neksledr

Day 5 / Tuesday Feb 18th What was planned on being a pretty simple day changed considerably when Mother Nature and sled failure intervened. Planned on running down the 3 to catch the Colibri shuttle back to the south side, and then continue 52 miles south to a place we have never been to before, La cache a Maxime in Sainte-Marie. It all started out perfect enough with cool temps and fresh grooming. The 3 was fast and uncrowded all the way to our first break, Relais Le Michelieu. After a quick stop we continued on west and about the time we passed Relais Ste-Anne the snow started falling, and hard. Visibility deteriorated quickly as we got closer to the city. Took some fuel before we hit the Colibri and ended up arriving there around 2pm. When we asked for the shuttle, the bar tender (owner?) shook his head no and mentioned something in french that didn't sound positive! We had pre-planned this with them earlier in the trip, but now we were being told maybe no shuttle because of the bad road conditions. After a phone call was made, he said said shuttle would arrive in 20 minutes, phew! Our good tips for the ride over appear to have paid off. We sent the girls across first and we received text messages almost immediately that the roads were horrible and traffic was almost at a stand-still, not good. They finally made it after nearly an hour, and they said they also bounced off some guard rails once. I called ahead to La cache Maxime and asked for the latest dinner reservation possible, which they said was 7:30, hmmm. By the time the shuttle returned to pick us up, and fighting the roads and traffic back over to the Normandin, it was after 5pm, gotta go! However....10 miles away from the Normandin one of the Cats clutches decided to stop shifting and would lock up the track at low speeds, this isn't good. The operator is a Cat dealer, so very knowledgeable with repairs, and he said lets push on, so off we go. Everything is ok until he slows down, so no slowing down for the next 40 miles! Of course road crossings hindered that plan a bit, but every time the clutch would lock up he had it going again in just a few minutes. So, thats working well enough, nut Mother nature has the snow coming down hard and winds gusting blizzard like conditions and the trails are tough to follow. Riding across open fields is a nightmare, and more than once we would lose the trail. When we finally hit the feeder trail to head to Maxime I rounded a corner to find a 12" spruce tree blown over across the trail, I ended up with some spruce boughs on my tunnel as I slid up next to it. We managed to break off the top of the tree to allow passage but the next riders would be in big trouble in they hit this at any speed. We broke some trail stakes off and put on each side hoping to slow anybody down. We ended up pulling into our hotel at 7:30 exactly, so we were a little late for dinner, but not a problem. This place is very upscale, but great food and lounge, would definitely recommend. We would huddle in morning to figure out the final days plans. 200 miles

We had a great time, nice meeting you as well!

Day 4 / Monday Feb 17. This will be another quick run as our destination is Le Fairmont Richelieu , an easy run down the Claremont Express. Temps have plummeted again, and the wind is as Groomer would say 'windy like hell'! Before leaving the Delta, we run into the Gutz Bros saddling up for a ride, more QR peeps! Departure time not until around 9:30 and we jump on 83 and head south. We do slide off into St Felix to top off the tanks as the Cat crew that's riding with us would not be making the entire 135 mile trip on one tank. After fueling we continue on the express and it does not disappoint, a super quick run all the way to the Castle. We pull into the heated garage, drop our gear in our rooms, slip into bathing suits and head for the outside tubs. Can it get any better than this? We arrange for the door man to have fresh drinks sent poolside every 20 minutes, and he does not fail. After we are all prunelike, we shower and head to the casino for a little pre dinner blackjack. This trip just keeps on getting better as our dealer is rolling the cards in our favor! After a great dinner and stay, we all ended up being payed for our visit, gotta love casinos.

Day 3 / Sun Feb 16. This was planned as a very light day at the girls request. Didn't fire sleds until around 10am and headed up to 93 via the 367 and westward to Saint Monique. Stopped on edge of lake for a bit to watch a guy doing some kite skiing with his dog trying to keep up. Looked fun but saw him wreck pretty good once. Topped off with fuel, and then backtracked a little to the 367 east and headed to relais du lacs for a break and a beer. Hit some total whiteout storms a few times, but would ride out of back into blue skies each time. Open fields had super high winds with lots of drifting. Looped back to the Delta for an easy day, just what the wife's were looking for. Headed for the Castle in the morning. 155 miles

