P Hardy

11 February 
+1c now
Returned from RDL to a lot of snow loss. Was +4c when we got here.
looks bad. Riding from home is not happening for me. It’s a horror scene from what i see. Need snow. Cold is returning but need snow. Sun much higher in sky much stronger each day. Brown spots of dirt showing or bare asphalt accelerates snow melting more each day. 
 
Start snow dancing. Please 

 

I did notice some updates were older but seen quite a few from the 11/12th also. It’s our best option at this point nothing worth while in Maine, gaspe looks toast if this doesn’t work out oh we’ll sit in the pool and make the best of it beats going into work

Hi Don.  Sometimes after the day's ride it is tough to sit down and bang away at the keyboard but it is worth it.  I like reading your posts too and all the other folks that contribute.  It keeps our community together.
Hope you can get a little more riding in.  Have a great summer.
Jack & Sandi

I do not see extreme cold being an issue. Well built equipment. So far very happy. 

Thanks for the write up an pics! Also interested in those helmets, my concern was if they were going to be warm enough for Quebec. Sounds like they will be? The good looked great and the bad is ugly.. I'd be pretty surprised if there wasn't lots of winter left up there.

Thanks for the write up an pics! Also interested in those helmets, my concern was if they were going to be warm enough for Quebec. Sounds like they will be? The good looked great and the bad is ugly.. I'd be pretty surprised if there wasn't lots of winter left up there.

Also plan ahead...unlike the good old days...the dealer is closed on weekends...so don't break down or need oil and belts ...it's your last stop if you are heading east...these guys also have great intel on local trails going west...days worth of good riding here if you care to hang out for a few days..and plenty of good restaurants and basically anything else you will need...rather than ferry from Matane another great avenue is leaving from Sacre-Coeur and riding up through Forestville...they certainly do not get the same traffic up there and have a little more snow and a few degrees colder...every little bit counts between 25 to 32 degrees
 

90 miles and 61 degrees in north central Pennsylvania today! 😬

Alright, here I am!!! It was a much-needed get away as lots of my friends teachers are gone on sick leave and report cards to be done by Monday. I had to be in the nature for a bit. 
I don't know if we're lucky or what, but we got some great trails considering the kind of year that it is. Born and raised in Quebec all my life ... I have never seen it like that ever. Even I'm surpised. Never had to fully open my jacket in February... 😳

Love the new helmet, I get a better look when I cross the street, there is no air leaking through which will be great in colder temperature since my previous helmet had the air vents on my chin broken open. I also love the color/look  turquoise! It's also much lighter than my other one so I feel the difference after a couple of hours of riding. 

New radios are great too. My favorite? It's to hear other people talk when we're set in mesh... I like to spy and sometimes jump in the conversation!! ahahah like yesterday! I almost got free chips! 

Like lover said, was the first time passing people, i'm not the fastest but not the slowest either... I was getting bored behind them... I don't understand why they never let us pass them. When I see some people catching up to me I tell Don and we let them go by. I mean if you caught up, you should pass us, no? They had several occasions (road-crossing) and the leader of the pack never really looked back. Anyway, we got through, one of them got nervous a little. 
I thought I was back on an old trip in April in Matane at some spots like you can see on the pictures. BUt the rest was really good. I'm happy!!

It was the second time that I passed the bar of the 300 km in one day. Proud. Even though I was maybe too tired for that, and the boys never stop for lunch. 😒
 
First real riding in the pack with Snohorse cause I was the middle. I felt safe knowing he was behind me. 
I also got to lead most of today, calling out coming sleds, studying the turns on my own, basically reading the trails for myself, looking where  it goes and all. I also got to ride on my private groomed trail, you know, the one all the way on the right!! 👌 Best place to ride. Some turns were mushy so a little harder to deal with for me, but I managed. 
Even yesterday at the end of the day on the TQ5 coming to the hotel I still had my private trail even though hundreds of sleds had passed by.  Got to love it!  

To the next time, I truly believe we'll get more snow ... I mean it's QUebec here.
Otherwise I'll be shocked that that was the winter 2024. (But it would mean an early start of paddling season with a small spring flood. ) 🙂 
GOt to have more than one hobby. 

Til next time. 
 
IMG_2117.HEIC

you might have gotten what was left...it's certainly better than the 61 degrees and hard rain here in mass....guess it's good for the lawns...wish I was there riding ..hopefully the next month will treat us better...great pictures and live report

Saturday Feb 10
Rain and freezing rain overnight. Got up to survey situation 7:30. Not raining, radar showing worst is past so, off to breakfast then we will make a go out to check things out. Its warm though. 
 
Dressed down best we could, first damn helmet I had that doesn’t leak air. Solid and warm. 
 
Mrs Ice has to do class work for monday so we are going out and around back early. The plan was perfectly timed as we returned to Univerel it began to rain again an still gray and sprinkling on and off. 
 
Left hotel and another first this trip, I neglected to mention yesterday it was the first time for Mrs to negotiate through a pack of 5 two up sleds as we passed. I will let her tell you. Nicely done. Cleanly safely and politely. As could be. 
Today the first is over the bridge right here to the orange trail. Hey it’s the little milestones that keep me going. This is a new trail for me as was the 518 yesterday. Still nice here but we are sweating, Jackets open and snow soft. Too warm to enjoy. But not raining. 
 
