SnowCrazed

Hello Everyone,
Another season has started.  Boy does it feel good to close up the shop and head north.
We left Connecticut early this morning.  Drove up to Valcourt and picked up the trailer and sleds.  I had brought the sleds up a couple of weeks ago to get them to Canada for the winter.  Not much snow thru Vermont.  A little in the Eastern Townships but not enough to ride on.  About 30 miles before Quebec the drizzle started to freeze on the road.  In Stoneham it turned to sleet and then finally it turned to snow.  All the way thru the park it's snowing.  The trail that crosses at L'Etape had been groomed and it had sled tracks on it.  We didn't stop at L'Etape but there were sleds in there.  This is a good sign.  As we continue up, we see more trailers heading north and south.  The southbound guys must be the ones that were up over Christmas.  One of them may have been EastMark.  Hi Mark.
We get to the Sag and there are about ten trailers here.  There is snow cover and the groomer map had shown that it was groomed here in town.  We will see if we can get any info at supper.
Happy trails.
Jack & Sandi

Hey Snobeeler, FWIW, the 2019 promos only apply to "in season" sleds so if you found an XRS or X it wouldn't apply. I think more favorable to the $700 cast back on the 900s is the 0% for 60 months they added in March to the 900T promo. That 0% equates to $1700 savings in interest if conventional financing is needed. When 0% is offered, I'll always use someone else's money while mine works for me.
As for prices, I bought my GF a 2019 Blizzard 600R for $9,750 last month. I was comparing that to a 600R red Enduro at $10,700. Both those prices were with the $1500 cast back that's on the 600 vs. the 0%. There is a 900T red X with 1.6 and quick adjust listed at $13,888 near me. 
Doo really stuck it to New England dealers this year and made them take a lot of inventory. My dealer has nearly 50 sleds in stock and I see lots of other dealers with loads of stock. I'm wondering if Doo will help them by making the 2019 promo better in the later half of this month.
 

After lunch we get on 55 west. I stop to fuel up. We went 120 miles my gas light comes on at the gas station. As we go west the snow tapered off. We take 55 to 549 and head for Mont-St Maglorie. The trails are in nice condition up to the turn off for the view. It’s not a great day for viewing but we go through the motions. It always feels colder on the mountains. There is a breeze that makes your hands hurt. 

35 was looking in good condition. We passed a groomer coming toward us. We take 557 toward Saint-Pamphile. 557 is in fantastic shape. We find out later the we had passed Mcstar. Sorry we missed them. We make our way the the clubhouse go in and sit down. In comes Mike, Joe and Jack. Sorry mike you can’t get rid of us😂. 

Oh oh!  It just stopped running coming out of that last corner.  It felt like it was firing on one cylinder for hundred meters and then came to a rolling stop.  Did it run out of fuel?  No it was full of fuel 40 miles ago.  Blown belt.  No. 
Boy there is a lot of steam coming out from under that right side panel.  Hey Mike & Joe, I don't remember seeing the pink snow when the sled stopped.  Hmm?  The anti-freeze bottle is empty.  We can only move the primary clutch about an inch in either direction and it makes a funny clunking sound. 
13,000 miles on the 850.  I thought these were going to go further than the 800 E-tecs.  My last two E-tecs I had 15,000 and 13,500 no rebuilds on either.
Sandi isn't with me on this trip.  First time she couldn't make it in years.  Her new 600R is in the trailer!  Should I?
Jack & no Sandi

My first sled was a new '65 Olympique, so I remember fondly all those old sleds.
Today was another perfect day of riding, St.. Pamphille for lunch. Trails flat and smooth as silk. Happy hour with Jak and Jack. Then Jack and I had a fantastic meal at Symposium (an earlier post I mistakenly called it Suspension Restaurant). Later a drink in the Bar with Eastmark and wife Lisa. Then a huge honor, Gt Rider was in the lobby and introduced me to Towing (Alain) and wife Krista.  GT Rider and Towing in the same room. It doesn't get any better. Hopefully GT rider writes up about his ride to Isle Verte, sounds great. (He is posting on the Gaspe section, Gemma's pictures are wonderful). 
Perfect Day. Even stopped by police for a paperwork check. They were really friendly and nice. Saw Canadian AAA picking up a broken down Polaris. And got up this morning and thought my sled had a litter of kittens.
mike
 

We get stuck tomorrow Mike your on your own, I can't even walk on pavement never mind 3' of snow, you know my knees. See you at breakfast.

