doo4adoo

8 March Sunday
on we go through Godbout and to Baie Trinitie for gas. Trail better here. Now it’s been a few seasons since I been this way but surely the next stretch to Port Cartier has been re-routed a bit as it seems a lot less powerline sections to me. Anyway we burn along and into Port Cartier with 315 miles its 6:15 pm. Feels like I rode today for sure. Big first day. Had food delivered to us here at hotel. Eastbound tomorrow we shall see where we end up. 

Im not an expert in the area but about 2 weeks ago we took the trail I think you’re referring too. It was well marked. Shows Amqui and L’Assension and then splits. I forget the mileage but I think it was about 3hrs to Point a la Croix from Moose. We gased in a small town on the Que side. Nice ride for sure. 

The past couple days have been mid winter conditions and mostly great trails, with lots of sunshine thrown in.
It is so nice to contact friends and tell them how good the riding is and have them drive up and join me. Surprised they believed me as they watched their grass growing in southern New England.
Friday Jak and I did the Moose Valley run. Great fast trails until Moose Valley, then about 15 - 20 miles of groomed but very loose snow conditions. Tons of recent new snow in the mountains. We saw two moose. 250 miles. Today Jack & Sandy, Jak, and new to the group Gary and I did a southern loop then the  Isle Verte loop at days end.  205 miles. First half of the day mostly hard fresh groomed trails and same with Isle Verte loops. 205 miles. Sunny both days. Day room in the new section of the Hotel makes for a great days end BYOB happy hour.  

For a few of you who mentioned coming up later in the week.   
I have been cleared by the wife for up to another week past next Sunday (I may stay longer even if you can't make it)'
I just checked at the front desk. This coming weekend there is no hockey tournament.  201 rooms taken,  80 rooms left as of now, so looking hopeful.
I will keep updating conditions all week, but right now looking good after today's warm up.
Bring your A game.  Moose Valley,  Baker Lake, and maybe a nice loop over by Rimouski.
***************
Today was thick fog all morning.  Warm in the mid 30's.  Finally later in the morning I decided to go anyway. One mile from the hotel and bright sunshine. As I made my way SW I could feel it getting a tad colder. Maybe 33 away from town. Top layer of snow just a little sticky,  It was excellent going, carbides had a good bite as just under the sticky was hard cold trail.
Explorers Club closed, headed west to Belle Pistas club and had an excellent burger and greateau  avec sauce for dessert. Back around by the St. Lawrence, thick fog, almost could not see the trail, quickly got better. Back to hotel with 100 miles and still fog in RDL.
 mike
 

Took this Tuesday from rdl and it works great 
Mike knows his stuff!

Started out today headed south following a couple tracks south on 85. About 25 miles out ran into groomed trails for most of the rest of the day. Many were not listed on the grooming map that were groomed. Lots of  new snow, many areas more than a foot. Just checked groomer map again this evening and looks nice. Should be a nice weekend for riding.
mike
 
 

So I have Ben drop me off in the middle of this wide long straight away that you could see for a mile in each direction and I thank him and tell him my buddy will be back on his sled to pick me up any second. So....I’m standing there for like 5 minutes (seems like a long time)....and I finally see headlights coming. 
Good ....here he comes I hear a sled...it’s not him .....but.....a lone Ontario dude. He stops....pullls up the visor and says you o.k man.....and I instantly decided to f&@ck with him. “ I literally scream.....”I LOST MY SNOWMOBILE “....have you seen it??
the look on his face was priceless.....then I said I was in that groomer you just passed and here comes my buddy André. We all hung for a half hour, became asshole buddies and exchanged funny stories and each others contact info 
here my buddy André and Randy from Ontario 

Had a shorty, then distracted, back soon!

Have you been out this winter or have I missed something?
 

