Short Rough Ride

Riders: MB and Bill

Miles: 42

Bill and I fueled up ourselves and the sleds at P&H early and got out on the trails. I was hoping for better conditions today since we got some flurries last night but it wasn't enough. There was lots of ski chatter from the icy conditions just under a light layer of fluffy snow. We didn't ride very far today because of the ice and thin cover. It isn't worth it when you think of the cost of new skis or the wear and tear on the track.

We did run into the law at the parking lot off of 232 but we had already gotten our safety check the week before so we were able to quickly get back to our ride.

The forecast is promising some snow for the coming week but Bill has to work next weekend so we won't be able to ride again until the following week. I hope the snow sticks around until we can get back up north.

Mother Nature, more snow PLEASE!

Thin Cover

Riders: MB, Bill and Gregg

Miles: 117

We ate a quick breakfast at the camp, topped off the gas tanks at P&H, stopped at Absolute Power for oil and headed up to the Butterfield lot to meet Gregg.

We knew our riding would be limited since we hadn't really gotten any more snow since last week. The trails were decent in the park and in the higher elevations but everything in between was pretty bad.

It's unbelievable how quickly the conditions can go from good to terrible in just a few miles. The photo above was taken as we were leaving the Ledges area but then we were quickly back to bare spots, ice and thinly covered trails.

Still praying for snow.

OUCH!

This post has nothing to do with riding unless you consider my slide on the ice a ride. Is there a support group out there for klutzes 'cause I could really use one.

It's pretty comical that my mother worries about me when I'm out snowmobiling, ATVing, hiking, bungee jumping or playing other potentially dangerous sports because I generally only get injured doing every day things, you know, like braking my foot walking down my driveway or this klutzy move I made.

Bill and I were carrying a marble counter top into the camp when I slipped on the ice and snow and smashed my head on the marble. OWWWW! OMG! Pain! Blood! OOOOOUCH!!! It was awful. My sunglasses broke and there was blood everywhere. I have a cut above my eyebrow and my eyelid is swollen and looks like I have dark purple eye shadow on. I guess I'm lucky I didn't make contact with the marble an inch one way (eyeball) or the other (temple) because I expect that could have been much worse.

I called my primary doctor's office and the eye doctor to ask if they think it's necessary for me to have it checked out. I didn't black out, I'm not having any problems with my vision or any headaches so my doctor didn't think I needed to come in unless it gets worse. I spoke to the eye doctor too and she said I could come in the office if I wanted but she thinks it will be fine.

UGHHH! It seems like these things only happen to me. It's a miracle I can get through the day without injuring myself. It's a good thing I signed up for COBRA coverage so I still have health insurance. A person like me should never be without it.

I look like I went a few rounds in the boxing ring with Rocky and lost.

Please ignore the fact that I am long overdue to have my brows waxed. It doesn't look like I'll be getting them waxed anytime soon.

If anyone asks me what happened I'm just going to say "oh, this is nothing, you should see the other guy."

This is my all natural impression of Mimi from the Drew Carey Show:

Valentine's Day Ride

Riders: MB and Bill

Miles: 72

My favorite Valentine and I took a short ride from Groton to Joe's Pond today. The trails were actually in slightly better condition than they were yesterday. It even started snowing pretty heavily in the mountains while we were out. Where's the snow?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Mixed Signals

Riders: MB, Bill, Gregg
Miles: 109

I didn't have high expectations of getting good riding conditions during our drive up to Vermont. There was hardly any snow on the side of the road and the fields were bare. It didn't look good.

Bill and I ate breakfast at P&H truck stop and then headed up to the Butterfield lot to meet up with Gregg. We rode out of the state park which was in surprisingly good shape. We hit some bare spots and one cornfield in Peacham where the trail was totally gone and we had to ride through hay and frozen dirt for about a mile or so but that was the worst of it.

We made it past Marty's and up to the Ledges where we hung out by the bonfire for a while and took a break. We rode back the same way we went because we knew the conditions weren't that bad and we didn't know if we would have any long road skips or bare trails going a different route.

It's really important to signal other riders when you are snowmobiling so when there are three of us riding the lead person will hold up 2 fingers to oncoming traffic indicating there are 2 more riders coming, the second person will hold up 1 finger indicating there is one rider behind and then last person will hold up a fist indicating that they are the last rider.

I like to ride in the middle of the group because I can ride faster when I can see the sled in front of me going over bumps or turns in the trail. I had been riding really fast to catch up to Gregg who was in the lead and I was signaling 1 to all the groups we passed until I noticed another sled behind Bill. I thought another rider had come up on us and was looking for a place to pull to the side so they could pass us even though I thought Gregg was still in front. It was so funny when I finally pulled off the trail and realized Gregg was behind Bill. He pulled off the trail and hid behind a tree line so I rode right past him without even noticing. He did the same thing on the way back too. I felt bad for giving other riders the wrong signals but it was really funny that I didn't even notice him pulling off the trail.

All and all it was a good ride but we desperately need more snow.

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!