Unbelievable!!!

First Ride 2010-2011

Riders: MB, Bill and Gregg
Miles: MB and Bill - 71; Gregg - 20?

What a crazy day! We were excited to get out on the trails for the first ride of the season. We had a quick breakfast at P&H Truck Stop and then headed up to the Butterfield Parking Lot in Groton to meet up with Gregg. When we got to the lot Gregg said his sled wasn't running right and thought he needed a battery. We drove him back home so he could go get a new battery and made plans to meet back up in the lot.

Bill and I went back to Butterfield and were taking the sleds off the new trailer, the sleds slid out fast and the top of the new trailer came down and smashed the windshield and mirror right off my sled and broke Bill's windshield too. What the @#$%^&!!!! At that point I was ready to give in and call it a day. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to go riding after all. Bill was anxious to test out his new machine so we went around the loop and rode as far as we could before the trails got really messy.

After about 40 miles we went back to the lot to meet up with Gregg. He was just finishing up getting the new battery in and we were in business. We rode around the same trails for about an hour or so and since the temperatures were rising we decided to head back before it got really bad.

Bill and I were at an intersection waiting for Gregg to catch up which was unusual because we usually ride in a tight group. After a few minutes Gregg flew by and yelled out that he couldn't stop because his sled was not running right. His sled was backfiring and popping and he was trying to ride as fast and as far as he could to get back home. We made it down the trail about 5 miles when I noticed that the exhaust on Gregg's sled was getting red, especially on the left side.

I was watching his exhaust heat up and was thinking I should try to stop him to let him know I had a tow rope so he didn't blow his motor trying to ride it all the way back. Before we got another 5 miles down the trail there were actual 6"-8" flames coming out of the exhaust and burning right up Gregg's back.

I knew I had to get him to stop somehow because he had no idea his sled was ON FIRE! I decided the only option I had was to try to run him off the trail to get him to stop. I sped up and tried to get around him but he was so intent on getting back it took him a while to even notice I was beside him.

Bill was behind me so he had no idea why I was riding like a maniac on the wrong side of the trail. I finally got up beside Gregg and forced him to stop and screamed "YOUR SLED'S ON FIRE!!!" Gregg jumped off and we both immediately started grabbing armfuls of snow and throwing it on the flames. Gregg was yelling to get back because the fire was running under his seat and getting closer and closer to the gas tank. Bill was trying to get the seat off and eventually just ripped the thing right off even though it bolted on. We finally got the fire out and then had to figure out how to get his sled back home.

Thankfully I carry a tow rope so Bill was able to tow Gregg back. It was over 10 miles back to Butterfield. It had started to warm up and the trails were barely covered so Bill had to stay on the throttle at a steady speed so they didn't get stuck going uphill. I wish I had my camera out at the time because it was hysterical watching Gregg try to hold on as Bill went over bumps and around corners. The whole ten miles back Bill's sled was throwing snow and ice rooster tails right in Gregg's face.

About 5 miles before we got back to Butterfield I slid off the trail and amazed myself by throttling it out without any help. I knew Bill wasn't going to stop 'til he got them back to the parking lot so I was on my own.

So, that was the start to the 2010-2011 season. I'm hoping the rest of the season is uneventful. Whew...we live to ride another day.

Ride on.

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!

2008-2009 Season - First Ride

Riders: MB (Skidoo), WildBill (Yamaha), Gregg (Yamaha), Jason the Dairy Farmer (Polaris)
Miles:

The first ride of the season was wet and icy. Bill and I met Gregg and Jason in the Butternut parking lot in Groton Saturday morning. It was barely drizzling when we started out but we didn't care, we were happy to be out on the trails which were in decent condition considering how much snow we got early. We stopped at our usual spot in the state park and then we headed out as the rain continued to come down heavier and heavier.

After a few hours we hit a long road skip which was totally iced over. My sled kept spinning round and round, I couldn't get any traction. I had to run down the edge so I wouldn't spin out. The guys had to pull my sled skis around a few times after I did a 180. At least after the double 360s I was facing in the right direction. I thought I was going to flip it when I tried to pick up speed and it went into wild spins. I've never had picks on my track but could have really used them on this ride.

The weather was getting worse and we were about 3/4 way around a loop after skipping down a icy road for miles when the trail ended. We could see where the trail was but it hadn't been broken in yet and there was no way we were going to be breaking trail so we had to turn around and go back down the long icy road. It wasn't fun.

On the way back, Gregg and Bill were in front when they took a right off the trail. I thought the trail went right but because Bill's tail lights were out I didn't see him take the turn. I stopped to ask Jason if he saw where they went and he said they must have gone straight or they would have stopped. Jason and I ended up down another road icy road for a mile or so. I spun out again and then Jason and I finally turned around and went back to the last intersection because I had a feeling we missed a turn. Bill and Gregg should have waited (and they know it) but Bill thought I saw him turn - he forgot his lights were out.

It was a long wet ride back to the truck. All of us were soaked to the bone by the time we made it back to the truck. I don't think I've ever been so wet in my snowmobile gear, my underwear was soaked. UGGH!

To top off a rough and wet day, Bill almost gave himself a concussion when he loaded the sleds on the trailer. He didn't duck low enough and whacked his head on the trailer. Ouch.

I was happy to have gotten out on the trails but it wasn't the best ride. I hope we'll have better rides in '09.