Tuesday 25 February 
Splendid stay as always at Hotel Matagami. Busy place the restaurant/bar gets alot of business from the people there in town. Out and heading down the 396 to 93 to La Sarre. Left at 9:30. Trail is nice. Has held up well just like the Lebel side. Grooming map shows 93 groomed to La Sarre. Seeing more activity with the colder temps. Gotta luv it. We are off. Nice temperature this AM cold is good. Have not run this trail down this direction in a long time. Same with the Lebel side yesterday’s ride seems we have done it the opposite way the last few times. Nice to shake things up. Trail has some spots where it’s open and the drifts have taken over but just a little bit. We run to first warming hut. Here we chat with two couples from North Bay, real nice folks we chatted at breakfast with the one gentleman. Met the rest of gang at first hut. They were leaving breakfast as we went in. We say goodbye and they follow us from the warming hut. The one gentleman says you guys can go first we don’t ride that fast. Okie dokie. We hammer down to second warming hut. We are there maybe 10 minutes they pull up. They ride pretty fast. We are leaving they are taking a break. Beautiful finish to St Felix for gas. It’s noon. Another gang we met at Forestel from Ontario. Parry Sound i think. They are headed up to Matagami. Eating lunch at the gas station. Nice store there got everything. Including Pizza and hot food. We have the usual full tank of super, Today is Reese’s peanut butter cups and a Pepsi. 
Finished we head off out 93 for La Sarre. Groomed and nice. Much more traffic headed east judging by ski tracks, well used since this morning  Its fast and fun. Quick run to Local orange trail I head south then back to 93 and on up to La Sarre. It’s been nothing but good trail today. Headed into gas we pass one groomer, nice. We fill up and get supplies for the hotel. On the way to Villa mon Repos here are 2 more groomers one following the other, I am thinking they must have just left the barn and will each take a different route a bit further out. Or if its a new technique I like it. Double grooming good just like double cheeseburger it’s twice as good. Good sign for the morning. Into hotel and what do we find? Villa Repos now has a Boston Pizza Restaurant in it. I like it. 
220 miles. 
Tomorrow we will recalculate and decide some things. We got a pretty good storm coming. I need to decide where to be. 
 

bonjour !!!
earleir this morning.....great day for riding !!!
 
jean-guy

We're spending a few days in the mountains tuning up some mountain skills ! 😁  Crazy amount of snow.  

In summary. We rode 3 days free, bought 2 one day passes for today. Even though it was a warm, sunny, free weekend, there was surprisingly little traffic. Today, monday, almost none. 95% of the trails were groomed and in great shape. We found signage to be very consistent and good. Access to Hotels, food and gas was very good. We planned short mileage days in anticipation of tight, bumpy trails, we were wrong. If you're into miles, you could get them here. We had a great time and will add it to our Gaspe loop in the future.
     Hope this is a help to someone, Jeff and Sandy

As I read this post it made me think of after 30+ years riding, thousands of thousands of miles and all friends and riding partners that have come and gone, everyone should appreciate and cherish the people your with, as time goes by it all changes

You bet, after 33 seasons only 1 of the guys I rode with is still riding, and he is talking about quitting after this last ride next week. I just went on a 1959 mile ride alone...some say it is crazy, but it was a great ride...with zero snow dust...and I met a lot of great people out there...I do not get too crazy about it...when your number is up...that's it...might as well be doing something you enjoy!!

