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For those on the fence about buying a 2021 SkiDoo, check with your dealer to see if you won the "Diamond' Lottery. This gives you an extra $500 off your spring order. You should get an e-mail from SkiDoo, but as people are finding out, the e-mail has not arrived yet. However, the dealers already have the names of those selected. I was selected (per my dealer) but have not received the e-mail yet. This might put me over the fence about buying, if I get a good trade in price. mike

Yes Chris, believe there is. 1200 4 strokes excluded. lol

Congrats !!!!!! and awesome trail/trip report. Would have loved to have met you guys this year.....but there is always the next. Enjoy your retirement and may the both of you still be snowmobiling 20 yrs from now !!! Chris

It's fabulous! you both lived the dream of many of us!!! I enjoyed your report/pics, it make me dream of the future for Kristine and me... I wish both of you a nice summer and good retirement continuation!

Seems you had a very good trip up there! You have many great high quality shots in your pics 👍 I really enjoyed your report, thanks for having shared!

Hi Chris! Yep, at least we had a great time together at our fall dinner 👍 I remember our conversation about your season expectation and even with this surprise shutdown you managed to do an exceptional sled season, a dream one in my book! Take care of yourself and especialy of your best half that love you enought to let you live your dream away from her during the cold season 💕 enjoy your summer and good luck in your future plans. It will be a pleasure to meet you again next season! Hi Snappy Hank! I definitely remark your trailer with the Iceman sticker, we have the same playground! Maybe our path have scrossed without even knowing? I'm just a bit above you as for season's mileage with 3760miles, not a big season for us but you know, it's more the smiles than the miles that matter and we had alot smiles. I just feel it hard to end the season the way it happened with still great snow cover to the ground... even that I know it is the right thing to do, I feel like I wasting something...🤒 My old girl (not Kristine 😂) haven't fail to bring us back home each time for a 6th season in a row, even getting over the 24K miles bar. I had care her good before each sled season and she gave it me back each winters. I was supposed to be in shopping mode but in the actual circumstances it may be delayed... Thanks for the good words and have a good summer too! We remark all those stickers! We had seen some that had been vandalized in LSJ area... I can't understand someone would spend time and energy to do that, this is beyond me 😕 Thanks for the good words !!!

Don't wanna hijack here, but I've definitely seen the trailer/sticker there! GREAT job Alain! BIG merci!

Hi Alain, You and Christine do an incredible job with both pictures and videos! I stay at Lecabanon every other week all winter starting Christmas week. My trailer is the black one opposite the gas pump, with the ICEMAN sticker on the gas door. I so much enjoy following your posts. How many miles did you get on the dream meter this year? You must be approaching 20,000 total by now. I anaged to get 3000 on for the season. Wanted to go back one more time on the 21st, but now that’s not going to happen, with the border closing. Till next year, you two enjoy your summer!!! Snappy Hank

Alain mon ami I am so dissapointed our paths did not cross this season. Well,.....at least we had a nice early fall dinner together. Congrats to you and Kristine for another great year on the trails. You two have (and continue) to inspire us all. May the wind always be at both of your backs. Till we meet again my friend. Chris

sounds like a real adventure. Nice to see the mid-winter pictures. Time to start planning for next year!

Thanks for posting and the pics. What a way to start off retirement! It was good seeing you this year. Hope to see you next season. Take care and be safe. Jack & Sandi

Totally agree, Sagueney Bill is doing it right!

That's fabulous. Sure hope I'm doing the same in 2 years when i pack it in

bonjour!!! just for fun ..... rained during the night....snow is crusty / crunchy ......grey sky and 0c !!! jean-guy

Thanks for posting, I've been riding along all winter right here in the easy chair. Congrats on the retirement!

I am heading up to the Gaspesie tomorrow for the wknd. There is 6500km on my new 900T, I can't put it away with less then 7000! Can't leave too much on the table Bob.

