P Hardy

Have you ever tasted a Red Champagne in Saguenay Lac St-Jean? It’s a locally made soda. It’s really good and reminded me of strawberry 🍓 soda. 
Anyway, as I was asking what it was like, a man told me this is what you want to drink when you’re hungover! Always Good to know 😂

Early 90’s in St Donat… half way across Lake Archimbault my friends 583 MXZ seized a cylinder…8am.. first morning..  10 minutes into a week long trip… we tow him a few miles to the tiny ski doo dealer… they loan… for free.. him a sled… we come back at 3 in the afternoon… sled is ready with new cylinders pistons and rings… and clean carburetors… 650$… those were the good old days… and it saved our trip… I’ve been extremely lucky over the last 4 plus decades… but aI feel for everyone stuck or broke down… for many it’s their yearly vacation… and timely help is of utmost importance… for the most part I’ve found Quebec service and hospitality to be second to none… but we are living in a new after covid world… and this great experiment is failing miserably

More…..
 

 

Day 2 Saturday 
 
Noticeably warmer this morning after a cold night. We headed out after breakfast in no hurry to go no particular place. We decided to follow the groomer for a bit. So from here down the TQ93 then to the 373 all of it mint. Groomer has broken up the majority of the ice and yes still some icy spots and the usual south and west facing full sun areas starting to melt through. This is end of March conditions on the 2 of March. That is this season. 
 
373 across to TQ93 then down to orange trail through Site d’ours and over across river to Relais Buttes. Spent time talking with Gaetan there. Did you all know that the Relais closes all off season. It opens December 1 and he does Christmas parties for businesses then that carries him through until trails open. Then when trails are done so is the Relais. Interesting. Mrs Ice had the tomato and stars soup and she loved it. 
 
2 other sleds here. So far we have seen about 15 sleds all morning. We say goodbye to Gaetan sadly I won’t be back this way (not in the plan) as it’s noticeable the difference just a little bit further south here. I am bailing back north. The good stuff is shrinking must stay north. Not un rideable at all, just not what we are looking for. 
 
Up 373 to TQ93 took the gas just to take it at La Dore’. We did not know it until Mrs Ice saw on FB we crossed paths with The Snow Traveler from FB as our radio conversations were intermingled with the open mesh. Wish i knew I would have loved to meet them. Maybe another time. 
 
Debated on next move but ran back on TQ 93 then over the famous bridge from last weeks run (Mark and Phil sr love this crossing) lol. Complete the loop passing orange trail again and its TQ93 to the river lookout. Had to take the paddle boarder to see this river. Nice break here coats off its warm but there is a cool breeze. 
 
Back up to the TQ93 and still great trails all good softening up now and real nice. Run to Lac a Jim here a late lunch. Took time to ask about summer and paddle boarding Lac jim is 10km so small by my Mrs paddle board standards. Few other sleds here but been pretty tame for a Saturday. 
 
Straight shot back to Home sweet home Girardville. All alone again private accommodations. 
 
Great relaxing day. We aint here to set no records. Going to take time to look around and see. 
 
Plenty of time for the mrs to take lots of pictures so enjoy them.
 
Tomorrow we go on an adventure. 
 
Stay Tuned. 

I was seriously considering heading to the Island back to St. Croix USVI. Instead of this sled ride. 
 
Felt warm like the island this afternoon but trails will survive at least until Monday and that’s all we all looking for. Cannot have high expectations this year. Limited good trail. We aint looking for marginal. 
 
We got more than good.
little peek 👀 more later
 
 

2003   Blew piston at end of Quebec airport,  solo,  first sled to come by ( guy from Montreal) towed me to Quebec Inn. Wrecker company showed up with a pick up truck and gave me 2 1/2 hour ride to Maine border for $250.
2004    Blew  Arctic Cat chain  case right next to Yammi dealer near Montmagny.  Took apart and dealer could not fix.  Dealer had wife drive me and sled to Maine border ( 3 hrs.),   sled labor and ride $250.  (I was with Rob Lyons and his crew at the time).
Best one was in Maine 1971 doing 2 day saddlebag Eustis to Jackman and return.  Four Dads & 4 teens. 30 miles before Jackman couldn't get across a lake due to heavy slush. No other way to get to Jackman and not enough gas to return to Eustis. Went to nearby Holeb, middle of no where Maine widerness with a few camps and lumber mill. Mill owner had no gas but stuffed us all into his Suburban and gave us the most harrowing ride to Jackman on a 25 mile  mountainous logging road, bare ice. Pulling into the hotel we got stopped by a trooper and the mill owner got bagged for OUI.  My dad and I drove him back to his mill and we stayed over night at his trailer. Next day the hotel owner gathered volunteers to drive the rest of the gang to the mill and brought along gas.  Cost:  we paid for the mill owner's bail to get out of jail and big tips for the Jackman folks who helped us. 
mike
 

Day 1 Friday 
Loaded up and trucked out. Debated long and hard and it was tough to choose. I had rooms lined up in Matane, but it’s game over there. Cancelled. Had  Escoumins too it was there or since we already been there this year, I considered going long to Forrestville. Then a run to Baie Comeau is easier for the Mrs. We aint riding a week. This is 3 days and done. 
 
I felt Cote Nord was very safe play. But after seeing last week up here decided to pull the trigger and head right back to the “honey hole” 
 
Ugly from Lac Bouchette right to St Felicien. The road is closer to the Lake so for sure less snow but the rain did serious damage to already non existent base of nothing. It rained quite a bit up here more than i thought. Oh well let’s see what it looks like in Girardville when we get there. 
 
