quebec bob

Yup they are slumming in St Felician

St Hubert express… Matane??

On the black trail going to a new location… hopefully another week of adventure is in front of you… I should have stayed another week… taking a month next season.., things will be back to normal… too much snow to quit now… going to be a long summer

I always keep a good back up.. season is too short to miss when something breaks… that’s why I try to trade one sled up every 3rd season and stay in warranty

Somebody’s being towed…;$/@&!!…… sorry to see that happening to you guys…. No way to end the season…. Hope you guys had a great trip just the same

Mike, I’m sorry to hear you say that, but I completely understand, was just having a conversation with Stan about how expensive this sport and sleds are becoming… I can’t imagine a young guy coming up with 18k for a sled and then trailer, truck, lodging, trail passes, food , gas and oil….coming in from the states for a week…. Putting on 300 mile days… 375 daily… just for gas and oil… even after exchange.. 500 a day inclusive… it’s a rich man’s sport if you spend a few weeks…ouch….I leave my business to ride… probably loose 15k a week in sales… cost me 20k for 7 days…. It’s out of control… if you have paid vacation as an employee it’s much cheaper but still a lot of money

I had both of those vintage Yamahas… and Pierre in Mt St Pierre is a gentleman and can and will fix anything… I even saw a washing machine in there once… I not kidding… one of the most important people in that town… for a long time

You are certainly having better luck with food than we did… it was the only part of our trip that was hit or miss

Should be good by now…. Wish. I was still there…. Have a blast

our last day had us eating room service delivered breakfast at Hotel-N-Cie...delivered at 7:30 am.....coffee and juice and....some kind of a breakfast rap.....kind of like sea rations....barely edible...did not go over so well after not getting dinner....people have to go back to work....this has to be embarrassing for these places....we are on the trail by 8:30 and they are groomed...starting to feel like the Quebec we know and love....but there is nothing you can do about the weather. We take turns leading and carving corners like Emerson Fitipaldi 's formula 1 car, putting the miles down this morning.....kind of mundane though as all the unforeseen excitement is now behind us in the mountains.We arrive in Matane early afternoon and go to the Polaris dealer to get Terry some oil, then things really look up...we go to St Hubert for an indoor sit down meal!! 200 miles left to coast into RDL....of course we ride into the dark and arrive at 7:45 pm. The last 20 miles the snow is soft and brown at street crossings, the parking lot is bare at Universal....and it is down to the last 2 weeks here for sure....but another month in the mountains. We had a great trip and the sport is well in tact after nearly 2 seasons, Terry turned 70 on our trip.....you would never know it, rides like 50, and he brought a lot of common sense and talent to our ride, Stan sports 30 years in Quebec and we definitely relied on all that to get us thru where most everyone else stopped. Terry was on his first ride with a 2023 XCR 650 Indy...I got to ride it for quite some time....Polaris has raised the bar with this Matrix chassis and 650 engine, best handling sled I've ever ridden straight out of the factory...and it is incredibly easy on oil, less than half what my 850 uses and hold 1 more gallon of fuel.Only trouble on the whole trip was the reverse on the 1200 ski doo not wanting to work...big Suprise there....It was great to get back to what we all love and see old friends, lets hope it continues to reopen and we can all look forward to a great season next year, and for all those folks who let all this stuff prevent them from crossing the border....don't let it stop you....get yourself over the border and ride the best trails in the world, happy trails, Bob.

You can text me at 4134412224…..many thanks, Bob

2020 expedition extreme 850 for sale…. 2 years transferable warranty left… 3 rides on it in Quebec… 5200 miles… mint needs nothing… going to 2023 extreme turbo r… pics to follow… first 10 K… US funds … can help with delivery…..cash… many thanks … Bob

