Sweet riding today!

I have been on nice trails before. I have been on VERY nice trails before. The trail to Pellston (until N. Ayr Rd.) today was AWESOME. It was freshly groomed...and it had VERY little snowmobile traffic. It was smooth and easy to steer. I was actually finding it very difficult to go slow! My hat goes off to the HSSC grooming team...they are doing a great job for the first few times grooming on the somewhat little amount of snow we have received.

I discussed my hours at work again...and the story now gets worse. I work 8-6 on M,F...8-12 on W...and 8-5 on T,Th. Now...some of you would say "Wow! What an excellent schedule!" I say "Boy that sucks." Not only do my hours change DRASTICALLY from where they were...I now get two hours per week LESS than I was getting before. In my book that is a lot of money out the window. Unless there is something I am missing out on...(and I doubt there is) I got hosed with this migration that we just went through. It is very hard to tell your boss that though. That eight hours a month is a full credit card payment for me...so hopefully we will come to an arrangement that will benefit us both.

Back to the purpose of this blog. The outdoors! I know it is much better with pictures...I feel bad I did not take my camera with me on the ride today. There were some great shots waiting to be taken. At one point on the trail...the snow had melted and formed icicles handing down in front of some exposed earth. Then the empty woods on a sled on a freshly groomed trail. That always makes a great picture. BUT I did not bring the camera. There is good news through the next week that will hopefully overturn all of the pent up emotions about my hours. It is going to stay COLD!

The forecase for the remainder of the week and into next week looks to stay below freezing. With highs in the mid 20s and lows in the 10s...there should be plenty of snow that sticks around. The colder temperatures are bringing along some snow! Tomorrow is our best shot...but there are small chances of snow throughout the rest of the week and weekend. Nothing huge but it can help keep the snowmobile trails passable.

I guess it would be good to talk about something survival related as well. As soon as we get some snow I will start to build some shelters...but for now there just is not enough to do anything worthwhile. Especially if the snow decides to melt toward the end of the month. (My winter forecast has been the complete opposite of what has occurred...so if that trend continues we will see a warm up at the end of December and cold/snow into January. I sure hope that is not the case!)

I think that about covers it for now...I will post pictures soon...and hopefully have a bit more interesting content. It is just kind of a boring time of year until the big snows start flying. :P

Goodnight from Northern Michigan!

Derek