Je me souviens

Love it, hope to grow old enough to have those symptoms, in decent health. Not sure if you guys read this one, but thought you guys should get a chance to enjoy it. Said: Results of a recent survey found that more money has been invested in erectile disfunction, and breast implants research than alzheimer's disease. Great, all I have to look forward to is a society full of elderly people walking around with hard-ons and perky tits, but can't remember what to do with them..... For Groomer. La joke disait: Recament on a trouve que aux Etats-Unis on depense plus d'argent sur la recherche de la disfonction du penis, et les implantations des seins que sure l'alzheimers. Donc tout ce que j'ai a m'attendre quands je suis age, ces un monde remplis de personnes bande et de seins qui sons bien remplis sauf personnes peut se souvenir quoi faire avec.

I am not sure if I was reading it correctly, going to call Sylvain to find out for sure, but the SEPAQ website says that the "cafeteria", in the park will be closed permanently. I am hoping that they meant somewhere else. Here is what the site said. "The number 63 Trans-Québec trail links the Laurentides and Lanaudière regions. It crosses Réserve faunique Rouge-Matawin for a distance of 80 km. Please note that the gas station and restaurant that were located in the Saint-Michel sector have been CLOSED permanently." Look-up snowmobiling in the Reserve Faunique Rouge Matawin site. I hope I am not reading it right. The link:http://www.sepaq.com/rf/rom/

I have a Garmin 60 CSX, love it for hiking, but for snowmobiling purposes, it is almost useless. Although the Zumo is much more expensive, if I could do it all over again, I would not have wasted my money on the 60 csx, I would have held out for another year, till I could afford the bigger unit. I just had my eyes tested, better that 20/16, and the screen is hard to read, the unit is not usable as a handlebar mounted system. Save up until you can afford the ZUMO, I saw a few in use last year, and regretted every penny I spent on the one I have.

The Balbuzzard, that guy is about as useless as they get. We stopped there one day, I needed some help on the way back from a long ride. Some parts or advice. I forget his name, but the guy from France, the owner, wouldn't let me use the phone, had no coffee, no food, nothing. All he likes is the hunters so he can milk them for thousands at a pop. A few coffee's and a phone call was too much to ask. When I finally got the phone book out, and used the pay phone to call the dealership in Senneterre, the parts guy was most helpful, and even knew that the Balbuzzard had an order coming through on the train later that day. However as unhelpful as he was, the owner of the Balbuzzard couldn't tell me that, or direct me to the dealer's number or anything. The next time I go through there I wouldn't stop even if I was starving, freezing, and in need of shelter. I read the thread about how helpful and nice the residents of Quebec are, well this one wouldn't help you if he could. I am a former Quebecer myself, born and raised, fluent in french and all that good stuff. But the old Ball Buster Buzzard is definitely not on my list of stops next time I head to Bougamau. Sorry for the rant, but sometime's you need to pass along the bad with the good about favorite places to stop and stay. The next time a forest fire rages through that area, I would watch will glee as the Balbuzzard burns to the ground. I heard the hunting sucks anyway after the fires from years past, the Moose have moved out of the area for better food and cover. That's probably why he was so unbelievably useless. PM me if you need to tell me different, I stand by my statements above as the truth, and was told by the next stop in Clova, that they have heard similar stories about the Balbuzzard.

I love this time of year, just because it gives us an excuse to go over our pictures, and share stories with others on the site. Plus you really find out who is on the site all year, not just when they want last minute trail conditions. I love looking at everybody else's pictures. I love to share mine too, because I take a lot of flak from the guys in my group when I stop to take pictures too often. I say heck, I spend all this money riding, i want to remember it for years to come. So here's a few of mine from last season. Feel free to chime in with any of the locations you spotted below. Cheers. George

That was the day before our group met you at that restaurant where the owner was helping me put my skid back together with his spare parts. I remember talking to you when you said you were from Vermont. Did you decide to sell your sled? I found a skid for mine. Note to all QR members with Ski Doo's built in 08 & 09. Replace the pop rivets on the bogey wheels with bolts. You will thank me after you notice the rivets are either broken or missing. The 2010's put bolts in both places. I will post pics later. We were on our way to Parent, you were on your way to Chibougamau. What a trip. I met a few QR members on that trip. You, Goose and a few more that I did not catch their names. Cant wait for winter. Keep the pics coming! It sooths my soul to see snow!

The moral of the story is next time you think of how much of a pain in the a** loading your sled is, just remember...it could be worse. You gotta love the lady in the background laughing at the whole situation. The guy was lucky he got out before it sank and trapped him in there. He could of easily gotten CO2 poisoning. Reminds me of a time I trapped myself in my trailer in St-Donat. I was lucky I had not started the sled yet. I would have never gotten out. A couple of guys in the parking lot almost pissed their pants laughing. I couldn't help but laugh at myself too, once I finally got out! Merci Jean-Guy pour l'humeur, j'avais besoins de ca! -George

I thought it was about time, thanks for getting it started Sarge, gotta love the Gaspe, Bill nice view of the Fjord behind you. Here's a few of mine

Heres a couple more pics.

