Sunday, August 7, 2011

Greg, Mark and Gary's Excellent Adventure

So we planned to complete an ATV excursion up at Brandy Brook August 3-5, 2011. Greg and Mark left Mass in the morning and headed directly to the Timberview Lodge in Turin, NY. Using their GPS, they arrived shortly before 3PM. While I was waiting for them, I took this picture of the Timberview. I was the only truck in the lot and it was raining cats and dogs.
We took this picture once they arrived. I reminded them that the movie Deliverance started with this same scenario. Group of guys ready to take on the wilderness. Thankfully, our fate was much different than the cast of characters in the movie. That didn't stop me from planning for Mark to be the sacrifice if needed. He could do all of the squealing. We forgot the camera for the Wednesday ride but we did end up going to Montague for dinner and Barnes Corners for gas. Arrived at 9 PM just at closing time. I filled up and Mark filled up. Greg got about $1.75 of the $10 that was prepaid to fill his and Mark's wheelers. He made it back on fumes....
A good nights rest at Brandy Brook for Mark had him inspired. After the pancake and bacon breakfast, he jumped on the mower.... well actually behind it and mowed the lawn. Once that job was complete (and a great job it was) we rode to Highmarket and then to Brantingham for lunch at The Pine Tree Inn
Here are Greg and Mark waiting for their lunch order at the bar.
We took in some sights along our trip back. Here we stopped on Morgan Gulf Road. I thought it would be nice to get a picture of Greg getting a picture...
Mark, is that 5 o'clock shadow on your nose? Oh, I guess it's dust. Guess who was riding in 3rd place on that trip...
Surprise! We ran into Ponch from the 1980's TV series Chips as he was handing out tickets... oh wait, that's just Greg taking a break on the side of the road. The helmet had me confused.
Across the road from the Timberview, they have a network of ATV trails to get muddy. Here is Mark pushing his out.
I wasn't quick enough to think about getting the camera out but Mark got winched out of this hole.
He's actually hung up on the frame in this pic.
Mark needed a break after all of that riding or tugging. Tired him right out. They don't call it Tug Hill for nothin'.
This was the view by Timberview looking into the Black River Valley. The other side is the Adirondack Park.
We needed a break after riding 160 miles so we made dinner at Brandy Brook. Greg is manning the steaks and Mark set the table. The table also doubles as a trailer to haul the wheelers home. Just such a nice day we wanted to eat outside.
Here we are at dinner. I tried to include myself with a self portrait but it looks more like Greg took his special brother out on a day pass. Yaaaa! Finished off the day with an evening trip to the Sportsmen and back to camp about 10PM. After solving all of the world's problems by the fire place, we were in bed by midnight.
The last day we rode around camp. This is our North Road. We have a little beaver problem here... This is Greg and Mark wallowing through.
Slaughters Crossing- This spot has actually claimed a few 4 wheelers but not today...

Below is a picture of Greg on the edge of Duck Pond. He's standing on top of a 6 foot beaver dam holding back the water. It's one of the biggest I've seen on the property.
Mark was pretty tired by now but we talked him into a few more stops. Actually I only told him about one but the other two were pretty close so we stopped there too. This is a picture of the warning sign before you enter Whetstone Gulf. It's a gorge about 1000 feet wide and 500 feet in depth. The pictures don't do it justice. This is one you should see in person if you have never been there.
Greg standing at the edge of the drop off...


Mark with a smile on his face. I think he is having a good time.
I tried to get the side of the drop off here but it's not as impressive as in person.
Here was a dried up gully that is a waterfall during the wet season.
Greg holding up the roots to a tree where the soil is being washed away underneath it.


Mark and Greg take time to pose next to the road.
This stop includes views of the wind turbines in Lewis County as part of the Maple Ridge Wind Farm.


This is a picture from the base of a turbine.
Mark is in the shadow of a tower. They claim to be about 400 (with the prop) feet tall with a 1.65 MW turbine on the top.
Our last stop was at the Whetstone Gulf Reservoir. Here is Greg as the base of the Dam holding back the water.
It was essentially closed off because we have had a dry summer so far.
Picture at the top and below is a pic of Mark climbing to the top.
So that sums up the excellent adventure. About 200 miles in total. No junk to report and everyone left with all their body limbs in tact. Good Times...

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for the great pics, made me feel like I was there. Mark said sign me up for next year.

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