I was scared for my life....and had a seat. And up he went....until he got stuck. If anyone wants to see them, I got plenty of pics of him stuck on the rocks! He didn't make it up that time, so he-with some help-got off of the rocks.
Next I'm pretty sure it was Randy, he got up. Then Nathan got up. Then Leif got up. DA got up. Randy got up. But Brad got stuck, so Mike wasn't totally alone! Of course Brad had his kids in the car and Drew was in the back seat looking though the plastic window holding on for his life, what a sight. I might interject here that since all of the other boys made it up the rocks (ahem, except for Brad), Mike was shamed into trying it again..you know, just to prove he was....adequate. And he went right up it, atta boy.)
After everyone was done playing we headed up the next set of rocks where everyone also did well...well except for Randy! Randy had a bit of a problem getting up, and an even harder time getting directions. Mike and Leif took it upon themselves to 'help' him up....but they were both telling him to go different ways! Poor Randy was on the rock forever just looking dumbfounded. No, pardon me that's just Randy's look...
So it was time to head down the mountain. It turned out to be a BEAUTIFUL day and I was much less cranky than I usually am at the end of a jeep ride. No one broke, no one got hurt, I wasn't freezing my butt off, it was great! I didn't think it could get any better when Mike asked me if I wanted to drive. "H*ll yes I want to drive!" I had so much fun!!! I had no idea what I was missing!! I drove through a few mud puddles, down a few tiny rocks, and out into the road. Man I really did forget to put on deodorant this morning!
I had the perfect day with the perfect people. I am once again amazed by you all (except for you, Randy). And I can't wait for the next ride!...it's in spring, right?
