Cobra

Revenge on that 63 to St Michele is going to be had in about 30 minutes 

Excellent pics East Mark!!!! Couldn’t make the trip with Snowmaster 😡
Go chase Snowmaster down probably north of Repos somewhere on the 345.🤣
Enjoy the wind!!!! BE SAFE!!!!!

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
 

If you try and venture north of the dam
this is what your in for
from Lecabanon to dam is groomed like a formula one race track in mid winter conditions 

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

Merry Belated Xmas!!
The packing is in full swing now!
Launch in 3 Days!
I hope....
GutZ

Couldn’t just sit home, not waiting for things to shape up near chez ice. Pin the trailer lets get it. 
Left Trois Riveres 12:30 arrived Escoumins 5:30. 
More later heading out.
 

It's between "east Jesus" & bum f%^k
That's why they can rake you over the coal's for 2.85 litre

Merry Christmas everyone! Pray for snow and cold!

Our final day was yesterday, so awesome to ride with Markus and Dooright for those days they were up. Another great season opener, conditions improved steadily day by . Hopefully more snow will be  on the way soon🤞. 
 
 
 
 
http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2022_12/908596A7-BCB2-498D-B605-54E509D61F8A.jpeg.3f605172a09e543bdd697c873b60ff01.jpeg

Remember seeing pictures and videos of Watertown back then. Serious Sh&t back then. My mother is from Buffalo and those pics when she was a kid were insane!!!!!

On behalf of the Hill and Gully Riders Snowmobile Club (Québec edition), please allow me to wish all of our American friends a Very Happy Thanksgiving holiday, and a safe and enjoyable snowmobiling season!  See you folks soon!

Just went out to rescue A friends kid got stuck big-time a couple times on main roads. We got over 4 feet so far still coming down.

Getting hammered here in Hamburg, NY. Thunder and Lightening all night. We are about half way thru the storm and already close to 3 feet. Hot tub and picnic table in my back yard.

Between Xmas/new year’s is when I want to land on snow!!!
keep the snow machine rolling ICEMAN!!

Between Xmas/new year’s is when I want to land on snow!!!
keep the snow machine rolling ICEMAN!!

Michel & Melissa dont sound Chinese. I was looking forward to some pork fried egg rolls after a long days ride.

I learned that the new Cabanon Auberge owners are named Michel and Mélissa and they should be present at this weekend snowmobile show in Quebec city at Cabanon booth. I won't be at the show myself and don't know if Iceman or somebody else not too far planned to go but it would be an opportunity to talk with them before the season opening.

Don't worry guys! I know the info is real but I have been told that Denis and his wife should still be there this next season to ensure a smooth ownership transition.  I had stopped by in june after Snowmaster had wrote me about rumours and had talked with Diane about the potential sold but nothing was done at this moment even they were in negotiation. She had told me that they were both in mind for continue to operate as usual this next winter, Denis had just leaved before my arriving for a FCMQ meeting for the weekend (he came back at royaume snowmobile club direction). I had confirmation that the deal was in serious way to happen a week ago and  had tried to seek more info about the new owners but just been told from trusty source that the info was real and that Denis and Diane should still be there this season... Will keep you inform when I know more...

Exactly. BECAUSE there was NO ridable trail (at least my thresh hold) anywhere near Mt Laurier or other places when I/we did that. 
Over the years if you wanted to get GOOD before Christmas riding in you had to go to Mt Valin or northern Abitibi. Hell, I remember about 10-12 yrs ago driving from Honeoye, NY to St Honore to get 2.5/3 days of good riding in. There was 4 ft on the level and they were grooming. The date.....(I remember it well)...November 13, 14th & 15th. 
Another time....SOLO no less, left Honeoye on Christmas day early afternoon. Pulled into Relais 22 at midnight. Spent the night in an completely empty bunkhouse. The next morning I got on my 0 mile 2004 Rev 800 and rode to Roverval where I spent the night. Next morning I got up, rode back to the "22" , got in the truck and drove back to Honeoye. 160+ miles on new sled. Almost 1200 mi. on GET THIS.....wifes brand new COMPANY Chevy Venture van with paid gas card. Only caveat was I had to have a 170.00 hitch put on. This shit would NEVER happen nowadays....LOL
 
with todays gas prices and inflation you wont see me taking those bonzi short trips anymore. The good ole days are sadly over.
Going the extra miles over the years to where your average person wont has rewarded me ten fold over the years. wouldnt change a thing if i had to do it all over again. LOL.....