doo4adoo

Day 2 Tuesday
  We awake in Dolbeau-Mistassini, no hurry today we will wait to hear whats up with the 850 Back Country. We go to breakfast and then as returning to room the call comes. Peter from service in Dolbeau-Mistassini has pronounced the patient D.O.A. Zero psi in one cylinder and 60 psi in the other. Verdict, it needs complete shortblock. Good and bad news. All parts on shelf including complete short block. Will be ready Wednesday after lunch. So, off we go myself by sled and Phil by Taxi to dealer. He will rent a sled for the meantime. The guys there set him up with an Expedition 900 Ace, (they got no Turbos in rental fleet) anything is better than sitting in hotel. They take off the two up seat and arrange all the linq setup for his bags. Awesome. Just before noon we hit the trail. Out of dealer and to 93 all is beautiful here. Up to Girardville we gas up just because and go to checkout the 6 room motel Jackstraw posted about. This will do nicely. We will be back there Friday night. From Girardville up to the 373 and it’s delicious. Our first time riding it this direction we have ran it three other times but always from the other side. Beautiful conditions great temperature and life is good. Over, through and down to 93 and direction Alma for the night. Great ride into Alma and we head to another secret spot, much easier than the Universel and sled right outside door, Restaurant right in front. Gotta love it.  We are back in business.   that 373 from Girardville is a real nice ride.            

I am three days behind on my posts, I apologize, trying to catch up. Here is the start more to follow...
Prequel 
Sunday 3pm   This trip was pushed back by one day due to the storm Friday. We called an audible and decided it would be best to wait until Monday morning to leave. Snohorse left his trailer here a few weeks ago. His 18’ BCX 850 got a full service at the BRP dealer and I put it back in his trailer. He texted me before he got to Trois Riveres and I met him at my shop as his trailer was secured there out of the weather. Met him there pinned his trailer and headed for Chez Ice. Did the usual prepping on both sleds and headed off to the ATM to get some cash. Came back and Mrs had arrived from shopping so we hung out a bit before going out for dinner. Back to the house and some more TV and talk then off to bed.    Day 1 Monday   Locked and loaded we head off at 8:15 am under grey skies and light snow. This trip we got a monkey on our back. Not just any monkey but the one and only Monkers. Playhard’s pink buddy. We kidnapped him to take him for a spin as he was looking down from lack of trail time. Now, unlike George, Mikerider’s primate, Monker has dual citizenship. He speaks fluent Québécois as well,(after enough Jack I have heard it). So Snohorse and I head out along with Monkers. Great trail up through Shawi Shawi and then 23 to 360 nice, not terrible, seen better, seen worse. At the end of the 355 section before Train Bridge was beat bad. Just took road right to bridge. From there all the way to Lac Edward really nice. Loving Monday and private trails. I knew I was pushing it trying to make Co-op gas from home with the loose snow on trail and sure enough about 10km short my sled starts to cough. Spilled in my gas and off to the Co-op. On a side note.... I think the trail to get on lake is up the section Marked cul de sac coming from Trappeur side. The 355 is on the quad trail here now. Anyway, uneventful so far great riding and into co-op at 12:24. Gas, candy bar and off we go. Past co-op and up the road to rejoin 355, nice shortcut when they are not logging here. 355 is in good shape we take full advantage. This trail is much better now with the new route compared to years back. Everything was peachy, happy campers and a grinning monkey. 27km from Lac Bouchette that all changed. Snowmobiling is like a box of Chocolates “you never know what you gonna get”  I get a call from Snowhorse on the radio, his pony is dead. I swing around and go back. The monkey is smiling. But he is the only one. No warning no nothing just went down, stopped running. Turns over but won’t run. I got one bar on cell phone I try to start getting things lined up but calls keep dropping. Oh well one way or another nothing we can do here, its out with the towing gear and I truck him to Lac Bouchette. Big beautiful new gas/depanneur here, nice to see that. I start making calls, Alma, no truck available to come, Dolbeau-Mistassini is our first choice as many good experiences with this dealer when we have been down before. No dice Dolbeau-Mistassini truck is out on another rescue not back till after closing time. Tick Tock cause its 1hr 20 minutes by road to Dolbeau-Mistassini. They are ready to examine it and do whatever it takes if I get it there. Two choices now. Call a Flatbed put both sleds on and go or find a pickup truck. Into the Depanneur I go and I ask the nice lady behind the counter if she knows anyone with a pickup who can take mon ami to Dolbeau-Mistassini? She says let me call my boyfriend. 5 minutes later he is there. I pull the BCX up a snowbank and he is in the truck and off like a prom dress for Dolbeau-Mistassini. Monkey still smiling. Its 3:15. I got a full tank of gas, plenty of smokes and a pink monkey on my back. I head off solo for Dolbeau-Mistassini.   Up to Roberval all very nice. From Chateau Roberval up on 373 is a minefield. Drifted 2-3 foot moguls. Damn monkey smiling still, I am not. No choice I moto cross it to local orange trail that goes through polaris dealer in St Prime. Things are better here much better.    I take the Local orange trail and cruise over to Join 93 in Dolbeau-Mistassini. I bypass Auberge Dilligence as we have a new spot to stay. It’s 30km on other side of town but worth it. Uneventful run over and into Hotel. Text from Snohorse he’s in 116. Into hotel at 6pm. Not bad considering.    They made it to Ski Doo just in time. Sled is on table will be examined in morning.   Lots of things can happen any time you slip on that helmet and ride. How you deal with what you are dealt is the key. We been there, done that and got the t-shirt, many times, it’s not our first rodeo, We take it in stride. What good would it do to flip out and get all upset, what would that change? Zero, nada.   to be continued......        

