Fred

Groomer this is funny. I'm laughing my a$$ off here reading this. The funny part is their side of the bridge was clean and your clubs side was icy!!!! HA-HA. No insult intended. Years ago in 02' or 03' my buddy had a thing for one of the bartenders at your club. She was really hot. We were the only ones in there and they were dancing on the bar. No s#it!!! I haven't seen her since.

No groomer he looked like he could use another beer. besides that the barmaid looked lonely. she was there last year too. Nice blonde chick! I told my wife I'd NEVER do that again....the ride that is. We usually do this in 8 days. The guy walked across that bridge twice. Pretty scary. for some reason Quebecers don't like studded tracks.

Day 1: Left the house in VT. Monday 2/25 at 7:00 3 hrs. to border at Stanstead, Que. Trails good for VT. Once into Quebec the snow almost ran out. Very little snow around Sherbrooke area so we headed east to Sawyerville...lots more snow there. North to Thetford Mines (lots of snow) on the 533, 35, to 5. Got to Montmagny at 7:45. About 380 miles in 12.5 hrs. Long day but we wanted to hit the good stuff quickly. Sunny all day. :D Daytripper with helmet head! Aka "Scarface" or "Sledn@zi". Day 2: Easy day on 5 to Rimouski. Stayed off of the 35 it's too straight. Hit Hotel Rimouski around 4:00. Around 240 miles, nice riding day. Where am I now? Day3: Took the 5 to Mont Saint-Pierre. Snowed all day about a foot...Slow going in the hills. Stayed at Au Delice Motel. Never stayed here before but eat here all of the time on trips. Highly recommended. Rooms just refurbished. No pool but we were beat. Still smiling, can't remember the mileage. Nice trails. Day 4: Rode the 5 to the 597 south to Murdochville as Patsy claimed not much grooming on the north side. Went down back to the 5 and saw that awful rock again. Had lunch at Roland's Table then over to see Patsy, Dale, Mari-Lou. They warned us of 40cm. snow for Saturday. We had good talk and over to the Fraser for the night. Great seafood plate as part of the package, people are really nice there too. I think the mileage was 240 something. I know the wind would quit blowing if they'd turn off those big fans in Murdochville! Day5: We decide to high tail it home. On the trail at 4:15. Saw the sun rise and set on the same trail. I'm not a big fan of leaving this early as not to po any landowners. This was one exception. Rode hard stopped ONLY for gas and at Groomer's clubhouse for a bowl of soup and a milk. Bought some local guy a big beer. He couldn't believe it. People in Quebec are great to tourists so why not return the favor. Back on the trail and off to River-Du-Loupe for the night. In at dark. Mileage about 495. This is a personal record for me. Trails 100% all groomed except around Chandler where the groomer was busted. Probably the best riding day of my life. Sunny all day and great trails, not too cold. Not too tired after 13 hours in the saddle. This was about to change! This guy was stuck on the bridge. No studs and lots of ice. His buddy walked across the suspension bridge to get him out...looked like a side show at the circus. We pulled up just as he was walking back across the bridge. Day 6: Left Riviere-Du-Loupe at around 8:30. I just knew it would be a long day. Snowed and blowed all day. Hit the 526 (ALWAYS 100%) down to the 35 railbed. Stopped to see Andre for gas. Asked about his new grandaughter. He's such a happy guy now! Rode too the end of the bed. Took the 547 up to the 5, and down the 533 thru the mines. Trails BEAT. HUGE amount of sleds on Saturday. As any of you know the weekends around any big towns in Quebec get crowded with sleds. Kept setting my sites on a place for the night. Getting tired. Hit the border of VT at 8:00 pm and back to house at 11:55. Got stuck once within a mile of my home; geez, what a kick in the nuts! SOOOO tired could barely get off the sled. 15 hours in the saddle with just one 15 minute break. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone. Almost the worst riding day of my life just one day after the best. this ride darn near wrecked me. Mileage...about 490...TOO MUCH. :wacko: Just a side note or two: The sled mileage was just 92 miles off the GPS...less than 5%. The Ski-Doo SDI really works well for this trip. I rode my 05 REV and Daytripper took the 08 XP...both SDI's. We averaged around 19 mpg US. At one point when the trails were bad we got 24 mpg. Oil usage was around 200-250 per quart. Not a single problem with either sled. The 05 now has 9000 miles. This same trip in 03 with an 800 Polaris XC cost $900 dollars in gasoline at 03 prices. This trip cost me just under $500 dollars in gas at today's prices. These new sleds are just the best! Conservation will keep me riding longer. 200 miles to a fill-up isn't bad either. My BVS2 helmet on the other hand has given me some grief. The heated shield fogs internally after a couple of days on the trail. It's a helpless feeling when you can't see to drive! This is my third shield under warranty. The temporary cure for this was to pour a small amount of dry gas around the seal every morning. It absorbs the moisture from inside the shield and won't hurt the plastic (Isopropyl alcohol). Great riding this year!

There's way too much snow there now. Rimouski was lacking as is Sherbrooke area. We were there on Thursday afternoon with Patsy and Dale at chandler clubhouse. She informed us of big snow for Sat night so Daytripper and I booked it on out Fri. morning at 4:00. Rode to Riviere-Du-Loupe, just under 500 miles. Next day rode another 500 to the house here in VT. I was beat. Will post when time allows. Groomer we stopped just long enough at yoyur clubhouse for a glass of milk and a soup. Signed your book too. You have the greatest trails around. Not just the grooming but also the style. Nice work. I'm done for the year. 4000 miles, Fred :sad:

Maybe I shouldn't have started this thread but I've heard little if any theft problems this year. This is great news! Opinions?

