vt_bluyamaha54

A great narration and pics of the trip guys. Looks like you all had a great time. Very jealous as it is also on my bucket list. My (US) motorcycle license lapsed years ago so I was a bit disappointed when Trailblazer said the limited Spyder license is only for QC residents(?) Doesn't seem like there is a way for those of us from the US to do this unless we have a valid (US) m/c license?

Sorry for your misfortune
In NH, operation of a snowmobile (or any OHRV) anywhere off of the established trail will result in a ticket for “operation without written landowner permission” results in the $248.00 fine. I believe it was increased for the 2019/2020 season from about $100  
it wasn’t stated what trail number or the location where this was but I’m guessing a logging operation either expanded or moved onto the existing trail and someone missed the posting - either on the club’s or nhsa site (?) Most of Pittsburg’s trails exist on paper company land and logging operations take precedence. 

Would suck to get to border when it’s reopened to go riding in Quebec and get turned around cause you owe money to New Hampshire for an unpaid ticket. Might never happen, but why chance it. I sure would not. 
Your choice. 

This trip really healed the wounds from the last one eh Don (?)
Thanks for the great pics and the story to tie it all together. Nice to see your wife enjoying herself - sled + SUP. 
 
Have a great, safe off-season!

This trip really healed the wounds from the last one eh Don (?)
Thanks for the great pics and the story to tie it all together. Nice to see your wife enjoying herself - sled + SUP. 
 
Have a great, safe off-season!

Super nice Ice. Thanks for the ride along.
Always fun to read about your trips. You bring us right there.
Have a great off season.

Few more pics
 

But isn't that one of the 10 Notorious Lies of Snowmobiling?!
"We have enough gas"...
"The ice is thick enough"...
"I have a great idea"...
Etc-etc-etc...

Sunday 
Breakfast for Caro delivered to room. Supposed to be toasted bagel, cheese, apple, yogurt, hard boiled egg,, orange juice and muffin. Was just a bagel and apple with an orange juice. Call front desk they fix it quick. She got 2 of everything. Second delivery. 
No hurry today, short way to go all day to get there. 
9am departure. 
Worked on Alain a bit during happy hour. My friend is a creature of habit. He likes what he knows and tough to exit his comfort zone. With the help of Josee I convinced him to take the Local Orange trail outside New Richmond that’s actually a short cut 10km shorter then passing by Pin Rouge. It hooks back up with 595 right near the last warming hut when coming down from La Cache. 
As usual the local orange trails never disappoint. This was no exception. It was stellar with some awesome views and I got a thumbs up. Have a little faith brother, I would never steer you wrong. 
Quick pit stop at the warming hut for the ladies to use the outhouse. Warmer today and lots of sleds headed for La Cache.
more to come

Saturday night
Arrived at Hotel Francis upon check in the lady at front desk, who I have found very pleasant but not always helpful. Says restaurant is full no more reservations. OK. I was not that worried. At 4:30 went to restaurant and visited with the head waitress who we saw last week and chatted with for a long time. She said no problem come at 7:30 I will have your two tables of two side by side. Merci Chloe. 
Great happy hours and great dinner. Super service in the restaurant. 


 

And...
 

Few more
 

We continue on and fresh snow all the way to La Cache. The groomer was headed north back toward Relais St Paulin. Beautiful trail but windy. Into La Cache at 11:30. Big crowd here the joint is jumping. Only 4 tables of 2 people each inside. We seem to manage to arrive at the perfect time as we went in we got lucky as Alain and Josee scored a table right away. I paid for our gas ordered some food and as Caro came out of the restroom we got a table as 2 were leaving. Sweet way too windy and cold to eat outside. Perfect timing as the sleds just kept rolling in. The place was overwhelmed quickly. Line out the door to pay gas and order food. Lots eating on front porch or next door on motel porch. Not us. Inside nice and warm. Took our time no hurry. No time to chat much with the staff. But as we were leaving found Steven the main man for gas and anything else there needing attention . Taking a smoke break out back. He was frazzled. Been nonstop he said since 8:30am had not even got to drink his coffee. Busy busy. Said goodbye until tomorrow when we pass back through. 
Continued down 595 
between la Cache and trail to Murdochville very rough. After junction to Murdoch smooth ripping trail again. Top shape. Caro is loving the Gaspe riding. We stop several times to talk and kill time. We are on track to arrive by 3pm at New Richmond. Nice and slow. Near Pin Rouge Caro is checking out the petite river there, she is always on the hunt for her future paddle boarding adventures. From Pin Rouge into New Richmond hard packed and Icy. Into the gas and to hotel with 270km. 
Great fun day on the sleds.
i count 36 sleds here at Francis. Everyone knows it’s getting down to the end. 
 