Surprised to find it not bare everywhere. Lots of ice in parking lot. Seeing sleds all along from Normandin and to Albanel.
 
Touchdown at just before 2pm. Get in room drop the iron and suit up. Out on icy but not bad at all trails. Little more traffic and warmer temps its gonna loosen up nicely. Up to check middle orange dowm as it shows groomed after rain storms. It does not disappoint. Scratchers down not even trying without them. Quick 40 miles and back in. All alone we are here. Snohorse the mrs is loving the place. I think i will keep her. 
 
Chez Ben for some grub and all is good. 

Here is the pics of track work 

We’ve done the Cote Nord this week leaving Hotel Pelchat in Les Escoumins Sunday morning. Baie Comeau Sunday night, Sept-iles Monday night , back to Baie Comeau Tuesday night.
Trails have been excellent for the most part. Godbout to Sept-iles going out and then back the next day we’re a F1 slot car course. Groomed both directions and almost zero traffic. Days you dream of for riding conditions.
Sunday night we were the only sledder group at La Manoir in BC, Tuesday night few more sledders. We did the big loop north of BC both days and it was excellent for snow cover and grooming.
Arrived in Forestville for Wednesday night. Very light rain Wednesday during the day, almost unmeasurable. During the night it rained more. Today Thursday morning it was cold and trails were hard as rock. We did the 200 km loop north of Forestville. More snow north of Forestville than anywhere else have seen. 8 sleds in our group, 5 with scratchers, 3 without. No problem running with scratchers, guys without had some cooling issues. One bush fix got a 1200 back to the hotel.
The loop north of Forestville is a real gem, scenic. Was concerned because grooming map showed not groomed for several days. So little traffic run up there conditions were perfect, not a bump.
Seems like half million people in Mont Valin and very few doing Cote Nord.
This trip from Feb. 25 until tomorrow finishing up back in Les Escoumins has been a 9/10 for conditions.
 

Here’s my Brand new Lynx… also 0 miles 

Worst season for quite a while Brand new sled with 0 miles 🤬will be brand new next winter . Brand new Catalyst wanted to try out this winter .
Let's hope for a comeback of winter next season.

LOL….to be fair I had (for the first time ever and even not now) the entire winter off that year. 
just seems harder and harder as you get older and fighting the weather and the economy to get seasons in like we used to. 
I hope to make it to full retirement someday and have enough Ching left to ride at least half the winter days. I’ll be able to beat Mother Nature then LOL  
my buddy sent me some pics today from some French Facebook I think page. Outside of Parent/Clova somewhere 
WARNING GRAPHIC AND DISTURBING CONTENT   !!!!!!!!!!
 

Just thinking here on the positive side , at least next season most definitely , positively , absolutely , undeniably will be better than this one !

My money is on the north shore. More options for east and north riding

Locked and Loaded trucking today wirh Mrs. Ice. Promised I would find her some good trails….so let the games begin. 

Definitely enjoyed following along, jealous is an understatement.  Nice rip.  West is best

Outstanding trip reporting as always ! So glad everything went well for all of you👍

Day 6 final day 230 miles. Headed out over to LaSarre this morning the first 35-40 miles was pure white carpet the type of thing snowmobilers dream about with the fresh snow from last night the sun coming out, and the snow covered trees made for an unforgettable ride. Did a couple of the loop trials north of LaSarre all of which are totally awesome then headed over to La Reine which is right on the Quebec/ Ontario border you get there by running about 10 miles of rail bed, which again was pure white carpet. At the end of the rail bad we ventured into Ontario for a bit via the same rail bed which is unmaintained into Ontario side but still a fun Boondocking experience. Then made our way back to Amos via TQ 93. Another epic day to finish out an epic riding week. Anyone who wasn’t up here missed out on some amazing conditions. Hard to believe the weather for the next 48 hours which looks downright horrible Hopefully this area makes it though. I hope everyone enjoyed following along, and I just made a few people jealous along the way! 

Day 8 Monday 

Trucked it to chez Ice, touchdown home 3 hrs from Lac Bouchette. Snowing up there messy to La Tuque almost 3” new snow overnight there. Less as we drove south. 
 
Yamaha off the Snohorse trailer and Freeride back in. Unloaded gear and said goodbye to the Snohorse and he headed on south. Timing is everything and the timing and planning were on. 
 
The rest of the team had a smooth run back to USA Sunday. 
NHmoose said he was home by 10:30. Nice
 
until next time mes amis

Wake up to -20°f here at Windigo with a full moon hanging in the west sky .  Say Salute to our good friends  Iceman , Snohorse, HH-Moose, Mar"K" and Phil-2 .. memorable times with like minded friends 🙂.    Rolled out west to Waymo for fuel,  off to Camp de Casey for lunch and WiFi.  Repo for a splash of Dino-Bones then Mattawin to the trucks n back to Vermont.  Trails were pretty much the typical this season  ... good , bad,  ugly  .. but I'd do it all over again  😄. 
Let's all hope the 10 day forecast isn't as bad as it looks  ... 
 
Grab it while ya can Mes amis !
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Day 5 215 total miles. A bit of a snowy day today so not as many pictures they don’t look as pretty haha. Tons of sleds today guess everybody is out anticipating, perhaps the end of the riding season unfortunately. Since all the traffic trails were a bit more bumpier than normal, but still not bad at all. Decided to head down to Rapide 7 so left amos south to Rivière-Héva then to Malartic then continued down the 309 to Rapide 7. Back up 309 then into Val’dor and then snaked our way back to Amos the long way! 

Drag strips-anyone around?