Day 1 / Fri Feb 14th Left home in Central VT at 5am and drove to camp in Averill VT where we met with two other couples, 6 of us total for this trip, 2 Doos and 4 Cats. On the sleds at 9am with a very chilly -11 starting temp. Crossed thru customs in Beecher Falls and headed north. Trails all groomed and stiff, the running is fast. Really enjoy running through the Eastern Townships as they do a great job with the trails, and traffic is non-existent. We run the 523 up past Sawyerville, then zip down the railbed where we catch 55. Again, super fast and set-up hard as concrete. While passing through Cookshire we are disappointed to see the little bar/restaurant as you cross rte 108 all boarded up, we have enjoyed stopping there over the years. We continue on the 55 to Weedon for fuel, warm-up and lunch at Restaurant Le Moulin. After the nice break we are now on the 65 nord and take this to the 540 headed towards Thetford Mines. Had to stop just outside Weedon and pick a baby deer out of the trail that somebody had obviously just clipped as she was still warm. Very sad, but set her on the snow bank out of the way, Mother nature was taking it from there. Lots of deer activity, so this stuff is bound to happen. The 540 took us around Thetford, up to the 35, and eventually the 75. Finished out the ride into Levis where we would spend the night at the Normandin. Arrived at 5pm and the temps never really gave us a break today, a shower and cocktail never felt so good! Over to the restaurant for dinner, decent food, but really poor service. While headed back to the rooms for the night had the pleasure of meeting Quebec Riders Andyman and SMclelan, they were in the middle of a 12 day run. Always great to meet fellow QR peeps. 211 miles for the day. Day 2 / Sat Feb 15th Woke up to another cold morning, but that would play out well as it should hold the trails a little longer on a weekend. Usually try to avoid being anywhere near QC on a weekend, but couldn't avoid this one. The Colibri shuttle was right on time at 7:45am, but would require 2 trips as our 6 sleds could not fit in one trip. That Suburban / trailer combo that gets us back and forth across the bridge is showing it's age, and is always an experience! The dashboard looks like a Christmas tree all lit up with all the lights that are on, and the drivers door wouldn't open so the driver has to crawl across and get out the passenger side. But......it's the only way I know to get across, so we just hang on! One little hiccup with my 900T......started and loaded up on the trailer with no problem, but when I went to unload on the other side everything was dead, had to push off the trailer. Was thinking maybe a frozen relay, but after messing with it for a while, it fired right up. Not sure what to think, but that was the only time on the entire trip that happened. The trails were again fast and flat and we headed east on the 3 up until the 369 north. A little rocky in the beginning, which was odd as the grooming map showed fresh groomed? We soon found out what was up as we came across a dead groomer in the trail. We navigated around it and soon were on groomed trails again. Had never been on this trail and after running through a lot of twisty wooded terrain, we opened up into a very fast, rolling run all the way to Letape, fun run indeed. Took fuel and lunch there and then proceeded on the 23 north. Almost immediately ran into a posse of Police set up just outside of Letape, had to be at least 20 of them, quite a sight! It was still so cold they just looked for our stickers and waved us on our way, no paperwork needed. The next 40 miles up to Mt Apica was pure heaven! Super wide, flat, and surprisingly, hardly a sled on it, seemed very strange being it was a Saturday. Quick stop then onward to the 368 (Bills Trail) heading towards the Delta. Again, trail was a 10, and perhaps a little to smooth as one of the girls and her Kitty missed a left turn and launched the bank and disappeared into the depths below. I was right behind her and witnessed the entire event, I didn't have a good feeling. Upon dismounting my sled and running in her direction I found her and the sled upside down in 5ft of powder, which was her saving grace. The track was spinning at about 75 mph as the the throttle was pressed against her as she was wedged under the sled. But.....she and the sled were untouched and neither had a scratch, very lucky lady. She did end up with about 8 more miles at the end of the day though! She was told she would have to explain to Bill later on in the evening about the Kitty Litter on his trail. Rest of the ride uneventful as we cut across on the 83 to the Delta for the evening. We were the last ones to fit in the sled corral, over 50 sleds and room for no more. That would prove fateful for a fellow Vermonter that we met as his sled was stolen that night from out front. They had thieves on camera at 3am hotwiring sled and making getaway. Very rare for sure in this area, but it happens. Great to see Bill and crew in the lobby. 225 miles for the day. Days 3-6 to follow...

Can't go wrong with the 23, very fast and wide most of the way

Thanks for the great read Jack, it's like we're right there with you! Actually did a lot of those same trails earlier in the week, sorry we missed you! Keep having fun!

JG, please wear proudly and post a pic for all of us to see! Have really enjoyed all of your posts and pics over the years, thank you! Terry

Temps were brutal today Mike! We rode from Vermont this morning and are sitting at Normandin now in Levis, 211 wicked cold miles! Trails however were a 10 all day. Headed for the Delta in the a.m. Maybe bring George with you tomorrow Mike and wrap him around your neck for extra warmth!

