Four Wheeling- Pismo Beach

When I was a little girl we used to have Miller Family Reunions every single summer! We loved them and have so many fun, fond memories of the things we did with our cousins. When I was about 8 years old our reunion was at my Uncle Leo’s house in Solvang, CA, close to Pismo Beach and one of the activities we did was go 3-wheeling at the Pismo Beach Sand Dunes. For years my dad has talked about how much fun it was and has told stories over and over again about how he got stuck in a dune with my little 4 year old sister on the back of his bike and how the bike rolled and almost landed on Julie. Anyway, we have always wanted to go back and do it again and since we live only about 2 1/2 hours away from Pismo we finally did it! On New Years Eve Day Adam, Spencer, Annie and I woke up early and headed out towards Pismo Beach. We met up in Carpenteria with Dad, Greg, Ryan, Amber and Justin (who came up from Orange County), had breakfast and continued on towards Pismo. It was a bit cold but the skies were bright and clear and we just knew it would be a great day!

Adam, Justin, Spencer, Annie, Papa and Amber

The Kids                                         Dad and Ryan                                      Adam and Greg

After checking in at the rental place, getting fitted with helmets (when Annie saw the helmets she said “I’ve always wanted to where one of those), and signing away our lives we drove through town, onto the beach, and across the sand to the place where we would pick up our 4-wheelers (apparently 3-wheelers are too dangerous and they’ve switched to 4 wheels). We all got a little lesson on how to drive our vehicles, warnings about the fees we would incur if we rolled, tipped, damaged or broke our bikes or the safety flags and then we were off! Let me just say F.U.N.!!!! We signed up to be out for 3 hours and it went by SOOOOOO quickly. We started out with Granddad in the lead and instructed the kids to go single file behind him. The rest of us followed behind the kids to be sure they got the hang of driving the things. As the time went by we could see the kids’ confidence building because they started driving faster and diverting out of the single file line. We went up and down the dunes, trying to jump the tops of them, riding into the deep ones and charging up and out of them.

Ryan posing for the camera                                             Spencer, Annie, Amber and Justin

About and hour and a half in we came around a fun little bumpy corner and up onto a soft sandy flat area before heading down another big hill. Each time we’d come to the top of something we’d stop and wait for everyone to catch up before heading off again. Anyway, while waiting at the top of the flat area I turned around to see where Adam was and saw his bike turned over and him trying to roll it back upright. His flag was broken and he was trying to wipe the sand off his bike! I was glad that the sand was soft because when the bike rolled it threw him off pretty good. Anyway, we figured his wheel must have hit a rut and at the speed he was going he flipped! Thankfully his bike started up without a problem and other than the broken flag there was no harm done. I went in with him to get a new flag and then met up with everyone again.

Adam after the flip

The last hour we found a fun little spot with a jump and the kids went over and over it trying to “catch some air”. It was hilarious to watch them go as fast as they thought they should and then barely pop over the top! At one point Justin came off the jump and drove back around to where we were all watching him when all of a sudden one side of the front of his bike completely fell down. Turns out the spring of one of the wheels broke clean off! Uh oh! While we waited for the rental place to bring him a replacement the other kids kept going over the jump. I was taking pictures of them and when I turned to see where everyone was at saw Annie standing next to her turtled (tipped over) 4 wheeler. Hilarious that of all the kids she’s the one who flipped. She was going a regular speed but tried to turn to hard and the thing just flipped. Again, uh oh! We flipped her bike upright and when the guy came with Justin’s replacement bike he checked Annie’s bike and said we just needed a new flag and she was good to go. We spent the last half hour going over jumps and watching some CRAZY dunebuggys rip across the sand and unbelievable speeds while popping wheelies and then headed back to return our bikes! When we turned in our bikes and helmets they thanked us and said they wouldn’t charge us for our 2 flipped bikes, one broken axel and 2 broken flags because it was New Years! They were so fantastic!

Spencer catching some good air!

Amber even got off the ground a little!

Annie right before her spill!

Annie’s bike after we got it turned back over. See the oil all over the front tire and in the sand! Also notice the broken flag!

**Sorry I didn’t get a picture of Justin going over the jump! I got my camera out while he was waiting for his replacement bike! **

Driving home we stopped to eat at In N Out and the kids decided we need to do this annually! Not sure about that but know that we shouldn’t wait 28 years before we do it again!

The Whole Crew - Ryan, Me, Amber, Dad, Spencer, Adam, Annie, Greg and Justin

These kids were exhausted on the way home. Good thing they got some rest since it was New Years Eve!