Last night’s dinner was French Onion soup ( Truck Driver Vinnie: a 2.5 star at best. I have yet to find a French onion soup comparable to our favorite at the Bon Air in Quebec) and bacon wrapped meat loaf. Wingman Rob & I shared the entre, as we hogged out on the appetizers we had before dinner. Dinner was boisterous, per the usual from this group, and after dinner beverages were had before retiring to our cabins, about a mile down the trail.

Some mixers were ordered from the bar before departure, so we could begin thinning out the bar on Fearless Craig’s and Action Dan’s sleds. Ole Man Ron, Chip Nasty, were staying in our cabin last night, so we all enjoyed a couple nightcaps and some more conversation before retiring for the evening.

Call time this morning was 7am when I went to bed. When I woke up, packed my saddlebags, and put on my gear by 6:50am, and everybody in my cabin was still in their camping clothes and drinking coffee, I was informed that breakfast was moved to 7:30am. Anywho, I still headed to the lodge, as I needed my morning Coke Cola. Connecticut & Dylan were already at the long table we occupied the night before at dinner.

The rest of the group filtered in around the proper breakfast time and the snowmobiler breakfasts were ordered, I opted for the oatmeal with blue berries, perhaps it will counter effect last nights meatloaf. We were on our sleds and headed to the trail by 8:45am or so.

The Indiana Loosiers (losers, this is not derogatory, they will understand the loser reference. Ah hell, I’ll fill you in on the reference. If you recall from Day 11, the losers drove their truck & trailer to Northern Outdoors and the Management was less than thrilled with their obnoxious arrival in the parking lot with the horn blaring. He promptly came out the front door, chided them and went back inside after making the comment “Nice way to make a first impression”. I was on the phone with my daughter when they obnoxiously arrived, and I completely missed the owner/manager’s lecture. So when I rode past the group to get fuel I called them effing Losers and they busted up laughing. They thought I was referencing their altercation, when actually I was referencing their departure from the trail. Anyway it was funny to us on both accounts)

The trails today were far and beyond the best we have had on this trip. But it still doesn’t matter how good of trails we give ‘em, they just can’t stay on them. 5 miles down, and our first off the trail and in the trees is happening. Wingman Rob is the victim, and Ole Man Ron and Yamaha Kevin used the Snow Bungee to get him back on trail right and proper. The excuse we were given about his mishap is that after the last 9 days of Ski Doo Matt carrying his life support machine (CPAP for those not familiar with my lingo) on his “big girl” Ski Doo Expedition because he has the equivalent of a $19.99 a day U-Haul for storage capacity, wingman Rob "turned around to look” to be sure he wasn’t losing his cargo system he jerry rigged up for transport.

Actually, wingman is the one and only off trail we had today. If Rimel hadn’t left with the rest of the losers, I’m sure I’d have an off trail story about him, as well.

We stopped at at a small lodge on the trail after about 100 miles, we filled our hungry sleds, and thought we could grab some lunch for ourselves too. But the not so friendly gas attendant quickly informed us that the lodge is only open for lunch Thursday thru Sundays, and basically beat it after fueling. So we munched a few fun size Snickers bars out of Sticks Trail Mix bag, and got back on the trail, headed for New Hampshire.

Connecticut Air landed us at the Black Bear Tavern/River Edge Inn & RV Sites, our accommodations for tonight. Because the losers left the trail, we have 2 extra rooms tonight. Fearless offered Stick and wingman to have our own individual rooms tonight but after I looked and saw the rooms we had are “drive ups”, I took one for the team and said let those guys have their own rooms, I wouldn’t want wingman to have separation anxiety issues, not to mention I need him to take the bed closest to the door! (those that know, will understand)

I’d like to give a shout out to Connecticut Jim and Dylan for their expedient trail guidance since they have hooked up with us. Plus it was good to see the boys again. They dropped us off at the door, knuckle punched us their good byes, and down the trail to Vermont they headed. Dylan threatened us that he may come back tonight and spend the night in one of the empty beds if he can’t find any entertainment at his place in Vermont. Safe trails gentlemen, we’ll see you when we see you.

The group is slowly gathering in the bar area after their showers and freshening up in their rooms. A couple appetizers of potato skins and bruschetta have been delivered to hold us over until the dinner hour.

The group will be 8 riders for our final leg back to the trucks/trailers in Rangeley, ME. Supposedly we have about 100-110 miles to go tomorrow. We shall see…

Bye for now,

Stick

Frost Bytes Day 12 02/02/2022... LOSERS