Long Day of Riding to Beat the Rain

Riders: MB, Bill, Gregg and Jason

Miles: 195

WOW! We had a great ride today but I am sore. I have a big blister on the palm of my left hand and a serious case of throttle thumb aside from the usual muscle aches. I think I'm going to have to give up my favorite pair of gloves because I have worn a hole through them and now have a big blister. Ouch.

They are forecasting warm temperatures and lots of rain in the coming week so we were anxious to get out and put some miles on the sleds before what little snow there is melts or gets washed away.

Bill and I decided to save some time and money and eat breakfast at the camp before heading out to meet Gregg and Jason at the Butterfield parking area in Groton at 9:00 a.m. We got up early, ate and were making great time until we tried to hook up the trailer. The trailer lock was frozen so Bill put the torch to it to warm it up only to then break the key off inside the lock. UGGHH! Bill worked his usual McGyver magic and got the lock cut off and we were on our way.

We made it to the crowded Butterfield lot right on time and met up with Gregg and Jason. We set out through the state park and stopped at one of our favorite spots to take a quick break off the groomed trail. I had the guys ride in front of me to break the trail going in but I got sucked off the trail heading back out and can't believe I didn't get stuck. I was trying to maneuver my sled back uphill to the trail in 2'+ of powder when I realized I wasn't going to make it without hitting a big mound of snow which I assumed was a rock so I headed back down hill around the rock only to come up to a big tree with lots of hanging limbs. I ended up riding through the hanging tree branches, avoiding a pole and using all the strength I had to pull the sled to the right and up an incline to get back on the broken in trail before hitting a wooden sign pole.

Bill and Gregg were riding in front so they didn't see any of it and Jason thought I was just having fun blazing my own trail. It was so crazy and my heart was pounding but I was very happy I didn't have to have the guys come back and dig me out of the powder.

We rode hard and fast up into Danville, stopped at Marty's to gas up and then headed up through Burke into Island Pond. We stopped again in Island Pond for gas, a quick snack and hot drink before heading back out on the trail. The conditions were variable depending on whether we were in higher elevations or high traffic areas.

I only got to take a few pictures early in the day before losing all battery power. Of course I had back-up batteries but all EIGHT batteries were either too cold to work or not charged. I was disappointed because I missed out on some great photo opportunities. Oh well, next time, right?

We left Groton at 9:00 a.m. and didn't get back to the parking lot until 8:30 p.m. As usual, we were the last ones out of the parking area after a spectacular day of riding.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't get too warm and the rain doesn't wash all the snow away. I hope we get to ride next weekend.

Think snow.

First Ride in 2010

Riders: MB, Bill and Gregg

Miles: 145

Saturday was the best day of 2010 so far. We finally got on the snowmobile trails for our first ride of the 2010 season. We didn't get as much snow as they got in Burlington, VT (30"+) or as much as we have in the city but there was enough to ride so I was happy.

I was even more happy about being able to ride the Peacham trails which have been closed for about 3 seasons now. There has been some dispute that has kept the trails closed and cut us off from the trails northeast of us. I'm so excited they are open now and we can easily get to Danville and points north.

Bill and I had a quick breakfast at P&H and then drove to the Butterfield parking lot where we planned to meet Gregg. We got there a few minutes early so we took the trail to Gregg's house to pick him up. We rode out of Groton, through the old/new Peacham trail, up into Danville and over into East Burke where we had lunch at Cole's Filling Station.

It was really cold with the temps only in the single digits but that didn't stop us from riding 145 miles. We stopped at Marty's Pit Stop on the way home and got some steaks to grill.

The trail conditions were decent but we definitely need more snow. There were a few water bars and some holes to maneuver around but no major obstacles. The few roads we had to scrape down where covered with a bit of snow so it wasn't bad at all. Bill and I both have new Bergstrom carbides on our sleds so I wasn't worried about damaging my skiis and had really good steering control.

I was pretty sore the next day which usually happens after the first day of riding. I could barely lift my arms but it was a good sore feeling. I would have gone riding again on Sunday but Bill is still recovering from being sick so we decided to take it easy and just hang around the camp.

I can't wait to ride again. Pray for snow!