Orange local along the 20 to St Andre here to 559 boney along roads and crossings. It is what it is. Otherwise very nice. Greens and orange. Everyone touring running TQ 5 and it shows. 
559 to TQ 5 east to 561 the to Club house for a break there. The 526 is next it was showing some use. Too warm but starting to get more cloudy and windy. One two up and a single holding us up a bit. The two up leading is one you have those dreams about. The one where you are in you lane minding your business and round next turn comes this guy keeping cemter left. Wow. 
Caro was leading us and she said I am so afraid watching this guy. Afraid I am going to see something I don’t want to. She gets it. Very proud of her progress she soaks it all in. The force is strong in this one. 
Finally they go left on orange to join TQ5 we continue 526 up to TQ85 railbed bike path holdind up great, after relay at TQ5/85 here its got some ugly looking spots by peat moss bogs. Bad.
Into town not worst i seen. Asphalt all bare basically everywhere.
back with whopping 75 miles but Wife had fun and so did we, too warm now starting to rain again. This adventure is being called. Until next time RDL
We will return
will it be this year?  Who knows
Mrs Ice gets all credit for photography 

 
 

Some very good still, however some bad real bad spots . It will not be done by any means get out of town. Late Late Season Conditions Feb 10.
Need Snow period. 
 
keep right
 

Thanks for all the detailed reports each day, I know what goes into putting it together and taking time to post. Much appreciated 

Trails in places look like march or early season with sticks poking through here and there. Most asphalt is bare. 
 
seen lots of pictures from further east it all looks great. 
 
did not rain alot here. It is warm though. But warm and no sun betterr than sunny day. 
 
it will survive here it will be ok. Not perfect by any means but like i said before if you want to ride its now. 
 

Going to give you a bit more. Then bedtime. 
 
we are going nowhere it’s out n back 2 days from here Universel..
Got some new hardware and trying it out while getting mrs ice some much deserved seat time. (She gets very little) nature of the game. 
 
Sena 50s awesome. Group mesh and love it. 
CKX Mission Carbon helmets. Why I waited till now i do not know. Game changing comfort and vision. Badass. 
 
Wheels down February 9 at RDL. This is a special year. That’s it. It is what it is and if you want to ride you can make it happen simple as that. Bitching about it or wondering how it will hold up is a waste of energy. 
 
Close to hotel is boney i have seen worse and rode worse returning here before. Not far out much better we left with no set plan. Following what felt good. 
 
526 to TQ85 to First orange we can find. Let’s Go. 
early morning TQ85 nice and then orange fresh groomed. Beautiful. 
up orange to 544 another beauty  very few sleds and great trail. 
new helmets are sweet. 
now 571 and another stunner. Real nice. Then to TQ5 to the trail of the day 518. WOW WOW WOW, never rode this it is spectacular 
east n 518 to local orange down to Fabien sur mer. To a scenic overlook just niot the best day for the views. But awesome riding. 
Gassed on the orange there right on the 132 been by on the road never on sled here. 
 
to be continued 

Ok then.
Arrived Thursday around 5:30pm. Had reservations screwed up bad. Supposed to have two rooms first floor door to outside for each. We ended up with one finally with door to sleds outside and the other landlocked but first floor. Confirmation email in hand still only got one of two I reserved weeks ago. Not a great start. 
 
Busy night for a Thursday. Restaurant seats 205 and was all that with 30 in another private room. They were struggling but doing best they could. Overheard table next to us (was hard not too hear them) berating the poor manager Francois because of the long wait. They were slammed all at once and some big groups. Kitchen got backed up. It was not nice the way this guy was talking. I had all I could to restrain the mrs as she was half out of her seat more than once. Hurt me to watch this go down as well. Unnecessary.  We had long conversation with manager after they left next to us. Real shame but dealing with the public this is what happens sometimes. 
 
Food awesome blows away old restaurant. That said, you pay for it. $$$
Steak Frit was real good its the Thursday nigh special. Kick ass wings so Ice is in. 
 
7 am breakfast not packed but fillimg up fast opens 6:30 am. 
 
wings 

 
 

Nothing crazy. Friday Ride. 
 
 
 

I'm hoping last week of February and first week of March will be the prize this year...if not ...we can chalk this up to the worst year ever.

Photo courtesy of mon ami Sophie.
 

The red arrow points to where Fer a Cheval is at , looks like a good size area to prospect in !

Adventurous tank of gas to the house today from Mattawin.
we loaded up now on ground RDL
3 strong
Mrs Ice is out to ride.

Day 3.    Eva - La Tuque  via 355 , 83, 73 . Grooming has been strong , hardly a ripple the whole way.. considering the amount of large tour groups spotted today its surprising .  Fun 3 day rip of around 650 miles of awesome 👌 

Conditions were good on 80% of the trails. The percentage of shirt is up a lot since yesterday AM.
Typical mid season warm up that looks like spring riding. We were lucky to get in to ride Tuesday on…as we guessed it’s changing. Not sure how they even groom some of the areas that are real thin…while others remain thin but very good.