so on to day 3...we are feeling pretty good about our position so far...getting thru New Brunswick and the 595 to LaCache...we got a great nights sleep and breakfast, sleds are fueled and oiled and we decide to take the interior trail east of LaCache to Murdochville. Off we go . things are still not groomed but it's day 3.....and we are still breaking trail...this trail has a lot of snow and drifting but we have become use to it after 550 miles...no big deal and we are soon at the half way point...where things are getting interesting and the snow pack is considerably more than we have yet encountered...drifts are now 10 to 15 feet high and the wind is ferocious, getting hard to pick the trail and we are climbing to the 3/4 mark....we are feeling reasonably confident we can make it to the top where it will be down hill to Murdochville. The trees are now mostly covered and the snow is approaching 15 feet or so and the closer we get to the top the harder it's blowing and the drifts are on steroids, but we make it...we look behind and you cannot see that anyone has been there...literally a couple minutes to fill in our tracks......we are trying to figure out this last half mile down a little then over the last hill.It's a very imposing half mile, a few 20 foot drifts going slightly down, then maybe a 30 footer that shows a passage on the left and we are not really sure about the last couple so we take pics and blow them up...it doesn't look good the last 2 are maybe 40 to 50 feet and the one on the top is curling back towards us and only showing a little relief on the left side...we need snow shoes now to walk in and see the density of the snow because we don't want to bury the sleds and shovel for the rest of the day...we are 3 hours in....@#$%&!!.....after careful consideration....we agree that it is beyond are ability....back to LaCache for lunch...wen arrive and tell them not to let anyone go that way...we figure the groomer will never be able to do it either...and we were right...they did not get as far as we did...we were so close!! We even got stuck a few times after we turned around...white knuckles for sure it felt good to be safely down from there.After lunch we headed up the 595 figuring we finally make it to Murdochville...3/4 of the way we hit a wall of snow, maybe 5 to 6 feet of pow....the terrain was very doable...the skis were staying on top, but even the 154 by 20 was trenching 4 to 5 feet.....too much snow!!! We took turns with the shovel and....WENT BACK TO LACACHE!! Regrouped, fuel and oil...we are not done.... back down the 595 to Hotel Francis...it's still not groomed and we help out a group that is stuck. We went into town for a 10 pm dinner...we are now specializing in 14 hour days...tomorrow we will go east and north on 597 and get to Hotel Copper for lunch...we will get to Murdochville. We got out on the trail by 8 AM and it is now open...open...maybe the tractor and blade...open not groomed...but much better than we have seen so far...we make better time today and arrive at Murdochville about 130 ish, get fuel and oil and run down to Copper...to find out they are closed for breakfast and lunch...no one will come back to work...only open for dinner limited hours...2 days to get here....@#^&*$!!...back to the gas station for junk food and coffee and juice.The day is starting to wear on us..but we have many more miles to get to Hotel-n-Cie. Off we go and the trail is pretty good maybe a 7...feels like a 10 after the last 3 days.We stop in St Louis about 4 pm for a sandwich...eating inside like normal people...does this feel right?? Now it's heading toward dark and we are use to this, almost full moon, stars are out maybe 5 degrees f....the sleds are running nice in the crisp air...and we are settled in for the ride. About 730 2 moose charge out on the right and Stan just misses hitting them as he drives by, I have to lock down sideways to stop maybe 10 feet from them and Terry pulls up./..Stan is clueless and keeps driving ...he has no idea what has happened.....Terry and I are very lucky and the moose start walking away down the trail....we wait 5 minutes and start going at clutch engagement...catching up to the moose in about a mile...they run off the trail on the left 15 feet and turn to charge us...we are in reverse flashing our lights...not good they are within 5 feet and they turn to go back down the trail...we wait again then start down the trail and find Stan sitting in the trail back to us waiting and we scream, he turns around and the moose are on top of him and he takes off...so close!!! Terry and I are watching and they charge us and at about 5 feet run off the trail to the right of us and we have a split second to get by before they come back on the trail....very scary stuff...these guys were maybe 1500 lbs. They were very aggressive and wanted to get off the trail but the snow was too deep...we coast in to Hotel-N- Cie at 845 pm...330 miles to find the restaurant closed and the store across the street closing at 9.....no dinner....3 beers only...1 each....what a day...to be continued!!

