timberman

Team member trying out the lion in front of the Hotel du Jardin.

Those Dick and Sam stickers are everywhere!!!

Gino Fortin, owner of Evolution-X Power Sports, with Dick and Sam.

Sled being serviced at Evolution-X.

You boys are right!!! 2 new coils, set of plugs, and out the door. The team is now settling in at the Hotel du Jardin in St. Felicien. The loop to Alma was truncated due to the trip to the shop. Cocktail hour is well underway.

Roh-roh!! One of the 1200's running on 2 cylinders. The team has detoured to Evolution-X Power Sports in St. Felicien. Servicing ongoing. Gino Fortin and his team, with Service Manager Julie, are awesome!!!!

The team is up-and-at-em at the Pourvoirie Kanawata, pacing the floor waiting for the 7:00 am breakfast call. Itinerary today calls for northbound through Casey, then eastward to Lac St Jean. Tentatively hoping to grab lunch at Relais 22. Today's destination is the Universel in Alma! Weather looking awesome.

IPosed for a pic with our sticker at Lu-Nic lunch bar earlier today!!!

Nothing at all against the 1200s. We have four of them with us - running like champs. Supper great at Kanawata - choice of ribs or seafood pasta. The team is fed, watered, and mellow.

The team has arrived safe and sound at Pourvoirie Kanawata. Trails were very good, a little soft this morning around Mont Laurier but improved rapidly to the north. Lunch at Lu-Nic. Fabulous club sandwiches. Dick and Sam stickers being applied everywhere.

The team is bedded down at Quality Inn in Mont Laurier. Excellent meal and craft beers at the micro-brewery/pub next door. Tomorrow is Christmas morning!!

Roads are bare and dry, like Sam's head.

The team is enroute!

Thanks for the great info!! We'll make good use of it. It's now less than 24 hours until blast-off with trucks/trailers to Mont Laurier. The team is having trouble with here-and-now focus. Not sure if true, but there is a rumour that Dick is sleeping with his helmet on????

Thanks for the info, Pipeman. The team is leaning toward Hotel Chibougamau. Now another fine-tuning question - is gas available (or necessary) between Chapais and Lebel-sur-Quevillon? Last time they came through (5+ years ago), there was gas at an Esso in a little hamlet along the way (Mitchi-something?) but the place was in its death throes then, and I believe has closed. FYI - the team is running four BRP 1200's and one 900 ACE (looks like easy distance for the 900). The 1200s are good mileage sleds, but it's fast trail and Dick can be heavy on the throttle particularly if the young lads are ahead of him. Any info appreciated!!!

Couple of questions - is Relais 22 Milles open and selling gas? Also - any recommendations/cautions for accommodation in Chibougamau? We have stayed at the Hotel/Motel Nordic before - the heated sled shed was nice, but no meal plan/sledder's package. The Hotel Chibougamau looks like it has packages, but never stayed there. Any comments, suggestions out there?

x10 Skidude.

No fuel on the east side between Lebel sur Quivillon and Matagami, but the distance should be no problem (about 135 kilometres). First/last stop for fuel on the west side is in Saint Dominique-du-Rosaire. Nice little coffee shop there as well (about 165 km from Matagami). Awesome fast trail on the west side between Matagami and Saint Dominique-du Rosaire. All information as per last year's ride - haven't been in the area this year yet.

X10, Iceman! Dick and Sam have stayed at Hotel Matagami several times, to great satisfaction, and are also booked in for their upcoming adventure. Booked for February 22nd, $113.00 (includes taxes) per man, including 1/2 of a double room, supper, breakfast, and all the video poker you can afford. The hotel isn't perhaps the newest in the world, or one with the longest list of amenities, but its probably the best and most convenient in town. And, you have to remember the selection of accommodation varies inversely to your distance from the equator.

FYI: Sam's 900 ACE went 265 km on a tankful of gas on Sunday. Ran out of gas 14 km from home! Thanks for the trail side donation, Dave!!

The team had an excellent weekend warm-up trip, riding to Pembroke Saturday, via Calabogie & Renfrew, returning Sunday via Whitney and Bancroft. About 575 easy km in total. The kids' 1200s and Sam's 900 performing flawlessly. Saturday night at Pembroke Best Western was $99 pp plus tax, for sledders special. Nice rooms, hot-tub was hot, draft beer was cold. Lunch Sat at Shooters in Calabogie took 2 friggin' hours to get our food. Lunch Sun at Granite in Bancroft was awesome!! And it's on to Mont Laurier Quality Inn on Sat Feb 18!!

Watch for these!!

Of course, all team-member's sleds will feature the stickers too!!!

The team is excited to be debuting the new "Fun With Dick and Sam" stickers. Watch for them anywhere these characters have been. I'll post a shot of the sticker later today.

I realise this isn't Quebec related, but the team is having a spontaneous practice trip this weekend, riding out of Sam's chalet Saturday morning, then about 320 km through Whitney ON to an overnight at Best Western in Pembroke ON, return the following day. All team members except Dick will be participating.