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GuyZ and GalZ The Team just did our final run of the Season *** South and South West of Shawinigan they are pulling up stakes (Literally), North should still be good. 650 Miles 1 Working Rear Suspension Spring 300cc ETEC 1 half working secondary clutch Priceless Memories!!! So we sometimes don't get to branch out to new areas (for us). This last run we were "lets try going West-Ish". I called the Drakkar (Have not been back for a couple years and was not sure what to expect) and got us a room for last Friday and Monday Nights. *** Wow, what a nice rejuvenation of the place. It is not the same Safari Motel with just a coat of paint. Reggie is a great guy too. Rolled in, parked the trailer unloaded the sleds and started packing. Next thing you know Mario, Christine, Frank, Chuck (Newbie) and his wife ride in. We BS for a while and All go across the street to the Pizza Place for Dinner. More BS'ing ensues..... When all of a sudden, in comes IceMan for a quick Meet and Great! (It was nice to finally meet him, got some stickers too) Saturday AM we hit the Gas Station and off to 23 West. (Yes, Saturday....) We saw more traffic on Saturday than we saw all season. It was a beautiful day and the miles rolled on, stopped at La Glacier for a late lunch then up to 63 and Rouge Matiwan (Small Outpost). I told the old guy we were going west to LSJ for the night and asked if it was too much farther.... He almost fell over..... We both had a good laugh. Through the park and down the railtrail towards Mont Laurier. Being that it is Saturday the trail had 30 miles of washboard little bumps. This is when the partially severed air line to the front/ rear shock failed. Little bumpy but bearable. Stayed at the Best Western, nice enough and sled security. Sunday we start off by going up on Devil's Mtn. Great view. On our way back south the left rear spring on the 1200 (2011 with 17000 miles) gave up. We unloaded all the extra weight to the ETEC and Enduro and with 2 inches rear travel and only 200+ miles to go off we went towards Lac Carling. Great day, smooth trailz! (Thanks to the Snow Gods!) Forgot this was Sunday... The small villages roll up the sidewalk at 5 (also time change for DST), including gas stations..... We landed at the hotel and did the happy dance. Who says 1200s cant get good gas mileage, I beat out the 900 ACE and 600 ETEC!!!!! both took gas from the spare tank. Lac Carling was a nice place and seemed to have some nice facilities. The Filet was perfect, room was spacious if not a little dated, Breakfast was a buffet and the staff was very accommodating. Went to start the 1200 and no gas. Maintenance brought us a few gallons of gas and off we went. Monday started with us looking for gas. Route 3 was not really marked and after a couple of loops and back tracking we found gas! The trail markings were just not poorly placed we found someone picking up the markers and sticks a couple miles up the trail. Again another great day! About a 150 miles out of Shawinigan the Secondary Clutch on the ETEC would not close all the way, so it started off in 3rd gear. Trails are SOFT but smooth. About 100 miles out the ETEC looses a coil or plug. Most likely it is from pulling the high gear. CRAP. If we keep above 50 its runs generally well. We roll back in to the Drakkar under our power and no one is being towed. I am beat tired, 400 miles on one working suspension spring. All the weight of the 1200 on the skis, like loosing the power steering on a old truck. A great time was had! Good Night. Later GutZ

