doonali

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
Do you miss Obama steve?

OK then.
I am probably wasting my time but I got lots of time anyway so here goes.
picture it like this. Forget USA, Canada.
Let’s say for fun, you have four people in your house, you and the wife and two children. OK? You have masks for your family of four. Say you have 12 masks. You don’t know when or if you can get more.
Now your neighbor has 6 people in his house that need masks as they have none. And your neighbor on the other side of street needs 6 for his family. Are you giving up your only masks to your neighbors or keeping them for your own family first?
It is no different then what the USA is doing. They are taking care of their own first. That is the presidents job, to take care of Americans first, before anyone else.
simple as that.
Ask Justin why he sent all them masks and supplies to China a few months back. 
Sorry but you have to look out for your own first. 
Don’t believe everything you see on the news. If you don’t believe there is truly alot of fake news. You need to take off the rose colored glasses.

Unfortunately some people have no option...

Yes, i never felt essential, before this pandemic but, I guess i have been all along.
Hell, last year Pot was illegal in Quebec now it’s essential too. 
While I enjoy getting out of the house and being on the road with far less traffic, I am doing all I can to avoid catching this Virus. 

Unfortunately some people have no option...

All in French but cool to watch.
 

My first trip to Quebec was in 1972. Kern's Inn in Eustis, Maine held a safari trip, I believe sponsored by Schlitz Beer.  One day sledding up up to Lac Megantic, stay the night, and back the next day. One of the workers for the trip got a list of the 100 or so people making this trip, drove to the border, and handed customs the list of people that would be crossing. We never actually went thru the border crossing, but instead had permission to cross at a remote place in the woods, I remember doing the trip on a '72 Cat Cheetah 440.
By 1976 we were riding out of our Eustis camp and doing day rides into Quebec, often going to the Lac Megantic area. By the '80's doing one or two night trips into Quebec quite often.

Rolled into LeCabanon yesterday with my buddy about 1:30 with this on the odometer. All from this winter with a brand new 1200 left over. I feel EXTREMELY lucky to have been able to do this this season. Just in the “nick of time” too. It was sad leaving yesterday but the memories will last forever. Seasons come and go but THIS ONE is one that will NEVER be forgotten. It was like a cumulation of years of riding that all pulled together and enabled me to have the BEST year ever. Lifelong friendships were made and the riding was beyond spectacular. I want to give a “shout out” to all the people who made my winter so enjoyable:
”André” my soul brother in Quebec who puts up with me for going on 20 yrs. Thank you mom ami  You ARE the best
Jeff from Dansville, NY ....my BFF riding partner. I promise I will try in the future to get us in before dark. Especially when it’s 30 below
Glenn from Vermont....the guy who I have laid down the most miles with over the years. May we have many more my friend 
Kenny from Pikogan, My native soul brother who hooked me up in so many ways. Can’t wait to see you again my friend 
Jeff in Joutel for hosting my crazy ass for two nights while i assaulted the 396 trail mercilessly 
Samuel, Alex & Elphonse (half-ounce) in Miquelon for some of the CRAZIEST partying I have ever done. You guys ROCK !!
Nancy in Desmairsville for being the sweety she is. Thanks SO MUCH for your hair dryer 
Isabelle in Chapais for hooking me up with the locals and providing a GREAT place to stay
Kenny Loon in Mistissinni for the EXTREME hospitality and showing me the native culture and food
Clifford & Brian (the “Twin Towers”) from Oujé-Bougoumou for letting me camp out and have a fabulous moose steak dinner
Andre & Jeanie in Parent for having a 4 star place to stay while in town.....and letting me use your garage to work on my sled...LOL
All the peeps at the Parent depanneeur. Cynthia, Elodi, Alice, Veronica (Tony’s fiesta wife)& Karine. And Tony.....the worlds best groomer. Thanks for that 10 mile late night groomer ride brother.
Yann from Parent. One cool dude. Had a great time partying with you.
”Popper” the 40+ yr Skiddo mechanic from AB Sports in Senneterre for taking care of me multiple times
Jack and “ little girl” from Lac Faillon. You two literally made my winter. One seriously AWESOME dude
Jean-Guy from Haltaparche. This man is what Quebec is ALL ABOUT. Your hospitality is sincerely appreciated!!!!! Can’t wait to see you again my friend.
And to all the GREAT fellow QR members I got to meet and spend time with this season:
Cobra......we WILL lay down some tracks in the future 
Pipeman & Ike.....two seriously great dudes (and riders) had a BLAST hanging and riding with you guys  p.s.......that shower in Ouje was appreciated more than you know....LOL
Blueblood....we live WAY too close to not get together this summer. Fantastic dude. Bring your wife. I owe you guys a couple Captain & cokes
Je me souviens ....great guy and crew from Plattsburgh
Iceman....what a fu&* up I was. Next time I WILL wait no matter what.....LOL
Quebecbob.....your “one in a million” (maybe two).....look forward to seeing you again my friend 
But the MOST thanks goes to my wife Sandy for supporting me (and us) while I pulled this crazy stunt off. I LOVE you honey !!!!
i wish EVERYONE the VERY BEST off season and HOPE to see you all again next year.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

