RoadRunner

Snowing here this AM. Probably got 2 inches so far. Didn't ride yesterday.  Had to tune my XM radio in, replaced air switch for my wheels, adjusted the strap that holds up my scratchers and tuned in my suspension. Lot easier to do in heated garage than outside in 0F temps.

Day 2:  Saturday Jan 14th
Woke up to a much colder morning today.  Temp was -15*F with clear blue skies.  Perfect day for riding!  Had a great breakfast & pulled out at 7:45am.  I love Barrage Gouin!  Louise & Steve are great people.  We love the Walleye!  Not being sure of trail conditions on 83 going west from the Barrage Gouin feeder trail, we decided to take the road all the way to Parent.  "Autobahn Express" today for sure.  4-5" of fresh on top of hard pack.  Nice!  We fly the 60 miles to Parent where we gas up at the only game in town.  While inside asking the owner & his wife some info on 83W we were told things were groomed & opened to Clova.  They thought the trail was closed past Clova.  They let me use their phone to call Dominic Vincent, the "owner" of Clova (haha).  He wasn't at the gas/restaurant but the woman offered me his home phone number.  Dominic told me that the grooming from Clova to Balbuzard was completed yesterday & that he had spoke to the groomer who left from Senneterre coming east & had finished at Balbuzard.  Bingo.  We're good to go.  83 west all day!   We shoot the 70 miles to Clova on great trails other than the first 5-6 miles of the rerouted 83.  Gas & lunch in Clova.  Saw Dominic & spoke with him for a while.   We discussed yet again the details of the idiots who left their sleds on the railroad tracks four years ago & were hit by the train! Such a great story.
After lunch we continued west on awesome trail conditions all the way to Balbuzard.  We pulled in to see what the status was on their opening date.  There was only one guy there & he was carrying a ladder to shovel off the snow on one of the cabin roofs.  His name was Morel.  He stated that they just opened but that there is no food because the chef has not shown up yet.  The chef was supposed to show up in the next two or three days.  They also were not selling fuel yet.  That's about all I got from that conversation since Morel doesn't speak English.  
We pulled out of their lot & got back on 83W.  Rut Ro - no grooming!  We broke trail for about 5 miles & had a pow-wow.  Was the info Dominic gave us wrong?  It's about 45 miles to Lac Faillon.  We decided to continue going west.  About a mile later we had a water hole crossing to discuss. Maybe 6-9" deep.  Yes, No, Maybe?  We decided to give it a go.  Splash & we're both across on the other side.   We continue about a mile more breaking trail.   The sky had become heavy overcast and it was snowing lightly with strong winds.  Conditions were deteriorating rapidly.    The drifts were getting bigger and bigger as we climbed up a steep hill.  Look at it closely, plan your throttle response, and blast the drift. Continue to do that over and over and over again.   Where is this Groomer that supposedly opened this trail?  
To be continued.......... 

Beautiful snow white conditions! 

Ray,  I had where you were going confused with a set of camps on Lac Brocette north east of Dolbeau, we came over the orange trail to St luger de Milot and met 3 skidoos, thought it might have been you but we were north and you were south lol
Great morning on Lac St Jean, we are back at St Raymond tonight.  Perfect Lac St Jean riding on this trip! !
RR

Ray,  I had where you were going confused with a set of camps on Lac Brocette north east of Dolbeau, we came over the orange trail to St luger de Milot and met 3 skidoos, thought it might have been you but we were north and you were south lol
Great morning on Lac St Jean, we are back at St Raymond tonight.  Perfect Lac St Jean riding on this trip! !
RR

Can't get any better

Congratulations on that milestone but isn't there a part of yesterday's ride you're leaving out??? Maybe something about an off trail excursion??? I'm VERY sorry to say it wasn't captured by pictures and most will say if there aren't pictures then it didn't happen but I got it straight from the horses mouth that my riding "buddy" failed to negotiate a turn. I have my dish of revenge chilling but for now I'll have to keep it on ice.
Yes it was a wonderful ride yesterday. Ginger loved it so much she vomited. Her veggie omelet must not have liked the trails. So while one riding buddy was up chucking the other was blazing new trails. I'm happy to say I didn't feel nauseous or run off the trail.
That probably was us you saw RR coming back from Lac Bouchette

Had a chance to finally head east today for the first time. First ten or so miles through all the fields the snow depth is very low but still good going. After about ten miles there is tons of snow everywhere. Trails were great, higher elevations down around Squatec had very serious snow depths.
Hardly any sled traffic over the past three days, almost eerie it is so quiet. But today when I passed by club houses they were full.
Met Mjordan this week. Said hi to Timbo. And a great evening of food and drink with Dave and Eddie with the beautiful Vallerie serving us dinner.

