WymanPondRacing

Annual Trip 2021 - Colebrook, NH - Ride Report

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!

Respectfully,

#5

3rd annual Fellowship ride...solid 8 out of 10 on the trails.  We started our traditional ride at the Acworth General store with a solid breakfast.  I decided to try a reverse route up corridor 5 all the way up to Lebanon then connect to corridor 2, head east then south onto 394 back towards Newport and looping back through gpshen and lempster to the homestead.

 Trails were regroomed for the majority of the ride, 5 was awesome all the way to Lebanon.  We refueled in Enfield and the snow really started coming down.  We took a few breaks...the best being a hotdog break hot off the muffler cooker...have to say...they were perfect and yummy.

We kicked it up a notch and pushed our way back only to stop in newport where the famous ski jump is.  The old timers used to jump off this sucker in the summertime utilizing pine needles!

After some fun, we were on our way through Pillsbury where the snow was flying as well as one of our riders...maybe a little fatigue and snow blindness caused a slight miscalculation and he was off the trail...another separate solo rider assisted him in getting back on the trail while we waited a Mile or so up the trail, just about ready to turn around and do a search.

Another 15 or so sweet miles through Pillsbury and local trails and we where home...just a click over 150 miles of great riding.

I initially wanted to replicate my route from last weeks breakdown and started that way through Bradford after a fuel stop.  Trails were decent considering the weekend traffic.  I was seeing more sleds than usual and realized it's school vacation week.  No issues, everyone was on their side of the trail.

I ended up taking a club trail to bypass a thin section last week.  This proved to be a good idea.  I then approached an intersection that pointed me towards Mt Kearsarge from the Warren side...I always have approached it from the Wilmot end...

The trail up to the summit was wide and fast...reminiscent of the main road headed up Wachusett.   At the top there was a gentleman with a new 600 Skandia loaded with gear and snowshoes.  He was out for an adventure and I thought it was pretty cool.  On the way back I decided to take another club trail to the other side of Kearsarge and loop up to corridor 2 and the main rail edge in Andover and grafton.  This turned out to be a bad idea...trail was broken single track that eventually dead ended due to logging.  I did pass an intersection thank God that allowed me to do a bigger loop around but unfortunately it ate up my time...I wanted to  e back for 4pm.  I rerouted back towards lake Todd and had to stop and say hi to Miss Mossy.  A quick hello then off to top the fuel  back off in Bradford again so I'd be ready for tomorrow/Wednesday.   Heading through Sunapee the trails were choppy..I guess there's a groomer down.  Once through and headed back through Pillsbury I was back on freshly groomed trails and kicked it up a notch or two.

I took a few different club trails to Lempster and was back home for 4pm...great day of riding logging 121.7 miles.  #388

A quick 53.6 from the house today.  My connector trail across from my driveway is paying off.  The goal was to head towards Pillsbury State park then do a loop and grab some gas.  After just over 6 miles of fluff and ungroomed trail, I hit the mother load...freshly groomed park trails!  Big grin running into the groomer ahead.  once out of the park, I headed to Goshen for some petro and found a regular trail had been closed...I turned around and found a different route.  With a full tank, I was headed back through the park...the ride back was all groomed and constant elevation which reminded me of ripping up the wide roads to Mt Wachusett.  After a few photo stops I was looping back to the house for a early date with the Mrs and our snowshoes.  Life is good.