Jordan Valley Ride

We enjoyed a great day yesterday. How could it have been anything else, when it was a day spent riding on the trails?

We headed out mid-morning with Farmer Bob (that's him sitting on his sled). We started on trail 7 out front of the motel, and then onto trail 4 all the way over to Jordan Valley loop, 774.

The trail was covered in snow the entire ride. Closer to Alba it was less, but the trail was still decent. Dirty snow. But snow.

The powerlines and airport run along Lakes of the North was a chance to blow the cobwebs off before slowing down again for a more leisurely pace. Along 131 had a few rough areas, but you could easily find a smoother path just alongside the well worn trail itself.

We headed into the Jordan Valley right there at Alba, south end of the loop. The first several miles were extremely rough. Large holes big enough to swallow a small sled. You don't want to eat before going through those, it may jiggle that food right up. After the first few miles it smoothed and we enjoyed a scenic ride through the valley.

We made a stop into the fish hatchery. There isn't any sign there telling you the fishing hatchery is back there... (although two years ago there was). Its a trail off to the east, very narrow with stream along one side and fence along the other. It goes right to the parking lot of the fish hatchery.

This is a great rest stop. Warm restrooms, the fish hatchery itself, and even coffee, tea and hot chocolate available. They stay open 24 hours. The ladies working in the outer building invited us in to see them at work marking the little trout. They were a friendly bunch and very informative.

We finished up the Jordan Valley loop and then rode onto Larry's, along 131 where we had our lunch.

You know another reason people enjoy snowmobiling? Because you are always meeting new friends! We visited with the fish hatchery workers and learned a little about them. Eleanor has a farm in Curtis, and is a dairy farmer now in East Jordan. Along the trail we stopped and visited a group from Indiana. While at Larry's we met Don and his friends. Don has had a cabin on Otsego Lake for the past 45 years. They were enjoying the mid week quieter trails to ride and catch up with friends.

On the ride back the snow seemed dirtier... more riders had been through since early morning. Over by Alba... alot of the corners showing spots of bare dirt, and icy corners making it a little wicked if they catch you by surprise. So take care.

Just as we were approaching the roller coaster hills (Mancelona Rd) the groomer was topping the last hill. We sat and waited for him to pass. What a great ride over those hills.. the best and easiest its been this year. The ride back home following the freshly groomed trails was great!!! Almost awesome.

Sparky was very wound up when we walked through the door at 5 p.m., after a 100 mile day.

The only thing that could have made it a better day would have been having a cook here that would have had dinner waiting for us. Soup and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches ended the day.

Itching to Ride

Fresh snow arrived again today! The weather forecast puts a smile on our face too - cold and snow! For the next ten days! Winter is definitely here. Hopefully the snow will be widespread so the surrounding areas will get some needed snow on their trails. Its been great riding (according to our guests) every day this week. But you can't get south to Grayling or you'll get down to just a few inches of snow, can't get past Lewistown or you will run out of snow, or too north of Indian River.. little snow. Gaylord trails, Starvation Lake, Lakes of the North, Blue Bear are good riding.
I am very excited! Once we finish folding the last of the laundry that is piled high, once we finish breakfast we are bundlng up and firing up our sleds. Its been a week and a day since we've been able to go riding.
Mike did admit that he fired up his sled today to go over to get the mail, and zip up the trail quickly.
Sunday I was so tempted to go for a quick ride, but we were busy and exhausted from cleaning rooms. Monday evening as I drove home from work... I was thinking maybe if arriving guests have all arrived we can take a ride up along the trail through the airport. The trail looked so nice. When I walked in, Mike said we were waiting for just one more reservation to arrive. It wasn't long before they walked in the door and I felt a tremor or excitement thinking we could soon head out. While Mike was checking them in... Sparky went into the back room .. where Mike had red paint sitting out... and Sparky returned with red paint all along the right side of his face. I went into the laundry room to get a rag, and WHAM! The hanging light came smashing down onto my head, dropping me to my knees. It made a racket. The light breaking, me hollering .. Sparky yelping. Mike never noticed a thing.
I calmly put my hand to the back of my head, felt the warm moist flow of blood, the swelling, and oh yes, the pain!
There was no ride last night.

Wouldn't it be great if I could make a living by just reporting trail conditions? Then I could ride everyday! and forget all these other committments that keep me off the trail.

Riding to Starvation Lake - Lake of the North

We enjoyed a good ride this afternoon. There's about 6 inches of snow outside, with a base on the trails of 2-3 inches. Its hard to really tell what the base is, so people stop asking! Please. I mean really...........how do you accurately measure the base? Tell me.

