towing

Out of Relay 22, fresh tracks.

Gouin for lunch,!trail groomed last night!

Beautiful IB day for sure!

Here's that water hole.  This pic was taken this morning not yesterday when we encountered it for the first time.  More about that later.  Time for sleep.

Day 2:  Saturday Jan 14th
Woke up to a much colder morning today.  Temp was -15*F with clear blue skies.  Perfect day for riding!  Had a great breakfast & pulled out at 7:45am.  I love Barrage Gouin!  Louise & Steve are great people.  We love the Walleye!  Not being sure of trail conditions on 83 going west from the Barrage Gouin feeder trail, we decided to take the road all the way to Parent.  "Autobahn Express" today for sure.  4-5" of fresh on top of hard pack.  Nice!  We fly the 60 miles to Parent where we gas up at the only game in town.  While inside asking the owner & his wife some info on 83W we were told things were groomed & opened to Clova.  They thought the trail was closed past Clova.  They let me use their phone to call Dominic Vincent, the "owner" of Clova (haha).  He wasn't at the gas/restaurant but the woman offered me his home phone number.  Dominic told me that the grooming from Clova to Balbuzard was completed yesterday & that he had spoke to the groomer who left from Senneterre coming east & had finished at Balbuzard.  Bingo.  We're good to go.  83 west all day!   We shoot the 70 miles to Clova on great trails other than the first 5-6 miles of the rerouted 83.  Gas & lunch in Clova.  Saw Dominic & spoke with him for a while.   We discussed yet again the details of the idiots who left their sleds on the railroad tracks four years ago & were hit by the train! Such a great story.
After lunch we continued west on awesome trail conditions all the way to Balbuzard.  We pulled in to see what the status was on their opening date.  There was only one guy there & he was carrying a ladder to shovel off the snow on one of the cabin roofs.  His name was Morel.  He stated that they just opened but that there is no food because the chef has not shown up yet.  The chef was supposed to show up in the next two or three days.  They also were not selling fuel yet.  That's about all I got from that conversation since Morel doesn't speak English.  
We pulled out of their lot & got back on 83W.  Rut Ro - no grooming!  We broke trail for about 5 miles & had a pow-wow.  Was the info Dominic gave us wrong?  It's about 45 miles to Lac Faillon.  We decided to continue going west.  About a mile later we had a water hole crossing to discuss. Maybe 6-9" deep.  Yes, No, Maybe?  We decided to give it a go.  Splash & we're both across on the other side.   We continue about a mile more breaking trail.   The sky had become heavy overcast and it was snowing lightly with strong winds.  Conditions were deteriorating rapidly.    The drifts were getting bigger and bigger as we climbed up a steep hill.  Look at it closely, plan your throttle response, and blast the drift. Continue to do that over and over and over again.   Where is this Groomer that supposedly opened this trail?  
To be continued.......... 

Wow, outstanding pictures Florida Snowman. Seems you have a blast up there.
Thanks for the real time report and take care!

Some pics from today:

What a difference a day makes!  
Yesterday Low Rider & I drove north from PA/NJ in ridiculously warm temperatures with rain on & off & many areas with dense fog.  We literally watched the snow shrinking & disappearing before our eyes.  Nothing eats snow faster than fog & there was plenty of it.   NY/VT/NH/ME & southern PQ all got decimated.   Sucks big time given the great start this year.  Oh well.  Mother Nature can be an ornery biatch sometimes.  
Once we crossed the Saint Lawrence and started climbing north on 55 the snow levels significantly increased as it normally does.  Got to Shawinigan at 4:00pm & unloaded the sleds & started organizing all our gear.   It started snowing around 5:30pm & we got about an inch.  Hit the pillow early as we wanted an early start the following morning.
 
