I'm still here.

Spring has sprung way too fast this year.  I will be updating the blog soon.

Weekend at Roy Lake.

I decided that it was time to check out the snowmobile trails in the White Earth State Forest.  Jo, Me, Jo's brother Jon and his boys Marcus and Jakob spent last weekend (March 5,6,7) at the cabin at Roy Lake.

We arrived Friday evening and began the process of warming up the cabin.  The cabin is not winterized so there was no running water.  This meant that we had to use the neighbors outhouse.  It's a nice outhouse with heat and lighting, but with 6 guys staying at the neighbors using it and 4 guys at my place, Jo thought it got a bit odoriferous after a couple of days.

Saturday morning came and we went out for our first ride.  It was cloudy and the trails were in nice shape.  

Taking a break on Strawberry Mountain Road

Marcus and Jakob in the Cat Cutter

We stopped at Pinehurst Resort at Twin Lakes and checked out the 40th annual Snodeo which is put on by the Naytahwaush Nightriders Snowmobile Club.  They had a few vintage sleds set up and I thought that this all original Enticer was pretty sharp looking.  While at Pinehurst I bought a few raffle tickets and later on in the week I found a $100 check in the mail from the Nightriders. Not bad for a $10 investment.

After checking out the Snodeo we headed back to Roy Lake and had lunch.  Jon, the boys and I went for another ride after lunch.  It started to rain out, but we kept on riding.  Most of the trails were still in pretty good shape.  After our ride we tried our luck at ice fishing.  I made two holes with the manual auger and that was enough for me.  We had no bites, but at least we can say we went fishing.

All Smiles even without any bites!

After a day of riding it was time to get ready for dinner.  Even though it was misting out I started the campfire.  All it took was some newspaper, a few matches and some dry pine.

Hamburgers anyone?

Tired boys.

Hotdogs!

On Sunday the sun came out and Jon, Jakob and I went for a ride.  Even with the rain on Saturday the trails held up pretty good.

The Nightriders do a nice job of signing the trails.

This is the trail access on the west shore of Roy Lake.

Looking East towards my cabin.

Jakob took his turn driving the sled.

Here is the Trail Map.

                                                                         Roy Lake

A Visit to the Sun Valley Snowmobile Lodge in the Pembina Gorge.

After watching Hayden's hockey game on Saturday we ate lunch and loaded up the sleds and headed north to the Pembina Gorge.  It was a nice day for a ride.

The boys are all ready to go!

We unloaded the sleds at Howard's and drove about six miles to the Sun Valley Snowmobile Lodge.  The Coyle Family built the cabin in the 1970's and it is used as a warming shelter on the trail.  It's a nice place to warm up and has great sledding hills for the boys.

This is on the inside.

Warming up.

Jakob Sledding down the hill.

Jakob, Hayden and Marcus

Taking the boys over to the big hill.

Over the hill.

The Cat Cutter.

Canada is just past the bottom of the hill.

When we got back to the cabin there was a bunch

of other riders resting and getting warmed up.

The boys had plenty of exercise walking up the hill.

Jakob

Marcus

Hayden

After visiting with Howard we drove over to Maida to have steaks at Jacks for Jo's birthday.

Sunday Snowmobile Ride

On Sunday we drove the snowmobiles up to Mt. Carmel Dam.  We put on about 50 miles.

Carl, Hayden and Ed on the lake.

Ed

Hayden watching Ed.

Hayden

Hayden and Ed

Me

Carl got stuck in the powder

Hayden