Left Oliphant on Sunday, 7am. New trailer with some modifications, short 1200km jaunt to the Universal in Rivere de Loup. Woke up Monday morning to snow and wind. Checked radar said it should starting clearing around 11. Leisurely breakfast and unload, hit the trails 10 after 11 ( 10 o'clock old time). Trails a little choppy to Rimouski, to be expected for a Monday morning after a warm Sunday. Had to follow a bunch of throttle jockeys for a while, you know those guys that have to have a hand full of throttle and a hand full of brake with the track spinning all the time. The guys that haven't figured out it all about the flow. Stopped for lunch and gas in Rimouski, took a picture of the clubhouse for Snowmaster. Back on trails sun came out, trails were groomed all the way to Matane. 10 out of 10. Into town for gas and arrived at Riôtel around 6:00. Tried to meet up with Mike the Mayor of RDL but our schedules didn't work out. Check out the new red tickle trunk!

One last run down the river to the Inn but before we arrived Houston, we have problem! Scott's sled over heats. A Stud thew tunnel heat exchanger and another stud thew the front exchanger. Off to gas station to pick up some J B weld and antifreeze. Screwed in 5/16 bolt and cover with J B weld. Put weld on front. Removed the rest of the studs from the track and will test in morning. The next morning the front was still leaking so off to hardware to get sheet metal screws. Drilled out, put in screw added more JB weld and let it harden. Time to test, no leaks so off to miramachi for the night. Day 9 we headed off to Governors lodge for the night. Big thank you to Marc and John for being open as food, accommodations and gas getting harder to find so we changed plans and will take the shortest route too RDL . Day 10 ride to Edmundston . Day 11 ride to RDL. Parking lot empty no one on trails almost eerie over 2600 km of great trails. Another great trip with family and friends.

Headed out and had breakfast at a local diner, stopped in Rogersville for gas and then down to Rexton. The "9.0" in our title signifies Mrs. Byrd's father's 90th birthday, he himself was a long time snowmobiler who saddle bagged throughout New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Quebec, in fact he spent his 88th birthday on the trail. An amazing seafood dinner at Makeba Restaurant in Richibucto with family and friends. On Sunday we hooked up with some locals and ran the Richibuto River and then stopped and had lots of fun with family and friends.

Left the Atlantic Host in Bathurst heading towards Wilson's Sporting Lodge in Doaktown. Flat light and flat trails. Very fast ride to Serpintine, in for lunch & gas, snowing very hard at this point. Headed south towards Doaktown, still making really good time. Pulled to Wilsom's about 5 as it started to rain. Great accommodations but no restaurant. Hopped on sled and went to Tipsy Canoe for dinner in the pouring rain. If you ever want a fast run this is the route to take. Wide trails with big sweeping corners and no speed limit in New Brunswick.

Woke up sunny skys, left Carleton headed for New Brunswick. Quick ride down to Pointe à la-croix called Mundles towing to take us across the bridge. Had planned on staying in Campbellton but with a storm coming we thought we would get further south. Got to Island Lake, no rooms. Then down to Governors, no rooms. So we decided to head to Bathurst and stayed at the Atlantic Host for the night. Checked in and have a great seafood dinner.

Monday - March 9 Skidoo 420, blackjack1 & I pulled out on sleds from Trois-Rives - Riviere Mattawin this morning at 8:15am. Cloudy & snow flurries with a weather forecast of wind, snow & possible freezing rain. Luckily all it did was snow all day! Took 360 to 355 (Scorpionbowl’s favorite trail). Gas in Lac Edouard & Lac Bouchette. Continued 355 to 83 to LT to Saint Felicien for the night. Arrived at du Jardin at 4:00pm. Snowed on and off most of the day and is expected to continue all night and all day tomorrow! Probably have 5 to 6 inches of fresh PowPow so far. Interesting to see what tomorrow brings! Stay tuned.... 215 miles.

