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PHOTOS: The Bridgton Easy Riders enjoyed great trails, local wildlife and good food on their March trip to Caribou. (Bill Preis photos)
By Bill Preis
Bridgton Easy Riders Correspondent
BRIDGTON – The Bridgton Easy Riders Snowmobile Club took its second trip of the winter to Caribou.
Some 25 club members made the trip to Aroostook County March 6 to 11, trailering at the Caribou Inn & Convention Center.
Each day we divided into several groups for riding, according to interest, ability and style of riding. It’s a good way for folks new to snowmobiling to gain riding experience, and for all of us to improve our skills and have fun.
Northern Aroostook County is famous for deep snow that lasts well into spring. The area is known for its wide, well-groomed trails, including the 20-mile Border Trail, which forms the international border between the U.S. and Canada. Other trails follow former railroad beds, and are long, smooth, and elevated. The massive open fields of Aroostook County are beautiful in winter, and as we ride upslope on the trail all we see is white hill surrounded by blue sky. One day there was strong wind, so the excitement of riding the fields included maneuvering through snow drifts in blowing snow. But the trails are marked with stakes, so even though it can be challenging, that’s part of the fun of riding in Maine’s far north. Even a power line in Aroostook County can be great riding, as we discovered when we rode west from Grand Isle, where the power line follows a ridge, offering stunning views of the St. John River Valley, with New Brunswick on the far bank of the river.
That area is also known for good food, and club members found plenty of it. After a delicious buffet breakfast at the Caribou Inn every morning, in our own banquet room, the riding groups made their way to local restaurants for lunch. Some favorites were Dean’s, at Portage Lake; Oulette’s Trading Post, in Van Buren; Moose Shack, in Fort Kent; Lakeview Restaurant, in St. Agatha; and Homestead Lodge and Bison Farm in Oxbow. Since these places are 37 to 75 miles from Caribou, groups chose a distance that suited them.
Back in Caribou, we all went to dinner together. It was an easy walk across the road to the Northern Maine Brewing Company. We also dined at the Caribou Inn, in a private room with a buffet dinner. One evening we joined the Caribou Snowmobile Club at the Par and Grill Restaurant for a spaghetti dinner, followed by their monthly meeting. It was interesting to learn how their club operates, and to hear about their success raising money for trail grooming equipment.
Everyone at the Caribou Inn & Conference Center went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable and well fed. Special thanks to General Manager Betty Hersey, and to dining room staff Nancy and Alexa.
The next monthly meeting of Bridgton Easy Riders is 6 p.m. Friday, April 8, at Bridgton Community Center, 15 Depot St., with a pot-luck supper followed by the business meeting. For more information, visit bridgtoneasyriders.com.