Left Oliphant Ontario in a snow storm. Arrived in Mt Laurier just after 7 p.m., stayed at the Confort Inn. Woke up to lots of sledders and -31, still going to send it. Unloaded the trailer, Father and Son both with new suits mother got jealous and "my zipper is broken, I better get a new suit" After the visit to the wallet lighting dealership, did the tourists thing... Went to Mount Diablo, then for a swim at Windigo Chutes. On to St Anne du Lac for lunch. Them to Pourboirie Fer a Cheval for a great meal and great hospitality. Woke up to -29

Been a couple busy days. Skidoo420 surprised me with a visit starting yesterday. Off to Moose Valley we ride Yesterday morning. After seeing Viper2's posts and pictures and talking to RoadRunner, this was a dream ride and it did not disappoint.  Via Squatec it was 125 miles. The last 30 miles or so was perhaps the most epic trail I have ridden ever! We did the left fork entering NB.  Lodge was nice, food was great. Gassed up, (cash only). Than bought a NB day pass and the afternoon we rode down to Edmunston and up to Degalis and back to RDL. Same distance going back, about 125 miles, although we added some extra bonus miles from a wrong turn. Thin snow in NB but trails were flawless. Met about 8 to 10 sleds all day. Just an outstanding ride. North of Moose Lodge we came through the most beautiful mountain range, riding mile after mile of high altitude, deep snow and perfect smooth trails.
Today SkiDoo420 and I rode to Rimouski and hit all the trails in the southeast corner. They were amazing.  Ate at Table du Mamam.  Too much food but really good. Much higher traffic count today. Came back via Squatec and made it in before dark.  Another 250 miles..
Tonight met an old friend Kevin from Ontario. He just finished up the Gaspe and said best trails ever.
mike
 

Well, back in RDL for a couple weeks. Driving up through Jackman  then north to almost Quebec City the snow is somewhat thin but all the trails I could see from the truck looked mint. Once I started east on Highway. 20 the snow got deeper.  Arrived at RDL and went out for a 75 mile ride and lunch. Hopefully will know more in the next couple days but it appears to still be mid winter conditions. 
The grooming map looks like the green trails going east along the St. Lawrence and by Isle Verte appear to all be open now, finally. Not sure if you can ride out to the island yet or not.
For those that remember 'George', I was able to smuggle him back into his homeland for a visit.  I think I will recognize his original owner's sled if he ever comes back to the Universel Hotel. Returning George to his family would be stuff made for Hallmark movies.
mike
 