Better than not riding. Friend rolling in tonight, then a few more off and on the next couple weeks. I ride alone maybe a third of the time. I just love to ride, and I never get tired of the same loops out of RDL.  Plenty of past years saddle bagging, just getting old, I guess.
mike
 

Arrived late afternoon to RDL.  Rode out to the club house and back. Cold, extremely strong winds, and mega drifting. I am sure many trails are not passable.  Trails looked freshly groomed last night but in a few places it was hard to get through the drifts. From the club house tried to go west on Trail #5 but looked blocked big time by drifts
Room 165 (way out back).
mike
 

Just arrived by sled and checked in at the Universal! Great day of riding!!
 
Oilman

GKW and I have rode yesterday and today, the first two days after the storm, and I don't remember the groomers getting the trails back to normal so quick after a big storm. Both days we saw most everything freshly groomed and riding has been fantastic, not to mention all the trees laden thick with snow
mike
 

It seems I thought EddieSkiDoo and SkiDoo 420 had other plans to 'stuff the monkey', not the devious one they went through with.
I asked George about his weekend with these two riders and their trip together, he starts screaming 'best ride ever!'. 
 

Whatever you do, don't feed it after 10pm. You will be in grave danger!

It will be fine Mike.  A little freezing rain just gives a little slip and slide.  Maybe do the monkey dance to entertain the snow gods.
I agree with NekSldr, Monkey George should go for a ride with you.  He may meet another monkey out sledding then they could monkey around!  
Jack & Sandi

Whatever you do, don't feed it after 10pm. You will be in grave danger!

I wonder how they can put out a meal for $10 Canadian.
No two way traffic in that tunnel.
Jack & Sandi

He has the gorgeous eyes, a turned up nose and an attractive smile.  You can't bail on him Mike.  He would be heart broken.  Does he smell like he wears perfume?  Be careful where you sniff, George may get the wrong idea of your friendship.
He looks very happy in his new home and guarding the wine.  I think he will be an asset on those days that you don't have anyone to ride with.
What do you say at the border when you bring him into the U.S.?  If you are asked "Did you make any purchases?"  You can say no.  But if they ask "Did you acquire anything in Canada?"  You would have to declare George.  Ah!  Flashes of the illegal dog biscuit episode.
I think you have found a ridding buddy.
Jack & Sandi

Pictures!!!! I have taught you well! Wish I was there.
Alicia and I had a great weekend in VT though. We even took my buddies new 900 Turbo Grand Touring for 20 mile loop.

You know this thread is now going to have to show pics of your little buddy on all your adventures this trip! Maybe in the hot tub later?🐵

A Monkey Found Is A Friendship Found:
(Or, Are Monkey's Good Luck?)
Early morning snow/sleet/freezing rain. A late start with flurries stated for the afternoon. Through the tunnels heading west, onto Trail #5 and east to loop down to the Explorers Club House for Coffee. Dark and cloudy. Finally onto #5 heading east and come across a monkey in the trail. Just laying there, cold and lifeless. He looks very familiar. Last night a group of 4 Quebec sleds parked on one side of my sled by my room, and two sleds on the other side. All sleds were loaded with monkeys. My new monkey friend was one of these attached furry creatures, his color was very recognizable.  His master had left in the freezing rain, the monkey had enough and bailed.
I set him beside the trail hoping to put his thumb out so he could catch a lift. Hmmm, no thumb, will a foot work? I started to drive off but stopped. Couldn't do it. 
Monkeys on sleds are supposed to give luck. I am no longer sure. I start my engine, my new friend hanging on. Instantly starts a hard freezing rain. I come to Trail 561, ahh, this takes me to the Shell station on the tunnel bypass, SnowCrazed and I did this two weeks ago. It was poorly marked with a few intersections, thank goodness for his GPS. I obviously take a wrong turn and slip into deep wilderness for the next 25 miles. I have never been on this section before, it is a wonderful trail but seems to have no reason to exist. My shield is coated with thick ice. Slow going as my shield is up, I am peering over my iced glasses and slouched just looking above the windshield. Finally an intersection.I am back on Trail 5 and only a dozen miles to RDL. A sign at the intersection says I went through Chemin du  Lac. Six miles to RDL and the weather turns to snow.  Maybe the monkey does bring me luck. I finally get my glasses and shield ice free, I can see again. Two minutes later I am in white out conditions now going slower than ever.
If anyone knows of a Quebec sledder who lost a monkey, let me know.
And yes SnowCrazed, I did take pictures.
 

Pictures!!!! I have taught you well! Wish I was there.
Alicia and I had a great weekend in VT though. We even took my buddies new 900 Turbo Grand Touring for 20 mile loop.