Yup we used our bungee, rope and shovel a lot

Breakfast is marginal continental...but coffee and juice are good...all of us are a bit tired but on schedule , off to Murdochville for our next night...we call Mundles towing to get us over the bridge...it's Sunday morning...we tip the driver...he is a nice guy who works a long hard week...and drops us off in a parking lot right at the trail...we have no idea what is in front of us and didn't even check the map for grooming...what does it matter...not like we have a lot of choices...off we go. Heading toward Carelton and New Richmond....lots of snow...no groomed trails...a few moose and deer...things are going pretty good and we land in New Richmond for lunch and fuel...we are all feeling really good about our progress given the weather....and the wind is going pretty good....so off we go to LaCache ...3 minutes out we have to cross a sloped field.....not good...maybe a 25 foot drift all the way across the field...Stan goes first and gets burried ....we spend the next 35 minutes getting him out....conveniently the ski doo 1200 reverse decides it's done working....really great...I break a trail across the field and come back then all 3 of us continue on towards the 595...the going is getting very tough...we are absolutely the only one riding at this point...as a matter of fact we are on our 2 day and have only passed a sled or two...we are breaking trail to LaCache on the 595....alone for sure...we now are starting to realize this is getting a little serious. The conditions have now taken a major turn for the worse and this area has received a lot of snow and the wind is howling...drifts are now commonly well over 10 ft and when the sled in front of you goes over one he disappears...we are now being careful and actually trying to pick the trail and where we are going...most of the stakes are burried and some of the drifts are 2 and 300 yards long. I'm trying to think we are not in trouble and things are ok...we are doing plenty of getting stuck , digging and towing...we now realize we couldn't make it without the expedition extreme...we are double and once triple on the running board side hilling sleds over drifts...becoming very technical....one soft spot there goes the ski...and sled is tipped over or tumbling down...but we continue on.We arrive at Lacache about 4:20 pm...it looks closed...WTF....Houston we have a problem. I walk over and the door is unlocked...but no vehicles around...nobody...a guy comes out ...Ryan...and asked where I came from.....I said we are riding...we came up the 595....he cannot believe it....we are THE ONLY CUSTOMERS ALL DAY......he cannot believe we made it all the local roads are closed from drifting...he said AN AVERAGE DAY IS 6 TO 7 THOUSAND AND WE ARE ABSOLUTELY THE ONLY ONES HE HAS SEEN SINCE YESTERDAY AM, 2 FULL DAYS....we know we are done for the day and we end up staying...he shows us the generator and battery set up that runs the place and the solar system in the cellar....we use the laundry...he's just watching the place and giving the regulars a break....he's not a cook but we get burgers and dogs and eggs and bacon in the morning...we sleep well.....another epic day...all is good....these folks are some of the very nicest people I have ever met in Quebec...like family...we tip them well....to be continued...2 incredible days in the books....

after almost 2 seasons on the side lines having last left Quebec in late March at the start of the lock down, facing the possibility of not riding Quebec trails for the first time in decades, I get a call from Zeusand (Stan) with an offer to pick me up on his way from just outside NYC, mad dash to get tested, registered, and 2 15 hour days at the shop, I got into his suburban with my trailer and our sleds in tow , now a mad rush to RDL Universal...to meet Terry from Plattsburg NY. What could possibly go wrong...how about a monster snow storm starting at 12 noon...many accidents and slow going on Q20....we finally landed at our rooms ay 11:20 pm...this is going to be tough...we want to be on the trail early after our 12 hour ride in. We managed to get on the trail at 8 am...maybe 8 to 10 inches on the ground and snowing...but we are going for it, off to Moose Valley...for lunch!! Well the foot of snow we left behind us is considerably more when we got there.....trail are drifting ..some places are 2 ft deep but we have an expy extreme 850...and we will continue on breaking trail!!! It's starting to get serious , the weather, and no sign of letting up, and the wind is tough....so we take our first big chance...everyone is sitting tight...we leave Moose Valley headed toward Cambleton...FEARLESS...we decide to take a local one track wide trail inside Moose Valley interior woods towards Kedgewick with the thoughts that there would be a lot less wind in the woods...there was but we were now breaking trail in 2 ft of pow...pretty cool ,albiet Stan wasn't so sure...we had 3 different GPS and all had features the others did not...it looked to be about 50 miles....now the fun starts as trees are hanging low and we are constantly going around them. A couple hours later the trail ends at a parking spot at the end of a road.....OK.....all is good...a few miles and we hook up with the trail...see Stan..these GPS'S are great..it's dark and he isn't laughing...anybody can go on the groomed trails!! Soon we are on the normal passage headed for Cambleton where we have reservations at the Quality at the bridge, it's still snowing!! We come over the mountain top to the beautiful glow of the night lights, get fuel and oil...and wonder where to get the trail to the hotel....it's 11 PM...we decide to drive it in on the empty city street...pretty cool...there is a lot of snow on them , it's late...and it looks like complete lock down..except for us, we obeyed the signs and lights..landed at the hotel at 11:15 pm...310 miles of breaking trail...no dinner...we are tired...everyone sleeps well and we meet for breakfast at 7:30am.....still very intent in not letting this storm change out trip plan......epic day in the books...to be continued!!

Just got in from a week on the Gaspe… RDL is black top now… tons and I mean tons in the mountains… very best place to launch from… LaCache… I know it sounds crazy… but it very true…. I will do a trip report Sunday… it was a last minute decision for me when I was offered a pick up at my shop from a friend in NYC…12 hour ride in a storm to get there… epic trip… maybe best ever… some places in the mountains were drifted 20 ft high… there’s lots of snow up there… just have to get there… Murdochville is also a good spot to start

We’ve all heard that before!! My wife thinks I’m hard of hearing!!

yup been that way many times and north right out Windigo's front door along side the river thru the woods and up the right side of the reservoir to a red log cabin about 10 miles go thru the left side of the yard go by the camps, go left on the local trial then right at the y and your quickly at relay 22

Even on this trail EVERYONE has there left ski against the bank….seems like nobody can get close enough to the middle… wtf??