Just don't look back

As he handed me my helmet, Gary Bartles, owner and manager of Brown County's Valley Branch Retreat, assured me that the retreat's All Terrain Vehicle tours are safe. His customers, he said, range in age from 16 to 74.

About an hour's drive south of Indianapolis in Nashville, Valley Branch Retreat offers year-round ATV adventure tours across miles of rugged trails in the secluded woodland area.

Before we headed out, Bartles delivered a quick safety lesson and went over the controls of the vehicle. The first way to avoid crashing, he said, is to not look behind you. If you do, you'll probably twist the handles, causing the vehicle to make a sharp, unexpected turn.

"Also, you don't want to ever place your foot on the ground to brace yourself if you think you're going to fall off while driving," he said. "That's the No. 1 way people break their ankles while riding."

Because many tour participants, including me, have never piloted an ATV before, the tour begins on the practice track, where Bartles goes over the art of body English. Unlike when driving a car, for instance, you need to move your whole body when navigating turns or uneven surfaces to prevent the vehicle from tipping.

And once out on the trails, it only took me a few minutes to realize the true importance of body English.

After coming down a hill, we had to navigate a steep embankment to clear a small creek that blocks the path. Going over this angled surface, I forgot to shift my body weight to the opposite side and soon felt the massive weight of the ATV starting to tip over. For a second I really believed I would be tossed off into the water before the massive vehicle fell on top of me, but after gunning the engine, I straightened the ATV out and safely moved on.

After that it was nothing but smooth riding as we jumped logs, climbed and descended the waves of hills and cruised at high speeds across some of the long straightaways of the trail.

Toward the end of the hourlong trip, making even the tough turns felt natural.

The only problem I faced? Making sure to follow Bartles' safety rule of not looking behind while driving to admire some of the breathtaking views that Brown County's woods provide.

By Trevor Brown / Indy.com

Valley Branch Retreat

What: ATV tours.

Where: 2620 Valley Branch Road, Nashville.

For more information: Visit www.valleybranchretreat.net or call (812) 988-7750.