I recently spent some time in Kearny Az. Kearny is a small town of about two thousand in the middle of copper mine country. It is southeast of Phoenix and 75 miles of Tucson. My wife and I (Diane, Club Treasurer) spent ten days traveling around the state with relatives of mine.

While I was there I got the opportunity to go riding a couple of times.  My guide and cousin (who we will call Hank to protect his identity) had atv’s so this made it easy. The first ride we loaded up the machines first thing one morning 11am LOL. We did this so we could go and ride the other side of Mescal Mountains.  Once we loaded up we drove about 30 minutes to the parking area.  From there we headed out on a 37 mile ride starting out at 2800 feet.  The first couple of miles we rode a gravel road and then we headed up on the trails.  These trails unlike ours are mostly smooth hard pack.  As we started to climb our way through the switch backs watching for cattle I was surprised it wasn’t dusty.  With my fearless guide ahead of me we only saw three other atvers all day.  The atvers out there seemed very friendly enough to stop and hug out on the trail.  I guess that’s what happens when you haven’t seen someone for a while.  Hank is the only one I know that can be in the middle of the desert and run into someone he knows. The only other signs of life we saw were about 14 miles into the back country.  We came across an old claim from the 40’s where someone had built a home now owned by Willie and his dog Lady.  We stopped and talked to Willie for a bit he told us his home didn’t have electricity but did have a gas stove, refrigerator and hot water heater.  I asked Willie what brought him to that part of the country?  He replied “my Harley.”  Willie was quite different than most city folk.

Now it was time to move on as we worked our way to 6500 feet looking out over the mountains with beautiful views and even a little bit of that white stuff - the stuff we went to get away from.  At that point we started working our way back down to the valley, mountains as far as you could see.  On the way back we went through gates not like our gates, gates you had to open and close not to let the cattle out as this is open grazing land for the cattle ranchers.  On the way back I got to lead once we hit the gravel road.  It wasn’t bad I only had to stop three times for the old guy to catch up.  This was one of the best rides I ever had in my 28 years of riding.

The Rolling Reporter
By Chris Burnes

Today, February 5, 2011 we all gathered for our annual Ice Fishing Event at Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham, NH.  We all met at the parking lot around 9:00 AM.  Some members were running behind.
Buddy brought his Bob House and fire pit.  Dana brought the ice auger and Richard and I brought what was most important, the food!(ha ha).  Buddy pulled the Bob House, Richard pulled our home made sled with the food, and I pulled the fire pit.  We all followed Higgy, who was smart and rode his sled.  What a day full of adventure.  We had to go the long way to the pond for the snow as so deep and light that the ATV’s would have just sunk.  Anyhow, we followed Higgy on his sled and boy what a mess.  The snow was very deep and under that was too much of slush.  We all were getting stuck on the ice.  On our way to the ice, Buddy tip over his Bob House and his bait and everything in it was all over the inside. Higgy pulled me out and I was a dumb A** and got the tow rope wrapped around my front left tire. 
After the Brains of the group decided we should go back to land and just have a cookout and ride the trails, we all tried to head back to land.  What a mess!!  Higgy had to get most of us out from being stuck and some of us he had to tow us back to land.  I think we spent a better of three hours towing and getting people out of the mess on the ice.  We rode back to the parking lot and set up the fire pit and enjoyed some burgers, hotdogs, chips and cookies with the 18 people that attended the event.  Dana was thinking of putting a few fish holes with the auger in the parking lot so we could fish!  That would have been something huh?
After we finished eating lunch the group headed out for a trail ride.  Dick and I stayed behind and watched Buddy’s grandson and kept an eye on the fire and peoples belongings.  I had a great time having snow ball fights and sliding down the big pile of snow with Cole Buddy (Buddy’s grandson).  We all talked around the fire pit for a while to let the fire die down and around 3:00 PM we headed back to the main entrance to pack up and head home.  
I don’t know about everyone else, but I was so exhausted I came home and took a nap on the couch.
Even though we had tons of mishaps today I had a great time with a bunch of fun and wonderful people.  Thank you all for a great time.  Higgy thanks for being our savior for the day!!  Big round of applause to Higgy and his sled!! Got a call from Buddy and when we packed up his fire pit there was still coals and wood in it so we piled a bunch of snow in it to put the fire out.  Well on his way home, after the snow melted and the wind from driving reignited the coals and when he was going thru the toll booth in Bedford his fire pit was a blazing!  He had to put it out again with some snow.  Wow talk about an ending for the day!
Until the next time, ride safely!

The Rolling Reporter

By Christine Burnes

On Saturday January 22, the NHATV held its Bear Brook State Park Tailgate party.  We all met in the first parking lot at 9:00AM.  We have roughly 13 riders in attendance.  We all enjoyed conversation and headed out for our ride at 9:30 AM.  We designated our fearless leader (Buddy Dionne) to lead the pack on our wonderful adventure. 
We rode until 12:00 PM and headed back to the parking lot for our lunch.  We had lots to eat.  Hamburgers, hotdogs, and the homemade chef Buddy brought Campbell’s Clam Chowder( I think it was Campbell’s—mm mm good).  We had chips and cookies.  After we stuffed our bellies we headed back out and rode some more.  Unfortunately, my husband and I had to stay behind for he lost the keys and was afraid we might come back to no truck or trailer.  After searching, you would never guess where I found them?  They were in the cuff between his jeans and his snow pants.  We then decided to head out and maybe find the rest of the group.  Unfortunately we never found them until we were just coming back to the parking lot.  We roughly rode 40 miles for the day.

Hope everyone had a great time.  As usual I enjoyed a great ride with a bunch of great people.  For those who missed the ride maybe we will see you at the next ride.  Until then, ride safely!