We left Cabanon at 3pm on Tuesday and took 345 to M21 then M21 to Matawin River for the night, 100 miles on mint trails and did not see another sled all the way, only 1 other sled there when we arrived.Left for Lac Edward on Wed am, the middle section of the pipe line to La-tuque was groomed when it was too warm, not enough snow to fill it in then it froze, total junk for 15 miles, but the lower and upper half are very nice. Took the right hand turn to Lac Edward, no marks from anyone, mint concrete race way, very nice!! Quick lunch and gas then 355 to Chateau Roberville on Lake st John, super mint again no other sleds in any direction. Thursday am off to relay 22 on 83 south, once again our 3rd blue bird day in a row with temps around 8 f, and no sleds anywhere.The new bridge on 83 above Relay 22 is nearly done, but the section of plowed road needs new snow but quite passable. Relay 22 is packed, even though we see nobody all day long on mint trails. Gas and go to Gouin Reservoir then off to Parent, again trails are mint, only sled we see all the way to Parent is Snow master going east on 83 to Wemotacci, we are headed west, both of us trying to beat dark, we will talk another day. Had dinner at Central and stayed the night, some older men from Ontario share a wealth of info with us about trails to the west where we are headed. Thursday we head out to 100 Lacs for soup and the trial is incredible, could not be better and it is 30 below, not even thinking about the cold weather, we are just amazed that we are on day 4 and still blue bird and mint trail it seems it is our private trail system, still seeing no other sleds!! Below Lac 100 we go left thru the forest, on of the best kept secrets in all of Quebec, this is a gorgeous trail and mint with not a single sighting in either direction, we really cannot believe it. We head for Cockanagog on the north east top of Baskatong Reservoir and arrive at 530, they have a cabin for us with a wood stove, very nice. They are 6 miles down a road, off the trail but a very sweet find, they tell us dinner is in 45 minutes, we arrive to the very best meal we have seen in 32 years of Quebec, that is quite a feat as there is a lot of great food on the trail.Saturday am gas breakfast and west to Point David on Baskatong Reservoir, trails are still mint but we now have company on the trail...everywhere!! When you are in this area have a GPS or know where you are going because the signage out here is a real joke. No east or west signs, no north or south signs, signs on the back of other signs on the wrong side of the trail, signs 3 miles thru an unmarked intersection, etc, do not travel here in the dark unless you know where you are going or have a GPS.We are now trying to figure out which would be the easiest way to get back to the truck, it is 250 miles away at Cabanon and it is 9am Saturday morning. We decide to go to 63 and stay there to St Michelle. The rail bed is quite boring but groomed well and in a blink we are at the airport 150 miles away, very little traffic and we gas and go thru the park from Mecassa, the trail is starting to fall apart in the second half towards St Michelle. We went thru the parking lot of Hautte Matawin ski doo dealer to head toward st. Zenon, and now we are paying for 4.5 days of perfection, the trail is so bad I want to go back to town and call a taxi for a ride!! We arrived back to Le cabanon at 6pm in the dark feeling like we were now members of the Canadian snow cross team, My fault, we should know better to enter this region on a Saturday night or Sunday, but it is a very good place to leave your truck and trailer for safety reasons. Roast beef was great for dinner and we were on the drive home at 4 am.New sleds have 950 miles in 4 1/4 days, and zero trouble, really love this 850 expedition extreme, 2 weeks for the next one , going for 9 days, hope we have the same luck!!

We stopped in Hotel central in Parent, had dinner with slyvia's cousin, he said she is at home and doing well, her eye is going to be OK and is now open. The idiot that did this is most likely going to jail, as far as I council tell he should consider that protective custody, he is not welcome in this area and it would be quite wise for him find a new place to be if he would like to stay whole. We left a 100$ donation for her fund on behalf of Quebec rider, these folks are very nice people and have been very good to our community for decades, support them when you are in this area.