Day 1:  Friday Jan 13th
Woke up to 25*F, clear skies & a fresh inch of light powder covering all the ice formed from yesterday's rain & melting.   The area had gotten 6" of snow the day before we arrived thank goodness.  Add some water to that & then chill makes for a good potential recipe.   Had a good hot breakfast, saddled up the sleds & pulled out at 7:15am.  Took local trail a few miles then got on 23 West.  Conditions were surprisingly good for the first 25 miles.  Then we made first tracks on perfectly groomed for the next 20 miles.  Got to Le Cabanon at 9:30am & filled up the tanks, paid the clerk & got out of town pronto.  The people at Cabanon were just waking up & getting to their sleds.  Glad it was a Friday & not a weekend.   Took 345 North up to Repos & took gas.  345 was sweet for sure.   Took the "Kanawata Express" north.  Passed Mario in his Road Grader about half way to Kanawata & waved hi.  He was going towards Repos plowing his side.  Jim (Low Rider) blew a belt on his SkiDoo.  Doing 75 MPH in 14" of fresh can do that!  Belt had 7500 miles on it.  Not bad.  Took gas in Kanawata & went in for soup & burgers.  Celine is gonzo!  I guess Mario finally had enough of her.  We met Marie his new gal.  Very nice & friendly.  We heard that Gizmo the dog has gone to doggie heaven.
After lunch we exited the parking lot right onto 345 North & the trails gods continued their blessings!  First tracks on double wide fresh groomed & flat as a pancake!  I have always loved this stretch of trail and today it was the best I have ever seen it.  Burned up to Casey where Mario had turned around last night when he groomed.  Continued 345N up to 83W.  All good & fast!  There is tons of snow up here!  Took a right onto the eastern spur for the Gouin Reservoir.  This trail was a goat path years ago.  Today it was a "10"!  First tracks yet again on fresh groomed, double wide & fast!  Burned up to the Gouin, took gas, unloaded sleds and got comfy.  Got here at 4:15pm.  Temperatures continued to drop all day long.  Gonna be much colder tomorrow.
An amazing ride today.  Any hesitation or apprehension about what we would find was completely squashed & erased.  Now is the time everyone!  
As the hardest working man in show business James Brown says:  "Get on Up"!
 
296 miles
 

Will do!

Wikan resto, great lunch option 
Testing snow depth 
Wildlife in the lodge 
View in the dinning room at Cheval

Day 1
We hard time deciding where to go with all the rain predicted. We decided to go mostly in the direction of iceman.  We stayed last night in Mattawin, rain changed to snow right at iceman's house, he used his witchcraft and helped us out.
Lots of snow, a bit icy out to M20 but very rideable. M20 not groomed in a week but still really nice. At the bird feeder groomer tracks a day old and the trail was awesome.  
20 miles out from Repos it was similar to our stint breaking trails 2 weeks ago ahead of the RoadRunner gang.  Having to bust out the Husqvarna to saw down some trees!  We weren't in a hurry so we took the time.  Into Repos with 92 miles on at 10:30, too early for lunch.  
Gassed them up and headed to Manawan for lunch.  We decided not to eat at Chez Pogo and ate across from the gas station at Wikan de Resto. Awesome!
The 33 in and out of Maniwan was all fresh groomed, perfect.  We headed out to join the 53, ran north for 10 miles and took a left on the 233 side trail. Only 2 sleds have been down it and the snow was deep.  
25 miles down and we hit a groomer from the other direction.  We took another side trail across the lake to connect to the 13.
28 miles to go to our destination of Fer a Cheval.  Tons of snow but choppy, they said they just got 18 inches and the groomer in broken.
After a super nice dinner its time for bed, tomorrow across the 83 to Windigo!
224 easy miles on the day......
 
 
 

Day 6
woke to just a dusting of new snow at Windigo. Great news as they have plenty. After a great breakfast we say our goodbyes for now and head out. Windy and cold is back. We hammer back o 83 to Relais 22 went by fast first 40km down in 25 minutes. We top off at 22 and meet Martin one of the new owners of 22 we met Christine yesterday now we het to meet her husband. Nice people very welcoming and we need to support them. 
Onward south on 73 the trail is broken so we are rolling nicely. I must say that honestly this is not one of my favorite trails. I find it very twisty and just has a strange flow to it that is hard to find a rhythm if you get my drift. Anyway I guess it is starting to grow on me as we are moving along at a good pace. It's pretty much just a sled and a half wide but we are rolling. I do love the run into Rapid Blanc that is just crazy fast. 
We arrive at Rapid Blanc



we continue on and about 50 km from La Tuque there is hardly no snow in trees and trail is much harder. Obviously much more rain here, still ok to ride for sure just a different feel under the machine. Much firmer.  Down to La Tuque and we have passed no one. 
We arrive at bridge in La Tuque

 

Then up to the waterfall what wait some groomer action here in town.
 
