zeusand

Made it back to LeCabanon at 4:50 and was loaded and out at 5:15
513 miles for my 3 1/3 days riding. Was it the best Christmas week run ever? No, but I would do it again knowing what I know now. Yesterday was by far my best day. The problem was the sheer amount of traffic everywhere around the area. Plenty of snow but WAY too many people. No surprise I ride where I normally do. Got to meet the new owners of the LeCabanon and met some new friends too. Had a chance to run the new motor and get that shakedown run over. 
Looks like I got out of dodge just in time. Wouldn’t want to be up there after yesterday. This damn warmup is going WAY farther north than we all want it to so hope for continued cold and snow afterwards. 
Had a big smile on my face as I was washing the truck and doing stuff out in the garage today in 61 degree weather in a sweatshirt. 
Almost went in and got a T shirt

Depending on the situation, anything you have in your saddle bags.  I think a pair of jeans might even work, a long sleeve shirt usually fits the bill.  And yes, you do usually owe the guy towing you a new tail light, in addition to the new belt you should buy him for towing you.  

Near St Raymond
this is whats under all that great snow 
plus all the trees everywhere to be cut.
 
need cold weather. Badly ....before more big snow. 
 

On the road again... back in the saddle. 🤩

Last year I had an extremely short season due to my injury which healed fine, but it took its sweet time all summer during my paddle board season. 

Anyway here we are finally! Les Escoumins, for some reason I love this area. When you hear ''Oh I'm going on the Côte Nord'', you often think or hear Mont Valin, but there is so much more than there to be explored. 

So as Lover said we left Trois-Rivieres, Monday at 12:30 and got here just in time before the supermarket closes. We hit nice weather to drive up here, was quite a change than the past three days we had at home. Lots of snow, lack of cold. So gotta go ride where it's good during my school break. 

When we plan a trip we have two main goals in mind, look for groomed trails and less traffic as possible. One of my personal goals is to pay attention at the landscape, it's sooo pretty. I know that most people ride for the miles, but I sure look around and I'm so thankful to get to see mother nature's beauty. 

Late morning departure since usually there is a 6-7-8 kind of schedule. I think was close to 9:30. 

We rode to St-Anne de Portneuf for gas, then took a mint local trail. Lover always says that the local trails are the best, I must say that I agree so far. I was scouting the rivers for my summer riding season because we were along the water for a while. On that local trail we cam across a nice little warming hut. (see photos)

I don't know for you, but each season I have to get accustom once again to the whole snowmobile tralala. It takes  me my first day to get comfortable once again. 

Then we stopped at the relais Les Bouleaux for a small snack. 

Most of it was nicely groomed except for one part, which we knew, but now I know I don't like to ride on fluffy snow. 😂 I guess I would not be an off trail candidate. 

We didn't see many people, except once we got close to the relais. 

Oh we saw lots of places where trees were cut down, but it seems like it doesn't compare to Mauricie, Outaouais, and other places hard hit by big snow and wind. Many clubs are struggling to find volunteers to cut all the trees that had fallen and blocking the trails. 

Here you can follow along our ride with the pictures I took today. 

https://www.relive.cc/view/vNOP43YrP2O
 

Well it wasnt the Superbowl of trail conditions but I would do it again in a heartbeat.
As said morning was great. Afternoon chopped. And evening was a rodeo. 
Glad we got to meet you Chris. Great rider and great guy. We have a lot in common including a rabid love of music and sledding. Nice to just follow someone who knows the turns in a new area !! Long fun day. 

No 345 after the dam unfortunately 
hooked up with some dudes and tried
the 360 & 345 have about 4 ft

Sitting at the Central in St Michele right now
looped the reservoir today
almost 200 miles so far On the old “boat anchor”
new motor is smooth

Ok great. So what you are saying is we will have some more sled porn to feast our eyes on by this time tomorrow.

