Do You Love Adventure?

My husband LOVES adventure.

Give him an ATV, a mountain, and a trail that makes me question my life choices, and he’s happy.

He’s always loved riding places like Windrock and Royal Blue here in East Tennessee. So much so that we recently decided it was time for me to get a four-wheeler so I could actually go with him.

We’ve been to Royal Blue twice since I got mine, and let me just say…

WHAT AN ADVENTURE.

I’m still very much a rookie, so I’m learning the limits of my skill, my machine, and the trails. But I’m also learning that there’s something really rewarding about doing something that scares you a little.

Our First Royal Blue Adventure

Our first trip was… memorable.

When we got to the park, it was raining. We checked the radar and saw what looked like a little pop-up storm, so I was confident it would pass and we’d be fine until our planned 5 p.m. departure.

Jokes on us.

Around 3:30, a crazy storm rolled in and basically decided to hang out over the mountain.

At first, we didn’t care about getting a little wet. Then the rain picked up, the trails started flooding, and because we were in and out of service, we started getting weather alerts about flash flooding.

Our goal that day was to find Trail 37 and make it to the waterfall. We’re not huge fans of OnX, and it definitely wasn’t our friend that day.

Somehow, we ended up on an ATV-only trail that was MUCH harder than I was prepared for as a new rider.

Then we came to a rock drop-off.

My husband ended up getting on my ATV and taking it down for me because I wasn’t comfortable doing it. I could barely even walk down to get to the ATV afterward.

At that point, between the rain, the trail, and my exhaustion, I was done.

We decided to turn around.

Which meant going back up the rock we had just come down.

Awesome.

The Cardo Was a Lifesaver

This is where I have to give a huge shoutout to our Cardo communication system.

1000% worth it.

My husband was able to talk me through everything without having to stop or yell over the ATVs. He could tell me where to put my tires, when to slow down, and reassure me when I was doing okay.

I was terrified going back up that rock, but he talked me through it one step at a time.

And somehow…

I did it.

I climbed that thing myself.

My husband turned around afterward and basically said, “Oh shit, she did it!” 😂

And honestly, that was probably the moment I went from “I’m never doing this again” to “Okay, maybe I can actually do this.”

A Few Things I Learned

Don’t Question the Weather

This one should be obvious, but apparently I needed to learn it the hard way.

Bring a rain suit.

Not a sweatshirt. Not a jacket you think might be water-resistant. A real rain suit.

Mountain weather can change quickly, and getting caught in a thunderstorm is a whole different experience when you’re trying to figure out how you’re getting back down the mountain.

Don’t Get Angry About What You Can’t Control

This was another big lesson for us.

We were frustrated because the weather wasn’t cooperating, the trails weren’t what I expected, and I was tired and scared.

But getting angry wasn’t going to stop the rain or change the trail.

Sometimes you have to accept that things aren’t going according to plan and change the plan.

Turn around. Take a break. Go home.

There’s always another day to ride.

The Second Trip

The second time we went out, we thought we were much more prepared.

We studied the maps, made a plan, and had a better idea of what we were getting ourselves into.

We’re still learning, though.

One thing we’ve noticed is how much the trails can change. The side-by-sides have absolutely wrecked some of these trails, and trails that may have once been considered easy are now deeply rutted and feel much more moderate.

Add in how wet we’ve been here in East Tennessee, and some of those trails are no joke.

So even when a map says something is “easy,” that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to feel easy to a brand-new rider.

Would I Recommend It?

Absolutely.

But as a complete rookie, my biggest recommendation is to start on the logging roads and work your way up.

Get comfortable with your machine. Learn how it handles hills, rocks, mud, and ruts. Figure out what you’re comfortable with before jumping onto the harder trails.

And don’t be afraid to turn around.

I’m still learning my limits, and I think that’s okay.

Because honestly, some of the harder trails have shown me just how much I’m capable of mentally. There have been plenty of times I’ve looked at an obstacle and thought, “There is absolutely no way I’m getting over that.”

And then, with some patience and coaching, I do it.

That feeling is pretty damn cool.

At the end of the day, ATV riding has become one of our favorite ways to spend time together. We’re outside, we’re exploring, we’re away from our phones, and we’re usually laughing at ourselves at some point.

Sometimes it’s peaceful.

Sometimes it’s terrifying.

Sometimes we’re sitting in the middle of a mountain during a thunderstorm wondering why we thought this was a good idea.

But we’re doing it together.

And for now, that’s enough to keep me coming back for the next adventure.

Until next time! 🤘🏼