We continue to get gas in La Tuque. Top off gas and we are off. Now for the most important stop of the day. We are back in civilization and need some "Jack" we have been suffering withdrawals since Gouin and had to drink Molson Ex last night.  Next stop. SAQ La Tuque, parking right in front, sweet. 

First the famous crossing light

We leave La Tuque on 73 and we quicky are hammering 73 south it's fast and we arrive at 355 and there is this sign....

Up to Relais Trapper and Down on LT2 which is bumped up. But on the right is a nice smooth place cause no one rides as far right as us. On down back to 73, the groomer has been here pobably just before the rain by the looks of it. Its ok we love it. I give up the point to Snohorse and he is off stretching his legs. He is hammering and I am giving chase. I stop to take care of business. Then continue on. I saw something on thr right, to me it looked like a wallet and I slowed but did not go back. Well turns out I should have. A couple KM further and here come Snohorse headed north, he hits the coms button and tells me I lost my GPS. Well now i know what i saw back there. I tell him its not far back on the right. I turn to follow and help in the search. Sure enough it was what I saw. Turns out a low hanging tree wacked his windshield and knocked it loose from his cradle on the Enduro. Lucky. But not un-scarred as luckily it was face down in trail when I ran over it scarring it on the back with my ice ripper track. We retrieve tge GPS and continue on. Now it's been forever since i rode this trail. I know the Relais Marmite was closed but did not know it was gone from the earth. 

On we go to Rivere a' Pierre. We gas up and head back up 73 north. We will take the local trail back to 23. I've never run this trail, been by it a hundred times. Today is the day. Plus the groomer went this way as the railbed 73 was not groomed freh like this was. Nice local trail but tight and very very twisty. A couple close calls with some oncoming sleds. I have had enough. Once for this trail will be all. Not again. 
About 10 km from junction with 23 we find the groomer. He is javing a bad day at the office. Apparently he was trying to bust through the snowbank but it was pretty frozen and took a toll on his hydraulic cylinder for his bull. He was bleeding and broken.

back to 23 and on into St. Raymond my first ride over the "new" bridge. I aint been here in a long time. Wow Roquemont has really changed. 
Wicked cold if you ask me. Cold is back. 
228 miles today. Sweet. 
Back to Relais Ice tmmrw. Homeward bound.

Day 5  
5-6" new snow at Gouin here last night. Fluffy stuff.


Awesome to be back there at Barrage Gouin. I did not make it up at all last year and missed it there. Carol, Jonny, Louise and met Steve this time around make your time there so great. Nice to have good conversations with them folks. Like being with family. If you've never been then get up there and support them. Great place and great People. Always tough to leave but we must be moving on.
Sleds loaded and we decide it's down the road to skip the top half of the trail. We've broke enough trail and gonna be doing alot more by the looks of things. So down the road to join back up with the trail back to 83.


Man there is a lot of snow we are breaking its deep in spots here. So we get down to 83 and its just as deep. So 45km from Gouin to 83. Deep snow single track I have had enough breaking trail for this year. Quit praying to the snow gods. Enough up here for sure. Snowing and flat light.

Also trees bent over or down all along.

Into Wemontachie. Here we take the road right to Wemogaz.
it's open
From gas we again decide its time to stay on the road so 25km up we then turn right onto trail. Unbroken has been groomed before but has a ton of new snow on it. Halfway through here comes 4 guys with red dry bags on back. These guys are dangerous they are dangerous on their first day out and more dangerous after 2-3 days out cause now they think they got the hang of it. Hey they busted trail good enough for us. Closer to Windigo there is Logging so pay attention. Back and forth across the road and the trucks are hauling ass. Well logs but not slowly. 
Cruised into Relais 22 following in tracks busted open for us. 
News at Relais 22 heard from Louise at Gouin that 22 has new owners. We had tge pleasure of Meeting Christine who along with her husband Martin have come from Baie Comeau to own and operate Relais 22. Super nice and she speaks very good english too, just speak slowly. I hope to meet her husband on the way back by there tmmrw. Wishing them all the best and great success. Take the time to support them and tell them you are a Quebec Rider. I think they may want to become an advertiser. We shall see. 
Anyway while there we see the Suerte du Quebec truck and sled trailer there. She tells us they are conducting a search for a missing man who phoned his wife saying he was stuck on snowmobile coming from his chalet. 
This was yesterday. 
Good news is we took gas and went up 83 to check it out. At 50km we were turning back when cops pull up. They found the guy. He abandoned his sled and they followed his footsteps to a nearby chalet where he broke in door and lit the fire and waited for help. Great Job by the police. Hats off.
We ride back following the cops they were blazing a trail. Snohorse tried to get them to put on there lights so we could have a official police escort but no dice. 
Back to 22 tank again and absolutely hammer it back to Windigo. Hell one or two more passes through they won't need to groom it i will have it blown open fully. Windigo driveway a few hanging low trees but has tracks and we roll in. So nice to see Martine and nice to be here. 
We are here with only one other guy a Guide out of Lac Blanc doing some pre running for an upcoming group. If you want to stay at Windigo (crazy if you do not want to) then call soon to check the dates it's booking up fast.
thats it for now 222 miles today. 