So.....tomorrow we head for home. Sandy really likes her 137. We both love our oxygen helmets. We rode 9893 km or 6147 miles. No exciting stories or drama but we had a great time. We enjoyed visiting with the many Quebec Riders. 
    I think I like retirement.
I hope everyone finishes the year safely.
      Jeff and Sandy 
    

We got to the Delta monday. Just hung around trying to decide what to do on tuesday. Trails are still great, but because of everything going on we decided to ride one more day, then head for home. So today we rode Bill's Tour Du Lac. Very nice day for a ride.

Now on the south shore we spent a night in matane again, the the day of the storm just rode to mont joli for the night, then RDL, then Bernieres for 3 nights to avoid some rain and one day for a cab into the city. Then we took the shuttle across and rode to la tuque and then back to the delta. 

As we were heading to the 3pm ferry in BC we were stopped by a club volunteer checking stickers. He asked where we were going and insisted that we go get a cup of coffee with him. He assured us he'd get us to the boat on time. We went to Tim's with him and on the way back he rode his sled up there to take a picture of us down there

Next we jumped the ferry to Godbout, rode to Sept Isle, then back to Baie Comeau. From there we were shooting for sacre coer, but some wind and snow was predicted so we thought our chances of heading west would be better on the south shore, so we took the ferry back across. 

Now in the gaspe, which I also posted with pics under gaspe region. We rode the 587 out of cross pt and some locals to Amqui. Next day, the mummy trees, mont joli for lunch and on to matane. Spent 3 nights there, one day watching it snow, 1 day day riding. Then a night in st anne des monts, Grande Vallee, three nights in gaspe, one day ride to perce, a night in Bonoventure, then through la cache back to matane.

Then we headed south to st anne de beupre, Q. City(doubletree), Bernieres, RDL, then 4 days in New Brunswick. I've already posted about that under general discussion 2-24.
Pic crossing into NB on the 85.
Pic getting transported back into Quebec at cross pt. (Mundles now has competition. Mundles is 40 per sled, this guy is 25)

Ok back at the Delta, relaxed some and rode with many friends. Stayed for a little over a week. Helmeted pics only to protect identifies. I can say 3 countries were represented. Had a very good time.

Hi, thought I would make a last post. I've posted bits and pieces of our winter, but thought I would fill in some blanks. First of all, I RETIRED, jan. 4th 2020. I always dreamt about a snowmobile trip when I didn't have to go home to go back to work. This was it.
    Our plan was to ride when we wanted to, stay in when we wanted to, saddlebag and day ride when we wanted to. Ride with limited far out reservations. As storms approach, find a place we like, relax, wait for the groomers or you to break the drifts.
    We started at the Delta on jan 21st. We day rode for several days getting used to new sleds and helmets. Sandy went to her first 137 after always riding 120s.
    Then we headed out, went around the lake to St. Felician, Chibougamau, Senneterre, Rouyn Noranda, New Liskeard ont, North Bay, Pembroke, Mt Laurier,  Sainte Emelie de L'energie, Quebec city and back to the Delta. 
    Pic from Lake Temiscaming, crossing into Ontario around New Lisk. Pic of RR trestle south of Pembroke leading back into Quebec

****Day#6****

View from pavilion #1 on the St-Laurence river when going for breakfast in the morning ...