Saturday - March 14 Left Fer-a-Cheval at 8:30am under cloudy skies with a temp of 18*F. There was an inch or two of fresh snow overnight & light flurries. Went back north on TQ13 @6 miles to TQ33. Took gas at Repos & took 345 down to M20. M20 was sweet & just perfect. We passed the skeleton of a sled still burning in the snow about 10 miles before getting to 360. It looked like a big old Scandic. No sign of any humans present so hopefully whomever was riding it got away safely on someone else’s ride! Continued down to 360 & got back to the trucks at 4:00pm. We all loaded up and hit the black trails for home. It was a fantastic six days of riding with a great group!! Sad to think it will be 10 months till my next ride! 225 miles. Total ride 1502 miles. CC7B1DD9-0CF8-4A48-9365-7615C79C9301.MOV

Saturday 7 March after a short week with the ride with the Mrs. Snohorse arrived at Chez Ice at 11:30am, I was ready and waiting. Gear packed, saddle bags ready and sleds in driveway. Trailer was here already but, needed to pin it to the truck before loading them up. Done finished by noon. On the road 12:15. Quick stop at ATM in Cap de Madeline and eastbound Autoroute 40. Lots of police out on this fine Saturday for running the black trail. Hammer down with caution. Great ride to Quebec City. Traffic at the junction for Saguenay and then smooth sail all the way to Baie St Catherine and the Ferry to Tadoussac. Perfect timing right onto ferry no lines no waiting. Quick cruise across and up the 138 to L’Escoumins. Touchdown 5pm. Stop at grocery for supplies and to hotel and all unloaded ready to ride. Calm before the storm literally as it seems we cannot catch a break. Second run in a row with a storm in the middle of it. Not many options as snow will be here and Gaspe and Saguenay so no matter what it’s gonna be snowing somewhere. We are sticking to our plan and it will be what will be. Up TQ3 direction east. We shall see.

Full on blizzard in Sept-Îles

IMG_1774.MOV

This is the house we stayed at in Murdochville, sleeps 8 and newly renovated.

By the time we went to breakfast, all the sleds from the night before where gone, packed up and off. stopped outside of town to get young Murdoch McKenzie a picture in front of the Murdochville sign. Over to La Cache for gas and some of the best homemade lasagna you'll ever have. Snowed most of the day, 6 to 12 inches of sugar on the trail. Great ride with sun peaking through at times. Continued on south to Carleton-de-Mer and checked into the Baie Blue and St Joseph's pub for dinner, lively little bar, Playhard's nephew would loved it, lots of young girls. M&M Tours will be going dark for a couple days, be back Saturday afternoon for a report.

Yes in deed blue sunny all day -8 in am and warmed up in the afternoon Eric it’s a 20 you saw me with my RDL sled

Wednesday - March 11 Woke up to clear skies and a temp of -6*F. Left the Nordic at 8:15am, dropped down the local trail to TQ93 and headed west. Topped off the gas in Chapais. Trails set up nicely last night with the colder temperature. Blue Sky Day! Another day we all live for. Took gas in Desmaraisville & Lebel-sur-Quevillon then headed north on the eastern spur of 386. Pulled in to Hotel Matagami at 4:30pm. Beautiful sunset here tonight. Fantastic day riding great trails. Southbound tomorrow. 265 miles .

Mr. Iceman, we left Labrador this morning at 7:am trying to get back to Sept-Îles before the next winter blast, luckily today’s snowfall was at our backs as we traveled 180 miles back into Harrington Harbour.

Pics..

11 March Wednesday Snow has stopped this morning. Sun and clouds. I pull side cover on my Apex to have a look at linkage and a good look at chaincase. Linkage looks all there to me but I know is a sensitive adjustment there and its needs to be just right. No obvious chaincase leaks, oil in chaincase clean and full. Suit up and head to visit this Yamaha dealer. Arrived 9:30 walked in chatted with service manager, explaining I had been to Sept Isles yesterday. Being the same owners he took my receipt from yesterday, just entered the info his computer. They pulled my sled right in and handed it back. No charge, of course. Let’s see how it goes. Now I know I am not the only one here that when you know something might not be 100% on your sled, you ride all day with that little exta thing to have in your mind to throw around. Just the way it is. Nice ride leaving Baie Comeau not groomed but enough tracks to be nice. All the way to Clubhouse. After Clubhouse groomer has gone west. Lots of tracks going east. Have ridden on most of his work. We have just our usual spot hard right, not touched. Works well. Here trail was groomed late last night its frozen more solid. As we go west here come 3 guys going east. They are using it all up. The fresh groomed trail is soft and after three sleds going north its back to if it hasn’t been groomed. Been that kind of year. Just cannot catch a break with grooming. Storms and Mechanical issues. We wrestled sleds to Forrestville. Groomed in town in Forrestville and then we had lunch and headed for Escoumins. Worst section we seen all trip. Was beat up Sunday when we left, now its beat up rough and freshly snowed on. I think it helps a little, but then not sure. This would be the worst leg of the day conditions wise. Snohorse is nursing a bad back for real and no, not from digging me out, he had it since last run. So this section was rough with a bad back. 4:00 at Pel Chat, we are done for today. Not big day. But good enough. Snowmobile’s are for snow right? Demain cest un autre jour