Day 2, Saturday, March 10th 2018, 212 miles. Did I say the free WIFI worked excellent here at Chenail du Nord! We woke to an additional 6 inches and still lightly snowing. We cleaned the sleds off then headed to breakfast at 7:30. Breakfast was awesome and while we ate Benoit loaded the tracks for the off trail connection to the C-900 Pelchat trail into the GPS’s. He has a new way this year as both of his ways last year have portions that are plowed, sanded and logged this year. We took a few pictures, filled the sleds, spare tank and the windshield washer jugs with gas. One of our team members expressed concerns about the miles, the deep snow, gas and getting stuck so we put him at the back. Move on we must. These are snowmobiles after all and they do go in the snow. We packed our stuff and off we went into the abyss. The snow was deep and no one had ridden this trail since the all the new snow and there was a lot of it. It was fun bombing through the snow on the way to the C-900. For the most part we were the only tracks but in a few sections there were local camp sleds that had broken the trail near them. It was mostly flat with some gentle uphill’s. Benoit said there are (3) separate type of systems you ride through. Doublewide class 4 type roads in the summer for the first part, bigger summer logging roads for the second part, and narrow ATV summer trail type for the 3rd part. All unplowed and full of snow fun. Benoit has it signed pretty well but I would not do it without a GPS. We stopped 20 miles out and emptied the windshield jugs into the sleds that we thought may need them. The 900 would be good and I had 4 gallons onboard that I would need breaking trail most of the way. 15 miles from connecting with the C-900 we started seeing a few huge holes from locals getting stuck and digging out. A few miles later we came on a group of locals stopped and resting from the deep snow challenges. They were headed to Chappell after a morning of fishing and drinking wine they said, good times. We arrived at the C-900 Pelchat trail at 75 miles and to Chappell with 112 miles. Only the last part was groomed wide and nice. We got gas out of their (2) big tanks. I have not been there in awhile so I’m not sure how long they have had them. We went in for lunch and with all of the renovations it is pretty darn nice now. The servers did not disappoint and the food came out faster than McDonalds. We took the lake over to KM31, then a short blast on whooped out 93 to the Brais Louis. The trail was groomed perfect all the way to Onatchaway, super fun. A quick blast on the secondary trails to Mont Vilain with the last 5 miles pretty icy and no new snow here.. The place is redone and more upper class than the old Scooby Raid. We went in to check and Huston we have a problem. They don’t have our reservation. A quick show of the confirmation on the cell phone and they admit they hosed it. Next best option is they set us up in a cabin ¼ mile away, no WIFI and knock $30 off everyone’s price. With no choice really we took it. Off to the cabin to checkin and shower up. Nice place really. Dinner was 5 star for sure. Owner’s and wait staff all supper nice. Terrible WIFI in the lodge, come on folks this is 2018. Early bed time for all as plowing through the new snow was pretty darn tiring.

It was last Tuesday morning and I awoke early at Riviere du Loup. This was the day to make Squatec in time for breakfast at Belle Autofois, best crepes in Quebec. I suited up and went outside to my sled, it was time to awake the 90 Mouse Power under the hood of the 900 ACE. I opened the side panel and there are all 90 mice, wide awake and alert. They looked somehow bigger on this morning. Mice must have ESP and knew we were making the annual high speed run for crepes, the little buggers stayed up all night popping steroids for this run. My little buddies! I looked again and gasped. They were all cross eyed, their tails were straight up. They looked mean. They looked like wharf rats. They were all sporting man buns. About the time I saw a brass pole under the hood, I heard a high pitched giggle. I reached under one of their beds and pulled out a young female pole dancing mouse. As I grabbed her she was terrified. I asked her name and she said Delta. She begged I let her go so she could return to her home in Jonquiere. I suddenly realized the mice were not high on steroids, but worse, Viagra. I then remembered a picture I saw on Quebecrider. A member had tied a monkey to his front bumper. The monkey had no expression, he had drawn the short straw and this was his fate, forever. I had an idea. I doused Delta in perfume and tied her to my front bumper. Suddenly the 90 mice came alive, tails again in the air. They could not see Delta but sensed she was only inches away, and she smelled great. Delta had an expression on her face of sheer horror. I jumped on the sled and gave some throttle. Delta started screaming. The mice heard the screams and got more excited. Their tails went high. Up trail 526 and then down trail 85, past the RDL club house. When the trail turned into the rail bed, I gave it all it got. The ACE quickly got up to its usual 85 mph top end and settled in. Delta's screams were now in a fast rhythem of scream, pant, scream, pant. I could hear all 90 mice squealing with delight as they heard Delta. Suddenly the sled was doing 90, then 95, 100, 110. I arrived in Squatec with time to spare and the crepes did not disappoint. Later, upon returning to the hotel, I placed Delta in my truck and drove her to Monro's and dropped her off. I told her a lot of Quebecrider members come to this place and they would take good care of her. I returned to the hotel and quickly got on the phone to the SkiDoo factory. I told them how I got 90 mice to do the work of 150. SkiDoo said this was the best invention ever. They said the invention would be a new machine next year called the 900 ACE Turbo. They wired me a million dollars. I returned to the hotel and told my little buddies to get spiffed up, we are going out. We then drove to Monro's. When we walked in there was Delta at the brass pole. She was summonsed over to our table. I told them how we were now all rich and all 92 of us would split the million bucks. THE MORAL OF THE STORY: There is no moral. 90 mice have no morals, they hired a hooker. Delta has no morals, she is a hooker. And I have no morals, less than the mice, I doused a mouse in perfume and tied her to the front bumper of my sled. THE END OF THE STORY,,,,, OR,,,, DO FAIRY TALES HAVE HAPPY ENDINGS: 89 of the mice went to work for SkiDoo as lab mice. SkiDoo gave them all kinds of pills and all kinds of injections trying to make them perform like 200 mice. This top secret project at SkiDoo was called project Sidewinder. The project failed, and all the mice ended up with was two tails. And the tails would no longer point to the sky. Bruno, my head mouse in charge of the engine compartment, became a bouncer at Monro's. He went on to father hundreds of children from various pole dancing female mice. He lost his fortune to child support. Delta became SkiDoo's Vice President in charge of recruitment and training. She scoured the world for pole dancing young female mice. She then trained them to ride the bumper. These young ladies would go on to be known as bumper thumpers. I used my share of the money and Snow Checked a new Polaris after hearing Polaris uses neutered chipmunks. ALMOST THE END: Years later I went to Valcourt to the SkiDoo Factory and met with my little buddies. We sat around all night drinking beer and laughing. Then Carlos raised his glass and said, "To Squatec". We all hoisted our glasses, drank, and cheered. Next, Omar raised his glass and said, "To Crepes". We all hoisted our glasses, drank, and laughed. I knew I had to join in. I hoisted my glass and said, "To Delta". The room fell silent. Wh, where's Delta I asked, blood draining from my face. My little buddies, tears in their eyes, told me Delta's fate. Every year for one day Delta would leave SkiDoo headquarters and spend a day riding the bumper. Last year while riding the bumper, an on coming sled passed by. Tied to the pretty blue Yamaha was an expressionless monkey. For Delta it was love at first sight. Later in the day her driver stopped at a club house. While waiting on the bumper, Delta looked around and saw the pretty blue Yamaha and saw her monkey love still tied to the front bumper. She hopped off her bumper and jumped up to her monkey. For both it was immediately love. Delta tied herself next to the monkey and in a few minutes the monkey's driver returned and off they rode into the sunset. Delta was at once fired from SkiDoo. She didn't care, she was now a Yamaha bumper thumper monkey humper. And as for the monkey, he is no longer expressionless. He and Delta happily ride down the trail. The monkey flips the bird to other monkeys and never stops smiling.

