There was another remark made about screws that will not appear here or elsewhere either. Woodsy headed south while Bob, Randy and I headed for White Cloud, with about two inches of snow on the ground. As usual, I have no idea where we are going, I just follow as best I can. Bob heads north dodging some puddles and going through the rest and Randy brings up the rear. The snow is wet enough that there is still decent traction and not bad at all without the screws. At the first stop Bob and Randy trade places and that's the way we stay. At one water hole, Randy goes right and for some unknown reason I have to be different and go left through the deep part, stall out and half tip over. My boo boo for the day. Most of the time I keep Randy in sight or am right behind him, and get ahead of Bob a little now and then. Matched quite well in my opinion. My 250 compared to their 400 and 426, was an advantage in being able to hook up. Somewhere along the way we where on a snowmobile trail, I think, and I got all the way up to 5th gear and 21 MPH. On a gravel road that had packed snow from car traffic and going downhill, Randy went down, put up a hand to warn me and was going again before I got to him.
By the time we got to 11 Mile Rd. I was able to run 3rd gear without much trouble at all. At that point it was decision time. We opted to skip Bitely and start back after taking a break by a fire Randy started with the help of Bob's gasoline. The others had time restraints also, so that helped in the deciding. We start back following our tracks and now I find myself up to 4th. gear and doing OK. Randy is feeling fine too as I see his front wheel in the air three times in the first mile. When the trail gets to a short section of gravel road, Randy stops and looks at the left side of his bike. He had to stop - the chain was wadded around the countershaft sprocket. A side plate next to the master link gave out. Randy knows where we are and with vehicle keys and Bob's bike heads for the parking lot. So Bob and I spend the hour and six minutes getting reacquainted. I had not seen him since the first Woodsy meeting on the Boon trail last year. So we eventually made it back on the time schedule but not the way it was supposed to.
Some pictures of the ride are still in the camera and I'll get then up when ready, later on today or tomorrow. Inca is still in the van yet. I make time to go to Michigan to ride and don't have it to do everything here at home. No complaints, enjoying living and having a ball. Thanks to all for your part.
Young Ted