Last Ride - Die Hards Only

Riders: MB and Bill

Miles: 34

I can't believe it is the second week in March and the trails in the Northeast are closed or are closing. Bill and I were waiting to get some good snow so we could take a snowmobiling vacation but it never happened. I'm glad we didn't book an expensive cabin and then not be able to ride.

We decided to go to the Upper Valley Grill for breakfast. We knew it wouldn't be crowded with sleds since the trail to the store has been closed for a while. We were debating whether we were going to ride the loop and the gore trails when a group of guys we know came in and said they were going for their last ride. We were just finishing our meal and decided to beat them out on the trails before it all melted.

We geared up at Gregg's camp where the sleds have been staying all week. I hate leaving them outside in the elements but it was nice to just jump on them and ride instead of having to unload and load them on the trailer.

It was below freezing overnight so the trails were really stiff. It made it hard to steer out of the tracks on the trail. After an hour or so it started loosening up and getting really wishy washy. We screamed around the heights, did the loop, the 2005 trail and 302C. We rode as far as we could towards Washington and then headed back around and did the loop again.

This season has been such a disappointment. I'm just starting to come to grips with the fact that I won't be able to ride again until December. Even if we get some snow now it won't be enough to get a base and the warm days will melt it away too quick.

I had hoped to put record miles on this year but ended the season with a mere 830 miles. The sugar is running fast and mud season is here. I'm going to have to start the countdown until next season. Only 9 months to go.