10 March Tuesday Ok I apologize for the delay. Was just spent last night after concentrating for hours in the storm riding to Baie Comeau. At breakfast we meet the other team that passed us going east after we turned back for Sept-Îles. Brett and Phil from Massachusetts. 2 experienced riders that have done some big rides. They got only as far as we did. We exchanged e-mail and surely will be in touch with them. Turned them on to QR and hope to see them come onboard. We head out with the plan being head to Yamaha to get my Reverse linkage adjusted. Starting not working yesterday. Wind our way from hotel to Yamaha. At first they turn me away. I tried to remain calm. Never really been to a dealer regardless of brand and told no, we have zero time. It’s an adjustment, my bad for not knowing enough about my own gear to just do it myself. But I enjoy not dealing with it and having it handled by my pit crew at Moto Thibault, where by the way, I realize now how spoiled I am by the Service I receive there. Anyway back and forth with Manager finally he says you can come back at 2pm. Yeah sorry no. At 2pm I better be getting through Godbout. I walk out. I am on phone with Pierre from Moto Thibault. There is another dealer in Baie Comeau, great right? Yeah but same owners. Both stores. Hmmm. As I am on phone Manager comes out says, Ok bring it in if it’s just the Adjustment we will do it now. Merci. In and out of garage in 15 minutes not even. Cost me $40 but try no reverse on an apex all day or so. Works great....for now. Leaving Sept Isles it’s snowing, yes but a very fine snow and not crazy windy. We realize we are riding west into the storm as it just really started here. Trail easy to see and we do just fine all the way to Port Cartier. Gas and go and we are saying that wasn’t that bad. Oh how things change quickly. Getting tougher to see now, snow a bit heavier but still fine snowflakes. Wind is picking up too. Trail in places is gone so you need to stitch it together as you go. Did a decent job of that for about 50km, crossing at Rivere Penticote its a white out. My fault totally for not remembering this crossing it’s simple really straight across. I am going where I think it the trail on other side but I missed it. Its on my right looked like an opening but it wasn’t. I am in deep snow. I am going just fine till I run out of real estate. Nothing but rubarb to my right and straight ahead and unknow Ice to my left. If i go left I have to go out on river I don’t trust. If I continue straight or go right I will be in the bush. Either way I am done. Got no choice I am not putting her in the Bush and probably the ice is plenty thick. But not testing that theory. I got to lift. Once I do. Think of the Titanic in a sea of snow. But going down with the back first. I have buried her good. Snohorse followed me in and he is just a 30 feet back. We concur by radio communications. This is not gonna be fun. I get off my sled and I am just sinking in snow. Cannot walk almost swimming. I start the process. This Extraction would be simple with a 50 ton Rotator. But we are gonna have to do it ourselves. Snohorse breaks out his snow shovel, if I keep this up he’s going to up the $5 per usage charge. Good thing we had it. I get to shoveling. Phil has waded over and is moving around the areas I clear and packing it best he can. This is gonna require some extra space. We need to get her spun around before we can think of trying to hammer out of this abyss. Its full on wind and snow big now. Of course it is. Wind blowing right up river as we are close to it here. We get the ship pointed the right way. I am thinking I can get out. Now we got to turn Snohorse around but not being stuck and back where he stopped was a bit more solid. We turn his sled. I jump on mine fire it up and launch it our of the deep. Not letting off it until I know its solid under me. I go back to where I missed real trail. Snohorse right on me. We are out back on trail. I got a talking to about shifting down a gear so I can take the time to know where I am going. Easier said than done. Hey stuck happens. We get over it and push on to Baie Trinite for gas and some food. Gonna be a long push to Baie Comeau. At gas station the reverse decides no again. It’s refusing to reverse. Sonbitch. Not happy. Snow is much heavier now as we leave gas station. Right there we see 2 other sleds headed east. Wow now I at least got tracks to look for. We follow their tracks right to Godbout then beyound. This section was pretty fun actually climbing the hills with the fresh snow. Easier to follow in woods. We push through and we make it to Baie Comeau at 6:30 left dealer in Sept Isles 11am. Burnt out but we are in. Seems tomorrow we will get to see if this Yamaha can adjust the reverse. Leaving Sept-Îles yesterday

