mikerider

Next week is your turn to ride Mark. Heading south out of Libby's and taking the more westerly trail, I saw the turn off for the trains and it was groomed.

Have always wanted to see the trains and I saw the turnoff for them. Riding solo, didn't want that long lake ride to no man's land..

After a somewhat dismal day yesterday of a mix of lots of big and small bumps in the Millinocket area, I left this morning in frigid temps to head north into the big wilderness. Destination at least Shin Pond Camps, better yet Libby's Sporting Camps. Got to Shin Pond way quick, stayed the north course for Libby's. Almost the entire trip was on freshly groomed trails, and a few that weren't were still smooth and fast. Again, this area has nice big wide logging roads with plenty of hills. Gas at Shin Pond, lunch at Libby's and back thru Mattagammon Wilderness store, and Bowling Sporting Camps. Based on the grooming, and big wide roads, views of lakes, streams and rivers along with a few mountain views, and very low traffic count, sunshine good part of day; this would have to be one of the top ten best rides ever. It was Quebec worthy. Libby's Canps is nothing short of right out of the early 1900's. It is an Orvis Fly Fishing approved camp. I would have to rate lunch there as the best ever trail stop lunch. I had been told it was amazing food. On the way back I also poked around the Northeast Outdoor Center, big log cabin restaurant and rental cabins that appeared very large. Pic of the large building the the Mattagammom Wilderness store. All others pics of buildings inside and out is Libby's. Snowbeeler, I must have been ahead of you as at times there were no tracks in the fresh groom. I am guessing after shin Pond I went north and you went northeast. So glad you had a good day. Presque Isle Inn should be a nice step up for places to stay, heard it was great. mike

Snobeeler, Thanks for the tip on southerly trails. I thought that might be you in the parking lot. I was waiting for you to pass to unload the sled. I assume you are going to the Aroostook County on your saddle bag trip. I think you will be impressed, especially Caribou north. I've been told Libby's Camps is a must lunch stop if you go that way. And northern Aroostook highly recommend Sportmens Restaurant and Lakeview Restaurant. I really like Long Lake Motor in in St. Agatha. Sagueanay Bill is riding around northern Aroostook, Hopefully you get to say hi. Have fun. mike

Rode Millinocket for about 2/3 of the day today. Looks like day two and no sign of groomers. This area is very big wilderness on all sides of town. Trails are really nice as some big wide roads, not too much tight twisty trails. Lots of beautiful lakes and rivers. Maine big snow areas are so different. Rangeley is a resort area, Jackman a frontier town, and Millinocket a former big mill town. Not sure the current situation, but Millinocket has been known for stupid low home prices, like $40,000 for a ranch. The area was devastated when the mill closed. The recent National Monument 'Katahdin Woods and Waters' has started to rejuvenate the area. mike

Thanks for the invite, but I'm going to just poke around the area today and explore. Should be plenty of snow dust. Baxter Inn seems nice, older place, very clean and owner very nice. I drove through both places and Baxter won based on the large parking lot and good snowbanks to unload the sled off the truck.

Arrived about an hour ago. Hotel owner says trails are good. Thinking this may be a good choice over Jackman, hopefully wider and less curvy trails.

Add me to Millinocket, staying at the Baxter Inn. I have saddle bagged thru this area in the past decades ago. Been hearing good things in recent years about the trails here. Snow here appears to be enough, but certainly not the usual. mike

Thanks for posting the pics Mark. I think we were all waiting on edge to see what its like since the storm. Looks great. mike

Still in the mountains of northwestern Maine. Snowing hard, supposed to get 12-18 inches. We decided not to ride today as there are supposed to be white out conditions. I didn't buy the Polaris, it was just a rental. It was also the sled the manager uses so I was lucky in that it was set up really nice. The gauge seems huge and the display numbers are very large, and has a white background. Very easy to read and I liked it a lot.

Too funny. The day rental brought on a big grin. I may have to erase the 'fast women' part of the title.

I was moving right along today. But I think even on a slower laid back ride they would be nice. At first it was really strange driving a two stroke again since my last 40,000 miles have all been on a four stroke. It took a good 20 or more miles to get used to the sled and the engine, and all of a sudden it was like a magic spell came over me and said wow, this sled is awesome. Supposedly Mark, Houlton Motor sports buys up all the rentals at the end of the season and sells them for $8K, which is a steal for a one year old sled with another year warranty.

I got the 650 Matryx VR1. The midrange of this engine is incredible., nail it at 60 and the skis are still dangling off the ground at 80, The sled is super light. This is not your grandfather's Polaris. Handling is the most confidence inspiring sled I have ever ridden. It just feels glued to the trail. The engine is fairly quiet for a two stroke and is extremely smooth. For some reason the track feels like it hooks up better than the Doo's. It rides very nice, not quite as soft as the RMotion, in fact feels totally different but really nice. The skis and ski suspension felt several times better than what I am used to on my SkiDoos. Overall, it is just what owner's are reporting, that this sled is really fun to drive. I would encourage anyone who is a bit of a performance driver and sled head to rent one for the day. I was grinning from ear to ear. mike

Took out the hot red Ferarri today. Felt 40 years younger!

Took out the hot red Ferarri today. Felt 40 years younger!

And you may no longer be able to cross into Canada.

Nope, they did the cooking. I seem to recall we were the only guests there that night. The other memory of the Buzzard was that Ray and I were taking turns each night paying for the lodging. This was my night to treat. OUCH! I would think the forest fire must have killed their summer and fall business. It looked like a wasteland after the fire. mike

Ray and I stayed at the Buzzard one night. Probably the best meal I have ever eaten. Was on one of our trips to Cochrane. mike

Is that BalBuzzard? The burnt landscape looks familiar. mike

To add insult to injury, almost all the clubs in Chardierre region and Bas St. Laurent region showing excellent conditions. As I look at the green grass on my lawn in Maine. mike

Two half days of riding Jackman (Maine). Scheduled to go home on Thursday, asked hotel if I could extend til Sunday and they said they were full Had I done that at the Universel In Riviere du Loup, they would have said not a problem Mr. Mike. We can give you an executive suite at the price of a lesser room. Kidding aside, Maine is terribly crowded with sledders in the snow belt each Thursday thru Sunday.. The place I stayed at was very nice, modern, and probably the cleanest room I have ever stayed in. And the staff was great. mike

Steve, first picture looks like the restaurant in Tourville on #35. 2nd picture, Andyman doesn't care where he's at, he's just happy to be there.

Very nice read. Thanks for sharing. It is just what we needed, those of us stuck at home due to a lack of snow. mike

Mark, No, the vaccine won't get you into Quebec. But after the second dose you will be good to sled in New Jersey!

The pics are great, that area is truly beautiful. I need to start traveling out of Maine more. mike