Any storyteller that has to begin or end his/her posts with the disclaimer "True story" has issues with their creditability. I wonder why 13 has gotten into this habit? NOT!
The following is a true story: I was bringing my truck in to get the heater fixed yesterday and 10 minutes from the dealer the heater began pushing out wonderful warm air. The dealer did a thorough check and could not find an issue and this morning on my commute the heat worked just fine. I believe my truck might have an issue with #3 (that truck has always been a good judge of character)
I guess it is safe to say that we all see things a little differently. Yes, I did appreciate having a ride up North. And I did very much like the idea of being able to transport my sled inside an enclosed trailer. This outstanding services does come at a price.
The pros.... We left on time. In fact, 13 was 4 minutes early. Nice.
Shotgun.
It was good good opportunity to catch up.
My sled was clean at the end of the day. Door to door service. Nice.
The trails were very good. Pace is everything to me.
A satisfying lunch.
Great views.
No mechanical incidents.
Safe return with good friends sharing a common bond. (This one sounds like 5 wrote it I know.)
The Cons.
Yes, the other truck was a little late, but they called and communicated with us. We knew where they were. No problem. D&D's wasn't quite opened anyway.
A little heat in the truck would have been nice. I wore my heavy coat on the way up and my full riding gear on the way home.
The door to the "worlds greatest value in snowmobile trailers" froze shut TIGHT. This was a minor delay, Yes. But the fact that 13 spent at least a third of the driving time heading North explaining to me why his trailer was so special provides me with a chuckle. We spent at least ten minutes trying to open the door. Pulling on the handles, pushing from the inside, kicking from the inside, body checking once or twice from the inside, and then 13 find a spare set o carbides and begins to pry it open. This is a classic tale.
The -22 degree starting temp is a lot to think through when planning out your day from a duffle bag that was packed the night before expecting a more moderate +15.
Having to wear, snow boots, bibs, sweater plus...plus.., sledding coat, bellycalava, winter hat and gloves on the way home to stay comfortable was not something I look forward to.
I said nothing when #13 reported #7's solo riding. But since #7 brings it up in his report as well, maybe just one little comment:
It appears #7 has still not learned the WPR rule that you are responsible for the rider behind you. This is puzzling since his machine even has mirrors on it (that's what those are there for #7).
But to offer another skill that #7 has been keeping from us, did everyone notice the image of the photographer in the rear view mirror in the 3rd picture. It's quite an ingenious picture. I guess that's what #7 thinks those mirrors are on there for. Artistic purposes.
Ha! Good report and I will admit that I have also been turned around in that loop trail that lies between Errol and the drop point. It is a very confusing section of trail and the signage does not cut it.
Arrived in Brookline, NH after a long day of riding and driving.
In my haste to get my sled off his trailer and send #7 on his way, I probably didn't "de-ice" it enough. Back off the trailer fine, ride about 20 feet and then heard a lout clanking sound coming from the track. Sled stops short (didn't even come close to hitting the breaks), I give it a little gas and the track will not move at all. Give it a little more gas and a greyish yellow smoke starts pouring out of the engine compartment with the tell tale smell of a belt burning. At this point, I'm tired, freezing it is completely dark where the sled stopped moving and I'm debating weather or not I could just leave it where it sits and go to bed. I can't get the belt off (everything was pretty much frozen solid, the track wouldn't budge an inch and I'm sure you are all thinking that I don't know how to take the belt off), so luckily #7 is a great man and offers to pull me up off the road and into my front yard with his sled. Thanks #7! I appreciate the extra time it took you especially when I'm sure all you wanted to do was get home.
Great day of riding boys. The back was a little sore from the bumps. Nothing that more riding won't cure!
Ride Report 1-17-11 Nash Stream to Pittsburg and Back
Woke up at 2:30am, yawn, shower, get dressed, Toyota it over to Brookline, NH. GPS has me going in circles in downtown Brookline. Arrive at #99's house, he's all ready to go. We arrive at Drunken Donuts with 3 and 13 waiting patiently, I was 13 minutes late.
