Changing Trail Conditions

We were able to get out and ride three days this week. Mon/Tues/Wed. A good start to a late start snowmobiling season. Mike just went out now, so he'll have another day/night on me. He wanted to check to see how the trail conditions had changed since last nights ride. Sunshine made an appearance and unwanted warmer temps. We reached 36... it was dripping outside. We had lots of errands to run in town. On the way back, about 2 p.m. we could see dirt on the trail closer to Gaylord. Once we got out of town a few miles it was more snow. We had thought the groomer had been out, but then I checked the official Gaylord tourism site and they reported they hadn't ran, but were planning on panning the trail on Friday. I don't kow if that will have changed since snow is less, and if we don't get any fresh snow tonight I wouldn't want them just to take away remaining snow. So they may rethink that... weather forecast has a chance of snow overnight. And the good news of colder temps tomorrow. You have to watch the weather forecast hourly.... it changes that quickly. This morning they were calling for the cold front to come through tomorrow... early afternoon it had changed to Sat... and tonight at last check it shows the cold front coming through at midnight. Sooner is better!!!
It gets very nerve wracking watching the weather...............watching the trail...........worrying about what we said in the last report and its changed now, and are people going to upset that its not the same? ... Hey, we're not in charge of the weather. .... although I can guarantee you Mike would like to be! I could also guarantee you that it would stay cold and snow covered 6 months a year then too!
When we rode over to Lakes of the North last night (it was Mike, myself and Terry Webb) for supper once I got home we had a good time. As I stated in my trail reports there were equally good and rough riding. Enough good that we were all glad we had made the trip. It was our first time this season up over the roller coaster hills along Mancelona Road. Going there didn't faze me much, but coming home it was a different story. As I was sliding downhill I felt my heart start to pound a little hearter before I gave it a little more gas and got up to the top. It was dark as we were riding back from The Settings. Pretty cool with the starlit sky. A few of those sharp curves through the woods (Lake of the North) can be tricky if you're not careful. Mike thought he was a soaring eagle on the way there...........and hey Bob and Bob, he got up to 70 mph!!! He was so full of himself.. thinking he's a real racing fool. It didn't last long... the dark night slowed him down, and then when we headed back it was colder, trailer was packed harder and his sled wasn't handling as well. So he was slowed down. We passed only two other riders on our way home. So many reasons who up north living is great. There's another one: being able to go out mid week and ride and feel like you own the trailways.