 
Decisions Decisions 


 
Now a special message to all Team Iceman members not in QC at this time.....
"the rain in Spain falls mainly on the plains, and the man with the blue shoes is not who he appears to be." Over.

Day 4 
Woke to pretty good snow coming down at Le Cabanon. Sat Down to breakfast. Lights flicker 3 times and boom blackout. Took a few minutes for them to get the generator up but all good after that. 
Was more snow outside then we thought. A solid 6-7" of wet heavy stuff. As others were talking of waiting the day out for the groomers to go out. We are not used to hearing talk like that. So off we go. There was another group that got out before us. They were going 345 north as well. We catch them maybe 30k from Cabanon. They are stopped and wave us by. Yeah thanks. C-ya. What a damn mess this wet snow. Trees down and let me tell you it was like riding through paste or mashed potatoes. Wettest deepest snow I've been on in a long time. After we pass the group I was thinking that was it. But still seing a pair of tracks. Well much better than 8 pairs making things messy. We catch the other 2 at bridge over river. And get by. At first I was so happy to be finally breaking trail that was short lived, as the further on we went up 345 the snow got deeper, wetter and heavier. Not to mention the trees bent or down. This was pretty sucky. One of those test your skills day. As where there was a big drift it would almost stop me in my tracks. Crazy wet heavy snow did i mention now it was easily 12" new wet. It was still snowing at this point and blowing. My sled was drinking the fuel bad. I knew I was using my spare gas before Repo's. 
 
Sun popped out soon after

 
 
oh yes the joy. We press on and 35km from Repo's ahhh. The groomer has come out from the turn off just after the Dam there. Looking like maybe I will make it to The Pump. 

well no dice I'm out 5km short. Oh well dump the gas in. On to Repos. Only like 80 miles to Repo's and I was way short. 
Thinking I was kidding about deep wet snow? Think again. It was work. 
 
Arrive at Repo's to this scene.  30 Minute delay. 

For you Groomer

 
 
 
A few off trail sleds at Repo's but no one else. We head off toward Kanawata. Gromer is just going up trail so we take road out of Repo's (not plowed) with a few sled tracks. Arrive at Kanawata Express and also unplowed with some tracks to ride in, Thank You little baby jesus.
40 miles to Kanawata, made great time considering and driveway to Kanawata plowed. We go in to top off. Mario says trail from Repo's is the road for now too many trees down they have not cleared. A couple local guys from their chalet having lunch. 
Leave and off for Casey. Lucky again trail is broken for us. Snow still deep and wet here. Nice Run to Casey. Once in Casey it's like a switch has been flipped. Less snow here and its Fluffy. We burn on up and join the 83. It has tracks both directions. Less snow makes for easy going now. Like butter. This is fun again. Less like work. 83 is nice some brush here and there. We roll up to Trail for Gouin Eastern spur. Nice Run on up and settled in the lodge at 5pm. Left Cabanon 9:30. We are the only 2 here and don't mind a bit. Private Lodge. Nice. 209 miles. 
 
 
 

Fantastic Alain, you and KriKri are the perfect team.

Awesome pictures and trail report! I always look forward to your reports as I often ride that area you travel. We usually depart from St Jean De Matha and head north hitting Bazinette....Masse....etc....

