I Really Did This?!! Part 1

Last week we were in Arizona visiting my brother-in-law Pat’s family.  The day before we left, Mr. W and his two brothers and I went 4-wheeling.  There we are in the above picture heading out.  On the 45 minute drive to our location, Pat regaled us with calm warnings about tipping over, rolling, friends who had done so in the past, and what to do if we got lost.

While I had a smile on my face in that picture above, there were numerous thoughts racing through my head like..

Why didn’t any of the other women come?
What if I flip?
What if crash?
What if I die?
Am I insane?

We headed out to a dried-up riverbed outside of Phoenix.

We had three vehicles to play with.  Two quads and a souped-up golf cart.

After a few quick instructions from Pat, like “don’t scratch the paint woman!”, we took off. 

Just kidding about that comment, he didn’t really say that.

Pat and Mr. Wonderful started on the quads, and I, in all my glory took off in the golf cart, wondering “do they really think I have a clue what I’m doing here?”  Bobby is a photography buff and had his way-cool camera on the golf cart with me so he was happy to ride and snap pictures at first.

Pat and Mr. W started having fun, and showing off.

I followed closely behind, wind whipping through my hair and looking like a complete dork.  I am greatful Bobby got off to take a few pictures and made it look like I was a carefree, independent 4-wheelin’ chick on my own , when in reality, I was wondering, “just how much will it cause me to replace this thing if I wreck it?”

But I was a dork having a blast, I tell ya!

Bobby and I were having a lot of fun just staying on some lower hills and to be honest with you, I really didn’t know what my vehicle could handle.

And then it happened.

Pat told Bobby he could have a turn on the quad and climbed into the golf cart with me.

He directed me over to a series of 6 incredibly steep hills.  Mr. W was already headed up one on the powerful quad.

And then Pat said…”Okay Katie, go ahead and head on up hill #2″. (the smallest of the 6 hills)

Crickets Chirping.

Pins dropping.

“REALLY Pat?!!”

So I gunned it.

And I think Pat held on for dear life…yes…yes he did.  Here’s proof.

Notice my white knuckle grip on the steering well as well and Mr. W looking on in disbelief from behind on the quad!

Then Pat continued to take me up one hill and down the other until we came to “Hill #6” .

Hill #6 was at the edge of a bowl and let me tell you, from up there, it looked like a cliff.

At this point, wishing I had Depends on, I had two choices. 

#1  Climb out of the golf car, curl up in a fetal position and whimper like a baby..or

#2  Take the plunge

I plunged.

And off we went.  Holy moly what a rush! 

I think as I reached the bottom I screamed something like “Let’s do it again!” 

After mastering that hill another 10 or 12 times, Mr. W climbed in with me and took the ride.

Again, one of the JBaugh brothers might not have had full confidence in me.

Then, just to capture the fun of this experience, Pat jumped on the back of the cart with my camera.

And I whipped around in my seat and said “You’re really going to DO that? Just STAND on the back?”

Adrenaline junkies I tell ya…and down we went again.

And to further document the journey, Mr. Wonderful video’d the trip on his cell phone.

And for your viewing pleasure you can experience it as well by clicking play below..

So in answer to my last question I had?

Yes, I was insane, but MAN, that was INSANELY FUN!

Stay tuned for Part 2, where I actually did get on a quad!