Sunday, May 5/2013

The kids arrived at 8:30 a.m. so we were on the road by nine.  We stopped at Trapper's Cabin for breakfast and the woman serving us was an elderly Native woman.  Her name was Lorraine and she wore a ton of turquoise.  When I commented on how awesome it was, we started talking about her love for this particular stone.  She was very interesting to talk with.  (Yes, Kay, I am still talking to strangers!!)
Chris and Kylee joined us at the restaurant and Jordan was not very far behind.  We were all on the Nesbit trails by noon.
It was an awesome day and at the first stop it was time to peel off some layers of clothing.  Not really knowing what condition the trails were in or how warm it was going to be, we ended up over dressing. We soon got so that what we wore was more conducive to the conditions.
The trails were awesome and although there was still some residual snow, there actually was less than what I had expected.
At one point,  John and I were in the lead and had tried to get across the infamous "beaver dam" and John ended up stuck up to his seat in the water.  He almost swamped the quad!!
It took a while before Chris was able to come and rescue us as initially Jordan ended up rolling his side by side in a field sustaining a small cut on his head then, he got tangled up in some barbed wire so had to stop and cut that out from around his axles.  Eventually, John was winched back to safety and all of us carried on down the trail!!  Jordan included... who now had a chunk of paper towel under his hat over the cut on his head.  He sais he looked "gangsta" with blue shop towel now decorating the side of his head!!
We eventually made it over to one of the many cabins in the area but,  not before we had to pull Jordan and Kylee out of Roddick Lake where they had ventured and not 15 feet from shore, became stuck.  Once they was winched out and we were all at  Roddick Cabin,  Jordan and Kylee decided to head back to the truck and head home.  Jordan had just broken an axel so him and his machine did not have such a good day.  He also had to get home early to continue his studies as he is writing his journeyman heavy duty mechanic exam soon.  Kylee had to head home to deal with rising water issues on their property so the two of them headed off.
That left Jace, Kimmy Chris, John and I to continue the ride.  From Roddick, we headed over to Lobstick Cabin.  The trail was nasty - full of face slapping branches!!  I got a few good "bitch" slaps on that trail!!  Geez, my ear is still tingling from one good one!!
Lobstick lake had overflowed its usual boundary to such an extent that we were astounded.  In all the years that John and I have ridden these trails, we have never seen so much water.  It was incredible.
As we continued toward The Narrows Road, the trail disintegrated to such as extent due to the massive amount of water, that a new trail had been blazed but that too was a challenge.  I imagine the only reason we got through it is because there was still frozen ground under the water.  I doubt that in a few weeks it will be passable.  Once the full thaw arrives, the ground will turn to quad sucking bottomless trail!!
We did make it to the Narrows Road and then to Spruce Cabin.  Kimmy has been doing very well today considering that this is her official "first" trail ride on her new quad.  She should be proud of herself as we have had several challenging spots to go through.
Next came Birch Cabin and the "other" side of Lobstick Lake where Jace was quite intent on doing some "water wheelies".  He did manage to do just that!!  Chris and him "played along the shoreline for a while just "being boys"!!
Both John and Chris got stuck in a snow bank at the lake but it was an easy extraction!!
At Birch Cabin, Kimmy saw a "cute" little mouse, saved a little frog and saw a cottontail bunny.  It is Spring time in the forest and all the little creatures are enjoying the weather.
Chris got a text from Jordan while we were there saying that he needed 3 sutures to close the wound he got in his roll over.  Geez, when will these guys realize they should wear helmets!!  Especially if they are going to do "stupid" shit!!  Side by sides do not do "donuts" very well - they tend to flip.  Geez Louise!!
At our final stop before heading to the trucks,  Kimmy heard a strange "squealing" noise.  We all looked down the trail and saw what appeared to be a big weasel (I think it was an ermine) with a squirrel in his mouth.  She was horrified and wanted to chase after the thing and make it let the squirrel go!!  We tried to explain to her that this "predator/prey" thing is called Nature but she was still feeling sad about the squirrel.  She is such a little softie!!
Back at the truck, the quads were loaded and we all headed back to the city.  We dropped Chris at his home in Warman then we carried on into Saskatoon where we stopped and picked up some KFC for supper.
We arrived back at the farm and while we were eating, I realized that I had forgotten to get the pussy willows out of Chris's quad.  I had picked them earlier in the day when John was trying to swamp our quad!!  Drats...how could I have forgot about them.  Sooooo mad at myself for that!!
After supper, the kids headed home as Jace has to work tomorrow.  He is not sure which way he is headed but this will be his last week on the road as next Monday, he is headed out to the "big" farm to help with spring seeding.   Kimmy is off tomorrow so will come back here and drive me into the city so that I can take that damn phone in as see what its issue is.  I still have NO SERVICE!!
Once the kids left, it was time for bed for us.  
All in all, it was a truly awesome day with us getting to spend time with our "kids" and getting out onto the Nesbit Trails.  We truly are blessed.

