Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1545615
July 2026 13 A er crossing back to the east of the Merrimack and Rte. 93, the Bunny does a lot of gravel-road cross-lo ng, with a healthy blend of Class 6 roads thrown in for some spice. Coming over a blind rise on one of these gravel roads, I almost hit a big old snapping turtle looking for a place to lay some eggs. Of course we stopped and moved that pre- historic putz off the side of the road. She was none too happy about being picked up and was doing everything she could to bite or claw me. Maybe she was just having a cranky pregnancy. A er doing our good deed, the group kept rolling north for the last sec on of Class 6; it was no joke. We've been riding Snowshoe Hill for over 30 years, and in that me, the north-facing slope has de- graded from an inclined woods road to a rock-filled trench loaded with case crackers. A combina on of increased use and biblical rainstorms about 20 years ago made it what it is today. Everyone cleared the hill without incident and then had the op on of heading up 106 to the casino, or crossing 106 and going into Devious Dave's Den of single track. Now, Dave was in our group, and with his casual charm, convinced most of the group to go for the single track. In just 30 minutes, my heart pounded more beats than it had in the previous 4 hours. A er yank- ing and tugging the rear wheel out of a second mud hole it was me to bail. I was riding red and sloppy. And that just makes me more sloppy and more red. Eventually, our en re group made it out of the single track and back to the parking lot for check-in and a cold adult beverage. The campfire tales were plen ful and amusing on Sat- urday night. And our chefs were trying to outdo each other in the unspoken tas est morsel compe on. My vote goes to Dave Fraser and his venison steaks. Melt in your mouth goodness. However, despite the high entertainment value campfire, when the rain started for real around 9:30 I put head to pillow and didn't wake up for 8 1/2 hours. Only to do it all over again on Sunday. Any riders out there who haven't a ended the MVTR ADV rally, I encourage you to give it a try. There really is something for everyone, and it's for a great cause.