Matane to New Richmond 
cold wind this morning in Matane. 8am departure. First 2km from hotel best described as “scrappy” frozen dirt and gravel. Once starting up the hill no issues. Just the first 2km. Frozen solid trail here much different than a week ago. Scratchers deployed, we roll. Farther from Matane the better it is getting. 30km and its real nice even some fresh dusting of snow here. It’s cold for sure today. Take off the gloves and you will know it. Quick break at closed Relais St Paulin. Seen maybe 6 sleds headed west so far. Trail is beautiful. 
Onward up the 595 actually seeing some small drifts of snow here. Like real winter. Cloudy a bit so Caro’s first winter peak at the Chic Chocs is obscured. Tomorrow on the way back will be better. 
More to come
 

That is great to see!!  Glad the locals are moving around supporting businesses.

Busy at La Cache today

 

I just spoke to Bill's wife JD.  He was on an overnight trip with some friends from up in Maine and he did in fact have an accident yesterday afternoon around 3:30.  He was taken to the hospital in  Holden, Maine from where he was transferred by ambulance to Bangor, Maine where there is a trauma center.  He was in the trauma unit overnight.  He has 5 broken ribs and bleeding from or on the kidneys and is heavily sedated.  JD says he not in the trauma unit at this time.  This the ONLY information I have at this time.  Thank you to Florida Snowman for letting me know.  I will post more information when i have it.  Stay strong my friend.  There are countless friends across the northeast and Quebec pulling for your speedy recovery.

Wow. Life changes fast sometimes. Enjoy every sandwich.
....wishing Dave and family all the best. Seems like a good shit. Sad to see this happen.
If you hear of a family fund getting set up at some point please post it up. 

Jesus, Mary & Joseph
thats about the saddest thing I’ve heard in quite sometime. May God Bless him and his family.
And you too Ice. 
Very sad

I am very sorry to hear this and want to add my voice to all other Quebec Riders offering prayers and well wishes for his full and fast recovery. 

Very tragic and devastating situation for this family. Glad to hear that his wife will be ok. Hopefully they will be able to rebuild their lives and their home. 
 

If you are able please tell him all his fellow Quebec riders are wishing him a speedy recovery. I will send him an email as well.
 

Welcome to QuebecRider Dave.  I hope you enjoy our site and visit often. It is always a bonus to know good people like yourself in places along the trais. 

Got to luv "" to be continued ""

Headed east now TQ5. Very nice here to Cap Chat. Throwing caution to the wind (literally) and trying not to think about the possible repercussions should a tree fall in front of me. YOLO. We stop at intersection for Village of Cap Chat. Have seen no sleds since La Cache. We are moving on. 2km further and now we got a big tree. All the way across trail. No going around. There is barely room to get under way on the left. Someone has already broke branches off to squeeze under.


i pull down on my tall windshield and squeeze under. My Alain gets close but he cannot get under. I was just about to tell him, let me do it, we can make it. When another group arrived from the east. As it turns out it was them who broke the branches to get under this tree. They tell us forget going east right now cause just a bit further is a bigger tree down and they could not get under, around or over it. 
That was all Alain needed to hear, we would not be going further east and not eating that Tomahawk steak at Hotel Cie. Well we need to arrange things now and my friend his wheels are doing à burnout. He is very worried about being able to get to the truck, with the possibility of more trees blocking trail west and then the news of trail all gone near RDL. 
We need gas either way so down to Cap Chat. Now those who have been to Petro Canada there know it’s literally right next to the River and the wind is crazy strong here with nothing to block it. Huge whitecaps and waves breaking across the street. We get the gas and go hide behind building from wind and start making calls. 
Quality Inn Matane has 2 rooms for us in back by pool, first floor. Perfect. Now we cancel St Anne. They are super understanding as usual very awesome place. So now we need to get to Matane. 
No issues getting to Matane but noticeably lots of snow gone from just a day ago. Lots of bald spots and the uphills and corners some wiped right out to mud. Big difference. I am thinking to myself if it’s like that up here in the hills I am gonna be abusing my sled bad to reach gas and hotel in Matane. Oh well it’s all part of the game. Sure enough just out of the woods through industrial park there toward Quality Inn is down to earth. A patch of slush here and there, but ain’t nothing to groom here by town even when it refreezes. It is killing me to run in this shit. But is what it is. 
To put the cherry on top while at the gas station I bust one of the springs on my Rouski wheels, now that is lovely. Nothing a rubber bungee cannot cure but just more work. Bare asphalt mud and more asphalt, cannot believe have not seen temp light yet, waiting to cross road to hotel it comes on. Later than I expected. 
Grind it across and around back to rooms after checking in. Not how I wanted to end the day. But snowmobiling has a way of thwarting even the best made plans. And I love it. Keeps you sharp and makes you be a problem solver. 
Well we are in Matane now. Truck in RDL. I have Rimouski booked for Saturday night as that was on original plan, that will change too. Mister Alain is hell bent on being in his truck tomorrow after what he has seen and I am starting to think it’s what needs to happen,
The question now is, how do we make it so?
To be continued..