Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Things are starting to look up.

Today the sun is shining and we had a few centimeters of snow over night. It's looking a little better. Would that be because we still do not have hydro and it's really dark inside. Maybe.

There are still as many out of power, cell service and regular phone service is back. Hope springs eternal perhaps we can all shower at our own houses tomorrow.

Grooming is to start again and more snow is predected for overnight.

There were three groups of riders in yesterday and they said that other than some trees down the trails were not too bad and once groomed would be great.

A big thanks to the group that was in from Cardwell Lake that is going out today with chain saws to clean up on their way.

Nothing else is new or exciting so far today. More tomorrow unless there is big news. Don't hold your breath.

Think Snowy Thoughts
Cheers
Nancy

Monday, December 29, 2008

Guess what hit the fan this weekend

To say the least we have had an interesting weekend.

The rain hit on Saturday and continued through Sunday morning. The hearty sledders were leaving town in droves like rats jumping from a sinking ship.

By 11:00 the high winds hit. We now have trees down everywhere, mostly on hydro lines. Most of Lake St. Peter, all of Mink Lake and Boulter Lake are out of power. Thank goodness I finally sprung for a generator this fall.

The diner, gas station and all the homes on the hwy are okay. Rumor has it the power will be back by 6:00 pm or in two days. I'm not sure which rocket scientist came up with that time line but that's the story and they're sticking to it. However just to add to the fun the storm took out a cell tower so there is no cell phone service and no regular phone service.

The trails took a real beating this weekend so it's a good thing we had lots of snow. There is still a lot of snow in the bush and on the trails. The trails are just icy and road crossings are clear. The temperature is hanging around freezing and we are expecting snow Tuesday and Wednesday. Grooming has stopped for a day or two.

I will update briefly each day for a while until we are back on track.

Let's hope that this weekend is the usual January thaw weekend that we get every year. Just a little early.

Well I don't care what the snow plow guys say now. I am starting the snow dance again and that all there is to it!!!

Keep snowy thoughts.
Cheers
Nancy

Friday, December 26, 2008

Holiday Tails

Well now that all the festivities are over, the big dinner is over thankfully all the wine is gone it's time to get back to some real sledding.

We had a great Christmas, my son, daughter in law and grandson from Nevada came. My poor daughter-in-law went to visit her family in Halifax first. She was staying at the Hilton during that severe storm just before Christmas. There was a flood, fire alarms, no hydro, running water or heat and she still had to pay $150.00 for her hotel room. She was stranded at the airport for over 12 hours, her 10:00 pm flight to Montreal left at midnight. Her 6:00 am flight from Montreal to Toronto left on time unfortunately none of her bags left Montreal. All this with an 17 month old baby on a special diet. Have you ever tried to find rice milk at an airport in the middle of the night? I'm glad they arrived safe and sound even without clothes and presents. Air Canada lends out car seats when they lose yours. Not good ones but better than nothing.

This explains why all the wine is gone.

One of my cooks wasn't having company for Christmas Dinner so they went sledding all day. They had a great time. The trails are in great shape, there were no people out and the weather was perfect.

I talked to some riders in today that came from Haliburton. They claim that they have never seen the trails so good. Grooming is continuing. We had some snow this morning, just a few centimeters. If we get any bad weather I will update tomorrow.

I saw one sled cross Lake St. Peter on the 24th, but none since then. The ice is fairly thick but so is the snow. I wouldn't recommend it yet but I'll let you know as soon as I hear something.

That's all for today.
Cheers
Nancy

Monday, December 22, 2008

Weekend Wrap Up

First off thank you Brian, Jim and your buddies for standing the big sign on the trail back up. That is one heavy son of a gun. Not a good week for signs for me. I know that Lisa & Wayne think that Paudash is the place to be, yet they still come up here when they need a good ride!

There were quite a few sledders out and about this weekend even though it was freezing cold. Trails are in great shape and being groomed daily. One groomer left for Whitney this morning and another did all the Mink Lake forest access trails.

They will continue grooming over Christmas and Boxing Day.

It is still pretty cold never going above -10 all day. But the sun is out so it looks warmer than it is. The cold weather should help freeze the lakes but they are still not safe to cross. I will let you know when I see the same trail going all the way across and not disappearing in the middle.

To Steve from Bancroft--If you can't run with the big dogs, then you'd better sit on the porch. Imagine having so much fun on Saturday that you are not well enough to ride on Sunday!!! I can't believe it.

Just a reminder that we will be closed December 24 & 25, but we will be open Boxing Day by noon.

Have a great holiday and I hope we see you over the break.

Cheers
Nancy

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Saturday Scoop

What a beautiful day it is turning out to be. The snow has stopped and the sun is shining. All the trails in the system have been groomed and are in good shape.

We got a few inches of snow every day so there is lots to go around. It snowed enough that I had to have the driveway plowed both Friday and Saturday.

It looks like it will good weather right through next week.

