Unbelievable. They were the first words out of a sledders mouth this morning.  Two guys in for breakfast had ridden up from Gilmore said that the trails were excellent. 

True to their word all the groomers were out yesterday and they were doing Bancroft and Baptiste Lake again today.

This should be a perfect weekend to sled.  We got about 4 inches of snow overnight and it is still snowing now.  Keep in mind the ice under the snow.  It is still there.

I can't decide which noise I like to wake up to in the morning.  Either the dishwasher being unloaded  (just stay in bed until the rattling stops) or the sound of the snow being shoveled off the back deck.  I guess in January and February it is the deck one for sure.  He can always do the dishwasher later!

All the news is good for this weekend, with no bad news so I should not be cranky at all.  Oh unless some idiot really ticks me off which has been know to happen.

Happy trails and I hope you can all make it out sledding somewhere and enjoy this awesome weekend.

Back next week.  I won't have time Saturday or Sunday so unless something really bad happens that's it for now.

Cheers
Nancy

Woo hoo.  I finally had some sledders in today.  I was beginning to think that there was a by-law in Hastings Highlands prohibiting sledders from entering.

Today I have good news and better news.  We are getting snow.  Not lots but it looks like it will be enough.  We only needed a few centimetres. 

Riders in today said that all the trails were okay.  Some were icy where they hadn't been groomed but still okay.  One couple had to stop to remove a tree from the trail that a beaver had taken down and was munching away on.  He didn't stick around long and the tree was too big for them to move out of the way.  They could just move it enough to get the sleds under. 

The head groomer guy Lionel was in today and said that all of the groomers will be out tomorrow getting every trail in shape for the weekend.  He had groomed a bit this morning.

I am having a band in on Saturday night from 6:30 until later to round out the club's fund raiser wing day.

Well that's all the warm and fuzzy news I can stand for one day.  I'd better get back to work.  That sink full of dishes in the kitchen will not do themselves and I have to start on the Cream of Mushroom soup for tomorrow.

Back later I hope. If I'm not back nothing exciting has happened either way.

Hope you can make it up on the weekend.

Cheers
Nancy

I have good news and bad news.  The bad news is there is no good news.  The good news is we didn't get any more rain and we didn't loose any more snow.

Everything is really icy.  My driveway and lot look like a skating rink.  Walking is tricky.  I did however go on my walk today and it was a bit iffy a few times.  Now that the weather is warmer even the cat is walking with us again.  The icy conditions don't seem to bother him as much as me. 

We are expecting some snow overnight and into tomorrow so that should hide the ice nicely which is always fun to walk on when you can't see it.  The temperature has dropped a fair bit in the last couple of hours so any soft spots have already frozen over.

I didn't have any riders in today but the two that were in yesterday said that the trails had held up nicely with the mild weather. 

Don't forget the MLSS wing day at the diner on Saturday from 12 noon til 8:00. $15.00 gets you 10 wings and an order of cheesy garlic bites with $5.00 from each order being donated to the club.  There will be draws and prizes throughout the day.  We will also be having music on Saturday night from 6:30 until whenever!!!!

I will be back tomorrow with an update on the snow conditions, probably late in the day, earlier if I have good news.

Here's hoping for good things this weekend, or it could get ugly.

Back soon
Cheers
Nancy

Well Saturday was enough to piss off the good humor man.  Why if it MUST rain does it have to happen on a Saturday and screw up everyone's weekend.  That just sucked.

Thankfully Sunday is much better.  A little skiff of snow is covering all the ice.  It's a good thing that we had 56 feet of snow already.  The rain didn't do any damage to the trails at all.  We had a lot of sledders in today and all agreed that things are good.  No complaints from any one.

The groomers will be out tonight to spiff things up and get back in shape for the week ahead.

I have taken the day off today nursing my crappy mood from yesterdays snit about the weather.

I'll be back early in the week to update. 

Cheers
Nancy

It's hard to say what the weekend will bring.  But anyone who uses the word rain today will get a kick in the ass!!  And that's that.

The trails are in excellent condition.  The groomer went out this morning either to Bancroft or Martins Mill.  The club guy wasn't sure exactly. 

They have just left to stake Lake St. Peter.  Baptiste Lake will be done if not this weekend then first of next week.

I am still living in electronic hell.  I did however fix an internet problem all by myself so I'm feeling pretty damn brilliant right about now. 

I will cut this short this morning and will be back tomorrow if bad weather hits.  Which it won't. I am hoping for great things this weekend.

Back Soon
Cheers
Nancy

And it its still snowing, a very fine snow but it is still coming down.

A very short report today. 

The head groomer guy Lionel was in for lunch today and he told me that every trail in our system has been groomed this week.  The trail to Madawaska was done twice as it is a bit tricky.

There is no nicer sight than that big blue groomer heading down the path from the trail to the highway and into the diner parking lot.  The plough can make quite a hill at the road crossing after a while so it is nice when they take a few minutes to smooth it over.

Thanks guys.

The few riders that were in today were thrilled with the conditions.

So enough said.