Keep the food reports coming.  We love them.  Just remember for every 5 pounds you lose 1 MPH top end.  
Jack & Sandi

A dark haze hung at tree top this morning so zig zagged the trails so as to not get to far away today. At times the haze was at ground level leaving a frozen film on the helmet shield. Early afternoon it lifted and there were sections of blue sky.
I have often mentioned the eastbound shortcut trail via the tunnels to by pass much of trail #5 leaving RDL.  Keep bearing left but not the left that goes to the Rockford Bar. There is now another left to avoid. There is a new trail to the left about 12 miles out, just as you are about to enter the Shell gas station. There are no signs, but there is a trail that goes left over the highway. Just go straight thru the Shell station and get on the trail behind the station.  Though there are no signs at this left, there are plenty of tracks going the new way, it is not a shortcut.
Speaking of the 'do not turn left' at the Rockford Bar' turn, today I turned left. Appears the trail dead ends at the bar just a couple K's from the main trail. The bar/restro looks like a home converted to a bar and is out in farm land. I gave it a try.
Inside is nothing special, but it is very quiet. Nice!  Bar and a few tables.  Started with coffee that had an ever so slightly different taste than the usual, a better taste. This is the coffee I wish I could drink every day. I had a hankering for hot chicken again after yesterday's superb offering at the club house at Isle Verte.  Bar Rockford's was even better, melt in your mouth chicken, the most tender I have ever eaten smothered in a rich gravy. I am not a fry lover but these were perfect. By far the best cole slaw ever. I did my best to let the lady cook know my great pleasure in her cooking.  She motioned the cole slaw is her own recipe.  I will return!!!
 
 

Crossing back into Vermont tonight the agent asked how many people we had in the trailer ... We said none
 
Reply from agent.. Right answer 

Our last ride for this trip.  Joe Jak is riding with us today.  Friday is always a good day to go to the truck stop in MIlot.  The map shows the groomer was out on 373 last night.  Yep that is our lunch stop for today.
Out of the corral and across the bridges.  It is still cool this morning but the trail is fine.  We take 367 to 93 and then up 554.  Everything is so nice.  A minimal amount of drifting overnight in the fields.  At Relais des Lacs Sandi and Joe switch sleds.  Joe has a 137" with the 600R and Sandi wants to compare it to her 129".  It is 328 to 553 and up thru the blueberry fields.  Sandi is running right along and Joe and myself are in the dust.  We get on 367 and take a break at Mont Vilain.  One of our favorite stops here even if it is just for coffee or hot chocolate.  Sandi says that she likes the 129" just a little better.  She says that she can go thru the corners a little faster.  Well, that is why they make so many different sleds.
Back on the sleds and down on Lac Tchitogama we go.  Plenty of snow here.  We get to the other side and we are now on 373.  Like the map showed, it is smooth.  Only a couple of tracks ahead of Sandi.  Bill mentioned there is logging operations in here.  About ten miles in and the trail is plowed.  There is a little sand on top of the snow packed road.  It only lasts for a mile and we are back in the woods.  A little further on and there is another half mile stretch.  I can live with that.  The loggers are nice enough to let us have trails.
We pull into the truck stop.  It always amazes me out here in the middle of nowhere there will be forty to fifty people here having lunch.  The lunch  special you can't beat at $12.95 plus taxes and tip.  Soup, meal, dessert and coffee is a bargain.  The food is good here.
Back on the sleds and we keep going on 373.  We get to the new intersection where 373 continues on to Girardville and trail 900 drops back down to St Augustin .  I want to ride this new trail some day but not today.
We turn onto the 900.  Hardly a bump to be felt.  We get on 93 and stop at the Depanneur in St Henri and top off the tanks.  It is getting cooler again.  At lunch it was warming up but now the sun is getting lower and the temperature is dropping.  Brrr!  It has been cold here this week and today is no different.
Sandi is off and we are in chase.  The big fields around Alma have some minor drifting but just the sides of the trail.  Thru St Nazaire and St Ambroise we go.  The sun is getting lower now and Sandi likes to be in before dark.  The long straight away by Le Geant Trailers and she is gone.  Down the little drop and into the scrubby trees.  Sandi is leaning in the corners now.  The snow dust is hanging in the air.
Wow the groomer made a pass between the two bridges today.  What a nice way to end the trip.  We are back at the Delta just as the sun is going down.  We made it back.
This season is turning out to be one of the best in years.  With snow cover all over the Northeast, low traffic from what we have seen and cold temps so the trails stand up after the groomer is making for wonderful conditions.
Thanks for following along with us.  It has been a good trip.  I didn't have to go to the SkiDoo or Chevy dealer this time.  Yea!
Until the next trip    cheers to all.
Jack & Sandi