SlowTouringGuy Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 ISLAGIATT – V2.0 On a bright cold morning 13 riders assembled on the shore of Kahshe Lake to head out on our Province’s very first “Family Day Weekendâ€. Two of the spouses who, in biblical phraseology, are ‘heavy with child’ left by road vehicle to enjoy a day at the spa and meet the sledders at our evening’s destination. It was minus 20; must have been on the scale of C because there were a few high pitched voices that morning. Following some general “buzzing about the bay†all sleds gathered, shut down, took in a short sermon, discussed routing and enjoyed a rousing rendition of 'God Save the Queen'. At the call of “Start your enginesâ€, 12 sleds fired up, some headed off north on the D trail toward Gravenhurst, some got up the hill and one hung back wondering why number 13 had not fired up. After some time poking around under the hood and testing the engine’s resolve not to run by hurling invective in its general direction, WriteTwisted and Scooter accompanied PhattyMatty back to the cabin while the other 10 of us hurtled northward on the D. It was now no longer “early on a bright cold morningâ€. Oh, by the way – the D trail from Kahshe to Gravenhurst was OUTSTANDING ! A gorgeous run on a beautiful morning ! As D crosses Bethune in Gravenhurst, 14Snow suspected some trouble with his exhaust. There was also an issue with his sled. Some general poking around under the hood (flashback an hour) determined that the exhaust manifold bolts were working themselves out – some all the way out and into the never to be seen again never-never land of the belly pan. To the rescue, STG and his HomeDepot sized tool box – tools for all occasions – some of which KLR700 promptly dropped in to the never to be seen again never-never land of the belly pan. STG now possesses a zip-lock sized tool box. Thank goodness for good Samaritans. A wonderful gentleman stopped his truck and drove KLR700 all over town to get tools and bolts and deserves a big ‘THANKS’ from all of us. With pipes and springs and gaskets and bolts strewn all over the trail WriteTwisted phoned to tell let us know that they had worked on the PhattyMatty machine, discovered a blown head gasket, replaced it, reassembled the engine and were ‘up and running’ again. They would take the road trail out to town to catch up with us. Good News !! We get the 14Snow machine back together (oh, not only is it no longer “early on a bright cold morning†it is now no longer even “morning†! Oops ! Write Twisted on the phone again. While scooting along Muskoka 6, Scooter’s machine stopped scooting. So over heated was the engine, the gas was boiling. They can’t get it going again. Plan = tow it back to the cars, Scooter will drive a car to the lunch stop to meet us and PhattyMatty and WriteTwisted will turn around for the third time (or so) and try to catch up to us. Ok, if you’re counting that’s three (3) machines down already – it’s now afternoon and we haven’t got through Gravenhurst yet ! After a stop for gas in town (why not, we’re in no hurry now, eh?) we are on to C101D westbound and it is in marvelous shape. It’s smooth and fast and although we had decided to skip a break stop and the junction of 12 we stopped anyway. “Whyâ€, asks the curious reader. Well, because KLR700 is having issues with his engine. One cylinder on idle and low RPM. Why don’t we spend some time with the hood up and generally poke about at the engine for a while? It’s during this escapade that WriteTwisted and PhattyMatty catch up. 14Snow and KLR700 decide they are going to split off from the group and head to TheCove for some mechanical attention. The rest of us continue on with our journey. C101D the rest of the way to C was spectacular – the MLSA has done a great job with that stretch. We connected with C and took a “rest stop†and the junction of B105 where there is a facility for such activities. From there we took the Six Mile Lake short cut – well marked – and C south to Port Severn. Gas stop an the Shell and the trail 16 out to Georgian Bay. The trails were in TERRIFIC shape!! Friends were waiting for us at their property on Moore Point to provide us with the nourishment necessary to cover the rest of our trip. I think they ran out of propane waiting. The usual ‘zip’ from K Lake to the Big Bay took 6 hours ! Oh, and 4 machines ! After a welcome break with friends (and their barbeque) we headed out across the Bay to Midland. Lots of deep snow and some slush – we’d eschewed the stake line for sake of expediency – but a direct line of only about 7 miles and we were exiting Midland Harbour on to trail 305 and around town to our hotel. A “little†later than planned but we were there. Check in, unpack, clean-up and gather for the ‘Attitude Adjustment Hour’ and then off for a group supper. And so ends the report of Saturday. Anything following “and then off for a group supper†is off limits for the OC.Com bulletin board. ***notes to report: 14Snow and KLR700 may wish to report on their own trip from MacTier to the Hotel. They missed the LakeSide Barby lunch but they got to us in time for Happy Hour. 14Snow and KLR700 and others may wish to add comments, editorials, critiques, corrections to my lies, and other nonsense to this report. KLR700 and 14Snow may wish to add photographic evidence of trail conditions and disabled machines. There is no need for photos of food or other riders’ body parts. Sunday report to follow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slomo Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 enjoyed a rousing rendition of 'God Save the Queen'. Were you travelling under the 'maple leaf' or stick to the tradtional Union Jack for the holiday? Where is the end of EA07? I have so many questions.... Sounds like a good trip....loook forward to the rain stories on Sunday... