This past Sunday (3/15/09) was the last vintage ride of the season for the Baker River Valley Snowmobile Club. We had quite a turnout. There were 31 snowmobiles. We had good weather. The sun was shining all day. It did get a little warm for some of the sleds. The older motors just don’t like the heat to much.
Sport and Maggie came with us on the ride. They had a blast. Sport rode with me. Maggie rode with Tom. Sport curled up in between my legs. It felt like he was trying to go to sleep.
He kept poking his head out under my arm to watch Tom and Maggie behind me. Maggie on the other hand sat with Tom and watch as the world whizzed by. She loves to have the wind in her face. Everyone got a kick out of the fact that they would just sit with us on the sled and ride. They also enjoyed exploring the trails when we stopped.
There is a great look out over the valley where we stopped for a while. I almost had to stay there. The sled I was riding was getting hot and kept on stalling. Then the rope came out of the starter. Tom tried to put it back but found that the starter spring had broken as well. So with help from our friend Greg, Tom wrapped the rope around the starter cup and kept trying to start the machine. After quite a few tries, they got it started. But I couldn’t let it stall or shut it off or I was done. As we were leaving the look out area, I notice Greg was having issues trying to start his machine. But I couldn’t stop to help. Sorry Greg.
We had a hard time keeping such a large group together. It was the largest turnout of the year. Next time we will probably break up the groups so it will be more manageable. There were a few Rupps. A really nice Polaris and an Evenrude. Ev, the club president, rode a Johnson Skee-Horse. Other makes included Kawasaki, Arctic Cat, Ski-Doo, and Northway. There was even a Johnson Skee-Horse with a caboose. When we stopped for the day I had Maggie and Sport pose for a picture in the caboose.
At the end of the ride we all met at Ev’s house. She lives just off the trail. We had a cook out. The weather was gorgeous. No jackets needed. Everyone had a great time rehashing old snowmobile stories. Talking about various sleds they had in the past or have at present. Maggie and Sport tried there best to get food from everyone. I was very proud of my two. They were very well behaved.
I can’t wait until next year. The word is spreading about these rides. I’m sure that next year we will have even greater turn out.
If you want to see more pictures visit my webshots. Listed under Links on the right.
C