Thanks Iceman I called Thomas earlier as well! LOL 5 in our group we would need 2 trucks $643.72!!!

bonsoir !!!
back from a little spin in downtown albertville !!!
 
jean-guy
 

Totally agree, especially with fuel prices these days. 

bonsoir smclelan 
 
thx....great thing .....but late for some pics...
in may 2021 , i discovered that someone had stolen 5 from me, to upgrade his business....and not shy to post at  afew places
and another had even had the nerve to put his logo on my pic...
like we say here...don t ask why im poor
rain stopped a few mins ago 
 
im posting that pic....
about a month ago , my nephew in amqui asked me a trail pic.....so, i sent him close to 50 and he choose that one
the pic will be on a door........i guess at the dealership in amqui....
sunrise,long hill ste marguerite
 
jean-guy
 

Also based on the weather so far that area needs a cold snap and snow to freeze things up  for Christmas thru New Years,it being only 3 weeks away.
Make sure the room you book is able to be canceled if no snow. If that is the only area with snow and open then ,the trails will be hammered.
Most riders on this site can only predict conditions 2 weeks out. 😉
Think Snow!

We Arrived late afternoon  ..more to come 

bonsoir  420 !!!
great to hear  from you ...few pics before supper...
went on logging rd on the  18 th...turned around at the  35 ....clouds were flying low...could nt see the mountains...
about 20'' according to  a friend at the lake....
groomer is back in town ...no grooming yet ..went to check at the school bus this afternoon 
ground not frozen yet ....-7c right now...
 
jean-guy

hi all 
i was in vacation ...
spent 8-10days early november cleaning 3 miles of road (both sides ) to go to my camp....
4w was kaputt ...so , no riding and no pics 
went up logging rd 2 weeks ago ...mid way up to la cache
had snow almost up to knee .....but probably dropped a bit with the mild temps
-6c this morning , snowing very lightly 
 
jean-guy
 

1/12/22 is Dec in Canada 

Was asking for a friend,
Good to hear & thanks

Totally agree, especially with fuel prices these days. 

well...tonight was the big test. Filled her with oil ( I drained last week before putting motor back in sled) and a buddy came over and brought his vaccum tool that you hook to an air compressor to inject your coolant.  Gauge was dropping very slowly off 27 under negative vaccum which indicated a leak. I was pretty damn methodical when tightening the hose clamps (expecially by the thermostat in back of motor area) but one front rad hose needed another turn and it solved that problem and now held vaccum. Injected 1.6 gallons of BRP 5 yr pink coolant in from a 2 gallon bucket so easy it would make your head spin. 
Now we hit the start button. Took about three or four 5 second attempts to get the fuel up from the tank and thru the rail and injectors and she started right up. Not long after a bunch of smoke started coming off the header (contanaments of oil residue I suppose) and some from the exhaust pipe/can donut area. Then the check engine light came on and motor sounded different. At this point I'm like WTF....and shut her down. 
Then I remember you can look up codes if you have the premium gauge package. A quick YouTube search shows this easy process. With engine running toggle high beams while holding down the M button on cluster. Sure enough..... 3 codes P2621, P2620 & P212C
All three indicate an open circuit or failure in the TPS sensor. Mother huck if I didn't plug the connector back in while I was putting the rubber boot on with hose clamp on the throttle body. Solved that issue and after a couple minutes of letting it run (took a couple times actually) the light went off and engine was CLEARLY running smooth as butter. I just completed 3 or 4 engine running cycles and all appears SUPER WELL. Coolant is circulating with warm heat exchangers and I can actually watch the temp go down a degree or two when slightly revving higher indicating the water pump is pushing the coolant through. 
My good buddy from Vermont (thanks for all your input on this project) said if you do 99.8% of things right on a project like this that still leaves a couple fuck up's. Hopefully I do not have another....LOL
All I got do now is throw the outside plastic back on the old gal and wait for some snow on Tug Hill to give her a shakedown. The "Hill" will come through...without a doubt and most likely in the next 10-15 days. I have to drive 2 hr 45 min. but it will be worth it. 
Then.......hope to see some fellow QR's this season in the mother land. Looking forward to it as much as I ever have !!!!
 

Totally agree, especially with fuel prices these days.