Myself, Artcat900 aka Tom, Jeff, Terry and Kevin took a ride a few weeks back, and this is what we found. Sunday: Left the Montagnard in St-Michel and stopped at Le Relais 22. Bumby and Sandy. :sad: Monday: Left the 22 and stopped in La Dore, forgot the name of the place... Trails getting better by the mile. PS Met up with "Goose" and his crew, looked like team Yahama was in good shape, just getting the same trip done in reverse. Tuesday: Left La Dore, had lunch at the clubhouse just west of Chibougamau, and stopped in Lebel-sur-Quevillon. Trails were great Hotel was right next to the bar, good times. Wednesday: Left Lebel, stopped in Parent. Stayed at La Centrale. It was the anniversary of the town, or so said one of the locals, and they were having a blast in the little bar. Parent: Population 300, @ 1Am in the morning the place was hopping! Great entertainment considering. Thursday; Left Parent, got to the truck in St Michel, and called it a season. :sad: Feast your eyes on these...

What you need to do is leave from slightly west of Mont Laurier. ie; Le Domaine about 45 west of Mt. laurier, then head north west to end in Val D'or @ the Alpin hotel. Then head north east to Senneteterre Amos, staying @ Le Balbuzzard, then head south West to Clova. Find an extra day where conditions are the nicest and call it a season. http://www.balbuzard.com http://www.yellowpages.ca/bus/Quebec/Rouyn...p;le=54a8412942 Phone # 819 762 0991 http://www.fcmq.qc.ca/Default.aspx?TabId=6...;language=en-CA

Looking good MccDoo

Great report, love the picture of the wolfe. I was considereing heading up that way this week-end. Now I am ready to ride. I hope there is some snow left up that way. Keep the pictures coming. If we were all as giving as the guy who helped you out, life would be great.

That guy looks like Johnny Ski Doo from the old Yamaha dvd when they introduced 4 strokes

Thanks for the info. It's not the most common area to talk about. I have been eye-balling the map of that area for a few months now, I think that your report convinced me that the season ender should take me to that region. Got any pics we can look at? Thanks. George

Mike, If the Honiaks at the ports of entry had a real job, they would be in for a reality check! Over paid, under worked, and rude as all hell. The questions get dumber and dumber every year. I once handed a US passport to the guy at the booth, after telling him I was born in Montreal, he asked me for a green card! I had to remind him that once you become a US citizen, they take the green card away, and you get what is called a PASSPORT, you are now a citizen of the United States, no longer eligible for a green card. I think there must have been a lot of hard studying at the school they send the boys to.

Just did that loop on Monday. You will need to park north of St-Raymond. There is no snow left on the trail! Once you go up the hill behind St-Ray, 23 is great! I want a sticker that says, I love TQ 23! Once you get to the intersection of ?? and 23, take a right to get into Jonquiere is was a little rough, but plenty of snow. Jonquiere itself could use some snow. Once you get up to the Lac, you must go up to Les Monts Vallins! It is a different world up there. I will get some pics up tonight

(You are not at home) You are destroying my culture Trail Closing Possible Please Stay on Trail!

Nice report, great pics. Manawan is more than a little sketchy. When you see a pair of gas pumps in a cage, you know you have reached a different kind of place. I had my buddy sitting on my sled, while I left it for 30 seconds to pay for the gas. I loved heading up that way, not many people on those trails, as compared to the Cabanon area.

Looks like Mike got himself a new sled. 1400 in 6 days. Nice ride. Doo tell.

The Roquemont is the spot, but I do opt for the wheel lock. If you are staying the night before you hit the trail up to paradise the next morning. Do yourself a favor. Bring a pillow from home that you can stuff in the truck in the morning. Breakfast kicks ass there! The intercontinetal "bird" breakfast you get at some places just doesn't cut it for me.

BV2s for sure. Light. Great visibility. No Fogging... when properly used. Light on the back is highly visible at night or in snow dust. As mentioned b4, it will drizzle on you. Make sure you buy the high test inserts for it. BRP makes a few versions, the ones that come with the helmet are the best, thick, highly absorbant and re-usable. I know, re-using them is gross but it's cheap.

That's what I've got so far.

Want to see more? Here are the pics from Sunday. HI to St-Ray.

I will post more as soon as I figure out why my attachment space is limited to such a small file size. Usually it's up to 2mb. For some reason it only 418kb right now. Try again tomorrow!