Lisa and I also figured out our marking problem...seems as though the white paint faded and was masked by sun and shade. So in our quest to be unobtrusive in our permanent marks...we actually weren't obtrusive at all! Next time I'll use a brighter color and add some marks to be beyond doubt.

Lynn,
Lisa debriefed me yesterday that most of the riders got off course or had difficulty with the marking system I used yesterday. After the kids get on the bus, and we clean the barn, we are going to take a ride out and see what happened.
I purposely used white spray paint on the 5 mile loop because its a little less intrusive. I would like to have permanent markings without the beautiful natural trails looking like a graffiti zone, so its a challenge.
I also suspect a few other issues. Unfortunately, when the first group of riders miss a turn, then others tend to use their tracks as a reference. I think this it what happened where everyone ended up on Bacon Road. I don't think anyone took the time to print out a map so that didn't help either.
Still, I apologize and would never send anyone out where I thought they might get lost. Lisa and I are going to look to see if there might be some sabotage or conflicting markings from other users of the public areas. Other guests use the area and it can be a problem at times, especially with litter.
I guess there was a car without license plates out on the trail. I called the Palmer Police and they removed it. Most likely it was abandoned from some teenage party the night before.
On the bright side, at least no one was so lost that they couldn't find their way back. At least it was fantastic weather and no parking problems. Please forward this e-mail to your members and assure them that I will fix the problems so that the next trail ride is absolutely perfect. We want to have free monthly trail rides with lots of participants and make it worth their time to travel great distances. We would also like to provide a good venue, for clubs like yours to rally.
Please urge your group to send us feedback, good or bad so that we can achieve our goals. Don't worry, I know some riders can be nasty but we can handle it. All communication is key for us to make our farm and trail system worth traveling to. Please remind all that our parking area is free year round, just contact us (even if its the day of) so we know who is parking there.
I will be posting pictures from the event sometime today on the "current news" section of our website. They can also be reached directly at:
Again, I apologize and will make it better!
Happy Trails!
Matthew J. Domnarski

Hi, Matthew and Lisa --
Please don't keep apologizing!!! -- We really appreciate your inviting us to share your farm and trails, and the weather was perfect! And it was fun exploring the trails, even if we were off course. And all of us were able to return safely!
The marking was confusing, but I think that there were a number of contributors. I have to admit, I went the wrong way, too -- and I usually don't get lost! It was difficult to see the white markers. BSTRA members are also used to the way our trails are usually marked. We use a combination of ribbons and pie plates that really stand out. Of course, they are not permanent markers. We use the bright pink ribbons on the right side of the rider. Single ribbons as confidence markers all along the trail, double ribbons on the side where you are to turn (with a confidence marker just after the turn to let them know they are on course). Where there are other intersecting trails, we put up a pie plate with a big "W" to indicate wrong way. We ran across lots of other trail markers as we rode -- I don't know if they appeared on the correct course, too, but where I rode there seemed to be orangy/pinkish with black striped ribbons, blue ribbons, etc. Those stood out and maybe distracted us from finding the less visible white markers. I know you said Granby riders didn't have any problems -- maybe our group is just so used to our marking system that they really missed everything! In any event, we did some exploration, had perfect weather, had a chance to meet Lisa, excellent parking, and a nice chance to socialize at lunch and share trail stories. And I know that everyone at BSTRA appreciates the fact that you offered the use of your property to us and that you have it open to the public. That's just wonderful!
Thanks for passing along the photo of Beau and I at the trailer before we headed out the the trails. This was his first "organized ride" and he had good experiences out there - your cute dog went the whole ride with us and de-sensitized Beau to lose dogs running at and around him, he had opportunities to cross a stream and muddy puddles, was exposed to people on bicycles, and learned to pay attention to his footing. So it was a good day for us! It was pretty scenic riding -- we went through some nice forest, both pine and otherwise.
As for the litter and abandoned car, that happens anywhere people have access by car. That's why we ended up installing a gate system at the Douglas State Forest and Southern New England Trunkline Trail. It leaves enough room on the sides for people to enter on horseback, snowmobile, bicycle or on foot but keeps the cars out. Stolen cars were being dumped on our trails, so the gates ended that. As for litter, maybe you could organize an Earth Day Ride where people go out with plastic bags and pick up trash. We do that each year in the Upton State Forest and carry out LOTS of trash.
I'll be checking your blog for photos of our ride -- and thanks again to both of you for offering the use of your property. Lisa -- it was really nice meeting you and I'm sorry you had to hear from everyone who was lost after they returned!
Lynn
BSTRA