Beautiful snow white conditions! 

Day 2
25 below this morning here at Fer a Cheval so no hurry to get going. We left late for sure but no rush.
The first 10 miles were groomed, the next 25 were kind of bumpy.  No recent grooming for sure .  10 miles before Parent grooming starts again but for sure the first grooming of the season so less than perfect . Into Parent to get gas at 10:30 temperature now up to -17 F.
Fresh groomed out of Parent supposed to be good all the way to Wemotaci. 4 miles out we took the 451 road to Casy. Trail 345 north looked good so we took it. Not fresh groomed but really nice to the 83, really nice.
We took The 83 up to the side trail to Gouin for lunch. Brand-new fresh groomed the whole way. Johnny has done an outstanding job on the going trail, slight changes for 2017  make it better.
10 miles up his side trail we came across what we thought was a large moose in the trail. We stopped and took some pictures because he didn't want to move. By the time we persuaded him to go he jumped off in the deep snow waving goodbye.
We showed Johnny the pictures and he said he was a one and a half-year-old baby and showed us some pictures of a real moose!
 Fish and chips for lunch fill up the gas and we were out of there at 2 o'clock deciding to take the trailblazer Express to relay 22, 65 miles of road with plenty of snow. 
We got to meet the new owner Martin,  he has plans to upgrade the menu and the rooms which will be awesome.
We headed out the 83 towards Windigo, brand-new fresh groomer tracks in front of us. 5 miles out we meet the groomer passed him. The 20 miles into Windigo was all really really nice, it was only single wide but smooth. 
In at 4:30 with 220 miles on the clock . -2F.  Surprise, a present from Mr. Iceman waiting inside for us, thanks so much!
Groomers are out making everything better and we only saw two sleds all day.
The most snow that they have had this time of year in a long time.
 
 
 
 
 

Spotted Mr moose on our way into Gouin today  

Beautiful snow white conditions! 

Great to see you RR as well as 603 Backcrounty.  Yesterday we had a great ride.  Went to Onatchiway for lunch and then took 484 which has been rerouted in parts.  Then took 482 to 367.  Stopped at the Tin Hortons in St Ambroise.  Trails were great.  Came upon this guy and helped him get out.  The snow was chest high.  After helping him, he never said thank you.  When we went into Onatchiway he was there with his girl friend/wife.  Still never came and thanked us for getting him out.  Flatlanders LOL.
Today we went down to Auberge Eva in Lac Bouchette for lunch.  What a great place this.  If you are passing thru Lac Bouchette take the time to stop in.  355 goes right thru it.  On the way back I stopped to take this picture.  What a sled.

 

Beautiful snow white conditions! 

Beautiful snow white conditions! 

Beautiful snow white conditions! 

Beautiful snow white conditions! 

Beautiful snow white conditions! 

White gold waiting!
 

Day 1
We hard time deciding where to go with all the rain predicted. We decided to go mostly in the direction of iceman.  We stayed last night in Mattawin, rain changed to snow right at iceman's house, he used his witchcraft and helped us out.
Lots of snow, a bit icy out to M20 but very rideable. M20 not groomed in a week but still really nice. At the bird feeder groomer tracks a day old and the trail was awesome.  
20 miles out from Repos it was similar to our stint breaking trails 2 weeks ago ahead of the RoadRunner gang.  Having to bust out the Husqvarna to saw down some trees!  We weren't in a hurry so we took the time.  Into Repos with 92 miles on at 10:30, too early for lunch.  
Gassed them up and headed to Manawan for lunch.  We decided not to eat at Chez Pogo and ate across from the gas station at Wikan de Resto. Awesome!
The 33 in and out of Maniwan was all fresh groomed, perfect.  We headed out to join the 53, ran north for 10 miles and took a left on the 233 side trail. Only 2 sleds have been down it and the snow was deep.  
25 miles down and we hit a groomer from the other direction.  We took another side trail across the lake to connect to the 13.
28 miles to go to our destination of Fer a Cheval.  Tons of snow but choppy, they said they just got 18 inches and the groomer in broken.
After a super nice dinner its time for bed, tomorrow across the 83 to Windigo!
224 easy miles on the day......
 
 
 

Bill,  great to chat with you and 182 last night.  This area is in prime condition for snowmobiling now. Truly a winter paradise! 
Happy Trails
RR

Everyone charge your food & drink to room 118...lol

Bill,  great to chat with you and 182 last night.  This area is in prime condition for snowmobiling now. Truly a winter paradise! 
Happy Trails
RR