8.   The winter of 2009-2010 started out slow and never really picked up pace all winter long. We had a few snow storms and one blizzard but they were followed by warm temperatures and rain which postponed our annual winter cabin trip. This weekend French and Bill headed to the west coast for marginal condition snowmobiling, Sooley, Maffer and I decided to head to the Sooley cabin for a overdue 'winter' trip. There was no snow so I loaded up Project Foreman, Maffer got a lend of a Yamaha Kodiak and Sooley would pilot the Sooley family Honda TRX 300.

7.   What little snow fell this winter rapidly melted in warmer than usual March temperatures, apparently so was ice on the ponds. Just two weeks ago we safely rode snowmobiles & ATV on 12" of solid ice during our Sunday Ice Fishing Trip.

Soon after arriving at the cabin, I was first to check the ice expecting it to still be safe enough for travel and ice fishing. After the bike broke through just 10' from shore, I decided it best to stop further testing of the ice. A quick tow with Sooley's pickup was all that was required to free Project Foreman from the pond. Since the air box didn't go under, no water got inside the motor. I pulled the air box drain prior to extraction which let water in the snorkel drain out as we slowly polled out the bike. Even front differential remained unscathed.

6.   Our time at the cabin this trip was very relaxed. We spent a lot of the time fixing up old ATV trails cutting a new trail from the potato field up the side of the pond, and clearing a place for future backwoods camping trips.

5.   Sooley did a great job falling a tree right across Maffer's borrowed bike luckily only breaking a few clips that hold the windshield in place!

4.

3.   Saturday we took our gear and headed across the highway for a little coyote hunting.

2.   Although we didn't have any luck hunting today, there was quite a lot of sign in the area. We also had some calls back to our electronic caller when we experimented with it that night.

1.   All in all it was a nice relaxing weekend, great to be out of town. We made the best of not having snow, and certainly enjoyed our time, had a few laughs and some great grub.

Cheers, MIKE