Riding with Dan & Dylan, Weekend of March 1, 2008

Friday, February 29, 2008 Temperature was 22 degrees at 3:30 pm.

We rode with Sher today, after calling WPS to restore power to the Big Island (watch out for the temporary power line. laying on the ice and snow, running from the South Shore Landing over to the island). We left the lake at 3:30 pm on the Doze Inn trail. We went east on 2112 to water's Edge, went across Anderson Lake. We ditched to South Shore Dr, then got gas at Rhode's Junction. We took the back trails to 18 W to Crooked Lake, where we stopped in for a visit with Tim & Jackie at Randall's Resort. We left Randall's in a blizzard and headed across Crooked Lake, then down the pipeline back to the 18 W trail back to Chute Pond. The power crew had just restored electricity to the island, so we headed over to Everbreeze for the kickoff of the Cancer Crusher Cruise Benefit Snowmobile Ride. All trails were in excellent condition today. We rode 52 miles.

Saturday, March 1, 2008. Temperature was 22 degrees at 9:30 am. Cancer Crusher Cruise Benefit Ride today!

We met up with Mark & Barb, Don & Sher, Collin, and Szablu and left the lake at 9:30 am on the Bonita Creek trail, heading south on 7 S railroad grade to 2112, then east for gas at Rhode's Junction. We took the 18 W trail up to Crooked Lake, then went across Crooked Lake and down the pipeline south to the turn onto the Bagley-Brazeau trails. We followed those trails south and east until we came out on the pipeline just north of Suring. We took the pipeline back north into Chute Pond trails, where Mark & Barb had to be pulled apart, and took 2112 back to Doze Inn where they served us an excellent chili lunch. All trails we rode this morning were in great shape. After lunch we took the Doze trail down to 2112 and headed west to the tunnel. The tunnel was unusually rough, but the trail to Animals was much better. We continued north to the western edge trail and took that north to the northwest corner of Oconto County. We then headed east to Kathy's Valley Inn for a pit stop. We then went south on the railroad grade 7 S, which was rough, but not too bad. We stopped at Schoolhouse Bar to sell some more raffle tickets before  heading home to get ready to go to Suring for the spaghetti feed and raffles at Vollmar's Trailside. There was heavy traffic on the trails today, but they held up very well during our 127 mile ride.

Sunday, March 2, 2008. Temperature was 40 degrees at 9:30 am.

We left the Pond at 9:30 am with Szablu for a short ride. We took the Bonita Creek trail to 7 N railroad grade to the small connector trail to 2112. These trails, as well as the tunnel, were all freshly groomed last night and in excellent shape. Once we crossed Hwy W at Pine Grove, though, the trails were somewhat rough and bumpy, as was the trail 18 E from the "Y" intersection to Hwy 32. We crossed the highway and headed south on 7 S railroad grade back to Chute Pond. We rode 33 miles today before packing it in and heading home. Hopefully the weather will cooperate and we'll ride again next weekend.