timberman

Dick has had a great day, and is apparently enjoying his new antlers.

Here’s a picture of Mario (proprietor) and Richard (le homme de gaz) and Dick.

Team has arrived at Pourvoirie Kanawata, all intact and enjoying the services of proprietor Mario behind the bar. This is a fabulous place!!! Trails were impeccable all the way, great lunch and gas up at Lunic but make sure you’ve got cash - no plastic acceptex (Steve and Dick providing liquidity to team memberz who founf themselves short). Another quick gas top-up at Manawan but the team didn’t hang around there. 343 kilometres today.

Tomorrow’s route from Mont Laurier to Pourvoirie Kanawata highlighted in purple.

http://www.kanawata.com/

The fun started at lunch time in Fort Coulougne where Dick looked up his old friend and business associate Ghislain, a noted log home erector and Quebecois raconteur. The boys enjoyed a two hour lunch with Ghislain and he entertained the Team with non-stop amazing information ranging from crypto currencies to the Russian mob. Several other topics will not be mentioned. Au revoir, Ghislain!!!

Dick and Sam and the team arrrived in Mont Laurier tonight, with Dave and Steve, ensconced at The Comfort Inn. Snow is a bit thin and icy. This hotel is packed, parking lot jammed with sleds, quads, trucks, trailers. Parking is a chess game. Team heads out tomorrow for Pourvoirie Kanawata, a short run down TQ63 till they head north on TQ53. Lunch in Lunic. An easy 326 km per mapping. Stay tuned for trail updates, hospitality comments and general updates regarding team members’ rides.

Dick and Sam stayed at Pourvoirie La Verendre last year. Was the 2nd year with new management and owners. Accept credit and debit cards. Hydro and wireless now on all night (battery and inverter system). New addition containing dining room and bar. Nice 2nd floor common room with couches,recliners, TV. Great for falling asleep watching hockey after supper. Témiscaming to Pourvoirie is a good day - lunch in Belleterre but don’t linger over lunch - you have a long afternoon haul from Belleterre to the Pouvoirie. Some twisty trails between Belleterre and Trout Lake, then high speed to within about 20km of Pourvoirie, then twisty again. Next day you will be into Mont Laurier by 1:00 pm.

Loves her 1200? (Ouch) or her leg lamp? (Hmmm).

After their epic ride, team members recuperate in varying fashions. Our youngest member holidays in Cleveland this weekend, enjoying such cultural highlights as The Christmas Story (movie) House. Is he turning on the famous Leg Lamp, or ?????

Thanks for the compliments, gentlemen. We'll make sure to post up our next adventure, here on Quebec Rider. Back at home now, waiting for some fresh snow so this ice can get groomed up. Applying stickers here and there!!

Trails were excellent coming into LSQ from Chiboug and departing towards Senneterre. Team also chatted with sledders in the pizza place at lunch in LSQ, and some fellows arriving from Matagami said trails were awesome in that direction as well. I'd say the hotel lady you spoke to was on the money. The team was originally going to swing north to Matagami on that day (Wednesday) but the broken clutch spring re routed us to Amos. Just a reminder - the Senneterre BRP dealer had no time or interest in our trivial problems, whereas Amos BRP dealer stepped right up to the plate!!'

Oh yes, the diesel story. Several years ago, Dick ran some litres of diesel into his sled. As time goes by, his version of this story has evolved into a heroic tale of reverse-engineering, but I'm sure no-one here has time for that. Afterward the fill-up, the sled put on a fine display of flame-throwing backfires during a lake crossing. All team members were very appreciative of the rare and exciting event. Now, Dick claimed there was something else wrong with the sled, and that the diesel worked perfectly. Memory served correctly, it may have also been his wife's sled. In any event, since then Diesel Dick has been remarkably cautious when pulling up to the pumps.

In summary: Saturday Night - Mont Laurier - Quality Inn Sunday Night - Somewhere in the Woods - Pourvoirie Kanawata Monday Night - St. Felicien - Hotel du Jardin Tuesday Night - Chibougamau - Hotel Chibougamau Wednesday Night - Amos - Hotel des Eskers Thursday Night - Somewhere in the Woods - Pourvoirie La Verendre Friday Afternoon - Mont Laurier - load up and get out of Dodge The team was greeted with wonderful Quebecois hospitality and humour. Thanks to Evolution X Sports in St. Felicien and Accent Plein Air BRP dealer in Amos for helping out the boys. Lots of good food. Dick and Sam spread their gospel of sledding fun, stickering lots of things and folks. They were recognized and saluted in the most surprising places, and plan to up their game for next year's expedition. North Shore? Gaspe? Trails were predictably well groomed and fast. In particular, Day 2 between Pouvoirie Kanawata and St. Felicien was a blast. Day 4 between Chibougamau and Amos was a bit of a trial, more due to the break-down (clutch spring) and duration (490 kilometres, including about 40 km towing). The boys didn't go out dancing that night. Sam and Steve were spreading their cold where-ever they went. Steve discovered the delights of uncontrolled sneezing in a BRP helmet with snorkel on. Sam thought it was raining, wrong, just sneezed inside his full-face visor. If anyone has any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Sorry for the delay in following up, all team members now back in good health. Also, advise if you want a sticker sent to you!!!