Today left Gaspe and took 5 in the direction of Percé but after the suspension bridge we took the right onto the Orange trail that heads to 597. Trail was in great shape and we had a quick run to 597. Took 597 South through the gorge section and onto piston alley making quick work of that we tackled the twistys to Chandler where we took some gas then continued up the trail to the Chandler clubhouse for an early 10:30 lunch. The nice lady cooking our meal asked where we were from and seemed surprised and impressed when we told her Pennsylvania. 15 minutes later her husband came through the door and came over to talk to us. He introduced himself, Jean Perron coach of the 1986 Stanley Cup winning Montreal Canadiens! We had a great talk with him then headed further on 5 West finally getting out of the twistys after Port Daniel. Traffic definitely picked up today on the South shore, we saw more sleds today than we did the entire week but trails remain good just a few stutter bumps here and there in the corners. Topped the tanks at Saint Godifroi then rolled to the clubhouse at Prebesiac for a break and a snack. Went out the back door there on the local trails and reconnected to 5 West and hit some great trails all the way to New Richmond. Staying at the Hotel Francis tonight. 

bonjour mike !!!
 
special for sure ....my second ride since the late 70' s....back in the old days we had a snowmobile club in town ....and i went grooming with one of my brothers.....must be 78 or 79 !!!
its a 1948 .....gm 250 .....and automatic transmission ....super clean inside and no smell of gas or oil !!!
we need to find a personnal '' chauffeur '' ....and buy some wine and go for a 50 miles ride !!!...ahahah
the only problem...i was seating behind and its kind of trouble to get out ....so , only  a few pics !!!
 
 
jean-guy
 
 

I see they fresh groomed the 83 last night. Well.......someone’s gotta do it. Heading to Parent for the night but first not without going to Wemo and back tracking.
No beavers yet this trip. But I’m looking.............
here yesterday at 360/M20 intersection 

Day 7
Time to head for the trucks in st come. After a short delay in the morning with a frozen relay, down the 355 all freshly groomed. The big hill section needs more snow to fill in the holes pretty rough section. After that beautiful into mats win for lunch. The 360 along the river was absolutely stellar along the river. Once down around st Michelle and Le Cabanon beat up as usual. Don’t know how people can ride that area constantly.  Tough finding the way back to st come. Too many trails, confusing! Not slot of signage. Made it back with 1720 miles for the week. No breakdowns, everyone safe, a lotta laughs and time spent with great riding buddies. 225 miles for the day. Will be back in 4 weeks

Left the Riotel in Matane this morning and headed on 5 East to the St. Paulin Relay.  They just got done plowing about the last 12 miles to the relay. After the groomer goes through there will be some spots you can jump off the road but a lot will be on the plowed road with logging trucks. Had lunch at the relay then headed South on 595. Lots of snow here first tracks and pushing snow all the way to the snow bridge. After that a couple tracks from yesterday and the closer to LaCache the less new snow.  Get to LaCache and no lunch. They had problems with the generators last night and just got them up and running, at least we could take the gas. Head East on the Orange trail to Murdochville. Met the groomer coming from Murdochville not long after we left LaCache and it was a welcome site with the new snow. Checked out the mummies up on Mt. Lyall then continued on to Murdochville. Enjoyed the views but the fresh snow was tiring. At Hotel Copper for the night. 

Day6
Finally blue skies and colder temps, plan is Lac Edourd for the night. Grooming shows a lot of purple! Bingo! 373 first tracks, set up like concrete. Down through Alma everything groomed up nice. Lunch in Hebertville and onto the 83 which is also mint! Onto the 355 which was a bit whooped to Lac Bruchette, fuel and onto the 355 which showed groomed last night. Yep, smooth sailing into Domaine Lac Eduard. Tried to stay at the Presbyterian but booked, also the other B&b booked. Tomorrow back to the truck in st come. 250 miles for the day

good morning playhard !!!
 
hahhaha......always take care of the parking at the bridge...when i started grooming ...the ex operator was turning around  and backward to the bridge....it was only 9' wide...so , i decided to make it  wider to make a parking !!!
back from grooming local trails....there s a part going up to the lake ...about 6 miles....wooowwww...tons of moose there....
colder tonight ...way better !!!
 
