Spoiled both days this last weekend

[Freedomflyer]

Had the privilege to get out both days this weekend,  weather was fantastic. Was able to take my oldest brother out to an area he hadn't been to yet, and was thankful that we got to spend that time together just the two of us. I did ask some others to go but they were unable to make it so it ended up making a special day for us. His health is not the greatest so will definitely treasure the time and memories of this outing.  Was also able to finally link up with my neighbor and some friends of theirs and take them on one of our favorite trails today. They seem to be gone most weekends over the summer so has been tough to connect over the past 4 years since they bought their Razors. They seem to stick pretty close and go riding and camping together most weekends.  With fall setting in and it dipping into the high 20's and low low 30's at night, our camping season is coming to a close. Still in the 50's - 70's during the day but pretty chilly at night. They had a free weekend so we were finally able to take advantage and get out. Today confirmed for me, once again, why we haven't moved to the sidexside realm yet.  We were going to ride on one trail, and even though they have 50" machines. The trailheads have huge rocks, posts, or  arched cattle guard type gated areas that are exactly 50" apart.  This keeps the larger sized SxS's, jeeps and other 4 wheel drive vehicles off the trails and from getting torn to shreds. My wife and I drove our ATV'S through and friends attempted to do the same.  Even though the posts were 50" apart and perfectly plumb, the ground was sloped side to side  causing the fenders and door area to lean too far to the side and would have scratched the entire side of the machine as he drove through. He couldn't even get the front fender flair through with out it getting scraped and gouged by the wire of the fence wrapped around the posts. So had to change plans and go different route. Still ended up being a terrific day and they had a great time riding in a new area. No SxS for us in the near future!!! Here's some pics from  both days

[Justsomedude]

Looks like soooo much fun! Cant wait to get my family into this! Thanks for posting pics look amazing!

[gbanker]

Where are you riding when these pictures were taken? Beautiful area wherever it is.

[Freedomflyer]

I live in Southwest Montana, most of these pics are taken about 20 miles from my house. Well, 20 miles to the trailhead, then 5-10 miles in. Some of them are at one trailhead that is about 50 miles away but all of them are in southwest Montana. Bozeman area.

[Mech]

Looks good alright.

And good work making time to get out with brother... it's just too easy to let those chances slip by.. Precious memories in the making.

[Freedomflyer]

Yeah I think it's too easy to do, time passes quickly and before you know it loved ones are gone and you didn't do anything. He's 14 yrs. older was gone and in the Navy when I was 4 yrs old, after he was discharged and came home, there was such a huge age difference between him and the next brother (12 yrs) I just didn't really have any sort of relationship with them. It was like two different families, even the 6 years between my 3rd brother and I was so big that I was just a pain in the neck to him as well. Ot wasn't until I was in my mid 20's that I started connecting with them. And well into my mid to late 40's that was we were able to relate and develop our friendships. I was raising a family so that took a lot of time as well. Thankful for the relationships and time I get to spend with them now and the fact that we can share the same interest in ATV's and get out together. With failing health,  will make a more concerted effort to get out more frequently. As of late have shared interest in Radio Controlled  Rock crawlers. We have come across some great areas out 4 wheeling that have some awesome areas to use those. We plan on making some ATV outings this coming summer to go do that as well. One of the places  we want to go is about a 10 mile ride in to some huge granite rock slabs, will be a fun outing.  Hoping to talk the other two into each getting one as well.

 

Do you get out riding much or have places you are allowed to ride?

[Mech]

I've got a few acres of semi cut over pine forest, about sixty acres, steep to very steep, and with a swamp running length-ways down the center nearly..  Lots of skidder tracks and clearings to do donuts and get muddy. But these days the quad is mainly a workhourse for maintaining the drive and getting firewood in and going to see the sons who live over the back.

Here, if we want a day out on the quads, it's off to the beach.. Ninety mile beach in the far north of N.Z., or remote beaches on the east coast.

 

[Freedomflyer]

 We're pretty spoiled in this part of the country, in fact our state is actually larger than New Zealand by 44,000 Square miles. Our population is just barely over a million,  I think 1.069 million. So a very rural state. Pretty much the whole western 1/3 of the state is mountainous and forested with a ton of 50" wide trails and roads that are maintained by The U.S. Forest Service.  Up until a couple years ago we were able to use all of them with a permanent license plate and sticker we we bought when registering and licensing our machines.  Within the last couple of years they implemented an extra trail pass sticker for each machine that we have to purchase every two years now. It's a bummer but is still reasonably priced to give us access (legally) to the trails and roads. There are those of course who will go ahead and ride without it until they get caught then claim they didn't know about it. I  have some friends,  well more acquaintances than friends who are doing that. To each there own I guess. I'm  thankful we still, at this point, have access to the public lands.

Edited March 15, 2022 by Freedomflyer

[Mech]

It looks great.

And yeah, we don't have that much room... but we do have a lot of ocean !

[Freedomflyer]

😁that's nice too. 

[PineAppleCawks]

Looks like an awesome day. I hope to have the money and friends & family to have days like that in the future! Sorry to hear about your brother, I guess there is no better day than today to go out and make those memories.

Montana is beautiful, its always been on my list of places to go. I recently moved back from CO to TN and am having a bit of trouble adjusting back to the geographical downscaling. Things are so big out that way.

[Fish0rDie]

Looks like a great time. Can't wait to get my engine running again.