Story:
Saturday, 1/5/08, 10 Sno-Buds left Macy's NOT at 7 AM promptly. The President was late, but knowing the reason, we all thanked him for being late... (That may be Too Much Information this early in the report!) Shortly afterwards, we're on the road, and after a quick stop in Ashland, we're at BRVSC and joined by another infamous Sno-Buds and Past President, Mr. Chuck Stata. We're now 11 riders. Do we want to break into 2 groups? Nah. We've always had good experiences riding in large groups, reference Castle in the Clouds... Leaving BRVSC, we expected mint trials, but they were not. Shortly afterwards, we're at Green Camp and down to Shawnees AND on the railbed. Nice! Oops, stuck throttle. Stop at the missle in Warren for a picture and we headed up the railbed. I'm thinking the trail up through the woods will be like always - not nice. Wrong! Mint! Into Haverhill and N. Haverhill, and it's coffee time! Wait. What's that noise? It's the groomer coming from Woodsville. Guess we now know what way we're going! Yep, Woodsville. In downtown, cars stopped and let everyone cross. Nice. Onto the railbed and it's great. We elected not to stop at one rider's brother's house near the river, Virgil... To Bath to the covered bridge and there's a problem... It's 11:48 and 7 minutes too early, so we headed a bit up the trail and THEN a 180 back to the covered bridge. Still too early, but that's life. Good snacks and lots of good smoked cheese and one member gases his sled. Others had cheese and had gas. Back on the railbed and into Lisbon to the pizza place for a pee break. Back on the railbed, and we're into Littleton, over the hill that's usually rough as he## but this time it's mint (!) and at the Eastgate about 2 PM. Estimated mileage was 60, actual mileage was 59.5. Not bad for a Grampa! So let's take a 1-hour loop. Good idea. Headed north on the railbed. Bad idea. Not groomed. 180 and up Industrial Drive and cross at McDonalds's, up around Moore dam and find MINT trails. Unreal. Down to Lowe's, wrong way, 180 and back up over the hill, more mint trails and back on the railbed and back to Eastgate with another 40 miles. Dinner reservations at 6 and 1 Black Russian, and all is well. Long wait for the food, but it's good. Scott and Sandy joined us for a few tall stories, one of of an arm-stretching turbo-induced CAt, and most went back to their rooms and to bed shortly. Next morning, Sunday, up at 7 (6 for me), and at 7:10, I start my sled and pound on Sheldon's door. "Hey, it's 8:30! Time to leave! Where have you been?" Didn't work. Sheldon knows the real time, and we enjoy a continental breakfast, suit up, check out and leave about 8:15, destination BRVSC about 2:15 or so we thought... Ya, right. Trail 105 from Littleton to Trideau Rd in past years had been junk, but yesterday, it was MINT! Unreal. Crossing Rte. 3 and to the bike path, I must admit, my loud-leaver MAY have stuck once... Down through Franconia Notch and it's good. At the Beacon, the trail south turns to sh##, but we endure. To Lincoln about 10:45 and service at McDonalds is excellent.... (Cough) Onto the railbed south, plenty of snow even on the train trestles, and we miss Windshield Hill, so with plenty of snow and no rails showing, we find a good speed to endure the not perfect but ridable railbed. At Campton, since the groomed trail is to the right to Stinson Mtn, we take a break and obviously take the groomed trail. Did I mention it's another 60-mile day? All bets are off now, (but I may have forgotten to mention that fact). Tom The Tool Man (and later, the oil supplier Man) takes a seat and rests in the snow. Mint trails up through the mountains, and we do make the summit, no problem (okay, one problem). Then a local trail to Rumney turns to sh## and other non-Sno-Buds riders ahead hit a tree, so the leader elects not to continue 3 miles to Rumney down the rock infested, water infested trail, but instead, turn the crew around in the narrow trail and take the long way and safe way back to Plymouth as dark is approaching. At the 85 mile mark, I'm asked how much gas I have left, and when I reply "about half a tank" (love those 4-strokes), I'm informed we'll siphon from my tank! Nice! We make it down the mountain (You doubted otherwise?), and to a gas station. Lessons learned here, but no comment, 'cause I'm so nice. Back to the trailers at 4:45 and on the road. And surprisingly, no traffic through Concord or at the Hooksett toolgate. Sweet! Overall, a great trip, 205 miles in 2 days on often mint trails. Thanks to those that enjoyed the weekend! George
