b'VAST NewsEB- 000001 FIRST TMA SALE OF THE SEASONBy Rick Guest During the winter of 1972-73, my father and I drove from the Philadelphia suburbs (where I grew up) to Montpelier, Vermont for a ski-vacation. The vacation was for me, at 16 years old, but was also a business trip as he owned a monument company in Philadelphia.We met up with Lucien Rouleau, of Rouleau Granite Company in Barre, and he asked ifwe would like to go snowmobiling the next day. Neither of us had ever been on a snowmobile.We went out about mid-morning, leaving from Luciens house, and he knew all the places to take us. We each had our own sled. Lucien was telling us how to lean on the sides of hills and other things we needed to be safe. I remember riding all day with Dad and Lucien, going across many different fields, up extremely steep hills, and not seeing one other snowmobile the entire day. I remember the sights and the fresh air really got my adrenaline going!When we got back to his house at the end of the day, it was after dark. We then went out to dinner. I asked how far we rode that day, and Lucien told us we went about 80 miles!I remember thinking it was one of the most fun things I had ever done in my life - and so much more fun than skiing.Fast-forward to 1980. I moved to Vermont and met the woman I would marry at the end of that year. Vermont winters are much longer than theyCarolyn & Rick Guestwere down south, along with many more frigid days. I have never taken up a winter sport or skied ever since Ia very good used, low-mileage 2012fly! I spent a good part of this summer moved here. I told my wife, Carolyn,Ski-Doo Grand Touring 2-Up sled.going over the sled and doing the that for me to enjoy the winters here,Last winter, I put 780 miles on the sled,maintenance work on it myself, which I must take up a winter sport. I thenmany of them with Carolyn. We haveI also enjoy very much.remembered how much fun thecommunicators in our helmets so weIve found that there are a lot of snowmobiling was that day when Idont need to yell at each other, andterrific people out on the trails, and was 16. I asked my pastor if he knowswe ride along just talking like we areevery single mile weve ridden is as much about snowmobiling, and hesitting in a room together. picturesque and beautiful as what one told Carolyn and me that he goes outI used to dread the long, cold winterswould see on a calendar or in a book. all the time! here in Vermont.I now look forwardRiding certainly lets one see the beauty In the summer of 2018, we purchasedto them and cant wait for the snow toof Vermont in a whole different way!12 | Snowmobile VERMONT'