Je me souviens

Wanted one more trip on the batmobile before breaking out the snowmobile. Mattawin to Kanawata via the northern roads on Saturday and return to the truck via the southern roads Sunday. It was a relatively short trip so we didn’t have to start so early in the morning, allowing the sun to warm things up a little for us. Saturday afternoon the rain hit just as we pulled into Kanawata, so we brought the luggage in our rooms. About 20 minutes later the sun came back out, so we headed Nord to Casey and checked out the new stripping on the runway. Back down to Kanawata for supper. 200 miles for the day. We watched the Habs beat Bedard and the Hawks on the new couches. There has been significant investment made in the last 2 years at Kanawata, you might not recognize it now. Sunday morning Mario fed us all the big breakfast plate before hitting the trail back to the truck. The drizzle kept the dust down most of the day. Stopped at the Mattawin damn for the first time in years and had a snack. 150 miles for the day. Here are some pics. PS the road between Repos and the Manawan cut off is the current title holder for bumpiest gravel road in Quebec right now.

Club Mattawin posted on FB that there will be no grooming on M20 & M21 again this year. 😢

I did not ask Dom about that. Sad to say but I doubt we will see that happen in the near future. Someone would have to take the initiative to meet him from the south, no funding from the FCMQ, and increased logging activity make it just about impossible to pull that one off again.

Welcome aboard Snowdevil. If I was running a 6 member team around the Gaspe, there is no way in hell I would wing it near peak season. The flip side of that is shit happens and the best laid plans can crumble on day one if there is a storm or mechanical issues. I am sure you are aware of all that jazz. We used to have a couple members here that run tours. I do not know either one of them personally. Bon Voyage snow tours is the name of one, the other dude’s name is Bruce Cody, he’s on the facecrack version of QR. I don’t know the business name. They could probably lay out a trip for you. Option 2 would be a lot of homework using the app, combined with member suggestions and hope for the best. I can tell you Le Francis in New Richmond is somewhere the lady’s will enjoy dinner.

Yes most definitely. I see a lot of sport touring bikes on the main roads, and I have crossed paths with full on dirt bikes on the trails. I try to yield to the two wheelers in the bush so they don’t have to stop. Last time I spoke to a group on the touring bikes it was at relais 22, they were headed around the Gouin. The first time up this year we met a guy cruising solo at the Repos. He said he was headed to the reservoir as well. We all agreed it was pretty ballsy to be cruising that far out solo, but hey more power to him.

No bueno. Loved that ride from the Classic to Val D’Or…. I forgot to mention the Classic on my list of ownership changes. I thought that section of 63 was closed for the past couple seasons due to logging, and if anything the bridges would be bigger and better now. I bet the Pavillon Laverendrye will be another to add on the list in short order.

Seems like so many places we all love have changed hands in the past couple years, or are about to. Ombre du vent Fer a Cheval 100 lacs was for sale, but they changed there minds My personal favorite Auberge Clova relais du touriste Notawissi Gouin lac du repos kanawata and many others I am sure I missed. It sucks to lose your contacts, the new owners don’t realize you are a longtime customer and have been coming for over a decade, making getting you out of a jamb a little less appealing…

Hi Steve. Saturday was light on the trail side of things because I wanted to make sure to stay out of the hunters territory, so we stayed on the main roads through the ZECs, no side trail. I like to have breakfast at 6 and be in the trail moving by 7, the early start gives you a chance. Once we were north of the substation near fer a cheval we dipped back into the woods to Parent. I stayed on the Clova express to close the afternoon out. Let me know when you want to Doo it and I will be your guide for the weekend. Mid June sounds perfect to me.

Took a trip up to paradise this weekend, we were blessed with great weather. Saturday morning headed north out of town, skipped by Meekoos on the way through the Manzana and Normandie ZECs. Pit stop at Lunic’s for petrol. We did not hit either of 100 lacs or Fer a Cheval because it was opening morning of moose by bow, so they are not really interested in hosting the SxS crew at this time, which I completely understand. Took a shortcut up the road to Parent, back way onto 13 that follows the Bazin river. Late lunch at the central in town. You see more weird shit in Parent in the summer than you can imagine….We pushed onto Clova. In for the night by 4:30 with 220 miles for the day. Now let’s have some drinks and laughs over a great meal. Sunday morning we hit the dusty trail down Lepine road. I have not rode it from top to bottom since pre covid, holy shit they have built it up! All new bridges and signage, not to mention the extra width, it’s basically a super highway almost all the way to Clova. Petrol at the Pensive then back into the woods at the Petawaga. Trailside snack at snake falls, then back to the truck before 3:30 with 160 miles on the dream-o-meter. Here are some pics.

My moving average was an all time high, I would say 25mph moving average is the norm. The numbers are a little misleading because that area uses a lot of high quality logging road. You can definitely cover way more ground on a sled. We were surprised by how little traffic we met, a fraction of what the sled traffic is. The game warden was sitting at the intersection of 360 & M20. Yes the dust is serious. I am fortunate because I am the trip coordinator and know what way we are headed so I get to lead. The dust levels depend on moisture and soil type. (stone vs sand, morning vs afternoon) The trick is to let one personal go, wait a minute or two, then follow. If you want to see tail lights at all times, then you will be filthy by days end. No doubt about it.

We came across one small patch of the forest that had been burned. It was very depressing to look at. I can’t imagine what it looks like further west where the fires were larger.

I was finally able to get out in the bush after postponing due to the fires. Left Saturday morning from Marineau’s and headed to Windigo via Repos and Kanawata. First time at Windigo for me, definitely will return. I said hi to Martine & Daniel from the QR gang. We washed off the dust in the reservoir out front, a nice treat on a warm sunny afternoon. Sunday morning back to the truck via Relais 22 and La Tuque. The game warden checked for ZEC registrations in the Chapeau de Paille. He was not wearing a straw hat…😂 use google translate if you don’t get the joke. Here are the stats and pictures. Day 1: 225 miles, avg moving speed 34MPH. Total time 10 hours. Day 2: 252 miles, avg 34MPH. Total time 9 hours.