Get your butts up here this weekend for some great riding.

Cheers
Nancy

The snow continues to fall and the wind continues to blow.

We have a whole crap load of snow, at least three feet.

I went for my walk today and we had quite a time trudging through the snow through the yard behind us to get to the road.  Thank goodness my walking partner is taller and younger than me and she went first. Even the dog figured out that it was easier to follow rather than lead this morning.  We certainly had rosy cheeks when we got back.

I had a group in from Coe Hill yesterday that had met both the Old Hastings groomer and the Maple Leaf groomer in their travels.  Needless to say they had a great ride.  The trails were VERY quiet yesterday.  We did not get the freezing rain up here that hit down south.  Even Coe Hill and area got a fair amount of freezing rain. 

It's nice to see some of the old familiar faces back again.  You wonder what happened to people over the summer when they don't show up. But last weekend brought out a lot of the regular sledders.

Hope we get more again this weekend.

I'll be back later in the week when I have talked to some riders.  There is just so much snow I can't imagine the trails not being mint.  They have now groomed over to Madawaska. 

Chat later.
Cheers
Nancy

Happy New Year to all and happy sledding also.

The really cold weather should end today and more snow should start on Saturday.  We haven't had any new snow to speak of since Boxing Day.  It was just lucky that we had lots before then.

The trails remain in good shape because it's to bloody cold for it to snow. 

I have not had any specific grooming reports just that they are in good shape. 

The lakes although not marked are being crossed.  It seems no one has gone through yet so all is good.

It's too early for bone head plays or maybe they are just not getting this far and I have no touching stories.  I am making my way out of electronic hell but the door isn't shut, so no celebrating yet.

I will be back later if I hear of anything exciting to report but other than log trucks running up and down the highway it has been a little quiet the last couple of days.

Just a reminder that the general store is open until 9 every day with lots of fuel available.  The Arlington Hotel in Maynooth has cheap accommodation available and lots of parking for trucks and sleds.  Also White Pine cottages on Lake St. Peter is under new ownership and is open this winter.

The MLSS are having a wing day at the diner. Saturday, January18. An order of 10 wings and cheesy garlic bites will cost $15.00 with $5.00 from each sale being donated to the club. Come on out and support the club that looks after you so well all winter.  They are trying to raise enough money to put hydro in the new maintenance facility. 

Well that's it for now.  Oh by the way HI DAVE.  I just did that to annoy your brother who says you get a swelled head anytime your name is mentioned.

Cheers
Nancy

All right now that all that Christmas stuff is behind us let get back to business as usual.

I have been living in electronics hell for four days.  No internet, debit out for a while, router crapped out,  order system acting up and my computer is still acting like a spoiled child.  So therefore there were no updates over the last few days.

I have now also finished the road running to visit children and grandchildren.  Oshawa one day and Gananoque the next with a number of stops in between.  My goodness it's easier going to work even with temperamental electronics.

But I digress.  As for grooming on our way home last night I could see that the trail down to Bancroft had been done as well as the one over to Martins Mill.  At least the groomer had crossed the highway that way.  I haven't talked to anyone for specific info so I just know what I saw. 

We had the regular whiners in on Saturday complaining that the trails had not been groomed.  Really people.  Add 5,000 sleds to a warm day and what do you get.  Crappy Trails to you until we meet again. (Hum that tune, you know that you know it.)  It's not rocket science.  Get over it.   Just enjoy your day out.

The temperature has dropped to stinking cold so we are back in shape again.  There was not enough misty rain or mild temps to do any damage. It is a beautiful sunny day today so you get tricked into thinking that it is nice out.  And it is nice out if you are into -20.

Our first sledders of the day have just showed up.  They rode up from Bonior Lake and they said that it was groomed all the way there.

Don't forget the gas station in LSP is open 7 days a week until 9 most days.  It even has gas all the time.

I will continue my survey with any other customers and report back maybe not today but fairly soon.

Happy New Year to all.  Have fun even if you can't come up north.

Hope to see you soon.
Cheers
Nancy

It"s been a long time since the snow out front has been piled up past the bottom of the window. But this year we are there. I had to shovel out the back and front doors this morning just to get into the place.

I got that six o'clock call from the cook saying that she couldn't come in today because of bad weather.   This is payday so it must have been really bad or she would have been here. I helped out at the Arlington last night and didn't get home until after midnight so I was a little groggy this morning. Good thing I wasn't enjoying frosty beverages last night or it wouldn't be a pretty sight this morning.

I could see that the groomer had gone over the Papineau way last night. I don't know any more than that about the grooming. I know a lot if other stuff but most of it is useless information or idle gossip.

Well I'd better get stared as not only is the cook off but so is the server so I'm the best anyone will be getting this morning. I can't imagine being run off my feet but you never know.

Kudos to my trusty snow  plough guy. He has been here every snowy morning by 6:30 to have the lot cleared and is doing a great job.  Thanks Darren.

Have a very Merry Christmas and safe travels over the next few days. Here's hoping that some of those miles are on a sled

Back in a few days
Cheers
Nancy