NH-Moose

Thieves are thieves, that's a fact. But "secure parking" is anything but secure. A locked pen is slightly better than not, but no one is looking at the cameras, if they even work, or have enough resolution to see a face, or recorded anything, and if they see a face so what it's over. They give gate keys to anyone that walks up to the counter in exchange for a fake ID, gates are left open for hours at a time, you could spend an hour in the pen taking whatever you want from any vehicle or trailer. Unless another slender catches on, no one will. They put on a show, that's about all you can expect. Best example last season was at Hotel Universal in RDL in March. The lobby was a zoo, there is no way they can watch a pen full of vehicles, it's just not realistic to believe that. Here is a photo of their the "locked" gate. See a problem here? Apparently they did not. I showed/explained the situation to the hotel manager, he said he'd get his maintenance guy right in it. Worse yet was when passed through RDL 3 weeks later in April, for giggles we drove by the gate and guess what, the situation was EXACTLY THE SAME. It's simple, assume the worst and bring your own security, plan as if it's a bad neighborhood. You'll have a better sense your stuff will be there when you return. You don't want to be the easy mark, make them move along to the next rig that's got less or no security.

Don, you know what a trailer is. It's that rolling shed-like thing towed behind a vehicle, that when, upon putting a Yammi XTX on, has a tire blowout within 50 miles - LOLAll kidding aside, my 2006 Triton clamshell is great, nice molded wire harnessing, etc. And at the Springfield show I see they stepped up their game with more stainless fasteners, longer ski glides up to 10 feet continuous lengths. My trailer suggestions are: largest diameter tires possible, galvanized everything ( I.e. Never a painted steel frame or axles or rims, only hot dipped galvanized). Good summer ventilation keeps the dew from forming on the ceiling and raining on the sled every morning. My tip for a Triton is, contact Fisk distributing in NY, that's where it will come from anyway, and discuss with them any and all available options and upgrades such as galvanized parts, etc. The trailer will be delivered to Locust creek outfitters in Bethel Vermont.

Careful what you ask for http://www.kyoshoamerica.com/112-EP-rs-EP-BLIZZARD-SR_p_10397.html

Indeed Linda, Iceman and I were chatting how incredible the ride was, you wouldn't know its April except the temperatures. We definitely caught the tail end the "touring" season up there. That's when we came up with the last group out grab the red sticks comment - LOL. There should be pockets of incredible riding for a couple more weeks, but open water soon and an ever increasing grind for gas, etc. 55F at my house today, may take the motorbike for a spin this afternoon Twas a très bonne saison!!!

Just arrived home, 12:50am. Are you sure it's over, how about one more run in May? Will Groomer still be grooming in May? Will the trails be mint? Exactly when does the trail pass expire? Will post some pics after a much needed sleep ;< ) Moose out

Would you feel secure with your truck parked in this "secure" pen?

Gray day, not great for picture taking

Friday ride. Fist off thank you JG for paving the white road for us down the 5. Only problem was I think there was 1 bump in the trail, not quite sure, may have been a shadow ;< ) Left Amqui and at JG's clubhouse, turned right to 587 south. Super all fresh groomed. Gas in Matapedia. Then onward to TQ 5. Gas in Nouvelle and continued to orange to try for La Cache. Orange trail fresh groomed. Very sweet, many new windmills. Was a part with a lot of soft snow which even though it looked so nicely groomed would suck you in like quicksand. Oh well, onward. We got about 40 miles up the orange and arrived at the last warming hut there. Find the groomer turned around and it was now a single sled goat trail, but looked like it was well and recently traveled. GPS said about 35-40 miles to go to get to the junction of 595. Looked like a groomer had not been through for some time, so it was bumpy but enough fluff to make it cushiony. We gave her a go for 7 miles but not my cup o' tea. Then most of the sled traffic seems to turn to the left, southward, 'twas not the gps track which showed due north, but looking up that way turned to what looked like maybe only 1-2 sleds had punched through in the past week+. we were 55 miles out from getting gas so nearing a half tank decision time, so we backtracked down the orange to Carleton then got gas. Decided it was too nice and too early to park there and headed for New Richmond. Smooth sailing on TQ 5 into Hotel Francis. Trails amazing out here, but road crossings are getting black, dry, and rough in spots. Rail crossings require extra attention since the rails are sticking up 4-6 inches sometimes. Was a busy day, passed maybe 15-20 sleds, but spaced out an hour+ between encounters. May try another landing approach to La Cache tomorrow as we venture back to the north shore.

