The thing I absolutely loved about this ride report. #7 has done it - worked in the perfect lyric reference into the page (... and shelter, for pigs on the wing). He has nailed the perfect 10 reference. It's over, the fat lady has sung, everyone go home.
There were some firsts on this trip. I took a 5 hour drive to NH and only made it to Groton, NH. The snow came down hard and it took me leaving my house at 5:00am and we weren't on the sleds until 10:00am.
#13 was gracious enough to take his truck and trailer from Townsend to NH. We parked at the rest area on route 25 and unloaded in the heavy snowstorm.
We took the skinny trail up to the powerlines. There were several inches of loose snow on top of hard packed trails. This meant slipping and sliding on every corner. I had Simon and Garfunkel's: "Slip Sliding Away" in my head all morning. We had to adjust our riding style to stay on the trails. We took corridor 8 to the Rocky Loop. We found ourselves on perfectly groomed trails for about 8 miles until we caught up to the groomer. Even behind the groomer, it was slippery.
While on the Rocky Loop, I had the opportunity to ride #13's Yamaha Venture Lite. It was different than anything I had ever ridden. The long track without picks held corners like nothing I had ever ridden before. The other thing I noticed was how much power it had. When I heard it had 80hp, I thought that wasn't enough. It has plenty and was pleasure to drive. I could get used to it.
When we switched back, I was breaking trail in 4-6 inches of loose granular as we found our way to the Baker River Valley Snowmobile Clubhouse for lunch at 11:15am. We only had about 30 miles under our belts and we were stopping for burgers and sodas.
We were a little frustrated with the slow drive and late start, so we pushed on. We headed south down 8 to the Irving gas station and along route 25 to the other skinny uphill trail that leads to 11. We passed the Hebron store and found the way onto Newfound Lake. I noticed that the trail became lake and got a little nervous. We headed back up 11 until the trail ended.
I hate backtracking, but we had no choice. We kind of got lost looking for the Dorchester Trail. We had about 75 miles for the day by 2:00pm and we wanted to find corridor 5. We finally found the Dorchester trail after some farting around and we blasted through to the Whicher trail and onto the big wide trails of corridor 5.
When we got to the big wide open trails we started flying. As the day progresses, you get more accustomed to the area and conditions. I started working up a sweat and the endorphins started to kick. I really felt a rythm out there. It's called different things, like being in a zone. I felt it late Sunday afternoon. It was top notch riding and I know at one time or another we've all felt it.
13 said several times, "I just want to hit 100 miles". He was game all day. We followed corridor 5 all the way to Shawnee's store for some gas and a drink. It was nearing 4:00pm and we figured a long drive home so we headed back toward the truck.
We took corridor 5 to corridor 8 and crossed the bridge right before the BRV Clubhouse when we saw about 7 sleds stopped with riders off their sleds. The first thing I thought was there was some sort of accident (I thought of the Quebec trip with the medflight). 13 and I crept up toward the commotion to see what was going on.... There were two giant pigs in the middle of the trail sniffing and eating snow. One had to be 500 lbs and the other 350 lbs. All the other riders turned around and went the other way. We needed to get by, but I didn't know if these giant beast would charge at us? attack? freak out? All I could thing was these things could make a lot of bacon. We asked this couple if we could pass and they said "just go slow". As I passed, the big one looked right at me. I'll never forget the giant Pig on corridor 8. I truly wonder where they were going and what they were trying to do. Most likely hiding from the butcher.
Anyhow, I recorded a movie of the "Corridor 8, a Shelter for Pigs on the Wing". Very strange.
We headed back to the truck and loaded up. While loading up, I slipped down the ramp of 13's nice new trailer and landed on my back in 6 inches of white fluff. 13 had a good laugh at my expense.
A great day of riding, good company, 111 miles for the day and two giant pigs.
#7 and I experienced something on the trails yesterday that is a first in the long and illustrious history of WPR. I'll let him explain in the ride report PS photgraphic evidence will be provided