Chateau Roberval How about Chateau Roberval? Nice place to leave from. I've never heard of problems here. Nice pool, food, secure fence for sleds. Latuq may not be so easy. Where are you driving from?

Try Jeannette or Alain. bed & breakfast. Auberge Du Barrage. right next to relais Onatchiway. Decent place. Goog cooking. Shared bathroom. My wife loves it. 418-690-4034.Tell them John or Dan from VT. told you to call.Auberge Du Barrage

WOW you diehard man...I no ride with you!!!!!! :wacko:

This morning I am installing the rear TNT shocks in the Adrenaline. They were only about $400 to buy outright and they are revalveable/rebuildable. Hope they're not too stiff! I would have bought the TNT but I will never have a carbed sled again. Now NEXT years TNT hopefully will be a winner with D.I. Nice picture! It's great to see the wives riding. It's such a dying sport.

1500 miles on my 600 Adrenaline XP. NO breakdowns or warranty issues. Speedo and odometer off 3% which is great, not 12 % like older models. GPS fuel mileage 16mpg, oil usage 1 liter-210 miles....bank on it. Put 6500 miles on 05 SDI Adrenaline and thought that was cat's ass...this one WAY better. No handwarmer issues about as cold to ride as older Rev. 101mph top speed on GPS. Super light to lift if stuck. No belt issues, none of the stuff like you see on Dootalk. Only complaint is weenee shocks/springs... 180lbs. and everything set on full tilt. Still bottoms out. I might ride too hard. :wacko: 2 weeks ago 1 of our guys put one upside down in a drainage ditch in 4 feet of water -29f at night near Hebertville. Got him to safety, warmth. All you could see was the rear bumper and back of track. 6 of us with 2 towropes flipped it over in the water and pulled it 8 feet almost straight out. It's SOOOO light. Try that with an Apex! A guy who was at the bar at the clubhouse there took the sled overnight to heated garage. Next morning sled ready to roll. Rode it the rest of the week....I figured it would be a nightmare of freeze-ups after that but it had no issues because of that. I'm quite negative about first year sleds. I fix European autos for a living and see the maintenance issues with machinery. This sled is built like a cheap P.O.S. but one must forget that and just enjoy it because a sled is just another tool to have a good time! My biggest problem this season is BRPs lack of service to Americans in Quebec. We were at 4 different BRP dealers on one trip and NONE were willing to help with warranty issues for some of the riders. All were minor issues like fuses that kept blowing and handlebar warmers that quit. Got the same response from all dealers." We're very busy; can't look at it for 3 weeks" (yeah right). 1 dealer in Dolbeau charged for fixing a handlebar grip that was a known warranty issue. Made customer pay $60 CASH to replace 1 handgrip and wouldn't give him a receipt and he asked! These were dealers in the past who have been a huge help in years past. Doesn't look good for a customer to tear down a sled in their front yard does it? Absolutely unacceptable! Bottom line...If you are from the USA and ride in Quebec and need warranty or service from BRP you'd better buy a ticket from the Orleans bus company because you will need it to get home! Another problem with BRP this season is almost everything I have ordered from local dealer on backorder. I think they got caught behind the 8 ball this season. IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO BUY THIS SEASON DO IT BECAUSE OF BRP's LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, PARTS AVAILABILITY....BRP BLOWS! The XP itself is a great product.

How many sites are needed for such a dwindling sport? Besides didn't you once own the other site? :wacko:

I remember 6 inches of ice on just one side of the trail markers. 6 inches....the weight was incredible. I have pictures of this if I can find them I will post.

I got home last week from there. I didn't post but the trails were great except right around Quebec city lots of locals trails torn up. Once away from the city trails great again.

Did a little 800 mile trip last week on a 600 sdi XP and noticed my fuel mileage down compared to my older 2005 Rev 600. Finally realized the GPS mileage for the whole trip only off 3 percent compared to almost ten percent with the older 05. Averaged 16 mpg american. and 210 miles per quart of oil. GPS said 777 miles and odometer said 799. Not bad!

I do believe the lower end is completely sealed...no open crank bearings.

Oh I forgot, no smell...none. Instead of @ss and two stroke in the motel room you get just the %ss smell!

Yesterday my dealer told me he was taking delivery of a new 600 direct injection sled. Claims 30 mpg and fill the oil once a year. Then he says "top secret..don't tell anyone". This morning on Dootalk....new sled...I guess the word is out.

canadian gov maybe this link will help for clarification us gov and this one for USA

I have LOTS of Quebec on a Magellan Sportrac. Don't know if it's compatibnle with Garmin though.

Have CellOne here in VT. You can add Canadian coverage for $10 month to cover roaming charges. Works from border to Rimouski. Just did 900 miles and phone worked well around the bigger towns. Some of Quebec not digital yet my old Motorola Star Tac worked better aroung the small towns. It does work all over the Gaspe only around larger towns and works well around Lac St. Jean area too. Also St. Zenon, St Michel on the rare occasion when I ride there.

Jesus Bernard will you make up your mind? :sad:

Thanks Roadrunner!

Thanks buddy, I called Carol at the Sawyerville Hilton (Hotel)! She said trails good and groomed but I'm not sure if she rides. We would like to leave from her place and ride up maybe to Montmagny and then East. I'm sure past Thetford mines is good.

Might someone post any trail conditions around Sawyerville or Sherbrooke area and to the north? Trying to ride out of my house in VT. towards the Gaspe day after Xmas. Thanks and happy holidays!