PENOBSCOT SNOWMOBILE CLUB
HERMON
March 15, 2004
Hello M.S.A. & P.S.C. Members!
Did the fat lady sing yet? If she hasn't, she's on the stage and practicing. While it wasn't the season we had hoped for, it sure kept the sleds from wearing out. We weren't totally skunked though - here's the details from the Club Trip:
On Friday February 27, twenty-one PSC members rolled into the Twin Pine Camps in Millinocket like seagulls picking up French Fries in McDonald's parking lot. The place has yet to be the same. Pitching camp at Sandy Stream, Hammond Ridge and Look Out cabins, we settled in for the weekend. I must admit, upon arrival and finding the Arctic Cat banner in my cabin was rather humorous and Mark deserves credit for the idea...however the look on his face when he saw the bright yellow Ski-Doo plate on his racin' red Avalanche was to die for (especially when he realized he was driving with it on all weekend). By 8pm, the Meet and Greet was over and we prepped for our journey northward on Saturday.
A crystal clear, crisp morning was broken with "Legend Laurie who is now 40" doing the wake up duties by sled. Lee cranked out bacon, eggs, and coffee just like being at Denny's restaurant. All 22 sleds assembled on the lake with the big "K" as our backdrop and we suckered some individual to snap a few pictures - thanks Dude!
With "Engine Tom" and "Caboose Brent", the train headed out Logan Pond Trail. George and Vicki 'prowled' their cats down the Kokadjo Trail as they had just been to Bowlin Camps - our destination for the day. With a few breaks along the way, we spiraled our way to the Look Out on ITS 85. We found another cool way to get a picture while there...we learned that if you put 20 sleds in front of 1, the person riding the one sled would be 'forced' to take a picture. We didn't get his name, but many THANKS...your work may be in this newspaper.
Next stop was lunch at Bowlin Camps. While their future may be uncertain, it sure wasn't evident that day! Many thanks! Up ITS 85A and down 64, the crew meandered with outstanding views everywhere. It was about now when Robin "missed the corner" so smoothly that 6 sleds followed her, nice work! Just entering into Patten, we suffered our only mechanical failure of the weekend. It was hugely overshadowed by the lady that owns the Napa/gas station who graciously re-opened her store for parts and fuel. Our helmets are off to you! While the next section of trail was the only marginal piece of the weekend, Alan was left bewildered as Cathy and Sandra blasted through it like 18-year-olds on their new REVs. It wasn't much longer after this section that we had to alert Debbie W that she shouldn't make "snow-angels" in the middle of an ITS Trail.
As the sun faded behind the mountain, we couldn't believe 132 miles were showing on the odometer. We prepped for supper and headed to the Hotel Terrace for dinner and the Awards Ceremony. While some awards should not be mentioned here, Ann and Doug took home the "Couple of the Trip" honors. Also, Honorable Mention went to Eric and Darby Vigue for the "Adopt-a-Club Award". Newer Barb will be the known as the "Staples Representative", as she cranked out group pictures from her portable photo station. What a treat!
As the night was dimming and energy levels decreasing, members engaged in a 40th Birthday Party followed by a joke-off not soon to be forgotten. The only thing funnier than that was Mark, Lee, and Rick snoring like a 3-wide pass on turn 4 at Talladega! It was so bad that Melanie got up at 2am and put her helmet back on! One last highlight that definitely pegged the "Fun-Meter" included Fran exercising the smoke detector as Bob and Debbie Whitman's wake up call! How was that toast anyway?
The weekend finished out with a GREAT ride for breakfast at the Northern Timber Cruiser's Club. Nice work at breakfast President, John Higgins!
While we were playing, things at home weren't sitting idle...we would like to thank the Brownie Troop 175 of Hermon for holding down the fort at the Clubhouse. We thank you and are very proud of you!
As poor Peg at MSA is getting tired, I better end this soon. Many thanks for the GREAT trip!
www.sledhermon.net
P.S.