Have a great holiday. Hope you can make it up soon.

Cheers
Nancy

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Life returns to normal.

It's late today that I start. Sorry to not getting to it sooner. The days just get away on me.

We were a hive of activity yesterday with the repaired sign being installed. It gave me heartburn just watching the keystone repair guys milling about out there. And the same back hoe operator that cut the telephone line was back to help raise the sign. Fortunately there were no personal injuries, arguing about who was the boss were kept to a minimum and the job was completed successfully. It's a thing of beauty.

On to the trail conditions. Riders in today came from Madoc and said that the conditions were great once they got to Bancroft. Others came from Diamond Lake and said the same thing. The groomer headed north to Whitney on Wednesday afternoon. It has snowed every day since the rain on Monday so the trails are still well covered and in good shape.

Grooming still continues and Pat B is in tomorrow so she will fill me in on all the goings on. I'll be away most of Friday so unless it hits the fan tonight I won't be able to post tomorrow.

If you need any further information you can always call us at 613-338-3043.

Just a reminder that we will be closed on December 24 & 25, reopening at noon on December 26 Boxing Day.

Well if all your chores are done, load up and go for a ride this weekend.

Cheers
Nancy

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Tuesday and all's well--sort of.

The rain stopped last night and the temperature dropped to a comfortable -10. Not bad. Everything is freezing up nicely. A few flurries today, just enough to cover the ice in the driveway so that you can't see it.

Two sets of riders in today said the trails were still good. They did have to move a fair number of branches off the trail.

Jim and the boys from Mckenzie Lake at least had a saw with them to make things easier. They wanted me to let the little hottie JR know that they were having a great time and they were sorry that work had to interfere with you play time. Maybe next year.

It's been cloudy all day and looks like it may snow tonight. If it does I'll post tomorrow.

As if yesterday wasn't bad enough the guy that dug the remains of the broken sign out of the ground hit a buried telephone cable. Now the guy at the store among others is without phone service and someone (probably me) has to pay for the repair. They sent the big bell repair truck so I can only imagine that means a big bill. Should I be concerned that a second truck showed up?

Well I don't know about any grooming. The rain helped pack the snow on the trails though. So as soon as I hear something I'll get back on.

Monday, December 15, 2008

It's a sad day in Hooterville

Things are not pretty at the diner today. I am not having a good day. It rained most of the night so the driveways are an icy mess. So this means that the roof is leaking again!!!, the diner sign snapped and fall over in the high winds and then a very big hemlock 2 x 4 came down and hit me square on the head. So needless to say I've had better days.

The storm seems to be over and the temperate is dropping. The winds have broken branches all over the place. A number of people are out of hydro (I dogged a bullet there). It's a good thing we have as much snow as we do. This would have been a disaster otherwise.

We still have lots of snow. No grooming for a day or two probably. More snow is expected Wednesday, just in time for the weekend.

I will update again by Wednesday but I don't think much will happen tomorrow.

Well my handful of drugs is just about wearing off so I'll end now.

Cheers
Nancy

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Sunday & Snowing in Lake St. Peter

It was nice to see so many sleds out on Saturday. The riding was great and the stories of woe have already started.

Let me tell you of the tale of Richard. Now Richard is old enough to know better but some mistakes are just too much fun to only make once. Shortly after unloading at the Bancroft Motor Inn the boys started on their great adventure. He hadn't even had his sled warmed up yet for the first ride of the year when they came upon the OPP. The were out in full force yesterday, that's what happens when there is no snow anywhere else. The result of this meeting was a speeding ticket for $110.00. They had quite a few pulled over at the time because three tables in the diner at the same time had all been stopped. Shortly after the ticket incident Richard couldn't tell the difference between powder and packed snow and rolled his sled while playing on a hill. This resulted in a wrecked windshield. Well on to the diner for a delicious lunch and then off to the wilds of Whitney, only to run into another pair of OPP officers with radar guns and a second speeding ticket for $110.00.

To say the least he was a bit wound up when he arrived back at the diner on the way back to the motel. He felt better when I explained that if he amortized his two tickets over the 25 years that he has been riding ticket less it didn't work out to very much per year.

Well that was our excitement for the day.

To continue the grooming still continues every day even on the weekend. The trails are in great shape. It is snowing again today and I had to have the parking lot plowed again. The official now measuring sign has now disappeared under the snow.

The warmer temps are bringing the lake water up through the snow showing that the waterways are no where near traveling on. The local weather report is a little confusing. It's going to rain, no it's going to be cold, no it's going to snow. It all gives me a headache. I will just wait and see what Monday brings. It there is rain I'll post. If nothing changes or there is no more excitment I may not post until Tuesday.

Well safe drive home for those up for the weekend and you missed a great one if you didn't make it up.

Cheers
Nancy

Saturday, December 13, 2008

The Saturday Scoop

It's 10:00 am---It's still -25 degrees---It's still snowing---They-re still grooming!!!