The team awoke Friday morning to a dismal forecast for the entire area. The weather in the morning was cold, with broken clouds, but the forecast called for rain, freezing rain, more rain, then some rain, followed by thunder storms. Phew. It was decided to make a break for the trucks. Sled were "wheels up" about 8:30 after a great breakfast and a pause while Dick hugged the proprietors (5 minutes?? okay, break it up kids). TQ 63 east departs right from the premises, winds up the logging roads back to its original location on the eastward leg. The conditions were very good considering a lack of grooming, with trail frozen hard. Generally, the faster trails were holding up while, of course, the tighter trails were getting choppy. They gassed up at Le Domaine, and kept on rolling. No time to screw around here, although the team did observe a convoy of cars pull in which discharged some "dancer-ish" looking ladies - it was concluded they were on a run between Val d'Or and Mont Laurier gigs, and stopped to um stretch their legs? The tighter trails towards Mont Laurier got rougher and rougher, but the boys were like horses heading for the barn. No stopping, no slowing down. It started snowing - a heavy, wet slushly snow that stuck to everything, including visors. Oh well, carry on boys. Arrival in Mont Laurier about 1:00 pm, at which time the snow changed to a pouring, freezing rain. Phew, just in time. Sleds loaded, then a wrap-up lunch at the micro-brewery next to the Quality Inn. The boys were home safe in their beds by that night.

Okay - there was lots of joy in Mudville. The team left Amos about 9 in the morning on Thursday morning. Departed under cloudy drizzly skies. The 1200 with the new secondary clutch spring performing perfectly, as per team member Rob. The first 20+ km going east on TQ93 was rough, then improved dramatically toward Senneterre. A bit rough around Senneterre, but that was to be expected. Trails improved south of Senneterre again, but were still choppy in the corners. The mild weather was obviously precluding any grooming. They headed south on TQ 83 from Senneterre to Louvicourt, where they lunched and gassed up. The run across Lac Tiblemont just north of Louvicourt was very slushy - saddle bags soaked. Weather remained cloudy, drizzly - they were chasing the rain southward. The lunch at the Royal was decent, if a bit slow. The place has been prettied up on the outside, but same "period decor" in the bar where the boys ate. Club sandwiches seemed to be the lunch theme of the trip. During the afternoon, it was south from Louvicourt on 386, through Kitcisakik, towards Pourvoirie La Verendre which was the evening destination. Trails were fast and faster and fastest until the team arrived at the junction of 386 and TQ 63. Then it was WTF??? - the combined trail TQ63 and 386 was been diverted south through about 24 kilometres of rabbit warren, a winding seemingly never-ending poke at the end of the day until they arrived at the Pourvoirie. This diversion did not show up on the app map, the on-line map or the printed maps. One team member came up to a corner and saw Dick with his sled in a peculiar position against a pine tree. Dick claimed he was inspecting the special habitat of the region. Forensics indicated a blown corner. No charges laid but he is on probation. The new proprietors of Pourvoirie LaVerendre seem well suited to the hospitality bizz. Monsieur was right out to the gas pumps when we arrived. Yes, $2.00 per litre (premium) but if you are counting pennies when sledding, you are in the wrong friggin sport. Madame seemed to be everywhere, or at least everywhere the team was looking. As reported elsewhere, there is a bar/dining room addition on the right side of the lodge. Also, the power is on all night, due to a battery/inverter system that has been installed. - no "lights out, Good night John Boy" routine anymore. Supper was very good, the wine was really good, and the scenery in the bar was pretty good too. About 20 sleds in for the night. Cost was $125 (including taxes) for accommodation, supper, breakfast. The bar bill boosted that amount significantly. The establishment now also accepts plastic (debit, credit cards) - no more "cash only".

Sorry boys, I'll update this thread later this afternoon.

Further to yesterday, trail from Chiboug to Lebel was 9/10. Conditions deteriorated at bit between Lebel and Senneterre. The team headed west through Barrutte to Amos, and the trail got rougher and rougher. Given the futility of grooming in this mild weather, the team isn't optimistic about having smooth trails. At least there's still lots of snow. Today's destination will be hashed out over breakfast.

Well, the team is in for the night, but guess what? Not in Matagami. A broken secondary clutch spring on one of the Renegade 1200's brought about a major change in plan. Sam towed the cripple out to Desmaraisville where, by a good turn of fortune, the sled was trailered to a dealer by Les from New Liskeard!!! The BRP dealer in Senneterre frankly didn't give a sh*t about us, whereas Accent Plein Air BRP in Amos welcomed us and fixed it within an hour at no charge!! Secondary clutch spring had a factory recall. Hats off to Steve Migneault, Service Advisor and Steve St. Laurent, Technician at Accent Plein Air!!!

Thanks Fred! The team hasn't toured Gaspe yet but it's on the docket for future years. When they do get there, you can be sure they'll be leaving stickers in their wake!!

There is some sentiment (ahem) leaning in that direction.

Dave's sled being welcomed to Chibougamau.

Today's Update: The team had an easy run up to Chibougamau from St Felicien, and considered carrying on to Lebel-sur-Quevillon but roh roh! it started freezing rain during their late lunch so the decision was made to stay in Chibougamau. They are checked into Hotel Chibougamau, currently hot-tubbing. They gassed up at the sawmill - cash only, no change. $20 bought about 14 litres. Gas at Petrol Canada in the highway at Chiboug was 111.9 per litre. Room at Hotel Chiboug is $140 per night, double, including 2 breakfasts. Team will buy supper a la carte, at the hotel restaurant. Trails were fabulous all the way - the light got flat in the afternoon, making for a few surprise whoop-de-whoops in the fast flats - calus-peeling, shoulder wrenching, adrenaline boosting WTFs!!! It's on to Matagami tomorrow!

Trails good coming on TQ 83 from Kanawata, heading on to Lac St. Jean. Passed groomer east of the Casey junction. Premium fuel available at Relais 22, but don't try to serve yourself.

An update on conditions: trails were essentially awesome and FAST all day under cloudless skies. Lunch at Relais 22 was delicious and punctual: cheeseburgers and club sandwiches. Tonight at Hotel du Jardin it's the sledders package at $89 per night plus taxes. Nice room, just leaving for supper now.