Auberge Ravage reporting 56cm of snow since last Friday. Still snowing.

We are 5 riding out of RDl on Monday the 19th, hope to see lots of QR's on the trail......no, wait....this just in.......you should all stay home on your couches because conditions will be all mud, no gas at any of the gas stations, LaCache will be closed, the Rock has sunk, all the surfacers are broken down, Internet and electricity will be down across the peninsula, Groomer will be on vacation in Barbados, views of the Chic Chocs will be horrible due to volcanic activity, Policia will be radaring everyone riding across the muddy fields, a North Korean EMP will render all sled ignition and fuel injection systems useless, Trudeau banned snowmobiles over 2 horsepower, and Trump plans to close the border after we cross on the 18th. Much better to stay home and not risk it ;<)

this weekend looks promising

We will be rolling out of there tomorrow, stay tuned to this channel.

I thought there had been a huge sale on rouge!

I am sure this team member was not dooright.. Nice read again !

Crazy Americanos We we’re already settled in Forestville for the night when you guys were passing through. Too bad you guys were running late, would’ve been nice to touch base. Nice run boyz.

last weekend......going to ste-anne du lac this Saturday for lunch and back. trails should be in good shape. Gonna cross Baskatong Réservoir(trail 322)

thanks ice,upon further investigation i was able to figure it out...and based on towing and krikri's last post's

Mike, I was sure it was one of (3) things, the aforementioned rouge, somebody switched your tobacco, or worse yet....you had been breathing 2 stroke smoke from a new Polaris purchase!

Kind of hard to Police these asshats. But when they are caught the punishment is what? A stern talking to? There needs to be serious consequences for this kind of behavior, but instead unfortunately it’s the rest of us who follow the rules who end up being punished for their acts. Leave the marked trail....I say take their driver liscenses for 1 year, first offense. If they are from outside Quebec, then loss of trail permit eligibility for 2 seasons. Send a message loud and clear. Furthermore others need to confront these riders when and if they are seen doing it. Real simple here’s what i would do....i would stop and talk nicely, take note of plate numbers and sticker numbers(few quick pictures) then have another member of my group distract them maybe lure them a bit away from their sleds and then I grab their keys and ride off. They will most likely be there when the Police get there. If they got spare keys then they can come try and burn me down. I’ll take them right where they need to go. We can explain it together to the Police. I’m a lover not a fighter, but sometimes lovers gotta fight. Bring it.

