The Harrowing Adventure of Ocotillo Wells, California

February 8, 2017 - Octotillo Wells, California, ATV Desert Adventure
Octotillo Wells is 800+ acres of desert ATV riding - sand dunes, roads, hot water springs, geological formations, canyon trails and lots and lots of miles of driving.
 Naturally, we (meaning Theron) do not like to stay on groomed trails; the adventure is getting off into mesas and canyons.  We followed the map to the "high skills" area and were having a great time with a little challenge.  All was well and good until we headed back to the park station.  It seems that in our driving we had gone far enough that the trail back was now across a wide mesa canyon.  The guys got out and scouted the area and could find only one "possible" way down.  I was talking with the girls and not paying attention to this effort.  Theron comes over, tells me to get my helmet on and says we're leaving.  Okay.  (Never trust him when you think it is back to find the road we entered on.)  His leaving was to traverse the "straight down" (literally) trail that had boulders at the bottom and it looked like no way out --- they could hear me scream for miles "But, it's straight doooooowwwwwwnnnnn!"

Okay, we made it to bottom without rolling over.  Now to traverse the boulders and narrow passes to get our way out.  The first turn was at a good 45 degree angle all the way.  Then it was put my hand out and push us off a boulder.  Then it was Theron getting out and looking at spots for tire placement.  Okay, my seat was getting warm at this time -- can't say why!  Finally after a good 10-15 minutes we made it to the bottom and onto the main trail.  Hummm, no one else in the group followed us; go figure.

Okay, now we are at the bottom on the road rolling along and making good time doing it.  The sun is slowly setting in the west and it's just a few miles further to the park starting point.  "Theron, stay on the trail."  "It's just a little hill," he responds.  Over, down, narrow, sand and the bottom, fender and right front tire plow into the sand, right front tire says Psssssh and breaks the seal around the rim - it's flat.

I walk on one ridge, Theron walks on another and I yell at him.  He calmly says, "are you finished?"  No, but what more needs to be said.  No one in site for miles, the rest of our group is going a different way home, cell service is spotty at best.

Theron goes into McGyver mode and drives the RZR about 10 feet and positions that Razor so that the flat front tire is off the ground.  He then gets our 12V pump out and begins to put air in the tire and work the tire onto the rim.  I stand and observe from my mountain top.  All at once I hear a POP and the seal on the tire is back in place.  I am always grateful for his skills.  Yes, I will get back into the RZR and go off into the sunset.

My heart rate had a good test today; my mind not so much.  Guess it's like a pregnancy, when it's over you forget the pain and anguish so you can do it again.