Nuff said.

Cheers
Nancy

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Thursday update

There were a lot of riders in today, bless them all. Most had ridden up from Bancroft but others had come from Coe Hill, Haliburton, Harcourt and L'Amable.

The Paudash trails had not been groomed lately. The two groups that had come that way said it was a tough go because the snow was so deep and they were breaking trail. I guess that's better that hitting rocks and dirt. Grooming started at about Martins Mill. The groomer went north this afternoon and had done Martins Mill and Bancroft last night and today.


Everyone in today said that all the trails were in great shape. Of course that is because we have about 50 feet of snow!! Well almost.

No more snow today but more is expected. The temperature is holding below zero all day and getting quite cold at night.

If nothing exciting happens tomorrow I won't update til Saturday or Sunday. There's not much more to add.

Hope we see you on the weekend. Don't forget to call if you need accommodation information.

Cheers
Nancy

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood!!

There's nothing like the day after the snow has ended when everything is sooooo pretty. You can finally get out of your driveway and the highway is cleared for more than 20 minutes at a time.

I tried to post three times yesterday but I don't know if it was the computer or the satellite but I would just get finished and it would kick out and not save any information.

So I was very witty three times yesterday and no one got to read it.

Well we officially have snow up the ying yang. It snowed for two days straight. Not rain for us up here, just snow.

About 14 inches fell just on Tuesday. That is on top of what we got on Monday, on top of what was already here which was a lot!!!

The trails were groomed up nicely on Monday but I don't think anything has been done since. I'm sure everyone is still busy shoveling out. There have been two snow days this week, four in the last two weeks for the school buses.

Now that life is returning to normal grooming may continue. Paudash groomed last week but closed the gates right after. I guess they wanted to let the trails set. If I hear that the gates are open I'll let you know.

I have taken a series of pictures of the official snow measuring stick to show how much we have. Unfortunately if I can't get my computer to cooperate I won't be able to show you that the snow is now covering the measuring stick to the top.

So trust me when I say that there is enough snow to do some great riding. Get that shopping done so that you can take a day and enjoy a great sled ride before the new year.

I'll be back by Friday if the roof doesn't cave in.

Cheers
Nancy

Saturday, December 06, 2008

I think I may have figured out the camera.

Circle Road on my walk this morning.
This is the freshly groomed (last night) with no sled tracks on it yet.

Same tracks other side of the road!


Friday, December 05, 2008

Friday update

The chance of flurries just keep on falling. Off and on all day it has snowed lightly.

The groomers have been out all afternoon and are still out now. Before today they had groomed to Whitney, Bancroft and Martins Mill. No secondary trails had been done yet but then they haven't been used much.

Riders in today were very pleased with the condition of the trails except for the nasty bit between Maynooth and LSP. The whining has started all ready. Why on earth didn't the powers that be grade that part of the trail before all the snow hit.

I think that everyone that gets jostled down the trail should call the pres and ask why it wasn't graded. Nothing like stiring the pot right off the start. I just thought I would be the first to complain before everyone complained to me.

That being said, any riding you get in before the middle of December is a gift from the snowmobile gods and will be appreciated. It sure was by the folks in today.

I hope that you can load up and get a ride in soon. The weather has been perfect.

See you soon. I'll keep you posted.

Keep the skis on the snow!
Cheers
Nancy

PS The diner will be closed Dec 24 & 25, reopening at noon on the 26th.

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Tis The Season-for grooming that is!!!!

The good news is there is snow, the bad news is there is snow!

On my way home yesterday I noticed that you could start riding at about the Lighthouse Resturant on Hwy 62. It looked like there was good coverage all the way up to the hub (that's for Brian & Jim) in Lake St. Peter.

It is snowing now and everything looks sooooo pretty. We haven't had the driveway plowed since Monday but if our "chance of flurries" keep coming down like they are we may be plowed by tomorrow.

When I figure out how I will post pictures from my new camera. The snow is up to the top of the official picnic table snow meter. So that is an accumulation of nearly two feet.

The rail bed has been groomed but I don't know how far south they went. I noticed they crossed the highway and into the bush just south of the village at Helmers Road. When I talk to one of the groomers I'll update again with more info.

It looks like we are getting a good start to the season.. The shore of the lake is still frozen so the temperature is not dropping enough for a melt down.

Ooops I must be taking to long doing this the snow has stopped and the sun is out. I'm sure that if I wait ten minutes it will change again.

We are still doing the music thing on Saturday afternoons. So if you are in the area sled on in have a drink and relax for a while.

Again if you want to be missinformed in person call the diner at 613-338-3043 and we will lead you astray as best we can. White Pines and Silver Birches are both open for accommodation this winter.

Get all your shopping done during the week so that you can come up and play on the weekend.

I'll update again as soon as someone sleds in here and gives me the downlow first hand.

Cheers
Nancy