Thanks Phil, I got the impression a few people gasped in horror. I thought, oh oh, maybe this was a mistake.

Just back from a week in the Gaspesia area accompanied by our friend Snowcruiser. We left home after dinner by car on Saturday March 3rd and returned home on Saturday the 10th in the late afternoon, a trip of 700 miles by car and 1040 miles by sled. This was our 4th time in Gaspésia, the last one was back 4 years ago The mild temperatures that we had in the last weeks are certainly related with the poor trail conditions we encountered on a large part of the trip. I was expecting that with the warm temperatures but it was a notch worse than expected, no offense to you Groomer, the Tq5 in your area was nice!!! Luckily, our relaxed vacation pace gave us an easy 160 miles/day average which was just enough in these conditions especially for my passenger. Here is the trail path of our trip: Our drop spot in Gaspésia was in Mont-Joli at the motel "Mon Joli Motel". We slept there Saturday night before leaving by sled and finally Friday night when we came back before going home the next day. This was our third time at this location mainly for free parking and their recovery service in case of problems: we leave them our car keys and in case of problems they can come pick us up with our rigs at our request. A service we have been fortunate to never use up to date but still provides a significant peace of mind for the trip. In addition the place is nice, beds are comfortable and the food at the restaurant very good.We had a very cloudy week but a bit of sun in the first 2 days. I hesitated to make a ride report on this trip, doing it as I usually do would make a too big project for the moment(I have a lot of photos and videos) so I'll go differently with what marked us more than a detailed story . To begin we headed south via the trail # 5 on good trail conditions (Mont-Joli is the place where the trail#5 come back on itself as the road #132 that goes around the Gaspésia do ).I had left a message to Groomer. Being in his backyard and having never met in person, the opportunity was too good to not going shake the hand of the best photographer in Gaspésia! So we went having our lunch at the Albertville Clubhouse where he came to meet us. Our lucky star gave us a big bonus having Mr and Mrs Gt riders in persons, Jim and Gemma were there at the same moment. It was so nice to have a great talk with all those passionate peoples. a real great add-on to our trip! I know JG you are more at ease on the other side of the camera but thank you for having been willing for the group pic with us here outside before leaving This day we had went to sleep at Pointe à la Croix and the next day we continued on #tq5 to New Richmond. Here the New Brunswick on the other side of the river Many deers in that area.Enough for having to pay more attention. I watched a lot for deer tracks in the woods as in this one where there was a good flock. We powered the Lumix with the zoom and made some good shots, really beautiful animalsWe then rode north on the #595 to La Cache where we spent the night. Probably the most rought trail of our trip that had not seen the Dozer for a very long time. During a break to our surprise we saw a mosquito on the venture cab! if the mosquitoes come out at this time here I won't imagine what is it in summer!The next day, leaving La Cache we saw the only moose of the trip ... I would have liked to see one in better shape but it is what we got! It left just his coat that had been moved by wild animals during the night.We then headed for the Chic-Chocs trail toward Murdochville. During our climb we were impressed by these snow blades on the trail side A little further, while we were stopped on the trail side to take pictures of the rear view, another "virtual friend" recognized us and came to meet us. It was a pleasure to meet you in person "Je me souviens"While we were talking with him, a little fox appeared in the back sceneryKristine got the Lumix out and made a series of good shots of this little curious When I parked my sled on the side of the Cooper infront a window in Murdochville. A knocking on the glass make us realize our friends Coyote and Jocelyn with whom we did our Chibougamau annual trip 6 years ago were just inside at their table for lunch!!! Another great surprized meeting that put some shine on our trip! After our lunch, we went down the #597 toward south. I stopped for a short break around sixty miles from Murdoch at the spot where the dozer turn around(club change) because I remembered having seen gray jays the last time we went there 4 years ago. Well there were some still there and not fearful at all. they came to get their treat in our hands and stayed there a long time pecking and watching usWe went to sleep at Grande-Riviere and continued to Perce the next day. Seeing the famous Rock is a must in GaspésieAfter Perce we wanted to keep going north but the TQ5 was closed because of a river so we should had to turn back and retrace our steps to take the #597, a pretty big detour. Because we have hard heads, we decided to go to see by ourselves. It was not ideal but very feasible to cross especially north as we did. There was about 6 "of water on the right side. Here seen from the other side toward south direction, it would have been more difficult because the skis could go under the ice and the approach was steeperWe continued toward the north side and went to sleep in Grande-Vallée. There was an annoying high frequency ripple 4 to 6 inches deep on a very large portion of this last segment, we had the feel of riding on a railway.. after several hours it get really tiring. The next day we continued west. Those who already did gaspesia know it: most of the mountainous spectacular scenery is from Mont-Louis to Ste-Anne des Monts and in between Mont-St-Pierre is an icon in this area. The point of view of the hang-glider platform is a classic but I put here some others points of view of this same spot that we like alot And on west side For fun, from this same place Kristine tried a full zoom with the Lumix of the hang gliding platform on the other side: impressive! The trail condition was among the best of the trip in this area up to St-Anne des Monts. I had booked the evening before a cottage in St-Octave de l'Avenir at the Village Grande Nature where we went for the night. Here the view from the auberge on the Chic-shocks mountains with our chalet just down right. The top mountain view was chopped by the cloud line on this pic A different experience in a cottage, relaxing near the wood stove after a sledding day was magicI don't know if they followed us or if we attract them but I saw gray jays on the porch on the next morning! I went out with a bit of lunch and yes they let themselves be tempted once againFor our last day we went west on #TQ5 and then went down south via #591trail and finally took #587 to La Rédemptionon pretty good trail conditions to see the Montagne St-Pierre. Although less spectacular than some other times we had seen it, the frost was present and the scenery very whiten We then went back to Mont-Joli, gave a break to the Yammy in the trailer and passed one last night at Mont Joli Motel. We did the car black trail ride home the next day on Saturday. A trip of a bit more than 1000 miles that went well, the Venture which have now 14500miles act in an exemplary way and my old ADBoivin skid who took a good beating had pass throught without flinching. We would have like more sun, colder weather and better trail conditions but having the chance to ride during an whole week with my best half and a good friend, enjoying the nature beauties in such great area, meeting old friends and making new: I think I'm really blessed, life is good! Alain

