GT Rider

Sunday 170 miles http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2023_03/image.thumb.png.9c5e9d5e0ac22ed1c681268d17328898.png We stayed at La Gaspesiana. We are heading to Degelis today. The trail out from the hotel looks like it was groomed overnight. We take 578 to 5.

The trail brings you to Rue Boldoc make a left. (You will see hotel signs) Follow it to Rue Jacques Cartier cross the street and make a right it’s down hill one block.

Thank you Jack for all of your reports this season. We enjoyed following along with You and Sandi. We hope to see you next season. I have to make reservations earlier next time around.

Hi Jack, Trails have been very good for the most part. We are heading to BSL. I hope to get a few days in before conditions go south. It’s nice to ride this time of year but it the warm weather has it’s consequences.

We had a nice lunch and we head off to see the mummies. I soon find that my GPS is not following the trail correctly. We ride around for a bit and decided to head to Mt Joli for the hotel. It was another great day on the trail.

The pictures are not in order. We made the clothes swap and we were thinking of going to Albertville. We can see that the snow is thinner going west of Matane. The trail is in good shape but a bit softer. While passing St Ulric I see Quebec Bob, Zeusand and friend. We stopped for a few minutes and chat. Gemma and I continue on and I realize I missed a turn. My GPS map is zoomed out too far. We run down a local. When we get back on the trail there’s two machines running fairly slow but it’s not easy to pass in this section. We make our way around them and I’m going just a little to fast for a sharp turn and go off trail. A few minutes later 5 guys pulled up and picked up the front of my machine and turned it around. That was fast! Back on the trail we get gas at St Damase. Then take 5 along the lake towards Amqui. It’s a very nice ride. We pass a sign for Restaurant JoJo and that’s our new destination.

Saturday 228 miles We had a nice stay at Hotel & Cie. The restaurant was open last night. When we checked in we had several choices for breakfast. They delivered breakfast to the room at our chosen time. while headed out of town we pass the ambulance station. Back in 08 my battery died while passing. My machine was fuel injected and died. One of the guys drove me in town to get a new one. They were super nice people. We hit the trail and found that it had been groomed overnight. What a relief. We going back to Matane to swap out our clothes. On day one I had a weld let go on a bracket I had made. I had to toss one of my bags in the woods. It was still there. I plan to drive back and get it. We have a nice ride back to Matane. We pass several groups headed east. I don’t see many tracks on our side of the trail.

I believe he’s riding a 1200 GSX.

When we reached trail 5 and headed East I could see our luck ran out. The trail was beat. I think that last 14 miles to the hotel felt like 1400. Not every trail can be perfect. all in all we had another great day.

We headed off to the north side of 595. This is where we finally saw our first moose in Quebec. The trail is again in nice shape. We’re having a good ride. Gemma reminds me in 01 we spotted a wolf just past the old saw mill. This time around we didn’t see any wildlife but the scenery was great.

We stopped a La Cache for fuel and a quick bite to eat. I got my tank of Team Ice Super. We sat down for a little while. It wasn’t mobbed like yesterday. While walking out to get ready I hear my name. Quebec Bob, Zeusand and their friend pulled up. We chatted for a little while. It’s nice meeting Quebec Rider’s on the trail. They were having a great trip.

We are heading west and the trail is good but a notch or two below yesterday. Funny how you notice trail smoothness while on a two up. We weigh in at around 1260 fully loaded (thoughts of Universal and not carrying all this stuff). I installed Elka stage 4’s just before leaving for the this trip. I’m happy with them. We have a very nice ride across with very little traffic. I see that the few tracks on the trail had stopped at the warming hut when we passed.

Friday 196 miles http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2023_03/image.thumb.png.5a6e09a55f9d502078a51753c2adb69d.png We wake up and it’s snowing. I can’t see the church across the cove. We have breakfast and hit the trail. It’s not a picture day. A good amount of power on the trail. It’s pretty windy at one point Gemma asked how can you see the trail? We make our way to the bridge at Madeleine I take a quick photo and we’re off. I’m thinking I hope it’s not like this in the Chic Chocs. I made haste on 5 yesterday today not so much. By the time we reached trail 597 it was cleared up. Wow the weather changes quickly. We make our way to the Chic Choc trail. The trail is in nice shape.

