Dez Stories - October 2000

Steve Jewell is my man-in-the-garage. At his persistence, we purchased two bikes and met some new friends at Buttercup for a weekend. I had a 185 three wheeler and NO experience on a motorcycle. Steve had a 250R three wheeler and a desire/love to ride anything anywhere. Every ride my stomach was in my throat, but I kept at it. After a few tumbles, I moved up to a 200SX and liked the four wheels much better than three. Then I got pregnant. The following season I was learning all over again. But I enjoyed getting away and relaxing, and of course the friendships we were developing the rest of the campers.

We were the "first" to have a baby in tow (half of the group had teenage children, the other half had none). At first it seemed a hindrance, but we piled everything a baby needs and brought her along for the ride. We took turns staying at camp, the focus became less of "ride-ride-ride" and more relax and have fun and ride when we can.

Now 8 years later, our regular group consists of seven children age six and under, five of them riding motorized quads. Although they are not in the dunes on their quads yet, our daughter usually hitches a ride in a friend's buggy. A few years from now, she will be right behind us and we will no longer be taking turns with the kids in camp, but rather trying to keep up with them.

Because of my man-in-the-garage, we found a family activity that I would not have selected, but have come to love.
-Catherine Jewell, San Diego

Here I am, at Glamis, riding the only toy to survive the weekend (My LT500) on the last trip of the 1999-2000 season. We were 3 friends, Doug, Dave and I who just wanted to play in the sand. Besides my 500, I also brought my 200X, which Doug rode, and Dave brought his buggy.

We unloaded the toys and set up camp. This is when the trouble really began. Doug and I went for a ride to Oldsmobile when the 200X threw its chain. So we limped back to camp. That was an easy fix. Next Dave jumps in his buggy and doesn't even get 100 yards from camp when his transaxle blows up. So it went right back on the trailer. So with one toy broke, Doug and I go for another ride to Comp Hill. This is when the 200X blew the rod bearing. Oh boy. What a day. Well it only takes the LT500 and I three to four hours and three tow straps to get the wheeler back to camp. We're having fun now.

The 500 is running great, so after eating, I rode over to the sand drags at Gecko to try and burn up some of this fuel before we load up and head home. I was just eating up Banshees and loving it.

On the way home I dropped the wheeler off at my friend Jimmy Scrib's house to get fixed. When we got home we kicked the buggy a few times, said a few cuss words and we all sat on the porch watching the stars and telling stories. All in all we still had a good time cause to me, "The worst desert trip is still better than an average day at work." Just really makes you look forward to your next trip.
-Rich Jones, Santee

This page last updated 13 July 2000