Day 9 (June 18) started with us trying to cook a camp breakfast.  Instant oatmeal was easy enough and though the pancakes turned out decent, smearing them with peanut butter rendered them just fuel (but tasty enough).  Note to self; get some syrup.

A state park trail maintenance guy described a good ride for us on the Pauite ATV trail system.  He thought it would be a 60 mile ride and one we'd enjoy.  It was, though we took it in two chunks because we got lost on the morning half, nearly struck by lightening, and thoroughly gassed by riding rock strewn switchbacks on our way back to camp.  Very technical riding and though enjoyable for most of it, we were exhausted.  

After lunch, we took a late afternoon ride on the second half of the trail the guy had described.  It was easier riding, but really fun as we rode a ridge above the valley and had some great views.  At one point as we passed through a high meadow and a small aspen grove, Ben commented that it reminded him of what Narnia might look like.  They've been getting more rain than normal so the mountains and hills are all green.  Its really striking, particularly when I've been expecting dry and dusty desert conditions.  The second half of the ride descended towards the Otter Creek reservoir and had some distant views of mountains and plateaus to the east.  We decided that the two rides had a great combination of adventure and pleasure riding and was a really good first day on the bikes.

Dinner was soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.  Not mom's quality of cooking, but it did the trick.  We loaded the bikes before heading off to bed so we can get a quick start in the morning.

Some of the technical riding during our morning ride

At Jones Corral, before we got lost!

Ben in front of some cool rock formations on the second half of our ride

Heading towards Otter Creek reservoir

Cool views