When you visit the grand ol’ state of Maine (also known affectionately as Vacationland), one activity you must try is four-wheeling.
There isn’t anything quite like it: The wind whipping your sweatshirt as you zip down the narrow dirt trail, dust flying behind you like a cloak billowing, and watching in quick-glanced awe at the sun-dappled nature surrounding you, wishing desperately how you wish you had brought your big camera.
Last weekend, I had the opportunity to partake in all of this with my family.
Now, I will be the first to tell you – I am not the most experienced in riding solo, especially when it’s on a 400 lb machine that’s fully capable of throwing you off into a nearby ditch for hitting a shallow bump in the road wrong.
For the record, that hasn’t happened… yet. (God willing…)
Still, I do enjoy having the ability to drive said machine through the wilds of Maine. Funny as it is, when I’m on the four-wheeler, my worry settles into the “back seat”, as it were. Once I feel that mechanical beast growl to life, a calm sweeps through me, adding life to the small fire deep within my soul.
If I were asked to describe the feeling in one word, I would have to choose… elation. It’s the feeling of something deeeeeep inside, almost snuffed out by the gloom and despairs of the current world turmoils, and as you drive through canopies of dense woodland, seeing small patches of sun filter through as if you were literarily driving through a fantasy novel, you feel that small something rise and grow, ballooning into something brighter, stronger, happier. And the farther you are driving, the more this thing grows, until there’s very little gloom and despair left inside you to drag you down.
Of course, I managed to find one mud puddle, and yes, I did ramp up my speed just to create a giant brown wave to crash upon me and splatter everything possible. A wheeling ride through the woods just wouldn’t be complete without any mud!
Would this be a good trip for everyone? Probably not. I can imagine a few people who wouldn’t dare step within 10 feet of a forest of any size, let alone an entire wilderness. And I definitely cannot imagine someone wanting to get dusty and muddy on a ride.
But, if there is some part of you that is willing to try the experience, I highly encourage you to do so.
That being said, if it’s your first time being on the ATV trails, I suggest being a ride-along on a two-person machine with someone who is more experienced.
Plus, you’ll get to take more pictures.
Just be sure to bring lots of bug dope!
L.J. LaBree 