towing

Amos has 
Amos has told us they have no time to do the job. It will be fixed in Trois Riveres next week everything is set. Parts in stock sled will be there for monday morning. Is under warrantee and will be completely covered.

The dealer to dealer parts make no sense to me. When I needed a short block out in Chandler for my MachZ , the dealer in Amqui had one and put it on a bus overnight to Chandler. Under warranty. Charged me $50 for the bus ride.

Bad stator happened to us on a trip once. What we did and the sled ran fine all day, unplug headlights and hand warmers. If it starts snowing hard try running just one light.
Now for us it was an Apex with a bad stator and like I said earlier it ran great all day like this. Not sure if it would have the same outcome with a Ski-Doo but worth a try IMO.

Not an issue. Truck and trailer here. We are good to get back. It’s just a matter of do we chance it and ride it more?

Boston Pizza
meatball appetizer 4 meatballs with garlic breadpizza

26 February Wednesday 
continued......
now I am no mechanic but when the mechanic plugged in sled and ran , showing 32 output from Stator, he says supposed to be 55. Says stator is bad needs new one. Could be ok but not sure how long. Says when it quits it quits. Houston we got a problem. Now the dance begins. Here at Beric Sport in Val-d’Or the do not have the part. They call Seneterre, negative no part,  no time to install anyway. Amos has the part. Amos has no time tomorrow or even friday to do job. Royaun Noranda no part.
here they can order part but with storm everything will get blocked in Montreal and they wont get parts delivery Friday morning maybe Friday afternoon so too late. 
Then I ask why we cannot get part from Amos and have Val d’Or where sled is now put it in. Dealers cannot give each other parts they tell me. Everything needs to be ordered from Montreal when you need something. Maybe because of warranty claim? It is covered? Anyway ain’t happening. Mechanic boss says no time to do job anyway. They are short one mechanic and slammed with work. And we would have to go to Amos buy stator from there, $813 canadian. However when I asked how he gets the $813 from Bombardier back (since part is warranted) they said he probably would not get it. Anyway sorry if all that is confusing.
We bail out of there, to Gas Depanneur and return to hotel. A bit dejected after the sweet start we had. Now while Shawinigan should get a big dump of snow 30cm in 48hrs they say. Out here says 15-20cm. But with high wind and not much vis. Not sure it’s the best day to find out if the stator will last all day or not?  
Tell me what would you do?
Go out into storm, take a chance it stays running
or
??????
me i sense the end of this run. 
Might just need to wait out storm, head back Friday morning. Get BCX somewhere it will be fixed up by next friday close to my house. 
Regroup and prepare for Cote Nord and try it all again. 
 
Snohorse surely not happy with his ride right now. I told him that’s snowmobiling. He knows. Could be anything anytime anywhere. 
220 Miles

It is the M20 trail, an orange trail with identification M20. I really suggest you to ride it for your day ride to Marineau/Mattawin for lunch. I would say keep the #360 to go in the morning and try it when you come back. It is a trail really fun to ride, different from the #360 and the scenery is different also. It is a pretty fast trail, a bit more than the #360 for the first 80%and then a bit less fast but still nice. I sure you won't regret it. It will add a 20 miles to your ride compare to the #360 trail path.
go for it and enjoy!

Here is the map of our yesterday ride February  22, 2020  Joliette/St-Donat


With the very mild temperature forecasted and the very cloudy weather we hesitated to go to the Black Mountain knowing that we would probably not see it at its best but we had still tried our luck. About -5C at start from home under a very cloudy sky. Here in the St-Ambroise de Kildare sector



The propane crisis in the fall left its mark here and I would like to take this opportunity to thank this farmer in St-Ambroise sector who still let us pass through his unharvested corn field



at the shack north of St-Ambroise we continued on #43 trail



The #43 is beautiful but it is definitely a slower/more winding trail. Here a bridge that will need repairs in the St-Alphonse de Rodiguez sector





Here, crossing the Ouareau river via the shared bridge for snowmobiles and ATVs



On the other side the trails are distinct although they cross and overlap few times and it is a bit confusing in some spots



We then took #310 to go through Notre-Dame de la Merci where we refueled at Pétro-T gaz station. Their large parking lot makes it an interesting place as a starting point for many snowmobilers.



We then continue along the #125 car road via a local trail for joining the #33 and then the # 317 trail



To finally head towards the Black Mountain



It's starting to rise...



It's starting to get snowier ...



And we arrive at the top just a little before noon. We were darn lucky: the sky has completely cleared and the sun was there! 



And gray jays are also!