forgot..... can t confirm ....i was talking with a friend yesterday ....he told me that cross point groomer...kaputt !!!....down !!! i believe that ...looks like there s not much action on their side since a week !!! forgot to walk on their side this morning !!! first tourists on my way to main steeet ..just before 4 am !!! jean-guy

No snow to deep ... Just keep punching holes in it ! :-) That Backcountry of yours would of been handy in some places

bonsoir iceman !!! forgot ,the one at the starting gate...also from ste genevieve !!! back from grooming at 2 30 pm ...left a bit before 3 am ...already sticky a bit in town....once at logging road ..ok ... 6-8'' in town....10-12'' at logging road and up !!! +1c at city hall on my way back.... jean-guy

LOL.....You taking writing lessons from Mikerider????? (or drinking the same rouge?!)

Agreed. Definitely not.

A nice read guys. Why shouldn't your last ride of the season have a few mechanical issues? You wouldn't have a good story without them! Already thinking about next season. Jack & Sandi

Thanks for putting that back on Mike. Sandi and I had missed it the first time. It is hilarious! Red Monkey? Seems to me I saw that on another post. Hmm! Hopefully you won't be banned from QR. Worse case scenario, maybe Yamaha or Polaris is looking for a new writer for their next year's ad campaign! Jack & Sandi

Retracing your trip down from Mont Laurier, there are several gas stations just off the pitit train du Nord railway bed. Depending which way you branched off of that, there are other options. If you took the 319, to meet up with the 323, there is gas in La minerve and again In Vendee. I know most nights Vendee is open most evenings, maybe 8-10 pm depending on the day of the week. If you stayed on the railway bed till it ended and took the 323 at Labelle, there is a big gas station after you cross the river and get through town and just a couple hundred feet from the trail. I would think it is open late. A lot of the small town gas stations are closed up due to the QC government forcing them to put in new tanks etc if the age is unknown and they can’ afford the expense so they close. We no longer have gas locally, lost 2 places last year. The general store you stopped at has gas but if it is closed then no go. Pine hill the gas station is closed but the Hotel Chausseur has a big tank in a shed and sells gas. You passed right by it 10 minutes before Lac Carling. Kind of the local hot spot for food and bar, so usually open late. If you were coming up from Pine hill area via lake macdonald ( 317 ) toward Montcalm ( Weir ) there is gas at Kilmar.

Best place to park from Pa is Maniwaki we are launching from there tomorrow

What a ride! I would love to do this loop next season.

Don't give them any ideas!

Brilliant sh#t that was! Truly a gift meant to be shared!

