This morning we left at our usual call time of 9am. It is a big day. We are celebrating two birthdays today… Bond turns the BIG 5-0 and Munising Matt is the runner up at 49 today. We started the day with the usual Snowmobilers breakfast and were on the trail at our designated time.
The ride today was a cloud filled day, with light snow falling. The sleds had about a fresh inch of snow layered upon them this morning. The trails were freshly powdered, and a fun ride. We had nice trails, soft bends, and a few rail tracks that we crossed over and under. One in particular was a steel girder trussell about 200 feet in the air crossing a valley. I felt like I was placed in an HO scale train set up. Got a couple good pics.
At one of our stops along the way, as we congregated around the front of the 13 sled team, somebody noticed that Fearless Craig’s Yamaha was missing a bolt from it’s front left side A-Arm. I couldn’t help but chuckle. He casually hollered back to Yamaha Kevin “ Hey, you got a spare bolt for the A-Arm?” Again, I chuckled. Of course Yamaha Kevin had the bolt out of his broken right side A Arm available, to which we all knew. As Fearless was bolting away his A Arm bolt, I couldn’t resist stating the obvious…” You guys need a Ski Doo to follow you Yamahas’ along the trail with spare parts!”
We were soon back on the trail, Yamahas’ bolted together like Frankensteins. How many does it take to make one? More nice trails on the way.
Another stop on the trail, we went right when we should have gone left. No biggie, we were only 100 yards down the wrong trail. Might as well take a break before we turn around.
As we are shooting the breeze with each other, we are pretty casual as it’s not much further in, we have time, I glance beside me and see Yamaha Kevin ripping side panels and the hood off his sled. This is humorous. Connecticut Jim is there as moral support, and I gently ask “What the F*#k is going on now?” Yamaha Kevin states simply that a code “86” just started flashing on his dashboard. Connecticut Jim casually responds “Oh, that’s a air leak code”. Only a fellow Yamaha rider could rattle off the error codes so fluently. Yamaha Kevin got his handy tool kit out, and tightened up the hex screws to all the plumbing beneath where his hood usually resides.
After our break, confident the code “86” was dismissed, we were back on the trail. After about 140 miles, we were at our night’s destination…Saint-Alexis-Des-Monts and the Du Lac Blanc. This was a really nice place, with a main lodge with many rooms, and scattered smaller lodges. I got the room above the snow shoe/cross country ski shop. I feel like a flower in the attic. But the main floor of the main lodge is the dining area, and the lower level is the bar/entertainment area. A fun set up and we are celebrating a couple birthdays. Perrrfect location.
Unbeknownst to me, a few of the Team had gathered already downstairs at the bar. I was upstairs trying to get my trusty Surface Pro tablet fired up to write this godforsaken blog. But I must have packed my tablet wrong, because it had a small hair line crack across the screen and would not go past the start up screen. I enjoyed two tasty double doubles waiting for my tablet to fire up, sitting by myself at a corner table in the front lobby of the lodge, when a couple other DarkSiders came in. They informed me that the “real” bar was downstairs, and that our Team was already gathered there! Thanks for the heads up guys.
While I was thoroughly disappointed that I would not be able to write this blog for my 7 followers tonight, I took joy in the fact that I could continue with the Double Doubles. After all, we are celebrating a couple birthdays on the trail!
The dinner bell rang at 7pm, and we made our way back upstairs to the dining room, and the long table that would accommodate the 13 of us. Dinner was some awesome choices of white fish, escargot, steaks, and such. Dylan casually asked Fearless Craig if we could have a late start tomorrow, maybe…9:30am? Wish was granted.
I snuck out and back to my attic after dinner, but I understand SideShow Ron entertained the crowd with his famous penny trick for a bit.
FROSTBYTES DAY 10 2/29/2020… It’s A FLUKE…
We really didn’t need the late start of 9:30am, as we were all ready at our sleds by 8:45am, The usual goings on, Hedgehog with the trash can from his room, filled with hot water, defrosting his steering arms on his Yamaha. There was one fluke. Indian Guys Ski Doo didn’t have any power. Nothing, notta. Put a battery boost pack on the batter… nothing. When Hedgehog got a break from defrosting his steering mechanism, he came over and pulled a amp fuse out, blew on it like a Yamaha rider does, and plugged it back. Boom, fired right up. Everybody wanted to be sure I would write about this slight mishap in the blog, I did, but remember, it was a FLUKE and it took a YAMAHA rider to even have that thought in their head.
Only about 120 miles to go today, and there was ALOT of Saturday traffic on the trails. We didn’t rush, enjoyed the ride, and stopped for lunch around 12:30 at a wonderful place we found on the trail. A buffalo/bison farm on the trail, that has restaurant.
Very busy place at this time of day on a Saturday. But we got no place to be. We can wait. After about 40 minutes they were able to seat our group of 13. It gave us plenty of time to observe the full bison mounts, and many others that you can see in the pictures below. Also, excellent food! I had the bison vegetable soup, and shared the bison burger with Fearless. Excellent.
After lunch, we were back on the trail, and headed to Pont Rouge, and the Bon Air Motel. One of our favorites. Our trucks were waiting for us, and so was the best ONION soup.
As the kilometers were clicking down, I worked my way from the back of the pack where I have diligently stayed for the last 9.5 days, and made my way to the front. I gave each rider a “thumbs up” to let them know all’s good, but i’m moving forward. I finally made my way to Fearless Leader Craig, with Action Dan about 50 more yards in front of us. I pulled up beside him, let him notice my presence ( I saw a big grin thru his clear helmet shield), and we rode side by side for a few. He then gave me a tip of the helmet and welcoming hand wave to take the lead for the last 3-5 miles. I head nodded back, and accelerated past Action Dan, and rode point for a bit ( I learned long ago, never pass the leader). I enjoyed the open trail in front of me, no snow dust to contend with, plenty of visibility and let her eat. But after a couple miles, I realized I enjoy being the sheep dog following my 12 wingmen, and fell back to ride side by side with Fearless. As we approached the last left turn into the Bon Air Motel, Action Dan turned right, Fearless and I turned left, and led the pack across the finish line side by side. A knuckle punch was exchanged, and one by one the riders disembarked their sleds and bro hugs and “great ride” was exchanged amongst each other.
The weather was formidable, and we took our time loading our sleds, tying them down, and wished a farewell to Connecticut, Bond and Yamaha Rob, as they headed back to Vermont. The rest of us gathered inside our accomodations for the night, showered, and joined in the bar. It was time for Double Doubles. A great end to a great ride.
This was a great ride, with some new riders, some of our old cast and crew, but always a great day on the trail.
Can’t wait for next year, this was trip #11 for me, and I can’t wait to see what Fearless has in store for year #12.
If any of my 7 followers knows of anybody that would like to partake in this annual excursion, contact Fearless Craig Willour @ 313-410-4680. We are always looking for new victims.
Farewell my friends, and a special “thanks” to RS for ever getting me into this saddlebag riding thing.
Double Double, Same Ole Same Old,…bye for now
Stick