Great stay at the Riotel Matane. Dinner was really good with lots of variety and if not overcast I bet the view would have been spectacular. Would highly recommend if in the area, well signed but a little sketchy getting there, lots of gas available near by. Checked grooming map, trail 5 groomed last night so we decided to go that way to Murdochville. Thought this would be the morning that we wouldn't be the last to leave but that didn't happen. On trail by 10:15. Does take long to reel in the first couple of guys, followed them for a bit and I think they thought it was their own private trail system as they were on the inside of every corner. Not wanting to be part of this we slowed the pace down with a short break then another stop for lunch at a Relais. Gassed up on the coast at Tourelle then continued on to Murdochville....Up the Mountain. Down the Mountain. Up the Mountain. Down the Mountain. Snow all day with 6 to 8 inches of powder on trials. Not many pictures due to weather. Arrived at Hotel Copper and no rooms but when we called last week to make reservations Jacques promised we'd have a place to sleep. They took us over to a renovated duplex being converted into a big house with 6 rooms and 8 beds. Great spot. Hotel Copper for breakfast, every one from last night is already gone. Last to leave again! Off the the south shore. Up the Mountain. Down the Mountain.

we are currently at the Northern Light Inn , Blanc something or another in Labrador. Thin snow up high as we made our way, signed very well. We left St Augustine this morning, a very busy little village with plenty of amenities. We stayed at Leo Mckinnons B&B lots of Lake running out this way probably 95% once you leave Havre St. Pierre. Fortunate to have had sunny skies since I left Complex Pelchat on Thursday!

Tuesday - March 10 Woke up to 8 to 10 inches of new snow and still snowing! Today is going to be a great day! Loaded up the sleds and pulled out at 8:30am. Took 373 to TQ93 north & topped of the gas in La Dore. Spoke with the store manager and we both couldn’t believe it’s been three years since the explosion and fire of their gas pumps. Time moves quickly indeed! As Pipeman (Wes) stated yesterday the trail north of La Dore was somewhat choppy. The saving grace for us was that all the fresh snow made for a very nice cushion! Mark had a short off trail excursion that was cleared quickly with the tow ropes & Snobunje! Had to wait for 30 minutes to get gas at the sawmill since we got there when it was lunchtime. Nice line of sleds behind us by the time they started pumping. After leaving Scierie 54 we pushed right along & finally met the groomer about 25 miles before the cut off for Chibougamau. Then it was time to depress the fun flipper a little deeper. I didn’t look down but I was well into the triple digits when I had a large explosion at my left foot on my Sidewinder. As the two sleds chasing me went by me like I was tied to a tree, scratching my temple, I was able to surmise that I no longer had forward momentum & I needed to get some rubber accessories out of my tool kit! After quickly installing a new belt we continued on to Chibougamau. Checked into the Nordic for the night. A great day indeed! 195 miles

A group of 6 punched through on Saturday and are currently sitting in St. Augustine and enjoying reading and looking at your photos, maybe time to cash in the Yamaha and get on a Skidoo 2 stroke , but we did have to pull along 1 Arctic Cat

