For her eleventh birthday my eleven-year-old daughter, Jessica, wanted to plan her own birthday party. Her idea was to have her friends to join her on a birthday bicycle ride beach party.

We found invitations in the shape of bicycles. Inside she wrote all the important details such as: Date, time and location to meet. She was sure to add they should bring a bicycle, wear their bathing suit underneath their clothes, bring a towel and sunscreen.

Jessica and I arrived a little early the morning of the party. I brought individual bottles of water for everyone and bike packs, that attached to the handlebars of a bike, I found at a sporting goods store . All four girls arrived in a mini van. One of the dads, Scott, had volunteered to bring them and their bikes to the meeting site. He unloaded the bikes from the rack on the front and helped the girls check their bike's tire pressure. He used a hand pump to fill one that was low. After Scott and I discussed what time and where to meet at the beach he waved good-bye to the girls and drove off.

I gave each girl a bottle of water. All I had in my backpack was snacks, a first air kit, disposable camera a towel and sunscreen. I asked if everyone had applied sunscreen as I took out mine. One girl had forgotten to bring hers so I let her use mine. While Jessica was puttin an extra dallop on her nose she started talking like a surfer chick making us all laugh. She's such a ham!

Before we set out I made sure all the girls knew the rules of riding a bike on a trail and who has the right of way. I took extra time explaining why they had to call out to runners and other bikers, "on your left", when passing and to be careful coming up behind equestrians and also to allow them to cross the trail first. I wanted to make sure this day would be safe for everyone and teaching the girls trail bike safety was the first step. The only mishap was when Alice got a little ahead of the group and forgot to warn someone that she was passing. Fortunately she didn't run into anyone but she slid into a bush when she put on her breaks to avoid crashing. She didn't suffer any injuries--except for being embarrassed.

The ride was three miles, which is a lot for four eleven-year-old girls, but our pace was a leisurly one. We made a few stops to rest have some snacks and water, but I thought they held up great.

Around 2:00PM we arrived at the beach. My husband Ken was waiting for us. He had already spread out the blanket, carried the cooler from the car and started cooking hot dogs on the hibachi grill. The girls were thrilled they hadn't expected real food for lunch especially hot dogs with everything. Ken had brought grated cheese, onions, bacon, and even chili in disposable plastic containers. When Jessica was getting a soda from the cooler then shrieked when Ken put a piece of ice down her back. Everyone thought it was very funny especially when she got him back when he was busy turning the hot dogs on the grill.

Instead of a birthday cake, Ken had brought cupcakes he picked up at the supermarket bakery. Each was decorated with a miniature plastic bicycle, surfboard and candy sprinkles.

After lunch the girls stripped to their bathing suits and played by the ocean. Ken and I sipped
Sebastiani wine coolers and watched Jessica and Sarah make a sand castle. It turned out really good. I took lots of pictures with my disposable camera. Jessica was such a ham. She kept running into the frame, trying to get into every picture.

As the afternoon turned to evening I could tell the girls weren't looking forward to the ride back. Jessica recognized Scott's mini van as it pulled into the parking lot. The other girls started cheering and jumping up and down they were so happy they didn't have to ride their bikes three miles back to the trail's beginning.

The party turned out perfectly and Jessica fell asleep immediately after getting home. I doubt she has had that much exercise and that much fun in a long time. Ken and I have started thinking it might be fun to go on a bike ride some Saturday, as a family.