Nice report. You rolled just a mile from my house when you made your way down to Lac Carling on Sunday. As a matter of fact we were on a day run Saturday from Montcalm (Weir) up the pitit train du Nord on the 63 and bailed onto the 319 at Nomingue to work our way home. Sunday another Day ride down to Pine hill past Carling lake and back up the 317. Another 8-10 inches of new snow last night and today so we should be good for a bit longer.

You’re a champ GutZ! Hopefully we will be riding into April this year.

Again I'm biased but the Delta is a good place. Stay a few nights, leave the office the keys to the trailer, just in case it needs to be moved. If you like the place, tell your friends to stay there, everyone wins! GutZ

bonsoir !!! snowing since 4 pm !!! 4-5'' right now...still snowing heavy !!! -5c.... jean-guy

6-7 inches of compact snow since last night in maniwaki. 8 inches in baskatong area. Have a good trip.

Yes he was confortably install in the wood border maybe 60' from us, probably hoping for some food... We had not much to give him, he should had show up 4 hours later I had birds in my hands...lolllllll Oh yes we did! It is there that I parked infront the windows and my friend Coyote and Jocelyn were there at lunching, it was 11:45 We join them in the left section of the dining room(more toward the ski slopes) When I get out of the mens room after our lunch maybe 12:45 or so I think I saw you ( from what i was remember having seen you in a picture ) in the right section, I had hesitate to ask but I was really not so sure so I had continue...I now regret! From there in the afternoon we had went toward Chandler. I don't remember having seen your black Apex on the trail? It seems we got really near to meet together in person! Alain

Sorry you took it down some of the funniest stuff I’ve read in a while. Making it more funny was it coming from you. 😁

One more try and I may be exiled from QR. lol

You sure you dont want to give it another shot? Was looking forward to a nightly bedtime story!

First, thanks for inviting me to ride this week, much appreciated but I have the shop booked for some big Mercedes engine work that I cannot put off.Of course a Yammie fan can weigh in, they usually tip the scales farther than anybody else, I know , I own 3 of them. Yes they are heavy, basically means almost nothing on well groomed trails where that 4 cylinder engine shines like no other in the whole sport, simply cannot be denied, it is sweet!! Heavy should also be called well built, no ripping a control arm off on this sled, belts and clutching, still the industry standard, motor is bullet proof, period, have seen quite a few running well after 50 k. a little tuning and they are faster than anything out there. And when your 55 and up. and a groomed trail rider 90% of us have seen the first half go by so fast that we do not need the latest and greatest trail carving super sport. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and a lot of us like a lot of differnt sleds, I would never argue with anyone about their preference, I own 2 cats, 3 Yammies and a 2018 850 backcountry, big problem, which one do i ride, they are all fun!!

Cool running Gentleman !! That kind of high daily mileage is nice to see without incorporating the 85 miles of Rail Bed on 93..

This snowmobiling thing....has never been a sport for saving money!!! But it is worth every penny when: you are the first track, on a freshly groomed trail, for 70 miles, at -10°, beautiful sunny morning, going whatever speed you want!

First time posting, but wanted to give a ride report of an epic (for our group anyway) adventure. Our group of 4 left out of Rabaska at around 8 a.m. heading north on 13 toward Parent on 3/2 and found the trails flat and smooth. We didn't see another sled for the first 60 miles. Conditions were good enough to get to Parent around lunchtime and stop for a bite at Hotel Central. I guess we were lulled into a false sense of making great time with the great conditions. Anyway, we decided (after looking at a map that was clearly not to scale) to continue on 83 and head down 345 to 33 to make a big loop. Long story short, we ended the day with an unexpected 415 miles and 4 tired souls by the time we got back to our cabin at Rabaska. In hindsight - a great ride that we will talk about for years to come I'm sure. Hitting the trail after a great Rabaska breakfast.... Notawissi.... Fuel in Fer A Cheval... Power lines heading north... Hill coming down into Parent.... Fuel in Parent.... It gets real in Casey, when we realize we aren't going to make it home for dinner.... Well, at least the trails are still spectacular!.... Another fuel stop, Pourvoirie Kanawata. The pictures ended here, as the sun went down. We continued on through Manawan and made it to Mekoos, where the chef & one of the servers took pity and threw together wings & fries for us - even though they had shut down the dining well be fore we got there. Thank you to them for the kindness and the very welcome meal! Filled up with fuel once again and onward to Rabaska. Back at the cabin by midnight and some well deserved beverages in the hot tub. Off to bed at 2 a.m. and back at it in the morning!