Living in Georgia certainly has its advantages for ATV enthusiasts. Our crazy weather system just isn't one of them. It's not unusual to wake with ice on the ground and be wearing shorts and a T-shirt by noon. Heck, I've even been stuck in a rainstorm with bright blue, sunny skies. When it rains, it pours and I had been dealing with torrential downpours for two weeks when I received the call that there had been a change of plans and I was to attend the 2009 High Lifter East Coast Mud Nationals in Doles, GA. The Creek Bottom ATV Trails, which would be hosting the event, are only a three to four hour drive south and in most situations this would be outstanding news. Unfortunately, the weather channel currently shows otherwise. Unsure of what to expect I packed my bags remembering to bring along hip waders and a rubber raft just in case Doles, GA was completely engulfed in flood waters from the North.
As we traveled South on I-75 the landscape flattened and the skies began to clear. I couldn't believe my eyes as we neared the Creek Bottom Trails to find a giant cloud of rising dust marking our destination. How is this possible? Doppler Radar shows the entire state being swallowed by massive thunderstorms. As I mentioned earlier any type of miraculous weather phenomenon is possible in GA. This time it actually worked to my advantage.
Entering the Coastal Plains Region of GA is like setting foot on a totally different continent with its own unique wildlife and weather system. This includes an abundance of swarming gnats unlike anything I've ever experienced in my entire lifetime. The locals were easy to spot as they strolled along as if the gnats weren't even there. The remaining 95% of us were willing to do anything for a moment of relief. Bug spray, head nets, and even bandanas around the face like banditos from the Wild West became a familiar site. Relief was eventually achieved by hanging ridiculous looking dryer sheets from our hats or sunglasses to repel the nagging insects. I do realize that this sounds bizarre but let me assure you that it really does work. After accomplishing my new look of a total goon, I threw my camera over my shoulder and headed off for four days of mud slinging excitement.
The High Lifter Mud Nationals are unlike any other discipline of ATV or UTV racing where the competitors have all the fun while the spectators watch from the stands. The Mud Nationals are a family oriented event where everyone is involved and having a great time is mandatory. Over the course of four days and nights there are scheduled events such as a poker run, Show-N-Shine competition, Kiddie Bog, Mudda-Cross, extreme mud bogging and last but certainly not least is a spectacular freestyle performance by The H-Bomb Films, Bomb Squad. If there's nothing in this lineup that sparks some interest you may want to stay behind and visit your grandparents or take a stroll through your local antiques mall while we live it up High Lifter style.
Before heading out to a Mud National as a spectator let it be known that the event covers a vast area and having an ATV or UTV to get around sure makes life easier. Yamaha has a factory demo rig present at all Mud National events and I'm extremely pleased to say that they had arranged transportation for the ATV Rider crew. A Rhino suited our needs perfectly and provided a great deal of cargo space to store our camera equipment. A knowledgeable Yamaha staff was on hand to answer any Yamaha related questions and to provide demo rides on many of their production units.