With the mild weather, the decor was not frosty as sometimes but we were still very lucky to have had the sun with us. The temperature was mild and we ate a small snack right there to take advantage of all the beauties of the spot





We stayed there for a good hour and a half. In no hurry, we took advantage of the moment to admire the magnificent view ...





And we had fun with the gray jays who had fun with us too I think





On a clear day like that the view is simply spectacular ...



Sometimes there no need to being so equipped !!!



Kristine's technique with her old 2005 sony without zoom (which takes most of the photos from our reports) is just as effective!



The result...



We had a lot of fun with them and I almost drained my whole Go-pro battery just during the time we were there ... surely some nice videos to come when I have time for the editing...



We finally left a little past 1:30 p.m.



Here coming down from the mountain



I forgot to indicate it in our route map but we went to see the Mont des Cenelles a little further. Vegetation has grown and it is starting to be more difficult to see well



The best part of the view is directly from the trail going down, really beautiful...


We then continued on the #33 trail and completely went around Archambault Lake



And then headed  east towards Coin Lavigne





Here at the junction of the restricted acces trail of Parc du Mont-Tremblant



A little further on the #33 trail we encounter this: a loader bogged down on the trail



They had to use a bigger one to get it out of there ... They did pretty much damage to the trail



But 5 minutes later we crossed the dozer which was already on the way to repair the trail damage





So we continued with very good trail conditions



And stopped to fuel up at Coin Lavigne



We then continued on #33 trail, the section which had been announced closed earlier in the week but which was now re-opened and groomed



We took the #343 to join the #63 trail



that we took to go down south. Here passing at the Domaine Bazinet outfitter




We continued south and the trail conditions remained very nice for a mild Saturday. Here just north of Ste-Émilie de l'Énergie down the big hill.



And here passing at St-Jean de Matha ...


 
We stopped to eat in St-Félix de Valois around 6:15 pm to take a good break. this section was the only one of the ride really worn out at the end of the day. Then we came back through Joliette. We finally arrived home around 7:45 pm with 219 miles on the dreammeter for the day, very happy with our visit to the Black Mountain which was even better than expected with the sun that showed up, and our ride with really good trail conditions on most of the route despite the mild weather.
We must admit that time flies and we will be entering March next weekend, so now is really the time to ride before it is too late! For ourselvest, we are taking our snowmobile vacation from next Sunday for a week and at the same time a ride report break. Continue to post your own ride reports!
Otherwise,  Pays de la motoneige trail conditions web site is always a good place to have details of the conditions in Lanaudière / Mauricie: https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/
Think snow!

Alain

Ok... now my keyboard is wet...😍

It is the M20 trail, an orange trail with identification M20. I really suggest you to ride it for your day ride to Marineau/Mattawin for lunch. I would say keep the #360 to go in the morning and try it when you come back. It is a trail really fun to ride, different from the #360 and the scenery is different also. It is a pretty fast trail, a bit more than the #360 for the first 80%and then a bit less fast but still nice. I sure you won't regret it. It will add a 20 miles to your ride compare to the #360 trail path.
go for it and enjoy!

With the snow storm coming we are making changes to our plans. We are making a run for Matane. We are going to get the truck and make a move.

We continue on to Sainte-Anne-des Monts. We arrived at 6:30.

Then we see another one. He is in no hurry. We move slowly and he walks off into the woods.

We saw a moose in this area a few years back. I am on the lookout. 

There was a shared section of road that was looking a bit rough. It went quickly.

We stopped for a break at La Cache. They are busy today. After a quick lunch we head to 595 north. The trail looks really good. I like this section. 

We spot some QR team stickers on the way.

A few miles out of Murdochville the trail starts getting a bit choppy. We stop for fuel and head to the Chic-Choc trail. Hoping it’s a good as the other day. We are in luck. The trail is nice. 

We continue on to 597. The trail is in top shape. We are making good time.

We stop at a scenic overlook but trees are growing in and the view is not what I remember.
 

Day 4 238 Miles

We are off to a late start about 9. Over to Petro-Canada and Fuel up. The gas trail is really beat up. We take TQ5 towards 597. The trail is in nice shape.

When you were heading east on the 360 after lunch you made a loop north off the 360 then back down to the 360/345 to the dam. Up by your waypoint #3 marker. What is this section of trail like? What is the trail number? It doesn't say on the map. Thanks. We are staying in St Michele for three days next week and i was planning on a day trip out to the riviere mattiwan for lunch and back?

Ok... now my keyboard is wet...😍

Few pictures 

We rolled in to the hotel about 6. Another great day.