A day like this must be ridden.

The easiest loop I know of from Boise to mountain forests and back is up Rocky Canyon Road, across the ridge and down trails 4A and 4,^¹ then home to Eighth Street. Or vice versa. Boy Hunter had been begging for a “long” ride like his sisters so we set out for that loop.

1. City of Boise: ridgetorivers.org/…/motorcycle-atv

It was blue skies all around. We wore jackets thinking it might be cooler up there but quickly shed those.

Hunter’s small frame bounces around on the motorcycle. I don’t think it was as much fun as he hoped. He enjoyed climbing around these rocks, though.

I thought Hunter might enjoy some mild single track so I steered us down the top of trail four. The single track path cuts through the stand of trees that burned in 1996.^¹ Those remaining sound a somber epitaph for their fallen brethren.

1. Idaho State University: geology.isu.edu/…/Background_ESF

It was beautiful up in the trees, bits of unexpected color splashed across the hillsides in the form of shrubs and saplings.

When we came to the end of the trail, I asked Hunter if he wanted to continue on towards Bogus Basin, assuming he would, but his answer was no. He was ready to go home. I was certain then that the “long” ride wasn’t all the fun he expected. Maybe when he grows a bit …

Happy Halloween!