Saturday, 1/5/08, 10 Sno-Buds left Macy's NOT at 7 AM promptly. The President was late, but knowing the reason, we all thanked him for being late... (That may be Too Much Information this early in the report!) Shortly afterwards, we're on the road, and after a quick stop in Ashland, we're at BRVSC and joined by another infamous Sno-Buds and Past President, Mr. Chuck Stata. We're now 11 riders. Do we want to break into 2 groups? Nah. We've always had good experiences riding in large groups, reference Castle in the Clouds... Leaving BRVSC, we expected mint trials, but they were not. Shortly afterwards, we're at Green Camp and down to Shawnees AND on the railbed. Nice! Oops, stuck throttle. Stop at the missle in Warren for a picture and we headed up the railbed. I'm thinking the trail up through the woods will be like always - not nice. Wrong! Mint! Into Haverhill and N. Haverhill, and it's coffee time! Wait. What's that noise? It's the groomer coming from Woodsville. Guess we now know what way we're going! Yep, Woodsville. In downtown, cars stopped and let everyone cross. Nice. Onto the railbed and it's great. We elected not to stop at one rider's brother's house near the river, Virgil... To Bath to the covered bridge and there's a problem... It's 11:48 and 7 minutes too early, so we headed a bit up the trail and THEN a 180 back to the covered bridge. Still too early, but that's life. Good snacks and lots of good smoked cheese and one member gases his sled. Others had cheese and had gas. Back on the railbed and into Lisbon to the pizza place for a pee break. Back on the railbed, and we're into Littleton, over the hill that's usually rough as he## but this time it's mint (!) and at the Eastgate about 2 PM. Estimated mileage was 60, actual mileage was 59.5. Not bad for a Grampa! So let's take a 1-hour loop. Good idea. Headed north on the railbed. Bad idea. Not groomed. 180 and up Industrial Drive and cross at McDonalds's, up around Moore dam and find MINT trails. Unreal. Down to Lowe's, wrong way, 180 and back up over the hill, more mint trails and back on the railbed and back to Eastgate with another 40 miles. Dinner reservations at 6 and 1 Black Russian, and all is well. Long wait for the food, but it's good. Scott and Sandy joined us for a few tall stories, one of of an arm-stretching turbo-induced CAt, and most went back to their rooms and to bed shortly. Next morning, Sunday, up at 7 (6 for me), and at 7:10, I start my sled and pound on Sheldon's door. "Hey, it's 8:30! Time to leave! Where have you been?" Didn't work. Sheldon knows the real time, and we enjoy a continental breakfast, suit up, check out and leave about 8:15, destination BRVSC about 2:15 or so we thought... Ya, right. Trail 105 from Littleton to Trideau Rd in past years had been junk, but yesterday, it was MINT! Unreal. Crossing Rte. 3 and to the bike path, I must admit, my loud-leaver MAY have stuck once... Down through Franconia Notch and it's good. At the Beacon, the trail south turns to sh##, but we endure. To Lincoln about 10:45 and service at McDonalds is excellent.... (Cough) Onto the railbed south, plenty of snow even on the train trestles, and we miss Windshield Hill, so with plenty of snow and no rails showing, we find a good speed to endure the not perfect but ridable railbed. At Campton, since the groomed trail is to the right to Stinson Mtn, we take a break and obviously take the groomed trail. Did I mention it's another 60-mile day? All bets are off now, (but I may have forgotten to mention that fact). Tom The Tool Man (and later, the oil supplier Man) takes a seat and rests in the snow. Mint trails up through the mountains, and we do make the summit, no problem (okay, one problem). Then a local trail to Rumney turns to sh## and other non-Sno-Buds riders ahead hit a tree, so the leader elects not to continue 3 miles to Rumney down the rock infested, water infested trail, but instead, turn the crew around in the narrow trail and take the long way and safe way back to Plymouth as dark is approaching. At the 85 mile mark, I'm asked how much gas I have left, and when I reply "about half a tank" (love those 4-strokes), I'm informed we'll siphon from my tank! Nice! We make it down the mountain (You doubted otherwise?), and to a gas station. Lessons learned here, but no comment, 'cause I'm so nice. Back to the trailers at 4:45 and on the road. And surprisingly, no traffic through Concord or at the Hooksett toolgate. Sweet! Overall, a great trip, 205 miles in 2 days on often mint trails. Thanks to those that enjoyed the weekend! George
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