Pics
end of TQ 3 West end. Someday I will see the East end
 

Pics from Hotel Du Lac Carling 
Waterfall near front entrance 

 
First Team sticker ever placed in QC

 
River looking north

 

Day 3 Tues. 
Today was a "back to our roots" loop. Riding the backyard playground. We are hiding up north from any rain we will see how it works out. 
Left Cabanon on 345 and it was excellent as my wife would say "it was more than good" hard and frozen we are railing it. We fly down to river crossing and on to join the 360/345 we go right and run down another perfect trail to make the left on 345 to get to M-20. Quick stop at intersection of M-20/345 then right on the best kept secret in the region M20. Wow she was a stunner today. Fast and hard. We burned it. Back to 360 and its just as nice. Just 10 from the bridge we catch a group of 6 in the tight part before the bridge at Mattawin. Tabernac hey at least they are doing the speed limit. But if i had to ride like that all day I would hang up my helmet. Too slow for Iceman and crew. At the bridge we make short work of the gang and pass them up to best em to the gas. Stop at Gas in Mattawin for a soda and candybar. Left Cabanon at 9:30 at Gas in Mattawin at 12:00pm with 93 miles via the M-20. Do the math. 
Ok off we go 360 to St Joseph de Mekinac. Nice trail here tighter then the others today but that is life. 2 sleds coming at me using it all. I just don't get how these guys ride nose to butt and right up the middle with zero regard for others. I may ride fast but I am in the weeds on the right always. Never up the middle. Just stupid. On a small tight trail like that. Passed trail to River it's not open yet. Continued on to St Joseph there is a small change coming into town but nothing major. Now we decline the gas here and trail 360 now becomes just so-so compared to trails we seen in St Zenon and to Mattawin. There's lots of snow but it's bumped up and I don't get it. Lazy efforts by the club here. No other excuse. Lack of grooming period. It's like they thought Scorpionbowl was coming today not Iceman, come on now. This trail has changed too. near the end where it joins 23. It arrives a bit further east on 23 then before. We join 23 and it's no better than 360. Don't get me wrong it's ok just not great like others we saw. We are picky. 23 to Grand Mere and onto the river. Quick stop to look at river direction north. There are sticks going up but i am certain it probably goes just to St Jean des Piles and no further yet. 
We continue on 23 and take gas in St. Flore at Petro T. 23 was just so so all hills bumped up bad and all the corners. Was junk all the way to 349 then like night and day. White Asphalt was back. The club here grooms right. Absolute bliss all the way back on 23 to join 345 and just super all the way back to Cabanon. 
240 miles 9:30-4:30 door to door 
snowing here lightly calling for 4 inches. 
Met snappyhank and combat super nice gentlemen here.
Also ran into dave. df1013 and his gang from Jersey  nice to meet them and talk trail.
Tommorrow to Barrage Gouin. Then Thurs at Windigo. Friday St. Raymond.
will try a few pics but internet tough here

And Krikri is a pro when it comes to photos!
Great report Alain. 
We are heading north Thursday & am ready to ride!
Best,
Tom

Today's Ride.
Le Cabanon to Le Cabanon .......details to follow.
 

We are just back from a fantastic week on the warm Cuba’s beaches but I was looking forward to ride the venture again since our first and only one ride was on December 17th. Without any day target other than to have fun, we left directly from home (St-Thomas de Joliette) and decided the itinerary one intersection at a time. Here is the final route that it gave:



The weather shock of coming back home was really present with a 52 degree C drop at -22C on this Saturday morning. It was very humid and a layer of mist was still partially shading the sun even at 10:00 am. The trails have been groomed and the quality was impeccable




Very close to the #3/#43 trail junction there is a savanna that is always longer to freeze and it is with no surprise that we saw this hot hole in the middle that can be easily cross on each side. The good surprise is that the driver of the dozer had taken the trouble to back on several hundred meters on each side of the woody section to surface the whole trail just apart from the hot hole: I raise my hat to Carcamp snowmobile club!





We then took the #3 trail eastbound. The pines of the windbreak lines typical of the place were all frosted over a small layer of remaining ice from the previous ice storm.



With the little haze still floating it was really beautiful






Winter in all its splendor!



We were pleasantly surprised by the amount of snow to the ground and the trail conditions look more like a late January than beginning, a very beautiful start. Here we see a little more the traces of the last ice storm





On the #3 trail a little east of Berthier, the Bayonne river is already ready and I am surprised to see that the dozer has even crossed it! Look at my mirror, it's so humid that a frost has formed over it! First time it does that ...