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowTouringGuy Posted February 19, 2008 Author Share Posted February 19, 2008 enjoyed a rousing rendition of 'God Save the Queen'. Were you travelling under the 'maple leaf' or stick to the tradtional Union Jack for the holiday? Where is the end of EA07? I have so many questions.... Sounds like a good trip....loook forward to the rain stories on Sunday... I have a particular affection for the stalwart Red Ensign; however, after some 43 years I suppose embracing the Maple Leaf is somewhat overdue. I am attracted, I should admit, to anything that has a Bar at both ends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowTouringGuy Posted February 19, 2008 Author Share Posted February 19, 2008 oh yes - EA'07 ! I do owe a chapter on the trip from Joncas to Stonecliffe by way of Rapides des Joachim (or, Swisha, as it is endearingly referred to by those apparently "in the know') Embarking on EA'08 Thursday night. My timetable is completely out of control. AND, I can no longer blame the Russains. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
14 snow Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Finally leaving Mactier at 5:30pm put us on a well travelled (read: Bumpy as hell) C trail all the way to 6 Mile Lake. I did see a Elite for the first time on a trail. Once on 6 Mile it was much quicker over to 19. 19 out to Honey Harbour is a twisty, single lane (bumpy trail). Once on the Big lake, the trusty tree line took us all the way into Midland. 51 miles and 2hrs later we were finally at our destination. As STG said part of the trail were great but at 5:30 on a Saturday not so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giddy UP Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Thanks for the report Mr. Mouse - can't wait for the second chapter - aka "rain day".....stay tuned to this mouse channel!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Domino Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 That was a good weekend not to be around you mousey. Wow, is your sled still running?? :poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doonut Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Chapter Two Sunday brought a phone call at the hotel from Doonut. He joyfully informed the Master Slow Mover of the absoultely lovely weather occurring all around the Mouse House. He then graciously offered to haul the whole crew back in his trailer for the paultry sum of $500.00 per Slow Moving Mouse tour group member. Then we had a conversation about Bill Murray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowTouringGuy Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 Chapter TwoSunday brought a phone call at the hotel from Doonut. He joyfully informed the Master Slow Mover of the absoultely lovely weather occurring all around the Mouse House. He then graciously offered to haul the whole crew back in his trailer for the paultry sum of $500.00 per Slow Moving Mouse tour group member. Then we had a conversation about Bill Murray. Yeah, after the 500/sled quote the conversation turned to just about anything else. :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowTouringGuy Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 HEY ! Where are the pictures ??? The flash bulbs from all the trail side photographers were blinding and the CRICKING was very distracting - who's posting pix? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowTouringGuy Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 ISLAGIATT V2.1 - SUNDAY Sunday Pretty quick report – no pix. We did not sled. We drank a lot. End of Report ! Ok, fill in the details. After last night’s shenanigans we assembled bright-eyed and bushy tailed for a big breakfast before hitting the trails. By the time we’d finished breakfast, the freezing rain had started. Which, in not much time, turned to rain. All rooms turned TV’s to the weather network. Groups gathered and talked through the logistics of getting home in this weather. Take a car back filled with other drivers (visions of circus clowns packing into a VW); each driver picks up their own car and a trailer and drives back to Midland to load up. And then another round-trip for those who haven’t a trailer to pickup. DooNut phones. In a spirit of Blind Generosity offers to take care of our logistics issue for “only†$500.00 per sled. The conversation quickly turned to Bill Murray. Why isn’t the bar open; it’s 11:00AM fer cryin’ out loud. We watched as the snow disappeared from the hotel parking lot. And then from the streets and sidewalks of Town. As the catch basins backed up and the flooding began. Off to a room to watch the weather network and crack some beer. Pool’s open !! Sauna ! Hot Tub !! Those coffee cups from the room are handy. People could not believe how much “coffee†we went through. Games room !! Field Trips – Beer Store, Home Depot, LCBO and, for a change of pace, back to the room for drinks and cards. Need more muchies. Another trip for salted empty calories. They go so good with Cold Ones. Hey ! What about Pizza? Order out for Pizza. More beer. There goes the afternoon and before you know it, it’s time to go back to your own room and get cleaned up, changed and ready for “Attitude Adjustment Hourâ€. We all cram back into a room again for Happy Hour stepping over empty pizza boxes, powdered cheezies and crushed Nuts (sorry, didn’t know I was crowding you) and talk quickly turns again to getting home. Although, now, talk of trailering is interspersed with “who gives a ______, why don’t we all just sled right down Highway 12 to Highway 11 turn left and head for Gravenhurstâ€. It was during this haze of BlackRussians, Cranberry Surprises, Caesars, and BeefEater Rocks that the frustrated Cycle Gang now known as the KahsheKrusaders was born. Soon after, we were installing Highway Pegs on the