“Well….?” I asked eagerly.
“Well, what?” came the dumbfounded reply from the husband.
“Well, how did I do?” I asked.
“You were a bit slow,” he said.
My face contorted in confusion. I thought I was going pretty fast. “Slow? I was at least hitting 30-40 km/hr on some parts. How was I compared to Beckham? I must have been faster than Beckham.”
Beckham is a six year old boy that went dirt biking with his dad and my husband. He was driving a 50 cc bike and… he was six! So I thought there was only one way that Ryan could possibly answer that question. Although his body language said it all. He shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
“That kid could rip,” was all he said. After I picked my jaw up from the floor and resigned myself to the fact that I was out biked by a six year old on a kid bike. I decided to focus less on my own shortcomings and more on the experience.
Last year my aunt and uncle gave me a sweet little vintage 1978 Yamaha DT 100. Ryan fixed it up last fall and then it went into storage over the winter. Early June I asked Ryan if he would take me on some “easy trails” in the Blue Rapids Recreation Area.
We parked off range road 83 from the Lodgepole Highway and took off at the top of the ravines that border the North Saskatchewan River. This was my first time on these trails as a driver. I have been a quadding passenger but never a driver, and never on a dirt bike.
It hadn’t rained much so the trails were really dry which was nice on some of the bog areas. We were out for two hours and I was happy to have Ryan leading because you could really get lost on the trails if you don’t know where you are going.
We rode over a number of different terrains like: grass trail, root and mud trail, gravel roads, sand trails with berms. We went up and down ravines, near the river and saw some amazing view points. If you are riding in the Blue Rapids Recreation Area there really isn’t a bad view and the terrain is challenging enough so new and experienced riders cna have a good time.
A few weeks later we hit up the trails in the East Blue Rapids Recreation Area, off the Buck Creek road. We kept to the top part of the trails with sand, gravel and grass and little elevation differences, they were fun to bomb around on. I got going and had so much fun that when I got back to our fire spot I found out the husband had left to go look for me because he thought I was eating dirt somewhere. Some of these trails are great places for young riders to go and get comfortable on their bike.
Since having the kids we were constantly debating about which ATV type we should pursue. Ryan is a dirtbiker, always has been and does not want to give it up. We have a quad but we don’t use it often. We have considered side by side but then we have to reconsider our camper setup and around we go. Now that I have had my hand on a dirt bike, and even though a six year old boy can out do me I think we will be going the dirt bike route as a family. They are typically “cheaper”, smaller and easier to pack, and it can be a choose your own adventure once you get to know the trails better.
The trails are amazing and although Ryan has grown up on them I think it will be a whole new ball game with a pack of newbie riders behind him. And the bug is contagious. Last weekend a friend of mine played around on my bike for a bit and the very next day I was getting a text photo of her “new to her” Suzuki 125 cc dirt bike. With summer just beginning I think that it is going to be one for adventure and discovery.
What to expect
You don’t have to look far to find terrain for every level of rider. But, you also don’t have to look far before you might find yourself out of your depths. The Blue Rapids Recreation Area ATV trails are not the mountains but with steep river valleys you can use these trails to prepare for a trip to the mountains.
The state of the trails are weather dependent. During a hot dry summer there is less mud, more root exposure. But given a good heavy rain and there are parts where you are in a mud bath so make sure you can trust your tires under changing conditions.
What to bring
- The Blue RapidsRecreation Area is splitting two by the North Saskatchewan River. Off the Lodgepole Highway, RR 83 there are “no service” zones so make sure you bring a repair kit to at least get you to a lease road if your bike piles up.
- Safe riding equipment. There are steep embankments and losing you bike or rolling your ATV is not uncommon so make sure you are dressed safely including helmets. Wearing pants and boots for when you are going over rooted areas is a good plan. Sticks hurt.
- A nose for orienteering. The trails off the Buck Creek highway on the east side of the river are fairly well marked and can be easily navigated. This is a narrow section of the recreation area and you can use the river and the highway to orientate yourself. The trails off the Lodgepole Highway and RR83 are less well marked, and some signs are in disrepair. On top of this you have are navigating a maze of lease roads this can quickly get you disorientated so make sure you are mapping in your head or on you device as you go, so you can find your way back.
Be Responsible
This is a provincial recreation area with some areas bordering residential and farm land. Please be respectful of the hours your are riding, pack out what you pack in. Take your garbage with you, and be safe. Leave the partying for a patio in town. After the ride.
Note: These are volunteer maintained trails by the Brazeau ATV Club. They group page can be found on Facebook.
Winter time at Buck Lake
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Try these DV100 training routes
Just beyond the western borders of Drayton Valley is a series of township roads and secondary highways that creates an amazing training ground for anyone looking to tackle the DV100, DV60 or the DV40, this September.
To market, to market: Shopping downtown Drayton Valley
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Tips for beginner mountain bikers
Rocks, berms, extreme pitches, however you slice it, mountain biking is not for the faint of heart. But with a little can-do attitude and grit it can become a fun pastime during any age or stage of life. This summer Rae and Bell decided that they wanted to try something new. Although they were no strangers to road cycling, the purchase of a e-mountain bike got them off the asphalt onto the trail.
Three trips for your winter wonder list
Snowshoeing is a fun way to get outside, stretch your legs and add a little interest to your snowy winter walks. With the Eagle Point Provincial Park and Provincial Recreation area right on our doorstep there are endless places to explore by snowshoe. But for those of you who are just getting started here are three of my favourite places to get you going.
The rugged and refined in Alder Flats
So I have been telling you to explore your backyard and check out places like Evansburg, Breton and Eagle Point Provincial Park. But what about Alder Flats? What the heck is there to do in Alder Flats? To answer this question I have visited Alder Flats five times since July to have a new experience, discover a new place and give you guys some actionable ideas.