We finally decided to bypass Quebec City for the return, so we reserved for the night at the Auberge du Presbytère in Hébertville! It is therefore northbound for the day on trail # 83 which is a beautiful trail pleasant to ride

Here is a short video summarizing our day #6: la Malbaie/Héberville 160 miles
 
 



overview of our room



relaxing in front of the fireplace ...



Last day to come soon ...

***** day4*****
 
Another gray day for us with mild weather and snow (fortunately the last gray day of the trip) but plan A which was to spend the day visiting the peaks of the Valins Mountains has become much less interesting by not having visibility. So go with plan B, we leave and go down to Les Escoumins to sleep via the Pelchat trail. The last time we did it was in 2003 or 2004 even before it was a federated trail so we were due for a refresh!
Because of the sticky snow, impossible to film while riding in the morning but the snow was less sticky on the Valins mountains so I brought out the camera after lunch and cleaning the lens from time to time I could capture some good images. Here on #93 to Monts Valin



 #31 Auberge



Here a short video summerizing day#4: Mont-Vilain(Lamarche)/Escoumins 180 miles



Day 5 coming soon...under the sun!

Woke up sunny skys, left Carleton headed for New Brunswick. Quick ride down to Pointe à la-croix called Mundles towing to take us across the bridge.
Had planned on staying in Campbellton but with a storm coming we thought we would get further south.
Got to Island Lake, no rooms. Then down to Governors, no rooms. So we decided to head to Bathurst and stayed at the Atlantic Host for the night. Checked in and have a great seafood dinner. 

We did last week, starting sunday march 1st and ending saturday 7th our annual trip. We started our tour directly from home with goal to loop around  lac St-Jean and coming back by sled, a week trip without trailer. Here what's finally look like our St-Jean Lake loop

I will use a different format as for my report with video and pics and will post by segment of a day ay a time. You can come back here and see regularly for more content...
Here is a short video summarizing our day #1: Joliette / Kanawata 217miles
Spending the night at Auberge Kanawata

Kristine enjoying the fireplace in the evening...

More to come soon, stay tuned!

11 March Wednesday 
 
Snow has stopped this morning. Sun and clouds. I pull side cover on my Apex to have a look at linkage and a good look at chaincase. Linkage looks all there to me but I know is a sensitive adjustment there and its needs to be just right. No obvious chaincase leaks, oil in chaincase clean and full. Suit up and head to visit this Yamaha dealer. Arrived 9:30 walked in chatted with service manager, explaining I had been to Sept Isles yesterday. Being the same owners he took my receipt from yesterday, just entered the info his computer. They pulled my sled right in and handed it back. No charge, of course. Let’s see how it goes. Now I know I am not the only one here that when you know something might not be 100% on your sled, you ride all day with that little exta thing to have in your mind to throw around. Just the way it is. 
Nice ride leaving Baie Comeau not groomed but enough tracks to be nice. All the way to Clubhouse. After Clubhouse groomer has gone west. Lots of tracks going east. Have ridden on most of his work. We have just our usual spot hard right, not touched. Works well. Here trail was groomed late last night its frozen more solid. As we go west here come 3 guys going east. They are using it all up. The fresh groomed trail is soft and after three sleds going north its back to if it hasn’t been groomed. Been that kind of year. Just cannot catch a break with grooming. Storms and Mechanical issues. We wrestled sleds to Forrestville. Groomed in town in Forrestville and then we had lunch and headed for Escoumins. Worst section we seen all trip. Was beat up Sunday when we left, now its beat up rough and freshly snowed on. I think it helps a little, but then not sure. This would be the worst leg of the day conditions wise. Snohorse is nursing a bad back for real and no, not from digging me out, he had it since last run. So this section was rough with a bad back. 4:00 at Pel  Chat, we are done for today. Not big day. But good enough. Snowmobile’s are for snow right? 
 
Demain cest un autre jour

Pics..

Sometimes there are trains.

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