The NEOC dining room in the main lodge was quiet last night, except for our group of 14. They seated us at a long table that would accommodate the entire group. Another great dinner was served, I know for a fact there were quite a few New York Strips thrown to us, as well as a superb lobster mac & cheese! The meal was excellent as well as the service. The group didn’t linger in the lodge very long after dinner, and everybody meandered back to their respective cabins ( I have the feeling the Caribou Lodge wore a lot of the group the night before).
However, our particular cabin didn’t go directly to bed. Craig, Action, wingman Rob and Stick shared a cabin and a few after dinner cocktails. Call time for tomorrow is 8:30am departure.
This morning breakfast will be on the trail, as the NEOC does not open for breakfast during the week. Connecticut Jim has a place staked out, and we should be there by 10:30am according to him. We shall see.
We’re on the trail by 8:25am, and it was a brisk start to the day. My Superior Bombardier Product said it’s engine temp was -11 when I fired it up. Brrrr. The trails were freshly groomed and easy riding. We were cutting a good clip for most of the 50 mile ride to the trail side restaurant, gas stop, diner named Kokadjo. And we were there by 10am!!! Air Connecticut has us flying ahead of schedule on the friendly trails.
Kokadjo is quite a quant little place on the trail (I only got an interior shot, my picture taking was lack luster today). I believe the waitress was the owner, and I know she was the cook. She was quite boisterous to say the least. She runs a tight ship. When we inquired if it was a lunch or breakfast menu, she snapped “I don’t care what you order but one orders either/or, your all getting that choice too!” Breakfast menu was chosen so we all ordered off the breakfast menu, no argument. She was quite the hoot and a welcome experience on the trail.
After the quick lunch, she doesn’t let you linger, she needs to clear tables for the next group, Air Connecticut was back in the air. We did have a mid air mishap. Rimel cruising along the snow dusty trail behind Ski Doo Matt wasn’t prepared for an upcoming stop sign. He locked the brakes, darted right off the trail and flipped over in the powder beside the trail. If only this would be his only crash landing. Ole Man Ron gave him an assist and got him back on the trail, track down. Later today he nearly had a mid air collision with oncoming traffic. He was coming in hot to a 90 degree left turn, missed the turn, and shot straight across the paved 2 lane road the trail ran along. He used the snow bank on the other side of the road for traction, and got turned back around, and onto the trail again.
Last night at dinner we got the news that the Indiana crew is going to have to pull off the ride Wednesday morning. Something about business back home that got pushed forward, whatever. Anywho, we were going to be as close to their truck and trailer, that was left back at Rockwood, today, so we rode with them back to The Birches, and we headed off to The Forks and the Northern Outdoors Lodge by trail. They are going to trailer their sleds to Northern Outdoors as well, and spend tonight with us, and head out tomorrow morning.
Air Connecticut landed right at 4pm after a quick 172 trail miles. The Indiana crew arrived around 4:15pm and announced their arrival pulling into the parking lot blowing their horn at us. The group of 14 are split into 2 cabins. Our cabins are about a 1/2 mile down the trail on the Outdoors property. I am disappointed there is only an electric heater on our cabin’s interior wall, I was looking forward to stoking a good old fashioned wood burning stove again (the others were pleasantly relieved).
My cabin mates generously allowed me to shower first, so I could head to the main lodge ( we ride our sleds from the cabin to the lodge for those wondering, me with my pajama bottoms, slippers and a helmet) and begin this effing blog for tonight. Connecticut set up dinner for the group at 7pm, and Craig & I ordered some appetizers of mozzarella sticks and loaded nachos to hold us over.
The group is trickling into the lodge, re-hashing our day, and enjoying the early arrival with a few adult beverages.
Tomorrow we will bounce back into New Hampshire for our last overnight on the trail. Connecticut Jim and Dylan will ride with us tomorrow, but I do not know if they are staying with us there. They have cottages in Vermont, within a short distance from our overnight, and may ride there tomorrow night. We shall see.
That’s about all I got for today.
Bye for now…
Stick
