One last note I wanted to ask about a particular piece of trail on this ride. Does #2 and #3 remember riding a section of trails that had what I remember as 6 distinct rises and falls on an uphill straight?
We stopped and took pictures of eachother hammering up these natural jumps and getting some distance air which felt awesome.
#2, did we ride that section of trail on this day? There was a point when I felt the same sensation but the rises were only a shadow of what I recall and our speed was lower so no air this time.
Or am I having another moment of memory breakdown.
Good sarcasm #3, it was well "deserved", but we know #2 is not the proliferate type. He is a man of few words and more about the facts and figures. I mean, who else publishes an elevation chart of their rides? Is that interesting? Yes, but not excessively, and it doesn't provoke emotion. Well, ok, it is definately good for a particular trek in a specific geographic region to get an idea of elevation for sure. Anyway, that's not my point.
I'd like to give an account of our N. Groton ride, 1/28, courtesy #6. In attendance: #2, #5, #6, #1776 (or is it #1906??) and guest rider; we'll call him S-squared (S^2).
The plan was for #5+#1776 to be 20 minutes ahead of #2+S^2 at the Brookline gas station in order to register our sleds. Hearts sank when 1 mile before we pulled in #1776 said is that #2 up ahead? Yes it was. We were about 8 minutes behind schedule and he was about 12 minutes ahead. Remember boys: "Early is on time and on time is late". It took me many years to learn that rule (not that I practice it regularly), but #1776 still needs a little more time to get it.
#2 was not displeased though because we did get out of there ahead of his internal timeline he had set for us. #6 was there and we followed up to his beautiful slice of heaven on Earth.
The conditions were very good on the powerlines and soon we were into the club trails and Corr. 5, these were in the best shape I have ever seen them. Guest rider S^2 was riding excellent, many kudos to him for keeping the pace fun. He was polled often if pace ok and always answered with an enthusiastic hoot.
I won't go into the details of the subtle nuanses of troubleshooting #1776 was performing on his sled but suffice it to say the problem was not the stator or the coil. Engine performance below 6Krpm continues to by abissmal and gas mileage was confirmed at 5.5mpg at usual. He is reaching the end of his rope.
With ~36miles under our tracks we needed to head toward gas and stomaches were beginning to rumble. We headed into Canaan and the trail deteriorated quickly as we lost elevation towards town. #1776 recognized the landscape (a great skill of active outdoors recreators - I don't know why I wasn't born with that gene even though I spend the vast majority of my recreation out of doors) as the area we did our fall camping/bike ride with the mini members. We ate at a nice little gas/convenience/deli (someone can provide the name, we like to promote those businesses that cater to our sport).
We decided to head north towards Lyme, I was really hoping to see the Green Camp for old times sakes, but if we did pass it, I didn't see it. The trails here were absolutely perfect. And then we passed a groomer. Well done to the Baker River Valley SC for a really excellent job this year. There was one point when I asked if we were going to ride by sculpted rocks, to which I got the look. Let me explain, at one point after that S^2 asked if we were near... then a pause, I said to S^2: just ask if we're near Castle in the Clouds, and there was a burst of laughter from the veteran members.
While #1776 was changing plugs I was playing around in the deep when after passing a big dip in the snow several times I decided to make a track through it. I quickly learned why there was no track there even though it looked like a fun little feature. Down into the dip and then BAM the sled stopped on a dime (the rider kept going into the snow). Granite beats aluminum. No damage, well, my wrist was a bit sore, no complaining about it, that's the cost of glory.
At another point we pulled onto a hillside clearing and killed the motors. What a beautiful view. I believe #6 said the highest peak was Kearsarge, the summit of which can be made with a snowmobile trail and then a hike for the last push. Sweet.
We did more wonderful trails (see #2 post for details) and were back on the powerlines just before the afternoon passed into early evening. One last stop at the terrific "lookout" at the back of #6's property and some jokes. Loaded in the daylight and back on the roads home for an easy drive home. 67 miles.
Thanks for a perfect day of riding boys and to #6 for a great departure point. Until next time.