GTX's. A lonnnnng supper (with bevies) was followed by a few nightcaps and then all shuffled off to dreamland with thoughts of Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper dancing in our heads. CORRECTION NOTICE: Do not believe any stories you might hear about “things†that might have occurred after the period previously described as “â€all shuffled off to dreamlandâ€â€. In the absence of photographic evidence, no one is going to believe the side panels were removed and hidden. Besides, to get out of the room, you only had to step over the sled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giddy UP Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Mr. Mouse - First - I can't believe you actually DRANK out of the "in room" cups Did they taste like toilet bowl cleaner by any chance? Second - Where are the pictures of the Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Glad too here you made it out of Baxter/Six mile lake alive Mr Mouse ! Those trails are in the best shape they've been all year. Thanks for sharing the adventure! Yukon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowTouringGuy Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 Glad too here you made it out of Baxter/Six mile lake alive Mr Mouse ! Those trails are in the best shape they've been all year. Thanks for sharing the adventure!Yukon Those Baxter trails were awesome YC ! Thanks to you and your club for all the work that went into them. A wonderful ride Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowTouringGuy Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 Mr. Mouse - First - I can't believe you actually DRANK out of the "in room" cups Did they taste like toilet bowl cleaner by any chance?Second - Where are the pictures of the Styrofoam Coffee cups with lids. A LOT of coffee I don't know where the pix are - the photographers from the trip must still be 'sleeping it off'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowTouringGuy Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 ISLAGIATT – V2.2 MONDAY........ What a difference a day makes ! By the time we had finished breakfast the temperature was dropping. Keeping an eye on the check out time, we hung back as long as we could to allow for winter’s return. OMGoodness – Snow in the air !! By 11:00, there was ‘some’ snow on the parking lot; not enough to grip the carbides but for the sake of the sliders, better than bare asphalt. The hotel staff assembled in the lobby and cheered enthusiastically when we fired up the sleds. Madly waving, they locked the doors and started dancing like a wide receiver in the end zone after catching the winning touchdown pass in the Superbowl. What a wonderful send off; how touching. We scraped our way along the sidewalk, down another street and found the C trail. A little bumpy but we were happy to be on snow. After a quick gas stop we worked our way back out 305 to the Bay and the C trail Re-Route. (Another rant on that is situation is in order). Well the Big Water deserved its name on Monday. And that off-green colour was pretty unnerving. Fortunately the distance we were going to travel across the bay was nothing compared to Saturday so with gritted teeth and girded loins (yes, even at my age) we headed out into the slush. High revs and slow progress but we successfully found the land trail over by Henry’s some moments later. Once we got through the Hole in the Wall and back on the C trail proper we couldn’t have been more delighted. Obviously, the groomers had been out Saturday night; and the now below zero temps preserved that work in beautiful trails. The ride to Coldwater was as good as I’ve ever had. The ride ‘through’ Coldwater was pretty ugly with all that pavement exposed by the rains but once back on the trails we were, once again, more than pleased with conditions. The rail line all the way to Couchiching was fantastic. Just a simply gorgeous run. Hardly any sleds out on Monday – couldn’t have seen more than 20 between Midland and the end of the railbed. Of course we can’t go a day without another sled down. At the shore of Coooch, we stopped for more exhaust manifold bolts backing out; this time on Sherpa’s sled. What’s with this?? A trailside fix had us back on the snow in about an hour. Lake Couchiching was a much better ride than Georgian Bay. Some minor slush here and there but it was not the Heart Pounder we had earlier in the day. B trail off of Couchie was in surprisingly good shape. We ran B up the east side and noted with thanks to the Orillia club the re-route they made around the Leatherdale Rental Submarine Pond. A quick stop at the Hawthorne and more B north. Good groomed trail right to the Fairgrounds road and then packed trail from there. It was some rough but the club has done a lot of work to at least allow passage. From the Black River Bridge we took the road back to our lake and called it a weekend. All in all a fun trip. Always an adventure when one is out sledding ! But it is always great fun when you’re doing it as a group. Good Company, good food, great times ! (where are the photographers??) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SlowTouringGuy Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 Got some photos in from 14Snow !! Thanks WunFer SATURDAY………… Assembling on Northbound D as it exits Kahshe Assembling (again) on Northbound D at the junction of C101D Hey ! Doesn’t that look like a Sheep’s stomach In the absence of photographic evidence, no one is going to believe the side panels were removed and hidden. Besides, to get out of the room, you only had to step over the sled. SH*T ! Where did these pix come from ONLY A COUPLE, SO FAR, FROM MONDAY’S RUN ………… Oh Drat - can’t go a day without dropping a few bolts in the belly pan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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