22.   Winter is loosening its icy grip on the trails and woods roads here on the east coast. The snow from last weekend's storm is rapidly melting, while ponds, brooks, and water holes opening up even quicker. I love winter and snowmobiling but if I can't use the sled come-on with good weather so I can ride my ATV!

21.   Today is Good Friday so Maffer, young Gavin and I took advantage of the holiday, loaded up the bikes and headed to the Goulds for an ATV ride and a cook-up. Growing up I fondly remember getting out in the woods with Dad for a ride or drive and most important a camp fire cook up. I was only too happy to enjoy the day with Maffer and his son Gavin as they keep the tradition alive.

20.   Maffer and Gavin were riding their new Can Am 800 Outlander while I piloted my still broken Project Foreman which is awaiting parts to repair the rear end.

19.   Skies were clear and the sun shining brightly on the soft muddy roads in the Goulds. Snow was spotty on the woods roads, but the tighter woods trails were still well covered. The snow was nice and hard so travelling was easy, even for my front wheel drive only machine! Two wheel drive - front drive is completely different than rear wheel drive on an ATV. It's almost completely useless in rough terrain!

18.   We checked a couple of the paths that cross from the Goulds farmer fields to Northern Pond Road and they were too tangly for my bike. We ended up riding in another road (which usually has a locked gate in the summer), going to the end, and climbing the bank to get to Northern Pond Road. I winched my way over the berm while Maffer had no trouble on any of the trails on his new Can Am.

17.  Once we hit Northern Pond Road, we turned left and headed into a beautiful clearing to have a cook-up. We gathered firewood and got a fire going with some dry kindling brought from home and my secret fire starter. Lunch consisted of fire roasted hot dogs (which Gavin was super excited about), a tin of beans, and a tin of stew.

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12.   After lunch we loaded up the bikes and headed out Northern Pond Road to the trail that leads to the Foxtrap Pasturelands.

11.   Breaking out onto the fields we saw that the big deep puddle to the right was pretty well open but would be a bit tangly for my broken Foreman.

10.   Not wanting to back down from another challenge I dropped steeply off the ice ledge into the water, with some persuasion and 2nd gear flat out riding, I made it across this "iceberg" filled mess.

9.   Since Maffer had Gavin with him, he elected to go around the hole and cross a water spot that was about six feet wide. Unfortunately he found out this crossing was about three feet deep, very muddy and way harder to cross!

8.   Once Maffer got into it, Gavin got off and watched with me as Maffer drove the beast out of the hole.

7.   It only took two attempts and the bike popped right out, which is pretty darn impressive for a stock bike!

6.   He then went into the big water hole to wash off the mud and pulled a water wheelie all the way back through!

5.   We took a run out across the pasturelands and turned around near the old tin shack, which I was disappointed to find had finally collapsed.

4.   The ride back was great, the paths quite smooth as hard snow covered most of the rocks, stumps, bumps and dips.

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2.   We returned to the Goulds via Chicken Farm Road, and continued on to Ruby Line where we parked the trailers.

1.   All in all it was another awesome day in the woods, Maffer got a few more break in miles logged, and I've got to get my parts installed!

Cheers, MIKE

Copyright © 2025 Michael Smith