WILTON — Saturday’s rain was great for ducks and geese lined with down feathers, but not so much for 250 jacketed participants in the 16th annual Whistle Stop Trail ATV Toy Run.

Although participation was down about 400 people from past rides due to the weather, the enthusiasm and donations from those who participated was awe inspiring, organizers said.

“If it wasn’t raining, we’d have a lot more than this, but, you know, we’re helping out,” Bob Dalot, president of the Western Maine ATV Club, said in Jay.

“That was our goal when we started this — to help out the surrounding communities — and as you can see, there’s people from all over Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and Massachusetts here.”

He said people learn about the ride on the Internet and show up to participate.

“There’s nothing that makes me any happier to be able to do this,” Dalot said. “We try to help out as many people as we can.”

The ride started at 10 a.m. in Farmington on the Whistle Stop Trail system.

At about 10:30 a.m., the 250 riders on 140 ATVs led by Santa Claus, rode out of the foggy woods and across Route 156 opposite Rick’s Market. They were met by two Wilton firefighters who halted traffic.

Then the riders continued across U.S. Routes 2 and 4 and back onto the trail as Wilton police Chief Heidi Knox and officer Courtney Krause stopped traffic. Many riders thanked them and the firefighters for allowing safe passage.

Jay police Detective Richard Caton rode with the group the whole way, while Jay police helped the riders with traffic on Routes 4 and 17 in Jay.

The procession crossed the Androscoggin River on the POW-MIA Remembrance Bridge in Jay and drove down to the Verso paper mill before taking a trail to Canton.

Chris Currier, president of the Mountain View ATV Club of Mount Vernon, said rain helped keep the dust down.

“So everybody’s here just having a great time and we’re doing it for the kids,” Currier said.

“That’s why we’re all here, for the kids. There’s a lot of kids that wouldn’t have a good Christmas if we didn’t do this. It’s our way of giving back to the community.”

Judy Frost of Western Maine Community Action, a social services organization that serves Franklin County and the Livermore-Livermore Falls area, thanked riders donating toys and cash for its Operation Santa Claus program.

“We serve upwards of 1,500 people, so this will be a big start for us,” Frost said in Canton.

Four all-terrain vehicle clubs hold the event on the last Saturday in September. They are Western Maine ATV, Mountain View ATV, Brettun’s Wheelers ATV, and Canton Trail Riders. Boy Scouts Troop 518 of Wilton also assisted.

Courier said Roxbury ATV Riders Club donated use of the tents under which people signed up for the nearly 60-mile round trip and ate meals during the free barbecue in Jay.

Dennis Moody of Sidney and the Messalonskee Trail Riders ATV Club of Oakland, said their club brought 10 people, who donated Lego blocks, Lincoln Logs cabin building kits and stuffed animals. They participate every year.

“It was a good ride, a little bit muddy, but outside of that, not bad at all,” Moody said of the nearly 60-mile ride.

“It’s a lot of fun. You get to meet different types of people and see different machines.”

Dalot said the Western Maine ATV Club started the toy run 16 years ago to give back to the community “for letting us use their property.”

His wife, Karen Dalot, the club’s secretary, said a lot of local businesses donate things for the raffle auctions like overnight stays, helmets, food, gifts, clothing and more.

“We’re helping people who just don’t have enough for Christmas,” Bob Dalot said. “So, if we can do this and have the community come out, we’re happy.”

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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