2013 is our year of change. Among other things, we traded the big motorcycle for four smaller ones. Brenna was pleased to pick out some riding gear.

The kids hadn’t ridden motorcycles and Jessica had only ridden as part of the Idaho STAR program^¹ so it seemed best to begin with a big flat area, something easily found here on the Snake River Plain. I remembered seeing a suitable spot off Pleasant Valley Road south of the prison. What it lacks in beauty it makes up for with dust and cows.

1. Idaho STAR: idahostar.org/idahostar

We considered a few motorcycles before her height compelled this choice. I think it will be a good first enduro.

I had shown him earlier how to shift and, to his mother’s chagrin, he hasn’t slowed down since. He also hasn’t had any tumbles, though. Good job Hunter!

My nephew Colby was with us so he took a turn on Brenna’s and Hunter’s motorcycles.

Brenna wasn’t excited to ride. We tell her that’s just fine, she doesn’t have to. Her and I hung out at the trailer and watched the others come and go.

She let me push her around but didn’t want to work the throttle herself. I got a little exercise.

Instead of riding, Brenna was keen to pick up shotgun shells because “they’re pretty.” She collected quite a few.

While we picked up garbage, Jessica was off riding wild, apparently. She rode back covered in dust with bent handlebars and broken cowling. “I hit a pothole,” she explained. “I should have slowed down.”

She doesn’t seem much put off by the bruises and abrasions so expect to see the TW here again!