Christmas is a wonderful time of year. You may be surprised by what you had really received as a gift…, several months later. While these were not the exact words they were the meaning behind the intent as spoken by Gray Donihoo at the ripe old age of 8. He said to his mom, “I now know why you got me my blue bike (speaking of his electric Razor motorcycle), it was to get me ready for this bike” as he sat perched atop his yellow 50cc Suzuki, wearing a Christmas morning grin that was evident despite his oversized green & white motocross helmet. At the same time, it may be the anticipation of great things that may yet be. Case in point; Remy Nguyen. Remy had never ridden a motorcycle in the 12 years of his active life, but he took to it like a newborn dolphin takes to the water. Like it wasn’t a matter of choice, it was just the natural order of things. His father, Huy, told me more than once that day “he going to be telling his mom he wants one of these”. So who knows, next year MotoLizzie and Remy may be the next champions in their class.
The Sunday before Memorial Day was spent at the Bois D’Arc Tails just east of Bonham Texas. It’s top-secret location down a gravel road off of highway 82. Gary and I took off on our big BMW GS’s, while Rachel led the caravan of Carolyn and Huy. The park is about an hours ride from McKinney and that is part of the fun, the ride out to the park. The great thing about a GS is that you can enjoy the ride to the destination and then enjoy riding at the destination once you get there. The park was a little more crowded than the last time we had been, but as they work on a reservation system it was not overrun. We started to set up in the same spot we did on our first visit, but once we arrived Dave came by and invited us to set up next to them. We found the shade of an ancient Bois D’Arch tree, a tree ripped from the pages of a Harry Potter novel. So much character had grown into the trunk and branches of this shade casting behemoth that if you were to stop and listen, I am certain it would tell you the tales of its years overseeing the countryside of north-east Texas.
Item one on the agenda – get the bikes and gear unloaded from the truck, and get set up for the day. Item two was to get the kids geared up for riding. While Gary and Rachel were getting Lizzy and Gray ready, Lily and Remy immediately got started on the little blue electric bike. The cliché “a kid in a candy store” no longer need apply. Item three, get the camera out and get some shots of the kids doing what kids do. All of the agenda items checked of the list, it was time for the adults to join in on the fun. Dave has just bought his wife a brand new Honda TRX250 four-wheeler. I was making my way around the mini moto-cross track when she stopped and asked me if I wanted to ride it, but at the time, despite having met her the week before, I had no idea who this red and black donned 4-Wheel Moto-Chick was who was asking it I wanted to try out her new wheels. I figured it out when Gary came riding by on the 4-wheeler. It was pretty fun to ride, different in the corners than a bike; you had to lean almost more MotoGP style than MX style.
Item one on the agenda – get the bikes and gear unloaded from the truck, and get set up for the day. Item two was to get the kids geared up for riding. While Gary and Rachel were getting Lizzy and Gray ready, Lily and Remy immediately got started on the little blue electric bike. The cliché “a kid in a candy store” no longer need apply. Item three, get the camera out and get some shots of the kids doing what kids do. All of the agenda items checked of the list, it was time for the adults to join in on the fun. Dave has just bought his wife a brand new Honda TRX250 four-wheeler. I was making my way around the mini moto-cross track when she stopped and asked me if I wanted to ride it, but at the time, despite having met her the week before, I had no idea who this red and black donned 4-Wheel Moto-Chick was who was asking it I wanted to try out her new wheels. I figured it out when Gary came riding by on the 4-wheeler. It was pretty fun to ride, different in the corners than a bike; you had to lean almost more MotoGP style than MX style.
After taking Gary’s Kawasaki for a couple of spins, I decided it was time to get the big GS out on the motocross track again. It is amazing how well a 1200cc, 105 HP, 500 lb motorcycle can handle a MX course. You just can’t be afraid to give it some gas in the corners and let the back wheel slide into place. Until our first outing at Bois D’Arc a couple of weeks ago, I had never ridden a dirt bike, and the more I ride the lighter, more agile dirt bikes, the better I handle the GS off-road. I’m not going to taking home any trophies, but it is quite a feeling to navigate a 500 lb monster around a course designed for 300 lb quarter horses. As Gary once put it, it’s the Hummer of motorcycles. All in all, I made three runs on the course throughout the day on the big GS, the rest of the days runs were on Gary’s 250 Kawasaki.
In the mean time, the Donihoo and Nguyen kids traded off riding the smaller bikes. While the kids got rest, the bikes saw continuous non-stop combat. That is until Mother Nature stepped in and blessed the day with an hour-long rain shower. It was almost perfect, about the time the rain started moving in, just about everyone started packing up and heading out. We hunkered under the protection of our guardian Bois D’Arc, and rode it out. After the line of storms made their way through and headed off to ruin someone’s Sunday afternoon soccer game, we had perfect weather and the park almost to ourselves. It was time for more dirt to be devoured by the tires of the relentless machines. The track was great after the rain, a little slick at first, but after about an hour of being warmed by the afternoon sun, it had just enough tack to keep the wheels from sliding and dust from kicking. The kids hit the smaller motocross track and Gary and I headed out to the big course for a make shift contest. We each took a turn riding the course and timed each other. I had no idea if we would be minutes apart or seconds apart. Gary ran the course in 3:47 and I ran it in 3:58.
Elizabeth wanted to ride the woods course around the park so Gary took off with her. Remy and Lily were on the smaller bikes while Gray was taking a rest, snacking on some fresh cherries. I have to hand it to Rachel and her mom Carolyn, the food was great. Several years ago, I had a Honda Odyssey, kind of a dune buggy/motorcycle type vehicle. When I would venture out to ride it, I dined on beef jerky and cheetos…. Never anything like the feast we had on Sunday. Moments later Gary returned from the woods course with MotoLizzy arriving shortly thereafter. Apparently Lizzy had taken a spill while attempting to cross a giant mud puddle. But did it stop her? Did the North American continent stop the glaciers from rolling across it and prevent the last ice age? The glaciers were like that soft crunchy ice you get at Dairy Queen when compared to Lizzy’s will to ride. No sooner did she return and she was ready to go again. Gary had to get Gray’s bike situated for him, so it was my turn to lead MotoLizzy over the river and through the woods. What great fun. I do not have any kids, but riding with Elizabeth through the woods made me understand what everyone had always said about this being a family sport. The entire day was that way, the kids enjoyed it, the adults enjoyed it, and even the mom’s and grand mom’s who did not even ride enjoyed the day. All of you Santa’s out there should take heed. If you want something that is fun for the whole family take the advice of a wise 8 year old.
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