If you're lucky enough to stay at Windigo when Martine makes the smoked meat, and the wings are excellent too

Iceman and and I drove to Rimou today and took a short afternoon ride to Amquii after quick roadside trailer tire change outside Quebec City. Brand new tires a few hundred miles ago, but the Apex XTX was on that side of the trailer where the blowout occurred a- hmmmmm. The side with the Skidoo had no issues ;<) We're thinking tomorrow a run down to Carlton, up the orange to la cache, down the 595 and stay in New Richmond or perhaps further east. Saturday run east to Chandler then up 595 through Murdochville and stay in Mont St Pierre or somewhere on the north shore. Sunday run back to Rimou adding bonus miles as required. In war, the best battle plans are shattered after the first shot is fired, likewise our plan is likely to change when we get to the first intersection ;<) The good thing is the stickers stick good in the above freezing temps! Will the last group off the peninsula, please pick up all the red sticks!

Conditions tonight - bacon pizza with JG and even more snow. In addition to snowing much of today, 4 more inches expected overnight. Incredible conditions for late march. Trails are all ours, hardly anyone else out riding which is OK with the team. JG says over 3 feet of snow have fallen here in the past 10 days alone, we've seen it ;< ) Merci beaucoup Spot Lunch in Causapscal (across the street from Motel du Vallon) for making our pizzas after closing time!! (Iceman not present in the photo)

Conditions today ;< )

I found a perky redhead on this trip, she's treating me real nice and coincidentally staying at the same hotels too!!

Good stuff today for sure

Blue sky indeed, great views of the Chic Chocs in the distance

Chic Chocs today

Sounds minty out there right now! Thanks for the updates. Whats the scoop with the yammi down for the count? Thats an unusual event. Is it a YamiCat?

David, That Orange trail shown on your map, from Carlton Northward is simply spectacular. Don't recall the trail number, but from Relais Lacache to Carlton, much like the park ride in Maurice except through a deep valley floor, summertime car roads, wintertime awesomeness! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neAdDo6s18g http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB2jrfzEURE

Great stuff Gary, still need to milk another season or two out of the old 2006 SDI, Santa brought me a new engine for it, $2000 sounded a whole lot better than $10,000+ so let's see what else we can break on it ;<) Merry Christmas to all, enjoy all the new toys, Moose

Pics of the day

Pic after

Tom, you were right, West was best a couple weeks ago, and it still is. You'd think its mid season up/out here, but we all know it will disappear soon! Enjoy the sunshine.

Overcast and snowing all day, but a few pics:

Would not hurt to ride on the right hand side of the trail either. In that video it looked like it was up the middle at best, and on the left in the turns. Anyone can ride fast, but when you can't even come close to maintaining your side, it's a sure sign you're riding beyond your ability and taking the easy way out....up the middle, on the left, cheating the corners, etc. Not much good can come from that style eventually. Glad there were only injures to pride and machines, and perhaps soiled underwear, could have easily been deadly. Groomer driver will probably need PTSD therapy. Will make me pay a little more attention tomorrow, to my own riding, and for the inevitable folks like that coming my way.

Day 3: Finished the La Sarre area bingo card and then off to Matagami, where we saw a crazy piece of centrifugal hubcap crazysnow. At Resto Helene &Denis Restaurant lunch stop there was a taxidermy fish that surely evolved to survive really really cold water! Saw a QuebecRider sticker on the warm up hut on the 396. And a tracked Argo pulling out a stuck pickup truck, lady was having a ball driving it around too! Light snow on and off all day. 1st sleds on power lines toward Matagami since snow, was flat and fast. Power line amazing as expected. Another great day, probably the most fun you could have with a lot of clothes on any time of year. Off to Amos tomorrow to play a bingo card around the orange trails there. Saw 6 sleds all day. One of the best days of the season. Amazing conditions here. Weeks of riding left here yet.