We headed out about 12:30 today. We had waited until it warmed up a bit. Morning temps here in Gaylord were a brisk 5 degrees. When we went into town at 9 it had warmed up to 6 degrees. By the time we hit the trail it was a warming 18 degrees. Just perfect for a trail ride.

We noticed some brave ice fishermen out a short distance on Otsego Lake when we came home from town. I would be a little nervous about that, the cold weather hasn't been here that long for solid ice cover.

We had a plan to ride over to Starvation Lake, which was a good plan since it gave us a good ride. The top picture is of the trail as we're headed to Starvation Lake. We stopped there for a bite to eat.While there, I discovered the secret to our long marriage - 35 years in March. We walked in and each went to the restroom. From the bathroom I went over and sat down at an empty table. There were several tables full of other riders. I see Mike come into the dining room. He walks over towards the table I am sitting at, my back was to him (I have decent perpheral vision) and notice him go to the table directly BEHIND me, pull the chair out.. DIRECTLy behind me and start to sit down. I turned around and propositioned him. He hadn't realized it was me! See, it was like a fresh new romance right there, after 35 years! Still a thrill.

He said because I had my coat off. What the heck? I don't wear that snomobile coat all the time! Then he said... well because my back was to him. whatever. Maybe I need to start wearing a name tag.

We stopped to get gas at the little station/store along Starvation Lake. New owners from last season and we wish them well. (top picture/right)

Headed from Starvation Lake on through Lakes of the North and home. We both agreed it was a good ride. The Blue Bear had been groomed making it a great smooth ride. Gaylord trails have not been groomed, but it was still decent riding. There were a few spots that were rough. Mainly on trail 7 out front here, along Old 27 South. The roller coaster hills along Mancelona Rd were rough also.

Why don't they put horns on snowmobiles? So when Mike (who leads most times) slows down and isn't off to the side before I run into his rear end, I could lay on the horn and warn him to get out of the way. OR when he's went in to pay for the gas, and I am sitting out on the sled... waiting, waiting and waiting (and I know he's not using the facilities.. he's doing what he does best - you guessed it! talking) I could lay on the horn.

Watching and Waiting

I've been busy today. Once breakfast was over and Mike was done talking the three of us headed upstairs to strip the rooms. I don't why those two complain about it, its alot of fun. I raced up and down the hallway several times before they had even started. Then I went in and helped Ann grabbing towels and sheets. She'd throw them in the big garbage bag and then I would pull them out and race down the hallway with them. This way they could get aired out a bit. I got in a little extra exercise when I would run in and jump from one bed to the next as Ann was getting the sheets off. We had it finished in no time. I was a little put out when they wouldn't let me go back up to help with the cleaning and making beds. They try to tell me people wouldn't want my hairs on their beds.. .. I find that hard to believe.
I walked on over to the trail to check it out (of course I took Ann along). We were both surprised that its not totally dirt out front here. But for the most part,its not good riding.
We're waiting and watching the skies.... snow is in the forecast.

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.

Blast of Winter Fun

We picked my sled up from the shop this afternoon then spent two hours playing in the snow. What a blast of winter fun. AWESOME. It was fun yesterday riding on the back of Mike's sled, but today was much more fun. My sled is running good and handling good.
They still hadn't groomed the trails but without me on his sled, and with my sled handling good we both loved it. A little rough in some spots, and still ruts here and there. It was snowing on and off. At one point for about 15 minutes it was snowing so hard we couldn't see the trail. Just nothing but white, white, white. It is so beautiful.
Its got us both so excited and looking forward to more days of riding. Drat, I have to work tomorrow, but hopefully we can get for awhile when I get home. We got approximately 2 inches more of snow today. I measured the table tonight, and it was 8 inches.... yesterdays snow had settled down.
There isn't really any base on the trail since it hasn't been groomed. It is snow covered. They're still calling for more snow tonight and tapering off tomorrow afternoon. Anywhere we rode today, there was at least 5 inches and up to 8 inches of snow on the ground. I don't know how far north the snow goes. As Sparky reported yesterday Terry and Julie ran out of snow when they reached East Jordan area. That could have changed because according to the news Antrim County has been getting lake effect all day. Grayling hasn't gotten as much as we have, but they do have snow. Haven't heard if their trails are ridable.
Its so nice to have it looking and feeling like winter again. It was cold today. I never saw it get above 22 degrees, and last time Sparky and I were out , it was only 17 degrees.
We enjoyed a nice lunch today down at Frederick at a new little place, right next to the post office (and across from Frederick Inn). Its called Kathys Place. She is open for breakfast which she serves all day, and sandwiches, homemade soups until 11 p.m. Food was good and we wish her well. So if you're out on the trail and want to eat and not spend alot of money, that's the place to go. Prices were very good.
Happy Snow Trails to you....... ......................................................................until we meet again.