Surely no stranger with the haze that still floating over the snow ...



With all those fields in perfect conditions our rhythm was obviously fast and the cold biting so we decide to fork on the #63 to the north to ride in more wooded sections, more pleasant under the circumstances.



Here a short stop at the St-Gabriel de Brandon belvedere which is located just up a big hill north of the village named Mont Lanaudière, that was a small ski center years ago



There is still behind my sled a vestige of an old ski lift.



Considering the time ahead, already 11:15, getting on the # 23 north and going to have a lunch at the Réal Massé outfitter seems the perfect timing, so we continue north.



Even more snow as we go north, here climbing the big hill in St-Damien of Brandon



The snow is not only to the ground but also in the trees creating magnificent scenery







With the deep cold the quality of trail was top notch and we could ride at good pace.





It's really the big winter up there.





We arrive to eat at Réal just a few minutes before noon.



The good hot vegetable soup of Réal, the one we could eat with a fork with his much big chunks of vegetables in, it is one of our classic of the winter, always as good and comforting!



Although there were quite a few people, the service was good and fast and 45 minutes later we were already on our departure. This one chose the air way to come to eat here!



Was very nice to chat with Lus lsd and his buddy BoumBoum that we had not seen for a long time


Encouraged by the beautiful conditions beyond our expectations, we had continue on the #23 to the north





We had first think to switch on the #350 trail towards the Glacière and then go back down south on the #63 but it ride so well that we chose to continue up north on the #23



We were not disappointed, obviously it starts having a few traffic bumps from time to time but nothing to slow our pace.



Sign that there’s alot snow there this year: no rock and no trace of sand even near the Cabanon



We finally turn on the #63 just before the Cabanon towards the village of St-Zénon



Here seen from behind after crossing it, a sign that it is still the beginning of the season: a small ditch not frozen. We see it well in advance and easily crosses it. There was about 2"thick water and an hard pack base



Here the big hills towards the village of St-Zénon



Always as fun and beautiful to ride!





A little past the village of St-Zénon we stop refueling at the service station Crevier before continuing on the #63 trail south



In Glacière direction





Very nice conditions. We pass the Glacière and continue south. Much deep snow in this area





At the junction with trail #343 we continue south towards Bazinet Outfitter



The scenery is white coated there!






The Bazinet outfitter



I must admit that I had doubts about the next section of the #63 tot Ste-Emilie. With a more irregular base it is more difficult to get it good and we got it rought almost all last season but to our surprise it was very beautiful as I had not seen it as good since a very long time.

It was beginning to be a bit dark for moving pictures and I had to stop to avoid blurring. Here in the power line south of Ste-Émilie



The Black river just north of the BRP Géro sled dealer is already well signposted



We had continue with the sunset and took a small hot chocolate break at the TimHorton of St-Jean de Matha



We then came back home around 5:15pm via #341 and #43 trails, which were still nice despite a few traffic bumps in St-Félix of Valois area.

Finally a total of 171miles in outstanding conditions, far exceeding what we were expected. The trail network is well established even in the south which already has a good snow cover now and the cold of the last days will help overcome the last recalcitrant to freeze spots thus giving us a vast playground to ride on.


Get out and enjoy, the season is on...



Alain

Thanks every body for the good words! as for the oncoming weather, on the forecast  we have a snow storm warning for tomorrow maybe a 6" and maybe a quarter inch of rain for Thursday with +4C with a winter return for the weekend. If this is right we will have highways for the weekend! hope it will be this...
 
Nah I use a Krikri Pro, take very good pics but not compatible with I-phone just with I-Pay...( I = me) ...
The camera is still our old Sony 4,1 MP, 12 years old!!! that make 1,8mb pics. You probably have a possibility in your setting to lower the quality to get acceptable file size, don't need so high MP to get good quality on internet.
The St-Côme ice sculpture festival will be from january 27 to february 12 this year. They usually begin to carve in the week before so honestly, the weekend before will probably be a bit early to see something else than some big ice cube but if you are in the area you can take your chance... it's very nice to see the carvers at work.
Good luck and have a good stay and rides in my neck of the woods!
 
Alain

Krikri Pro! Good humor Alain, and great reports and pics!
Terry