Attending members: #2, 7 for Days 1-3, 388 for Days 1-2 and 5, 23 for days 2-3. One of the full trip members will need to post for Day 1 and Day 2 morning rides.
Met up with the Full Trip members at what I now have confirmed is considered (by this club at least) as the Nash Stream parking lot. For future generations reading this, it is called Snowmobile Parking Lot on Google Maps off Rt. 110 in Stark, NH just south of Groveton center.
Timing worked well and the rendezvous was made before the noon target. off we went up trail 117 over to the Millsfield Pond Loop trails. #7 graciously recognized that 5 and 23 hadn't eaten so #5 suggested that we go over to Eustis to grab a quick bite. Much to his surprise, a uniform thoroughly confused look came over the faces of 2, 7 and 388. it's #5's recurring nightmare that he has suggested riding in an area that makes no sense and reveals his desperate grip on where he physically is in the universe. After a moment, recognizing the change in their faces that they have recalibrated to #5's complete lack of ability to remember which state he is currently standing in, big smiles came over 2 and 388 as they decided to have some fun at #5's expense. Sure buddy, we'll just pop over to Eustis and grab a sandwich, so you're looking for a big mile day aren't you?!
By now everyone realized that #5 was of course suggesting Errol and staying in NH for lunch. Hey, maybe that's a plan for another trip. that settled, we filed into town coming out from behind the store instead of down the perpendicular street towards it that I'm used to. For this day I didn't have a grasp on where we were riding. After a bite outside on the picnic table, the freezing temps put us back on the sleds and see map once posted for where we went. I know we stopped at the Swift Diamond clubhouse to gas up coming down from the switchback/ridge side and going out across the street. We zig zagged here and there for a while longer and pulled into the Colebrook Country Club motel just before sundown. We enjoyed some brews and delicious snacks provided by #388's significant other - a big thank you shout out to her!
After warming up and building up our appetites we headed into town but could not get into the Black Bear Tavern (highly recommended by the Day 1-2 members from the previous night) so we ended up at First Run Pizza shop. Not the typical gala event that is a main draw to attend the annual trip we are used to, but it was hot food with limited options. After that #7 was a mench and drove me and 23 to the Northern Comfort 1 mile down the road so we wouldn't have to gear back up and go find it by trail at night. This would prove to be immensely helpful the next day when 2 and 7 had to do reverse that connection as darkness was approaching. With door to door service and a drive through breakfast provided by #7 we filled up and said so long to 388 who was headed back.
On the trails we enjoyed very good conditions and warming temps as the day went on. Let's see, #7 started us on 7a which, (again foreshadowing here) interestingly enough does NOT connect to 7 at any point. we took our time and stopped for conversation at any trail junction that offered loop choices. we jumped on each others machines to provide an opportunity to keep the club's members up to speed on the different models available. As a club however, note that we are now down to pretty much a 2 manufacturer org so options are slimmer. I learned that #7 may be looking for a new machine some time down the road. He will stay on a Canadian machine though. At one junction we saw a Nytro XTX and #2 asked if we could look up under his tunnel (it's a snowmobiler thing). to my utter astonishment there was no ice buildup whatsoever. He had installed a full tunnel blocking plate. whatever, I'm over it. okay maybe I still have a touch of regret. Maybe I always will. At that same stop, a green police officer stopped, got off his sled, walked over to the other side of #23's machine and then got back on his sled and rode off. later we realized that his reg sticker had fallen off one side of the cowling.
we took 117 back towards 5/23 truck but #5 protested strongly that we should separate somewhere between the two trucks and 2/7 wanted to give us truck to truck service along with the room to room service they had given us for the hotel. we compromised and rode up 5a and then up over the Sugarloaf Mtn trail back down to 5 to the Cranberry Bog Loop where we parted ways with 2/7 heading north and 5/23 heading around the loop and back down 5 south to trailer up.
The four fulfilled a #5 lifelong dream enjoying a night at the cabin with a roaring fire, supercross and great company but no running water and not having the dreaded 3+ hour drive home after a trip. #23 gets a shout out for buying dinner all the way around. Instead we loaded the stove up with wood and got the little camp up to 70 degrees and good tunes playing into the night. Thanks guys, some years are bigger than others, but it is a wonderful tradition and we kept it alive for yet another year even when a pandemic tried to stop us. Hail to WPR.
Keep on ridin'. Post annual snowmobile trip report only means the next season is almost upon us. So finish up the ski/track machine rides and get to pre-season prep on the wheeled machines!
