For Christmas, Hailey received a bike from Santa. She rode on it at the lakehouse in the driveway and here at our house once but she hasn't had the chance to take it out and really test her bike skills. So yesterday I took her to Mitch park.  We have been on the first section a few times before when we took her scooter out for a test run but we never crossed the road and took the paved trail beyond that point. When we began our journey, a nice older couple was starting their walk as well and passed us up pretty quickly. She needed a push start but after that cruised along really well - until the path went down hill and she started going faster and faster! I kept telling her to use her hand brakes but come to find out they were not working. She avoided going into a deep ditch and made a graceful fall in the grass. So after I checked her and the bike out, we had a lesson on how to use the brakes "old school" style! She got pretty tickled that she could control her bike in this manner. So we were off again and another downhill section was coming up. She was a little hesitant this time and used her brakes. You could see her beaming each time she did it. It was pretty cute. At this point, I noticed that we were not curving back around like I thought the trail would take us. Instead it was venturing way out and farther than I had intended to go for her first trip out. I had Hunter in the double stroller and was walking in my Tretorn shoes. I currently do not own any walking shoes and I wished I had some on at that point! The trail was very nice and we kept seeing lots of runners and walkers. Then Hailey told me she needed to rest which we did until she told me she had to use the bathroom. So off we went again. I spied a portapotty and we made it there but she didn't exactly. It was 50 degrees outside and guess what? She still had her gymnastics suit on underneath her outfit. Makes it hard to get undressed when you really, really need to go. Needless to say she had a little accident. We kept going along the trail. I could see off in the distance that eventually it would curve back around but it would be some time. At the 1 and 1/2 mile marker, I saw a cut across to the kids playground. I had to help her walk her bike up the grassy hill and push Hunter, but we did it. We still had a long way to go to get back to the car at the very beginning of the trail but I knew that the trail we were on was still curving out and I didn't want to get stuck with a way beyond tired little girl and have to manuve a bike and a stroller. Now were were trekking along in the parking lots. It was uphill a good portion but she kept trudging along. I would give her boosts every now and then. When we got back to the car, the couple that was just in front of us was arriving. They talked to Hailey for a bit and I asked them how long the whole trail was and they said it was 3 miles. I told them it was Hailey's first time and they gave her congratulations on going so far. So I figured that by the time we got back to the car, we probably did a solid 2 miles. So much for a quick bike ride. She wanted to stay and play and keep riding but I was pooped and wanted to get her home and changed out of that outfit. We all had showers and hot chocolate later. It was a good, long afternoon and we plan to go back again!