JG, sorry about your sports car! Hopefully they let you pick out a shiny new one with lots of extra ponies! Also.....you should have a package arriving at the clubhouse in a couple of days, so be on the lookout for it. Hope things fit! Thanks for all the great trails and pics, hope to see you before the year ends. Terry

But, if the monkey was on the Jack.....then what? Although lots of bad luck so far, great read Don, thanks!

Nice report Mike, glad you made it to Moose Valley, told you it was awesome! Sounds like you're having a blast, is George in on these rides or do you leave him in the room?

This will be a wife's trip Mike. Tentatively planning on leaving from camp in NEK of Vermont, riding to Levi, taking shuttle across and riding to Godbout, taking ferry across and then making way back towards Vermont. Maybe I can talk Trailblazer into joining us!

Wow, cool footage. Lucky fellas

Glad to hear you and George are back in the office Mike, looking forward to your reports. Might see you before you leave, we're in the planning stages for a 6 day run, but not leaving until Fri the 14th. Ride safe, take good care of that monkey, and maybe our paths will cross again!

That Gilbert looks tired JG, time for some new iron for you! Better peel off that Iceman sticker to duct tape on new ride until Don replaces it!

Thanks Jim for bringing us along, was a great ride! Appreciate the daily reports and the pics are a bonus, nice run!

Both have Restaurant and bars. Riotel a little more upscale, but both great spots, can't go wrong either way. Quality Inn definitely easier to get to

Took a long lunch in St Henri, didn't get back to truck until around 2pm

We just ran this on Thursday, from Biencourt to Moose Valley approx 50 miles. Tons of snow and trails were a 10

The return trip from the Universal back to the truck in Levi was just as perfect as the rest of our trip had been. Said our good byes to Mikerider, briefly met SkiDoo420 and hit the throttles a little after 8am . Went to top of the hill, turned right and went through the two tunnels and west we went down to the 559, which tied us into the 5. Definitely less snow the closer you are to the river, but still good going. Stayed on the 5 with plans on crossing over to 35 on the 557 behind Club Belle Pistes, but the groomer had returned from the 5 further west so we stayed the course until the little 1.5 mile orange crossover trail before getting to Club Hiboux de Kamouraska. The 35 had been groomed and as usual was a rocket where miles tick off at crazy pace. Took some fuel at Tourville and continued on. Not long down the track the Kitty decided to cough up another hair-belt, this Cat doesn't care for these speeds. Good thing we had stocked up on spare belts in RDL. After the belt fix we continued on 35 until the 547 North to connect to the 5 again. Same deal, less snow closer to the water, but nothing horrible. Took lunch in Saint Henri, then a short run back to the truck. All in all a super first run North of the border for the year, already looking at the calendar for the next one. Ended up with just shy of 700 miles for just over 2.5 days of riding. Thank you Quebec!

Hey Tom! It was a great short little run, already trying to figure out the next one. Are you still down under, or have you returned ready to ride?

I remember it well JG! I seem to also recall the three of us raising many glasses together the night before! Good food, company and wine!

Four of us drove up from Vermont to Levi yesterday morning for a short 3 day run. Parked trucks at the Normandin and on the sleds around 10:30am. As Jack mentioned, trail has been rerouted leaving the parking lot, but all was good. Took the 75 to the 35 and headed east on the rocket trail, everything groomed recently and in great shape. We are three cats and a Doo, and one of the kitties didn't care for the high MPH pace of the 35 railbed and coughed up a belt just short of the Tourville relais. Spare was installed and away we went, trails as smooth as they come. Took the 557 crossover trail to 5 and continued on all the way to the Universal in RDL where we are roomed next door to none other than Mayor Mikerider himself. Great to see Mike again, and a big shout out to him for offering up his truck in the morning for us to locate a belt for the ailing kitty. Mike is a class act and a great asset to the sport, thank you again! Ended up with 230 miles for the day. This morning, after breakfast and the belt locating mission, we loaded up at a very late 9:30 starting time and headed for Moose Valley. We took 85 to the 44 short cut (Mike's advice) and onto the 544. Every time on this trail is nothing short of amazing! All groomed perfectly with hardly a scratch all the way to 571, then jump on the 35 to Biencourt to top off the fuel before entering New Brunswick. The 135 all the way to Moose Valley had been groomed last night and we were first tracking on most of it, just an incredible run. Lots of fresh moose activity, so beware. Lunch at Moose and then retrace our way back to Quebec. Pulled back into RDL with 245 perfect miles for the day. Will head back to the trucks tomorrow morning and then on the black trail home. Low light last 2 days, so only a few pics. As others have reported, very low traffic, we're not complaining a bit about that.

Thanks Jack! Headed up in morning, will be in the mayors house tomorrow evening.