Post-SX ride - White Cloud April 4

[MWEISSEN]

I'm planning a ride at White Cloud on April 4 after the Pontiac SX. This is for those that couldn't make it to the race, or those that went and got a serious riding Jones going from the action.

For those that don't know where it is, White Cloud is 4 miles west on M-20 from the M-37/M-20 junction, just north of White Cloud. It has a pretty wide variety of terrain for the trail its size, from greasy mud pits to a large sand area and everything in between.

High noon start!

 

[Factory]

:thumb: Noon sounds good Mark! That'll give us all a chance to get a few hours sleep after driving home from Pontiac. Looking forward to it!

 

[70 marlin]

4-4-04 Portland hare scramble. Aaron & I are hoping to ride it, If I can keep his kawi running long enough?

 

[woodsy]

Sounds like miles of smiles to me!! Let see, Kadie (ready), gear (ready), van (hahahaha), camera (ALWAYS ready), body - hello, anybody home?
I will try and get a pre ride trail condition report soon...
Woodsy

 

[MWEISSEN]

Smit-Dog, this would be a good break in ride for that new scoot! :yeehaw:

 

[YZMAN400]

I'll see what I can do. Your ride is starting a little late for me. The wife works at 4:00pm and I gotta be home in time to watch the child. But I'll see what I can do.

It will either be whitecloud or RED BUD!!

 

[woodsy]

Just to let everyone know, YZMAN400 is the rider from our last Cedar run who had the other BRAND NEW Honda 250X. He was there with Chris and is the person that I missed the pic on (Sorry Don!!!). Even though he has an "older" sign up date, I dont believe he has posted here before, please welcome him to the forum... Maybe we will see more of him on our outings!!!
Woodsy

 

[Smit-Dog]

Smit-Dog, this would be a good break in ride for that new scoot! :yeehaw:

The bike and I might be ready by April 4th. The 12pm start may work out, as it's a 3 hour drive for me. Never ridden there before, but appears to only be a 20 mile loop for non-plated bikes. Correct? I'm getting my bike plated, but I doubt it will be by then. RickShaw - Need a friendly sheriff!

 

[woodsy]

Smitty, that trail loop is kinda deceptive. If you look at your trail map you will see the start of the MCCCT on the west side is on M-20 just west of White Cloud. Follow the MCCCT North to 11 mile Road and this is where the bikes with no plates usually stop (to this point it is all trail, except for about 1/2 mile of gravel road). The ride will be around 45 miles to complete if we go the full distance and back (about max for fuel on a CR250 - right Mark?). Of course, we can do what ever is necessary to accommodate everyone, less miles/more miles - including an "after ride ride" perhaps at Horseshoe or Holton for those who need more!!!
We are VERY flexible over here!!
Come on over Whoof Whoof!!

 

[Smit-Dog]

:think: ........

I'll go out on a limb here Woodsy and assume that you've ridden this loop once, twice, or more than likely a thousand times (!). Here's the map I'm looking at:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hmnf/pdf_manistee/Ccctr_wcmap.pdf

Now if I'm reading it right, the ATV/cycle trail loop (long dashed lines) only extends from M-20 to just a little past 7 Mile Road. The segment that continues on past 7 Mile up to 11 Mile is only for plated ORVs (short dashed line).

Out-dated map?

 

[YZMAN400]

Nope. You can ride all the way to 11 mile without having to have a plate. :thumb:

 

[woodsy]

Hey YZMAN, I guess it all comes down to which you trust the most - Woodsy or the maps :) :)
We could give Smitdog Chris's phone number and let Chris expound on that subject a little - I can hear him screaming now :)
Yea Smitty, we are fine to 11 mile road - TRUST ME....
By the way, that is a GREAT ride - you guys should try and make it if possible!!!
Woodsy

 

[woodsy]

Everybody who rode last Janurary's Mweissen's White Cloud run went all the way to 11 mile. That is where we turned around... If memory serves me correct, Larry and I (maybe Mark) were the only ones with plates.....
1000 times may be a little on the low side there Smitty. That trail was being ridden by yours truely LONG before it became the MCCCT - it was the Diamond trail back then.. I took a group of "newbies" in there last year in the spring and one of them said at the top of his lungs "THIS IS HELL" - I yelled back - "WHAT YOU CALL HELL - I CALL HOME!!" :)

 

[MWEISSEN]

:think: ........