Stumbled across the original toy hauler, the boys from jersey out did themselves, the only thing missing is an Ice man sticker

Iceman, we must have passed yesterday. We were westbound, sept. Isle to baie Comeau. Nice day to ride. The roller coaster between Godbout and BC seemed to have more off camber turns than in the past. Maybe they had less snow? It always seems that area has more locals than tourists. Have fun. Jeff and Sandy

8 March Sunday on we go through Godbout and to Baie Trinitie for gas. Trail better here. Now it’s been a few seasons since I been this way but surely the next stretch to Port Cartier has been re-routed a bit as it seems a lot less powerline sections to me. Anyway we burn along and into Port Cartier with 315 miles its 6:15 pm. Feels like I rode today for sure. Big first day. Had food delivered to us here at hotel. Eastbound tomorrow we shall see where we end up.

Lovely weather makes for great views & Pics along the Cote’ Nord

We did the Cote Nord couple weeks ago. Started in Sacre Coueur and had a great run out to Sept-iles. Tuesday night in Sept-iles our plan was to continue east to Havre St. Pierre. By Wednesday morning the forecast had changed with snow and high winds by Thursday. Thursday plan was to depart Baie Comeau and ride to KM31 on the Pelchat trail. By the time we got to Forestville really started to snow and blow. Arrived at the gas station west of Forestville right on the highway. Gas station power was out so no gas. Impossible to make the 185 km run to KM31 with no gas. Time for a team meeting. We called the Pelchat hotel and they had rooms available and we should have enough gas to make the 80 km trip. Off we go in poor visibility conditions. With the aid of GPS made it to the hotel about 4:30 pm. Highway was closed by then and hotel was full. Arriving at the Hoteliere Pelchat Hotel Thursday Feb. 27 Next mornig machines drifted in, clutches were packed with snow. Friend says we have to ditch the spare underware and socks next trip to make room for a nylon sled cover. Left hotel Friday around noon heading for Sacre Coueur. Other riders had broke trail out to trail 3. Trail 3 the groomer had already done a pass for the first 20 km then he turned around at the end of his run. From there no one had been further west on #3. We had to break Trail in almost 2 feet of powder. Did that for about 20 km then come over a hill and see the flashing lights coming towards us from the groomer out of Sacre Coueur. Thought we would be golden for the remaining 20 km into Sacre Coueur. The snow was so deep the groomer was having problems climbing the hills and had to often back down the hill and do another attempt. Every place he had to back down the drag left a huge snow pile blocking the trail. Some were low enough we could drive over them . Others were to high and steep and had to go around them. Had a few stuck machines but we finally made it to Sacre Couer. About a 3 hour trip to do the 76 km. The adventures of sledding. The seafood platter at Chez Julie in HSP was our goal. That will have to wait for another trip. Have a great ride.

Well this sucks .... the restaurant at Rapide-Sept has gone up in smoke.

12 March Thursday Woke up and decided we were pulling the plug on this one. You just need to know when its time to get out. With the forecast for Friday looking so so and possibly alot of snow in Saguenay. My original plan was to ride to Chicoutimi then back here Friday night. It was time to go. But not before a quick 75 miles. We suit up and run west on 3 to Clubhouse. Freshly groomed and beautiful we make short work of that. We continue north toward the Pel Chat trail this section rarely disappoints. Today it was awesome. Fast run up on grooming to perfection. We turn around where groomer does and blast back down to Hotel. 1 hour and a 20 minutes 75 miles. Load sleds in trailer get changed. Black trail dry and sunny. 4.5 hours to home. My sled goes to Moto Thibault and trailer we drop at my shop. Got home in time to catch up to Playhard and Joseph for dinner at St Hubert. Nice to hang. We will regroup and if the border does not get closed we will be at it again in 9 or 10 days. This trip, a little of everything for sure. Nice weather, practice in storm sledding, no grooming to nicely groomed. Everyone is different. Until next time. Side note came home to learn one of the Mrs students back from Greece and Italy showing signs of Coronavirus. Awaiting results of test. Schools closed here today as precaution. If he tests positive then she will be tested. I need to get back on the trail.