There used to be a some really good riding in a town close to here.  It was an abandoned rail road bed.  A local hunting club had the right of way and would allow anybody to use the trail and all the trails that stemmed from the old rail bed.  Everybody got along.  Equestrians, 4WD, hikers, mountain bikers and dirt bikers.  Then something nasty happened.  A group of people who know best how others should live decided that it would best if only hikers and bikers had access to these trails.  So they banded together and lobbied the government and collected momementum from a whole slew of haters and created The "Great" Allegheny Passage. You know, those people who think that everybody should be exactly like them and only enjoy the exact same activities they enjoy.  For your own good of course.  Equestrians are also taboo in a lot of areas on the trail.  Imagine that, one of the oldest forms of non bipedal conveyance.. taboo.  But now it's not just the "Alleghany Passage".  It's the "Great" "Alleghany Passage".  I guess all the haters like it because now they only have to commune with others of their ilk who enjoy the exact same activities they do.  

Has anyone noticed that there is slowly less and less riding areas? I have.
One of the prime riding areas this side of Hagarstown happens to be in my neck of the metropolis we call the Cumberland area. For years I have been riding in the Klondike area. When I was young there was a small select crew that had free reign of all the trails in the area. If I stood outside and heard a dirt bike it was either me, Shawn or Darryl. So, If I was the one listening I guess that would eliminate me from the one riding. it was'nt hard to figure out who was riding in those days. I enjoy riding in this area so much I talked my wife into building a house up there when I grew up. ( and for you guys that know where my house is, you know that was no easy feat. )

This project started out the way most projects do. Ashley, a friend of mine, was looking for a dirt bike to learn to ride. She started riding last year on a bike that was a little tall for her in the woods. She was riding a Honda NX250, not the most dirt worthy mount. The NX is also a bit of a porker for a short newbie. It was however very entertaining watching her fall over on the trail... repeatedly. }:) Needless to say, discouragement set in.. or was it common sense.. and she decided to locate a smaller machine to learn on.