Today, we had an early call time, and went to the Moose Alley Bowling alley, bar and local restaurant for our snowmobilers breakfast at 7am. Cold, very cold. Like very very cold, -22 degress Fahrenheit cold.
We were on the trail by 9am, and it was now -17 according to the engine temperature on my Ski Doo when I fired it up. By 9:15 we at the IGA for fuel, and by 9:30 on the trail headed North East to Rockwood, ME. Should be about 150 miles according to our leader. Ha.
About 20 miles in, we took a quick break to make sure everybody’s gear was right for the cold temps, as well as quick bladder relief on the side of the trail. Action Dan was walking down the line of sleds and happened to look at Ski Doo Matt’s Expedition and noticed that a hyfax was broken in half. Concerned this was going to lead to bigger issues on the trail, Ski Doo Matt and his wingman NFG Brian headed back to Rangeley to the Ski Doo dealer and fix the problem (they were brand new hyfax put on just before departure for this trip, mind you). The plan was the remaining group of 10 would continue on to the destination, and Ski Doo Matt and NFG Brian would truck and trailer their sleds to Rockwood, and meet up with us there.
While Action Dan was at it, he took a look at everybody’s hyfax to see how everybody else was doing, considering the tough terrain we had covered in the last few days. He then noticed that Stick’s hyfax were dangerously low, but could make the day. Perfect.
The group traveled on, with few rest stops due to the bitter cold. Trails were mixed between good, rough, twisty, straight, and rough again. We had, I think, 3 trail numbers (for newbies, trails are marked like highways with numbers, example I-75, US 23, etc. but just numbers) and while we were traveling “groomed” trails, one of our trails was fresh snow, non-groomed, and we were breaking trail. I thought to myself, great, we just took the wrong trail, why would we be on a non-groomed trail? But alas, it appeared to be correct when we caught the connector trail we needed, that was groomed again, albeit a bit rough for the first mile.
After that first rough mile, the trail smoothed out, and we took a quick break. Action Dan and Leader Craig were perusing the map, double checking our next connector trail to make it in to Rockwood and the Birches Resort. Yamaha Kevin, looking at his GPS unit, came up to Action and Craig and stated “I think we are going the wrong way. My GPS says we are headed South, and it’s always right. ” Well, this now put doubt into Action’s and Craig’s thought process, and after much consideration (we really didn’t want to turn around and ride that rough mile of trail needlessly) the decision was made. Turn around and go back to that last trail head/connector and double check. It was also very cold, and we really didn’t want to take a wrong turn today and add extra miles to the 130 that was booked for the day. Oh, the ways we screw that up.
Back to the connector, and now with doubt cast into Action’s and Craigs heads, we took the groomed trail because it also had the correct trail number, just not marked north or south, and we need north. So onward we go and it is becoming evident that we are going south, and Craig hates technology, and should have followed his original paper map process.
On we go, committed to this direction until we find a north bound trail. The first trail we found going north was again an ungroomed trail, but, hey, it’s going the direction we need. This actually led to us seeing two moose on the trail, that then wandered into the woods right along side the group. That was one thing that worked out today.
The north bound trail did eventually lead us to the correct northbound connector trail that we needed, and onward we rode. We arrived in Rockwood around 5:45, and after 180 miles. We stopped at the local gas station/service mart/bar, and fueled our sleds for the next day. Action Dan, still not absolutely positive about the trail that leads to the Birches Resort, decided to inquire with a couple young buying a case of beer and some chips driving a Polaris side by side with tracks, if they could help with quick directions so we could avoid a wrong turn, being this close. Helpful they were, and they led us across Moosehead Lake to the trail that led directly into our lodging for the night. It was about 6:30pm.
Craig, Stick and Action Dan went in (I went in just to warm up) to get our room assignments when lo and behold, who is at the bar? Connecticut Jim and Dr. Dylan, our Darkside riding members we haven’t seen since February of 2020 on our last Quebec ride. They had kept it a secret that they were going to meet us on the trail, and ride with us for a couple of days. They have cottages in Vermont, and they rode their sleds approximately 250 miles today to catch up with us. Fist bumps and bro hugs were exchanged and it was the uplifting spirit we needed after the cold day on the trail.
Ski Doo Matt and NFG Brian arrived with their truck, trailer and newly serviced sleds early in the afternoon and were well into depleting the bartenders Coors Light by the time we arrived. Ski Doo Matt picked up a set of hyfax for Stick’s machine and generously offer to help install them in the morning, before we head out.
After a quick gear unload and costume change, we were headed to the main lodge for dinner and double doubles’. Our accommodations for the evening were 4 person cabins spread out overlooking Moosehead Lake. A small kitchen, a small living room with a wood burning stove, an ancient, non-working, whirl pool tub in the bathroom, and two bedrooms. Perfect, I love these kinds of places, they’re my favorite on the trail.
Dinner was at 7:30pm and the now group of 14 were seated at a long table along the wall and the revelry began. Excellent dinner, there were many ribeye steaks, pork chops and apple sauce, haddock fish dinners were served. I had the baby back ribs, and they were delicious. The night was early though, the cold temps took it’s toll on us today. A couple double doubles at dinner, the bill was paid, the group retired for the evening. The very kind server ( I forgot her name) offered to come in and serve our group breakfast the next morning, as they are not usually open for breakfast until the weekend. Perfect.
We have breakfast scheduled for 8am. Tomorrow is supposedly about 130 miles and we can start a little later and change Sticks’ hifax after breakfast and head out from there. We shall see.
Bye for now…
Stick
This is the second random penny I have found on this trip… those that know, know.