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Well it's been over a year sence I posted a dirty ride report from our adventures in Maine...probably because until last week, it had been a year sence I've been up there.
Thursday July 3rd
I had to work so there was no leaving early for me. The plan was to ride up with Todd and his wife Leigh and they were going to drop me off at my camp where Sean and Leah were staying. We left a bit later than planned so I didn't arrive at camp until 1:30am. Unloaded my stuff, made my bed and went to sleep.
Friday July 4th
I slept in until 8:30-9ish and felt pretty good when I got up. Sean and Leah had already gathered firewood that morning, which ended up lasting us the whole weekend.
The plan for the day was to head to Bingham which is just under 60 miles one way from my camp. It was also great to find out that the ATV access trails now go rite by my driveway...time to start bringing the Rappy up again
Camp and bikes...
They say I pee alot on these rides?
Leah?
Yup, more campers just setting up in any old spot..gotta love Maine
We made it to Bingham just after lunch. We had stopped at this place last year for lunch as well..though I think it's time to look for a new lunch spot in Bingham? Felt a little sick that evening and first thoughts were from the greese burger?
It was an uneventfull ride home and we ended up with about 130 miles for the day.
We were all exhausted so it was also a uneventfull evening of drinking and we ended the night early.
Saturday July 5th
The plan was to head over to Todds camp early to see what they were up to for the day. Our plans were to head to Greenville for lunch and I figured their's would be the same.
We decided to try a new trail which was cool but ended up adding a good hour to to the 45 minute ride from my place to Todds. One section was a bit wet and soupy..
When we got to Todds, we had missed them by 20 minutes. They were heading to Greenville as well so all was good. Either way we would have cought up with them that day as Todd's father invited over for burgers at the end of the day.
I've always enjoyed this ride, it's a good mix of some fun trail sections and a old railbed for the speed sections...ITS 85 to be exact.
We arrive at Kellys Landing for lunch just as Tood and Leigh are getting their check. We shoot the shit for a few and they head back while we stayed for lunch.
On the way back we decided to try another trail section, the Shirley Tote loop. I've been on this trail before and didn't have any good memories from it, it was wet a soupy for several miles and I was exhausted.
It was a 30 mile loop and looking back at it now, it really wasn't that bad that day. The best memory though is how much better I felt after taking a quick smash trailside, I felt 10 lbs lighter
We stopped back at Todds where we relaxxed by the water. We had some good laughs, ate some burgers and hotdogs...then hit the trail back to my camp.
Again another full day of riding and we were exhausted...which again put a damper on the drinking fun and made for an early night.
I think were were in the 120 mile range for the day.
Sunday July 6th
This was going to be a long day. We had to be at Todds camp by 8:30 so we were packed up and out of my driveway a littler before 7:45
The plan was to go to the Forks and then to the Northern Outdoors for lunch. We arrive at Todds at exactly 8:30..
The first half of the ride was some of the same trails we had already ridden that week...then the new stuff came with some nasty mud sections. I somehow got stuck in some soup that was some of the deapest mud I've been in on 2 wheels, fell over and had a hell of a time getting my bike back up from the mud...all while standing in a foot of mud praying my boots wouldn't fill with water...which they didn't
We were on the last leg of the trip to the forks when we came up on some quads stuck in a huge mudhole, whinches out and everything. We turned around and ended back tracking a bit before heading to the Northern Outdoors for lunch.
Another pretty much uneventfull ride back, though it was long. We split off from Todd and Leigh as we pass their camp and Sean, Leah and myself wanted to head over to see my aunt. She wasn't home again, I later found out they were in Old Orchard Beach Sunday and Monday.
We were exhausted so we chose to ride the road back to my camp rather than the trails.
And yet another evening to tired to stay up drinking.
About 150 miles for the day.
Monday July 7th
We get up at a reasonable hour and Sean and Leah pack to go home and I pack to head over to Todds for the rest of the trip.
It was a fun weekend with you'z and I'm looking forward to doing it again
I did a quick cleanup of the area before heading over to Todds. I knew it was going to be one of those days when I got there and cracked a beer open before the lunch hour
I rode the bike there but still had to take the truck back to my place to get all my shit. We were pretty relaxxed and justed ended up driving around for a bit before heading back. The beer was flowing once I was settled in and the rest of the day was history
Tuesday July 8th
We slept in a little and were in no hurry to get going...which put a small damper on the ride planned for that day. It was also MUCH warmer out.
The plan was to go to Rockwood at the east outlet of Moosehead lake. We left camp just before 11am.
Again, some of the same trails we had been on all weekend to get to the half way point..but man had the conditions changed. The Shirley Tote Loop that was a soupy mess 3 days prior was all dried up and turned out to be pretty fun
12.4 miles into the Shirley Tote Loop, we had to take a right and head north, I think it was on ITS 88? The sign said Rockwood 40 mile loop...it shoulda said Rockwood, 40 miles aheadIt was an interesting ride with all different trail conditions. There were a couple good mud sections...this time the boots took on some water...though I didn't fall, which was a good thing.
Then there was a freshly graded 6 mile section of logging roads with lose 6" +/_ sized rocks everywhere...then we cought up to the grader before he was done grading!!
It was already 2pm and we weren't even there yet, I started seeing signs for food/fuel 6 miles ahead..then it was 4 miles ahead...then 2...then the arrows pointing to the driveway. At the same spot, there was another trail marker that said Rockwood, 12 milesWe follow the food/fuel sign into a campground...but it turns out there is no food and no fuel. We grabbed a water and decided it was best to turn around and head back..it was close to 3 at that point.
We had gassed up at the Yammy dealer in Greenville so we should be ok with fuel for the ride back.
This is one of those rides where it would be nice to have had a map and make a loop out of it, we back tracked most of the way back to camp. Todd ran out of gas about 10' shy of his camp driveway with 85 miles...
I grabbed a quick drink, put a gallon of gas in the bike and made the treck over to see my aunt. We were heading home the next morning so this was the last chance I had.
Total miles for me for the day was about 150
Wednesday July 9th
Pack up and head south. We left Wetstone Pond at 8:30am and I was home by 2:30pm. Home sweet home
I had a great time as always and ended up with the most total trip miles ever, 550 miles in 4 days of riding. My ass is still sore, my bike needs a lot of TLC, and I killed a set of tires.
Next trip, Laborday weekend
And I'm only going if there's at least 1 night of drinking late and playing card games until 2am
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Originally Posted by R7
