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The Forks 25
Video: https://youtu.be/jWs3ezNuszc
[video=https://youtu.be/jWs3ezNuszc]
Ride report for 2022 Annual Trip - 25 years going strong
Attending members: 2, 5, 7, 10
Location: The Forks, ME - riding based out of Northern Outdoors on the Kennebec
We got very lucky on the timing of this year's trip. The snow started falling Thursday so we decided to make a dash up to Waterville to get ahead of the bulk of the snowfall. In keeping with traditional WPR drama, at least when it comes to #5, nothing comes easy to this poor bastard. We needed something in our stomaches in order to tip a glass (or two) to cheer the kickoff of the annual trip so we were trying to decide where to stop before heading to the hotel. Of course #5 left the previous places address, because it closed before we arrived, in his gps and sent #10 and he up an exit. As we filled the truck tank the call came in from the other truck - "where are you guys?" #5 had to swallow his pride as he had to explain his mistake and said we'll be right back. But only after challenging a local that the restaurant we wanted was at this exit. She picked up on my insistence and, impressively quickly btw, promptly determined my stubborness and duly ignored me. Well done lady, you saved us both time.
Margeritas at Applebees would have to do. Note: the #'s 7 and 10 modified the "Perfect" margerita making theirs the "nearly perfect" margerita.
Accommodations at the best western plus grand were very good however be aware the "Modified" breakfast that was included was not up to snuff. Coffees on board we only had 20 miles up 201 to contend with in the steady snow. Arrived at Bingham General Store at 8am to grab regs, drinks and trail snacks. Up to the resort, we pulled in and the place was hopping. Instructed to leave our rigs at a P lot down the street, it was not plowed and no break in the banking at the road we decided to press at the resort. A good choice as we were given permission to ditch the rigs wherever we could find a spot. We found spots.
Now on the trail we decided for Jackman today. Up ITS87 mostly. Pres will attach the track to this post I'm sure. So the conditions were like this, about a foot of new snow on top of a fairly recently groomed base with several sled tracks ridden over. It was like... I imagine what surfing would be like. kind of lean in and get the back end to come around a bit and leave PLENTY of room for braking. The puffy dry snow softened any hard impacts as the trials were getting ridden in. We did a nice 121 miles when #5, the guy just can't avoid the drama, pulled the sled in and found that his rear sled bad had decided to take off. With a little daylight left and enough gas still in the tank, he decided it would be worth a shot because the bag had enough stuff in it worth trying. Add 44 miles for that loser.
The boys were bellied up to the bar and had a stool with my name on it. So I could toast my loss. Anyway, we chatted the night away with locals, finding several from central Mass to make some connections. The now 10 year old debate of the Stewart/Reed indident for the race win in Atlanta was visited but once #2 cheated and somehow got this guy to spontaneously take his side - nothing short of full blown collusion as he even cited the same comparable case it was blatant ganging up on poor #5. The matter is under investigation so nothing more can be discussed at this time.
Day 2 had us exploring south with all the new snow. We made Skowhegan but the ITS87 in that direction quickly became akin to Hagar Park trails out of the club HQ so it was decided to head back by another route using more club trials - what a good decision that turned out to be! Once I saw a trail called "Windmill Trail" that ran along a mountainous ridge, I was longing to make that run. There was a blast from the past moment when after hitting what can only be described as a Super Trail, #10 blasted out from the ranks and let the 800 take full bnreaths. He was a mile ahead of us in a few minutes and we could just make out a little dot with a hurricane of snow dust behind him. An awesome sight.
Back to the base with 155 miles and move into the beautiful Mountain Ash cabin. Excellent dinner at the lodge and commandeer the couch again. Actually, is this when the debate ensued? Can't recall, it's blur. But #5 is not done with his need to always demand attention like a bratty toddler. Descending the carpeted step from the loft he took a fall from about the 7th step up and came crashing down to a waiting Pres who could do nothing but witness the carnage. It's not as if I could claim I just dropped a bag, he witnessed the entire pathetic stunt. Bruised more than the hand and foot, was the pride. Off again on day 3 it was a cold one. With so much great riding under our belts and the drive home on the agenda today, we decided to make this a shorter day. Over to Eustis for a quick 104 miles using mostly ITS86 and 89 I believe. Now at this point the snow had fallen on Friday, was groomed on Saturday and temps dropped for the snow to set up for basically perfect trail conditions on Sunday. A second bluebird day everyone was happy.
Put another successful WPR trip into the books. See the proof in the pics that will be attached.
#5
COLEBROOK COUNTRY CLUB
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/M2jhUxscxPQ
since #388 has been posting some great ride reports and I had a bit of free time on my hands this week, I thought I'd get a quick report out there for our 2022 MLK day ride. In attendance was 2, 5, 7 and 10. We decided to head up the night before since we knew we were towing all the way up to Colebrook and there was weather in the forecast for the whole day so we figured we'd rather be riding than driving so. Accomodations at the Colebrook Country Club motel were solid, rooms are clean and the trail is out the parking lot so it has become a standard.
Another standard is getting drive through breakfast at Muffins and More or More than Muffins or something to that affect, the ladies are very cheerful and they make good breakfast sandwhiches. On the trail with a plan to loop from east to west this time, which is somewhat opposite of our usual direction. We know that the east has more elevation and typically less traffic but #2 had a report from the night before that a particular trail was in good shape so we headed that direction sort of. I'd like to rattle off the sequence of trails used this day but it wouldn't make much difference because we've learned that they are using the same trail numbers as the past but assigning them to different trails with many reroutes and renumbers.
For the record I believe we started on 7 and then used 20, 112, 143, 142, 145 and of course a little bit of 5 during the day. also for the record, we used the Lake Francis trail after gassing and grabbing a bite at Young's and that was consistent with all the times I've ever ridden that trail - it sucked, as if it hasn't been groomed once all season. It sticks out because of all the trails that are consistently groomed to near perfection up there, that one is always neglected. I guess it is heavily traveled but you'd think just by chance we'd hit it once having been recently groomed, but the whoops were deep, solid and continuous for it's length. Oh well, we used it to get south quick and after that the conditions started to drop.
We did a section of I think it was 143, a vote was taken to go over Dixville Peaks trail but when we arrived at the bottom of the hill, it was ungroomed with a single track going up. #2 voted to avoid it and instead go back up the trail we had just come down because it was in decent shape and fun. #7 voted for a direct path towards the trucks so we used the Balsams Trail which was local and not freshly groomed. #2 said this will be like a Wyman Pond trail and he was spot on the money. 100 feet in and it was water logged snow and branches in the trail. We muddled through and at Route 26 we hooked a right and seemed to use a connector trail to get us back on 7 and back to the motel.
160 miles which is a solid day ride and the weather conditions improved throughout it was great to be back on the machines in 2022. A good shakedown for the upcoming weekend trip in Feb. Hopefully this storm coming this weekend will put lots of the white stuff down in Maine since that's where we've decided to base out of for this year's trip. It will be good times as always, the company makes that a guarantee. Safe riding to everyone in the club, hope to see you out on the trails!
#5