I'm a day behind here.
Yesterday, Joe and I decide for a ride east on 83.  We are going to meet some of the other QRs at the Auberge des Battures for lunch so we have to time this right.  We are gassed up and off towards Chicoutimi.  We be good and go slow thru the 20 kmh zone on 83.  There are plenty of places we can run fast without getting the local people upset.  The trail is good.  We go by Bec-Scie and keep on cruising.  Everything is fine.  I get to the turn off for the Auberge and look at the time and the odometer.  Its 9:30 and we are suppose to be at the Auberge for 11:30 for lunch.  The loop we want to do is about 60 miles so this should work out just right.  We continue on.
This part of 83 was groomed the night before.  Just a little chatter in the corners.  A little oncoming traffic but 83 is wide and everyone is behaving.  We get to the 383 cutoff to L'Anse St Jean and the groomer had come out of there last night.  The next stretch should be perfect.  Joe asks me if I want to swap machines and try his 900 Turbo?  Sure!  I've been curious on how it would feel compared to the 850.
On we go.  I'm a little unsure because it has the ETC, electronic throttle control, that was on Sandi's 1200's that I could never get accustomed to.  It is a lighter push on the lever compared to the cable control on the 2 strokes.  Not as twitchy as the 1200's were.  OK.  I'm getting comfortable with this.  I'm in regular mode.  Joe has a nice seat on this.  Later he tells me its Ski-Doo's big soft seat.  I could be sitting in my easy chair at home watching a game.  This is comfy.
The 12 km go by fast.  We turn right onto 383 by the relais.  I refer to this relais as the one legged bird relais.  A few years ago there was a little bird that had lost a leg some how.  He would hang around here and wait for sleds to pull in.  I remember the first time we met him.  We had parked and this bird flies over and lands on my windshield.  I had a package of crackers and opened them and when I looked back at the bird, I noticed one of his legs was missing.  He would take pieces of crackers right out of your hand.  So cute.  So that is my story about the one legged bird.  Maybe some of you have seen him too.
Back to the sleds.  Joe tells to stay on the 900.  He wants me to get used to it.  We run up 383 to the first local trail, trail 22.  383 was groomed last night and there had been sleds on it.  Very smooth.  22 was also groomed but no one on it yet.  We are first.  Yea.  A couple of centimeters of fresh snow on the trail.  Off we go.  A little twisty in here.  There is some logging going on but nothing interfering with the trail.  Before we know it, we are back at the junction with 83.  Here we swap back and get on our respective sleds.  I want to ride the 850 again while the 900 is fresh in my mind.
Hmm?  What happened to my nice soft seat?  Oh yea, my sled.  The 900 is a little heavier on the front end.  It corners pretty close to the 850.  I'm used to the 850 so I know exactly how it is going to respond.  The 900 I didn't push as hard.  Not my sled and again, I'm not used to it.  Rear suspension, I didn't even feel it back there.  It felt like a shorter track.  Probably that big soft seat absorbed what the suspension doesn't.  I could ride either sled.  Its all snowmobiling.
While we were switching sleds, a group of about ten sleds go by heading in the same direction as we are going.  We take off and we do catch up to them but they are rolling along at a good clip.  No I'm not going to try and pass them.  Ten sleds, no.  It is only 8 km further to the turn.  They go straight and we take the trail to the Auberge.  I haven't been there before but Joe has and the others.  Its about 5 miles down their trail.  It does get groomed so it is in decent condition.  We pull in and I see that the other guys are here.  I look at my watch, 11:28.  Perfect.
We go inside and Bill, JD, Daniel, Colette and the Gutz boys are here.  Very nice place.  It sits right on the bay.  They are only open for lunch if someone calls with a group of 6 or more.  We did and there are others that are coming that aren't with us.
A really good soup.  It looks like carrot to me.  Warm rolls.  I get the trout and Joe gets the pork.  This is really good.  Then comes dessert.  A white cake with a light maple syrup with whipped cream and two raspberries.  Oh I could make a meal out of about five of these.  Wow that is good.
To be continued.

Got home yesterday from a 12 day 4198 km ride. Left from home In Riverview NB and rode to Chibougamau, Senneterre 100 Lacs. Ran into Dan the Skidoo again in Chapais as well as Snowmater 2112 and met neksleder in Quebec City. Temps ranged from plus 3 to minus 33! For the most part excellent conditions lowest snow cover is north of Lac St Jean for a short area near La Dore and most areas have several feet!!!

hi all !!!
 
 better fasten your seat belt before reading this.....
 
i went grooming last night and i reached the end of the trail ...like we say here....im exhausted.....tired of swearing all the time...
my season started on the wrong foot ....and it has been  like that since the beginning .....
while grooming last night , check engine came on and wake up  call came in .....telling me that its was time to stop ...
so, im  officially retiring from grooming before bad luck with health ....not very good to swear like that all the time ....
 