Hi Mike We are missing it as well. The nerve of them not giving me a reservation. 😀 I think next year I will make sure we are there!

We are thankful your friend is going to be ok. All the best to you guys.

We had a terrific dinner here at the hotel. I tried to get two nights here but settled for one. Another great day.

We get on 597 north and again the trail is in nice shape. We’re making good time. When we approach trail 5 I see some machines stopped to the side. I decided to make haste and move along. Trail 5 is in nice shape we’re moving along. I slow down to make a sharp 90 degree turn and see what I think is 5 machines coming a little ways behind us. I decide to see if I can put some room between us or if I have to let them pass. So I take off and I see one machine behind me a little ways back. He’s not on my bumper so I keep going. I’m having some fun and giving it the goose when appropriate. Still Someone is back there but not crowding me. We get to the bridge by Madeleine and I take a quick photo. I see the group coming and make haste. We make it to Grande-Vallee and It turns out that three of the machines were Quebec Bob, Zeusand and their friend. Bob was trying to get my attention but did not want to push me too hard. We had a few laughs and they had to go another 25k. It sure was nice seeing you guys.

We get on the trail and I see two machines in front of us. It’s a man and woman. They are on two stroke machines. Well it’s not fun trying to pass in the twisting up and down trail. We are following for too long and I stopped to take a picture. We managed to catch right back up. I’m looking at the GPS for a straightaway. When we finally passed I was afraid to take another picture. I didn’t want to tempt fate. The Chic Choc trail was in very nice shape. We have been on it when it wasn’t. It was a nice ride to Murdochville.

After passing Pin Rouge the trail was all good. We make our way towards La Cache. 595 is in nice shape. We haven’t seen much traffic. We drive in and out of light flurries. At La Cache it’s busy. We decided to gas and go. We were so quick I forgot to take a photo. We backtrack to the Chic Choc trail.

Now we’re off toward New Richmond. Trail 5 is in nice shape. We make good time. I stopped at the Esso to top off the tank and we headed for 595. As we travel north I see the trail to Pin Rouge is open. I planned to take the orange bypass but we always see deer on 595 in the area. So 595 it is. As we go north there is a section that has some small bridges. It looks like a groomer can not go through this area. Wow was it whooped up. We did manage to see a few deer (not something you see on Long Island).

Thursday 234 miles Carlton to Grande-Vallee http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2023_03/image.thumb.png.98f78b41957b3ecdf3b1a345f0144cc4.png We had a nice stay at Belle Plage. There’s no restaurant so we usually go to Marin d’eau duoce. The food and ambience fits us. Unfortunately they were closed. Sorry Gemma. We ate next door at St Josephs it was doing brisk business. We get started about 7:30. I wanted to go up by the church and check out the view. As we pull out I can see the mountain is covered in clouds. Oh well we skip the non-view. we ride west a bit to get on the small orange loop. When we get to the intersection I see that it’s fresh groomed. The trail passes by plenty of windmills. We get half a mile in and pass a full size pickup truck with track’s on it (windmill workers?). We’re enjoying the scenery and my phone rings it the hotel I forgot something. When we reach trail 5 I backtrack 10 miles to the hotel.

Very sorry to hear. You guys were having a great trip. We wish you the best.

I tried to make reservations but had no luck. We wanted to stay a few days at the Universal. l hope you have great trails!

Traveling west we run in and out of flurries. The trail is good but softer. We stopped at Relais Tourbillon for lunch. When we got To New Richmond I made a wrong turn and as I was turning around Snowmaster and company passed us. We had the pleasure of meeting him on the trail on our 1st day. We get back on track and have a nice ride into Carlton. This was the first day without any difficulty’s. Gremlins had been along with us the first few days. http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2023_03/image.thumb.png.17d80e5f6fb011da4519260d57313623.png

Trail 5 west was in nice shape no complaints. At Port Daniel we see Team Ice has been here. With 120 miles on this tank of gas I stop at the Crevier in Saint Godefroi a quick 2k off trail 5.