Now if I'm reading it right, the ATV/cycle trail loop (long dashed lines) only extends from M-20 to just a little past 7 Mile Road. The segment that continues on past 7 Mile up to 11 Mile is only for plated ORVs (short dashed line).

Smit-Dog, the map is right, but you also have the loop portion. The straight section plus the loop is 30+ miles. The other straight section is marked MCCCT/USFS-CCC and is offroad as well. We'll go to Nichols Lake and back for 45+ miles plus the 150 yards needed to push an out-of-gas CR250.

 

[Smit-Dog]

Aaaaaah.... Alrighty then! Thanks for clearing it up. :think:

Woodsy will pick up any DNR citations for non-plated bikes north of the 7 Mile loop, and I'll pop for dinner afterwards. :thumb:

 

[YZMAN400]

Yea Smitty, we are fine to 11 mile road - TRUST ME....Woodsy

Just dont follow Woodsy from 7 mile up to Boone. Trust me he says. I know the way. As he is running out of gas.

Just ask Chris he will tell ya all about it. :ohmy:

But yea you are clear to 11 mile. I have rode it many times.

 

[2TrakR]

I'm sure you don't need a plate in there - in fact just a couple years ago I was being introduced to dual sporting and we ran from M20 up to Whiskey Creek and I didn't have my bike plated yet, nor did I have a cycle endorsement, he he. The jokers who took me through there misjudged the distance we'd be covering. Started mid-afternoon, I think, and rode the last 1/3 in the dark. That was cool - my stock XR 400 headlight just "stabbing" through the darkness. Like hanging a glow stick from your neck and running through the woods at midnight! Oh, did I mention I was wearing my "ultra dark" Oakley goggles at the time? Yeah, they helped out a lot...

The trail seemed fun, but I'd like to hit it again sometime to see what it really looks like. I'm sure this mud Woodsy refers to is trivial, probably comparable to Gladwin in the summer ;-)

 

[MWEISSEN]

T-t-t-top

Forecast calls for mid 50's until Sunday.

 

[MWEISSEN]

Roll call? I need to know how many T-bone steaks the Hooters girls need to bring for us at the trailhead after our ride :yeehaw:

 

[woodsy]

Woodsy and Kadie - that'll be 2 of those steaks :)
Larry - possible
Randy - possible
Young Ted - if he aint scared!!!!!!

 

[INCA]

April 4th. at White Cloud,
INCA and I cry out loud,
For with memories galore,
We'll be there for shore.
Young Ted this time

 

[MWEISSEN]

Roll call? I need to know how many T-bone steaks the Hooters girls need to bring for us at the trailhead after our ride :yeehaw:

OK, you all know that anything's game on April Fool's day. So that means, with this note, the ride is bogus, but the T-bones and Hooters girls will be there.

Or was it the other way around? Damn I'm getting old!!

 

[woodsy]

YOU RAT MWEISSEN - YOU HAD ME DRUELING!!! Speaking about dueling, your judgement is required on the thread "DUELING AT ITS FINEST". Young Ted and I need an "honest" and "unbias" opinion to make the call!! Now dont you let that Napper affect your judgement - BE HONEST!!

 

[Factory]

I may not be able to make it now depending on whether I have to head out of town Sunday. I still hope to make it, but thought I'd give you a heads-up in case I don't get a chance to post again.

 

[Smit-Dog]

I'm out.... You guys have fun, ride safe, dress warm, and don't leave any parts out on the trail!