i feel very bad for those who bought trail passes from our club ....those who paid me  beer and wine and let me money ...gifts ...etc........thats life and i can t do anything about that !!!!
i never expected to have a bad season like that ....
im just back from clubhouse to let fleurette know....she never expected that ...
29 years ago , when i started working for my boss ( summer job ) i told him and keep reminding him time to time......when bad luck stick to me.....can be for a long time.....
thats the resumé of my season.....
 
thank you all for your understanding ....its just a very sad day !!!
merci !!!
i chose that pic because its very peaceful .....thats what i need ...peace....tq 5 early morning !!!
 
jean-guy
 
 

I couldn't go last year as I was away, but it would have been similar. This is April 7 2018. Parking lot & trail

I couldn't go last year as I was away, but it would have been similar. This is April 7 2018. Parking lot & trail

while typing , i concentrated too much on my post and translating .....i forgot to post those 2 pics !!!
 
im a professional !!!😀😀
 
jean-guy

Mike
I'm planning on being in RDL Feb 22 and heading towards Moose valley the next day (Sunday). If I read your reviews correct there is 2 different trails when leaving from RDL in the NB side? If so what are recommendations on which to take. We're going to keep on going after lunch east and find a spot along the coast for the night. Not sure where yet but that's the direction we're going.
Thanks in advance for this as well as your other reports. Happy to see George is with you and doing well.
Mike

I couldn't go last year as I was away, but it would have been similar. This is April 7 2018. Parking lot & trail

My wife and I stayed here Saturday 2/8 to Wednesday 2/12.  My second time here, last time with 5 guys and we stayed in the cottage adjacent to the hotel.  This time had awesome room in the hotel.  They got like 2 feet on snow Thursday and Friday.  Guys we talked too said Saturday was tough with huge drifts in the open fields. Great Sunday brunch then a ride to L'Ours Noir for lunch in Warwick.   Trails great, except TQ 25 near the Manoir, it sucked the entire 3 days, maybe the local groomer is down?  Second day to the Club at Bueceville all good except TQ 25 near the hotel.  Third day to RESTO-BAR RELAIS DES MONTAGNARDS, really cool sled Relais and off the charts smoked meat sandwich.  Great riding especially the straits on TQ 35 took the local orange trail fro TQ 25 to TQ 35.  It was like frosting on cake both ways.  Hardly anybody seems to use it and was perfect.
The Manolir is a great place to go with your wife/GF.  Friendly staff, clean rooms, great gourmet food, valet" sled parking in a heated/locked garage, and an outdoor spa is one of the nicest I've seen.  All in all a nice few days with the Mrs.  Back to Domaine Bazenet in 2 weeks with the guys.  Chaudiere Applaches shouldn't be overlooked bu those coming from the US.  Less time on the "black trail" and more time riding.
 
Fred

Sunshine and  favorable temps this morning. SkiDoo420 and I agreed;  another trip to Moose Valley for lunch and come up with a new game plan for the second half of the day.
Left at 8 am and arrived at the Moose 11:30,   125 miles, besting our last trip by 15 minutes. After lunch we decided swinging through New Brunswick and coming into Quebec below the Frontier club house was to much of a stretch. We decided to stay in the mountains and do a loop heading out northeast and circling around to come out near the Quebec border where we entered in the morning. On the way in to Moose Lodge, we chose the right hand trail this time. Almost as good as the left hand one, but not quite.
For those that have never ventured to Moose Lodge from the Quebec side, it is endless miles of riding in the mountains with big wide logging roads, constant changes in elevation,  fast sweeping corners, and a few 'gotcha corners'.
Moose Lodge  is nice inside. However, there is no lake by the cabins and I think a stay there overnight would be good but 'basic'.
Took the longer way back once in Quebec going over to Isle Verte club house with the idea of doing a sunset ride on the green trails down by the island. Just before reaching the club the winds became fierce. Blowing snow was wild. A tree came down across the trail hanging just above head level. I thought a coffee at the club was a good alternative. Surprise, club is closed and for sale. So sad, great food, even greater lady that ran it, and always a warm place to stop.
Back in to RDL at 285 miles for the day.
mike