jean-guy

bonjour !!!
while cooking eggs and bacon !!!😀
 
jean-guy

Day5
Todays plan was to completely wing it. After a stop at the ski doo dealer in the morning to replace the wire for momo’s oxygen helmet that got sucked into his track it was TQ 93 south. Freshly groomed last night, passed the groomer headed back from his 2nd pass. Perfectly set up! Sweet! Quick stop at the sawmill for fuel. No food there anymore. South of the mill not recently groomed but still in great shape. Continued up to Lac au Jim. Thought you could stay there but a no go. Quick map check and Giradville has 2 places about 25 miles out. Into town there for fuel and ask. Motel 1km away, Perfect! Small place with 6 rms. You check in at the supermarket next door which also has a SAQ which was even better! Restaurant across the st. Tomorrow up around the lake on the 373 which is an awesome new trail. 225 miles for the day.

*********** video added on the post #8**********************
Here is the trail path of our last Saturday ride 25 January 2020, before the last snowfall



We took advantage of the chance we have to be able to start our ride by sled directly from home and took #43 trail south from St-Thomas de Joliette in order to explore the south my area. Very mild temperature around -2C. Here along a windbreaker tree line near home



We then took the #3 east. Beautiful and fast trail with correct snowcover



The Chaloupe river in Berthierville is good and staked



We then continue on trail #3, here in the St-Barthélemy sector. There were some spots with  brownish snow but it was before the 6-8 inches of new snow we received in Saturday to Sunday night



I usually take the loop on the #63 east of St-Barthélemy which takes us a little further north, away from St-Laurence river(ie more snow) but this time I kept the #3 which was correct



Just before St-Ursule I wanted to take the 2nd loop of #63 but it has changed places (the interactive map is up to date) and it is only a dead end which leads to the Cascades pizzeria at the old location of the intersection.



We must continue a bit less than 1 mile further to get to the new junction of the #63 trail



This new trail path connect on the #350 trail path of past years in the power lines



We continued straight to keep #63 to see the Magnan falls in Charette




A little further, a big wild turkey crossed the trail in front of us



When you see one, there are more... the rest of the herd was right next to the trail, not shy at all



We then arrive on the site of the Magnan falls in Charette



The falls themselves are frozen hard



but this place is always nice , a good spot for taking a break.



Just downstream from the footbridge, the river forms a sort of large pot. One day I should walk to see the fall on the other side ...



And the view upstream from the bridge



We then continued towards Ste-Etienne. It was very mild and the trails were starting to get soft. Here in an atv shared section a side by side had swung in the ditch. They were already well installed with 2 other vehicles which were  pulling with winches to bring it back into the trail. Good for him because is a lot harder to unstuck than a snowmobile!



The trail being soft it was already starting to get bumpy



We refueled just before crossing the St-Maurice river near the Gabelle dam



On the other side, trail #3 was particularly worn. We got shaken  up to the junction for Lac à la Tortue that we took. We then took a dead end  before the St-Maurice river to go to the Pizzeria du Lac where we ate very well as usual



After lunch we continued and got on the St-Maurice river. The sky was geting more cloudy



We went up to the intersection with #23 trail and saw that the M19 trail (the one that ride on the river toward Marineau) was closed. The club closed it on Friday because of water accumulation. We for our part turned on #23 west



A few bumps but good condition. We feeling of passing through a tunnel here!



The snowcover is good and it was riding well.



We passed near the Vallée du Parc ski resort in Shawinigan



And then continued west


 
Here passing near the l'auberge du Trappeur



Here a small bridge with a beautiful view, we always stop when we pass there



We found ourselves in front of that at the #349 junction for St-Alexis des Monts



It bothered us a lot. I did not know if the detour was to go through the Koubec (#350 trail farther) which would have push me tight for the gaz, so we took a break there hoping that someone who would pass could inform us and that's what happened. About 10 minutes later, a group of 3 sledderss stopped and they were coming from St-Alexis and had just made the detour, so they explained to us what we needed to know. The reason for the detour is the repair of a bridge. The interactive map is up to date but not my GPS map ... I really need to install Imotoneige on my phone ... Here is a screenshot of the interactive map concerning this detour where I surrounded in yellow the closed intersection and green the new.



