Good News! We have seen the Gaylord groomer twice today! We saw it this morning approx 10 am running along Old 27, on Trail 7. Again, at 5 pm… out front here. So that is encouraging.

We left for a ride late morning. We started out on trail 7 heading south out of Rays Retreat. This was after seeing the groomer the first time. That trail has been so rough it will take many times before the groomer gets this smooth again. At least we know he went over it twice today, and if this continues the Gaylord trails will get in good riding condition.

At Waters, we cut over on back roads/two tracks to pick up the Blue Bear. Trail 679 was fun, but did have ripples thru out the ride. When we hit 76/79 a few more noticiable bumps especially thru the curves. No long stretches of smoothness. Still very ridable and enjoyable.

We had lunch at Starvation Lake. Quite a few riders in there. Coming back home same conditions on 76/79 and then we cut over on Cameron Bridge Rd, Manistee River Rd… and then picked up on trail 4 to check it out. .. Still very rough.

We enjoyed our 79 miles of riding. It was snowing all thru the day, those big beautiful diamond white flakes. Another room from Rays took the Lovells trail and said it was very good riding.

It has been a trying few days as we have been trying to find out answers to what is happening with Gaylord trails. We appreciate Paul Beachnau at the Gaylord Tourism Bureau for his help and understanding with our frustration. The tourism bureau is not directly overseeing grooming anymore, but they do have a real concern for what happens in regards to grooming. The DNR is not in the business of grooming trails anymore. They are responsibile for processing grant paperwork. Dana at our local DNR department has been very helpful is explaining and doing what she can do to see Gaylords trails are groomed.

Hopefully the group that has accepted responsibility for grooming will get their organizational skills fine tuned, and keep the grooming on going and have the Gaylord trails groomed in great condition.

Gaylord has an excellent trail system that intersects with so many great trails in any direction. We look forward to enjoying them this winter and hope you will plan a trip soon and stay with us at Ray’s.

Rays Retreat is also renting Ski Doo snowmobiles this season.

——just one last note. Please do not call us just to complain. Or send an email to just complain about the trail systems. It has been upsetting enough these past few days without having to listen to someone holler at us for situations beyond our control. —-