Unloading the quads

Kimmy's fancy new quad

Jace's new quad

Our quad

Chris, beside his quad

Heading down the trail

Kylee - roosting snow

Chris - roosting snow!!

Awesome trails

We knew there would be water!  This was our first encounter
with a significant amount.

Of course, this beaver dam was never here before.

Traversing the dam

Once John was winched out and on his way,
I jumped in with Chris to get to the other side.

Jace and Kimmy making their way through.

We all reached "the other side"

Another beaver dam.   This one has been here for years.
We were not crossing it today!!

Only one attempt to cross and that was John.
He is now stuck, almost over his snorkels and needed to
be winched out.  That is twice now he had needed a winch!!

Going around the beaver dam proved to be a bit of a challenge
as well with several of us getting stuck in beaver runs and
needing to be winched out.

Jace and Kimmy scooting through the water.
.

Still going around the beaver dam.  Man, there is
a lot of water here.  

The ground was still frozen under the water so that allowed
us to skirt this dam.  This would not be possible when there
is no frozen ground underneath as the ground would be too
soft and the quads would sink out of sight!!

Finally on the other side and "dry" land.

Back into the trails and some spots had more snow that others. 

Trail to Roddick Cabin

Kimmy roosting through the snow.  

Jordan, stuck in Roddick Lake.  Note his "gangsta" blue shop
towel hanging from his hat.  It covers the gash on his head from
his rollover in the field an hour prior to this.

Kylee, stuck in Roddick Lake

Being winched out.   Another axle broken after this
little faux paux.

Chris winching Jordan

The water is sure moving and it is cold!!

Back on the trail and headed towards  Lobstick Cabin.

Lots of snow in some spots and lots of water.

Lobstick Cabin.
We made it through the trail of "face slapping" branches.

Lobstick Lake.
It has never been this far past its usual boundary in all the years
we have been riding these trails.       Wow!!
And look at all the ice that is yet to melt.

The "water" trail around Lobstick Lake.
The usual trail is virtually non existent.  This is another trail that
will be impassable in a few weeks.

There is no way that there is any chance of us taking this trail.

We took the "mud" trail!!

Nothing but mud and water

Jace going through one of the many deep water puddles.
We went around it - apparently that is not in this boy's world!!

Had to get off the quad at one point so it is a good thing
he had his chest waders on.  He did discover a hole in his
boot though!!

Almost through

Nothing but bare branches and blue skies.
The buds are starting so, warm weather
will help "green" these tall trees up in a hurry.

Chris, finally out of the "mud" trail and arriving at
The Narrows Road.

Butterflies - Spring has Sprung

Water holes on The Narrows Road.  Some go around the holes
and some go through!!

Jace and Kimmy at Spruce Cabin

Kimmy with the "thumbs up".     She made it through some of the
toughest trails today.  Tons of water, snow and fallen trees.

Thumbs Up for Kimmy.  Pa is proud of the way she is
handling the trails today.  We all are!!

Beverage break at Spruce Cabin

Chris playing along the opposite shore of
Lobstick Lake.  Lots of ice remains on the lake which means
even more water and flooding.    Some to these trails today
will not be usable again till late summer (maybe) or early fall.

Jace and Chris "playing"

Looking across the lake.

John, with Kimmy's quad stuck in the snow!!

Loading up for the ride home

Ready to head home

Did you sit in something wet?

Sunset

Lovely pic

Another lovely pic

Kimmy, in the mirror.

What a great way to end an incredible day in the forest.

Life is Good!!