Just be careful because the signage coming in the direction like we did is not the best and you have to look backward to see the detour sign. This is before the Pin Rouge entrance of the Mastigouche reserve, so if you got up to the Pin Rouge entrance and didn't seen the junction, turn back. You can't miss it coming from the other side



So we easily reached St-Alexis des Monts village where I refueled full but it was already 5:00 pm and we were still far from home! It was late enough for the dozers to had start their runs so we rode on a freshly groomed trail up to the Pouvoirie du Lac Blanc. We did a short very rought segment, then got quite decent conditions in the Mandeville club where we crossed the dozer midway



We cut on Lac Maskinongé staked trail to reach St-Gabriel de Brandon where it started to snow hard very suddenly. It was not too windy so visibility remained acceptable on the low beams. So we came back under the snow and arrived home around 7:45 pm with 215 miles on the dreammeter



A other great ride for us but the mild weather did not help the trail condition and with the chosen path which was slower in the afternoon it gave us a big day. We discovered ourself new muscles sunday morning which we didn't know existed!!!

In summary, the snow cover is good everywhere and will be even better with the snow that we have just received. The snowmobile season is at his best and now is the time to enjoy it.

For details on the trail conditions here is the place to look: https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/

Alain

7 of us rode out of Cabanon 3 days and then did a 3 day loop. Overall trails were 7-10. Area received 8-12 inches of snow the day we arrived. Rode thru the following places during the week. 1,000 miles total 6 days of riding. St Zenon, Mattawin, Repos, St Gabriel, Kanawata, Weyomentaci, Relay 22, La Tuque. Only 1 potato in St. Michel. Trails south toward Gabriel were fine. Cant say enough about how much I like this 2020 Renegade Enduro 900 Turbo for Quebec riding. Was snowing good when we left also.

Day 4
Plan was Amos to Chapis for the night.
tq 93 was fantastic! Anywhere from 4-6” of light fluff. Stellar day. Lunch in Lsq where Phil had to bury the sled riding 200 yards to get a qt of oil in the center of town. We where going to stay at the opineska but didn’t have the right rooms for 5. So after a stop at the clubhouse off to chibougamau to Motel Chibougamau for the night 288 miles. 93 south in the morning around the top of the LSJ. Plenty of 60 packs in demarisville! Beaver free as of now!

Here’s is first....we left Parent yesterday morning and headed to Clova for breakfast. Chatted a bit with Dominic and headed down the trail that goes down to Le Fer Cheval. This is not a federation trail and not on the map. Dominic said groomer left at 7 that morning heading south to where he turns around about 25-30 miles. Also said another groomer came up yesterday from the south to where they meet at a small River and bridge they both can’t cross. Approximately 4-5 miles from the bridge the groomer guy was broke down in a corner (trouble with hitch pin, bracket and hydraulic hose that is gonna require some serious repair). He satellite phoned Dominic already so all good. Approximately 2.5 miles from his spot heading south we are bogeying down the trail and a tree was across the trail. As we stop a beaver jumps up from behind it in the middle of the trail. He scurried off but not before finishing up knawing the branch he was working on and dragged it off into the bush with him. As we were sawing the tree up to get it out of the way we looked over to see he had another 2-3 chewed ready to drop too. Just when you think you have seen it all. Another 2.5 miles south of the beaver is where the other groomer turned around from his passage. The next 30-40 miles down to Cheval area was not only double wide groomed with no tracks but one of the most insane logging road trails we both have ever ridden. It Rivals the Kanawata/Casey run and the Chibougamau/Mistissini run for sure. Absolutely insane trail and ride.