5:18am, we are off. Fast forward 3 hours 8:18am we arrive at the launching site. 99 and 7 are dressed, motors running and truck locked and secured. 3 and 13 are figuring ways to unfreeze his trailer door. It only took 5-10 minutes to open it.
-22 degrees encouraged us to put on every piece of clothing we had. 3, 13 and 99 all declined the lead so I gladly took over. The Sled Ranger with his silly little radar gun went up corridor 5 so I took us east down 117 toward Errol. It was bumpy and the woods sheltered us from the extreme cold. Bumps got the blood flowing and the sweat pouring off of us. We took 19 north looking for 115 to avoid Errol and head up the east side to Pittsburg. I got us lost and at one point actually went around in a big circle.
I noticed that no one was behind me so I stopped. I took a drink, I took some pictures, I checked the maps and I looked at the signs. At that point I noticed I went the wrong way.
Was I abandoned? Was I all alone except for the local sasquatches? #13 had an extra spot on his truck for another sled. Am I going to have to ride all day alone? The thoughts that run through your head when you are all alone out there are not good ones...
I headed back the way I came and found the boys waiting. They could have busted my chops a hundred different ways, but they saw there way through to say "no big deal". They did take away my leadership badge for the day. Fool them once shame on me fool them twice, not gonna happen on this day.
#3 took the reigns and had a few difficulties himself. One trail was closed and the maps didn't help us with the smaller trails. Before long we were out of the bumps and onto tail 18. That's when the riding went from ok to great. This trail was recently groomed and the high elevation made the scenery picturesque.
After 18 we went through Diamond Pond and switched over to a freshly groomed corrridor 5. This was tremendous early season riding, especially compared to the earlier bumps that had taken it's toll on us. We found our way to First Connecticut Lake and 139 and 140 to Young's store. It was 1:30 and our mid day feeding took priority over a gas fill up.
We topped of the tanks and headed south down 140 and back on to a freshly groomed section of corrridor 5. This was fast riding. It was getting colder, but things were going great. We took 18 over to he Balsams for that familiar ride up that steep mountain.
The adrenaline started pumping as we zig zagged up this incredible peak, pulling left, bashing the throttle, pulling right squeezing the gas right to the top of Dixville Peak. A little winded, we took a 10 minute break for some pictures and some banter. We had seen a rollover on the way up. We also saw a piece of someone's track in the middle of the trail...strange.
28 miles from the truck and dusk approaching we blasted down the mountain and back onto corridor 5. We were cruising along, of course it was getting colder as the evening began to approach. The sun was in our eyes most of the day, but never more during this last stretch. It was bump free, long and wide so we hit some pretty good speeds as we arrived at the trucks at 4:02pm.
4:12, no ****, we were already loaded and driving off. It was a fun day of riding and I cannot wait for the next one. I really like my trailer. It is smooth, efficient and 100 times better than my last one. I totalled 148 miles for the day.
It was a long day of driving, especially after the debacle in Foxboro the night before. I was tired and still cold.
There is another ride report from Brookline, NH that totals about 150 feet and takes upwards of 30 minutes, but 99 will have to write that report.
Thanks to everyone for a great day. It's been 10 months since we've done some real riding and it was fantastic. I'm ready to go again soon.
Great ride report #13, and kudos to those members who kicked off the northern riding season. I will not toss any opinions on this post since I didn't make the trip, but everything sounds just about right.
The fact that you are asking for the next ride to be planned says it all!
