It all started on Thursday morning on 1-31-98. Three truck loads of club members (totaling 7) and their sleds were ready to leave the P&C parking lot at 7:30 AM. We were on the road at 7:34 am and their was no looking back. First we had to pick up another couple of members (now the total 9).
The trip up to Pulaski was smooth except the for the passing lanes when we got around the snow belt areas (past Syracuse). The snow started to get higher as we passed Syracuse and then started to diminsh as we got past the Mexico exit. Also it was a must to have windshield washer fluid (ask Roger Turner). All in all we made it to our destination within three hours.
Once within the Pulaski area a few of the members still had to get their sleds registered and so we parted until we reconvened back at the lodge we were staying, The SteelHead Lodge.
All that was left to do now was to get situated in our rooms and then to get on the trail and make some tracks. Their was a meeting in the lobby of the hotel to decide what to do, which is the bottom level of the building. The lobby has a TV, pool table, and a card table, and a lot of seating to sit around and bs. The meeting was called by the Prez. and the decision was made to ride right from our lodge and head south for the day.
The duty to lead us was given and/or accepted by Ken Murphy. Now there were 10 + snowmobilers within our group. Our destination as stated earlier was to head south to Parish and back. The trails were adequate most of the way. The trip totaled a whooping 60 + miles. Not bad for the first ride of the winter. A lot of members got to break their new machines in. The only malfunctions we had was that of an Arctic Cat (that of Nate Flynn). The club found some open fields and as any other snowmobiler would do you would get out and play. While playing Mr. Flynn's sled erupted into smoke. His overflow of his coolant was laying on the engine and burnt a whole in the tube. First we shortened the hose up so the hole was gone, but he was missing to much coolant. So our trusty leader and a couple of others went down the trail to get a thing of coolant at the local gas station. After all of the work the sled still was not right, so we towed it to a nearby restaurant. Once inside we first all order some grub and then we called our host, Big Earl from The SteelHead Lodge, to assist us the rest of the way. Sure enough he came and got the sled and Nate so the rest of the club could go on their way.
That night everyone except Roger Turner and Ken Murphy covered their sleds because they "double dog dared it to snow". Sure enough it snowed that night. I guess it snowed a couple of hours that night and it accumated to about a foot or more. That morning in the lodge you could hear a few members of the club running up and down the hall singing it has snowed. Everyone was like a kid in a candy store. All the guys were ready to hit the trails.
The first that was in order to do was to clear off the machines and then decide were to ride today. So another meeting was held to decide. The choice was to ride to the plateau and back.
Our guide again was Ken Murphy. He first lead us up to the Portly Angler to pick up a few more members. Within the group of sledders now was 20+. The riding was great, awesome. We were the first ones to be out on the fresh snow so we were breaking trail most of the day. Unfortunately, again we had another malfunction. This time it was Mr.McGuire with his Ski-Doo (Formula Z) getting stuck in reverse. Again we called our Host Big Earl and he came and got him. He headed on and arrived at our first destination point, the Lake Effect Inn.
After a short break we headed up to the top of the plateau. Once there we had to wait about 1/2 an hour to get gas. An like usual the price of gas was 2 dollars a gallon. The Temperature up on top was some where in between - 14 to -19. The cold was putting a damper on most of the crews face shields. The shields kept frosting up. The only people without trouble where those fellows with the new Ski-Doo helemts. The ride home through the little John trail was aweful. I think a lot of the members will never ever go that way again. The trip on Friday totaled about 100 or miles.
Once back the Prez ordered four pizzas and then got the club and Big Earl for a group photo. The rest of the night most of the club members stayed in.
Saturday morning a few of the riders elected to take a short trip to the resivoir and back which total 30 + miles. The ride was descent and a few guys got to line them up and race on a few of the straight aways. Let's just say the yellow one won. Just ask Brian Turner.
Most of the club members left Saturday after the ride and a few of the club members stayed. The decision to leave was due to the upcoming weather and the fact most were sore after the long rides.
Fun was had by all and the club is thinking of booking for next year. So get your reservation in early.
Till next time,
Think Snow