Two of us arrived Tuesday noontime got our room then headed out for lunch and a quick spin. It was fairly cold about 10F, and the trails were terrific. Hard, flat , fast. Pretty much the way I like em.
After a bite and brew at the Relay Station on 351, we headed east  to the ice fishing village (city) at st anne de la parade. Then looped back on 351 where it parallels Hwy 40 heading west towards trois rivieres. Again all trails were hard hwy like surfaces. Back in to Drakkar after gas up at station just down the street from the motel.
Wednesdays plan was to do a 1 nite saddle bag over to st raymond via Latuque, then down 73 into st ray. Before shoving off I said to Reggie, keep my truck keys here in case it snows, or you want to move it , whatever. As it turned out, it was a good decision.
It was milder wednesday, snow cover was terrific, but softer. Did the 351,360 to St Joseph, then 355 pipeline into Latuque, all good. 3 ft of snow on the ground up there vs 2 ft in Shawinigan. We had lunch in Latuque, then down 73 we went. About 25 miles into it my buddy wasnt in my mirrors. Uh oh. Pulled over, waited,...he aint coming. 3 point turn , back I go. Hes back a mile or so, looks like hes changing a belt. Big problem, secondary spins in his hand, not good. So now its drag it around, hook up rope, off we go back to Latuque we hope. Fun, fun.
We get to where the rail bed(flat trail) ends just west of a big lake. from here on its billy goat hills into Latuque. But, sitting right where the 1st hill starts sits an older gentleman. He speaks in french first, we reply in english, and then he switches to perfect english. He says hes been waiting for us to show up there and he tells us to follow him. He takes us on nearly flat dirt roads and unmarked local trails, stops traffic for us,  right to the Hotel Marineau at the lights on the main drag near the airport. Once again the Quebecers drop everything to baby sit us when things go wrong.  Amazing.
So from the  Marineau Hotel I call Reggie back at the Drakkar asking him if he knows of a driver that might be able to come get our sorry asses. He says sure Ill come get you right now. He drops everything and drives my truck with trailer 90 miles up to Latuque. we load up both sleds and back to Drakkar we go. 
All I can say is we sledders need to support the Reggies of the Motel/Inn world. These folks go way beyond the ordinary to help you any way they can. Can you imagine anyone from a Hotel chain helping you like this?? Wont happen. Need to support these kind of folks whenever possible.

Four of us drove up from Vermont to Levi yesterday morning for a short 3 day run. Parked trucks at the Normandin and on the sleds around 10:30am. As Jack mentioned, trail has been rerouted leaving the parking lot, but all was good. Took the 75 to the 35 and headed east on the rocket trail, everything groomed recently and in great shape. We are three cats and a Doo, and one of the kitties didn't care for the high MPH pace of the 35 railbed and coughed up a belt just short of the Tourville relais. Spare was installed and away we went, trails as smooth as they come. Took the 557 crossover trail to 5 and continued on all the way to the Universal in RDL where we are roomed next door to none other than Mayor Mikerider himself. Great to see Mike again, and a big shout out to him for offering up his truck in the morning for us to locate a belt for the ailing kitty. Mike is a class act and a great asset to the sport, thank you again! Ended up with 230 miles for the day. This morning, after breakfast and the belt locating mission, we loaded up at a very late 9:30 starting time and headed for Moose Valley. We took 85 to the 44 short cut (Mike's advice) and onto the 544. Every time on this trail is nothing short of amazing! All groomed perfectly with hardly a scratch all the way to 571, then jump on the 35 to Biencourt to top off the fuel before entering New Brunswick. The 135 all the way to Moose Valley had been groomed last night and we were first tracking on most of it, just an incredible run. Lots of fresh moose activity, so beware. Lunch at Moose and then retrace our way back to Quebec. Pulled back into RDL with 245 perfect miles for the day. Will head back to the trucks tomorrow morning and then on the black trail home. Low light last 2 days, so only a few pics. As others have reported, very low traffic, we're not complaining a bit about that.

Day 3
started nice is over in Murdochville
my machine is down. Headed to Matane to get the trailer.
details later. Problem anti freeze leak. Cannot see where from.
but i am done at Motel Copper
Jaques and Bernard to the rescue

Now we need Team SnowMaster2112  Stickers, "The Beer and Beaver Tour" !!
IceMan, Great Pics!
Thanks
GutZ