I mention my version because I'm sure you'll see at least 2-3 other versions of this ride report posted but rest assured mine is the most accurate. After all, #3 was semi-hypothermic all day so how can we trust him
The day started right on time with my 4:10 alarm waking me w/o issues. I was all hooked up so a quick breakfast and last minute gear check so I couldn't possibly forget anything I might need (note the sarcasm). Off to #3's because for the 22 year in a row he needs to be picked up and dropped off for every ride It was a little colder than expected as I ventured out but I was confident that the weather report I saw said temps in the low 20's today (technically they were correct I guess) I noticed the truck was a little chilly on the ride to #3's but no worries, my heated seats were working fine. #3 was waiting and ready and we were off in no time to DD's in Brookline. It was about this time that we cranked the heat up to 80 in the car and were getting heat in the mid 40's. #3 was already whining like a little bitch (this would be a long day in the car). We waited a few minutes and #7 and #99 showed up and we were off like the well oiled club that we are We made great time on the ride up although I needed to put my gloves on just after Plymouth NH. As we approached the notch I noticed the outside temperature dropping rapidly. We were quickly at -15F, then -18F, then -22F. Vivid memories of of a cold day/night in Canada came creeping in but no worries, I checked my gear carefully After a quick gas stop in Lancaster we were off to Nash Stream. We pulled and there was only one truck there and a Fish & Game warden pulled in right behind us and began preparing his radar gun. After a very brief issue getting my trailer ramp door to un-freeze by turning the trailer so the back was facing the now rising sun we ready to go. Oops except it was -20 and I apparently forgot my fleece layer. I had a long sleeve shirt a vest and my shell on to battle this cold. Thank God for a very warm sled! We took off in the opposite direction as the ranger and headed east towards Errol/Berlin. #7 was full of confidence in his knowledge of this area (note the sarcasm) and we blasted through the first 35 miles of trail. This was just bumpy enough to make you work hard which was good as I warmed up nicely. At one point (as the story goes) #3 asked #7 if he knew where he was. A confident #7 confirmed and continued to lead on. Shortly thereafter #3 who was riding in the number 2 position pulled over and stated to #99 and I that we just did a big loop and were heading in the wrong direction. #7 had already blasted off down the trail so we decided that he'd notice pretty quickly that we weren't behind him and promptly turn around (note the sarcasm) 20 minutes later a very sheepish #7 pulled up and to his credit realized we had back tracked and was very apologetic. #3 assumed trail boss honors and we headed to Pittsburg. We ate at Youngs at 1:30 and had 86 miles on the odometer (#7 had a few more) After an excellent lunch we headed south on 140? and 5 and drove just west of the Balsams. We took a nice blast up Dixville peak (we came upon a roll over who was heading down. Trail 5 south to Nash Stream was excellent and we made great time. We pulled in at about 4pm with 150 miles (115 of which were very good to excellent). We saw maybe 20 sleds all day including 2 wardens (or was it one warden we saw twice?) and a lot of groomers out doing their thing. We loaded up quickly and were off. #3 and I pretty much kept everything on except our helmets for the ride home. Great first ride boys let's do it again soon. -13
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It was a little colder than expected as I ventured out but I was confident that the weather report I saw said temps in the low 20's today (technically they were correct I guess
) I noticed the truck was a little chilly on the ride to #3's but no worries, my heated seats were working fine. #3 was waiting and ready and we were off in no time to DD's in Brookline. It was about this time that we cranked the heat up to 80 in the car and were getting heat in the mid 40's. #3 was already whining like a little bitch (this would be a long day in the car). We waited a few minutes and #7 and #99 showed up and we were off like the well oiled club that we are
by turning the trailer so the back was facing the now rising sun we ready to go. Oops except it was -20 and I apparently forgot my fleece layer. I had a long sleeve shirt a vest and my shell on to battle this cold. Thank God for a very warm sled! We took off in the opposite direction as the ranger and headed east towards Errol/Berlin. #7 was full of confidence in his knowledge of this area (note the sarcasm) and we blasted through the first 35 miles of trail. This was just bumpy enough to make you work hard which was good as I warmed up nicely. At one point (as the story goes) #3 asked #7 if he knew where he was. A confident #7 confirmed and continued to lead on. Shortly thereafter #3 who was riding in the number 2 position pulled over and stated to #99 and I that we just did a big loop and were heading in the wrong direction. #7 had already blasted off down the trail so we decided that he'd notice pretty quickly that we weren't behind him and promptly turn around (note the sarcasm) 20 minutes later a very sheepish #7 pulled up and to his credit realized we had back tracked and was very apologetic. #3 assumed trail boss honors and we headed to Pittsburg. We ate at Youngs at 1:30 and had 86 miles on the odometer (#7 had a few more
