mikerider

I have had so many SkiDoo's with 10,000 to 16,000 miles on them and never even looked at the bearings. Never lost a clutch roller either. Now I'm worried about my '25 Doo with 4,200 miles.

Looks like an awesome season ender. Great pictures!

That's really cool. Thanks for posting.

Nice pictures, nice ride! Can't believe I sat home all week thinking it was too warm.

Very nice, Mark and Lisa. Never heard of that restaurant. Type of place?

I so much enjoyed reading your story and thanks also for posting the pictures. An amazing adventure. mike

Just my opinion: Did not fair well at all. Big puddles in parking lot, very warm out. What I saw driving home this morning via southbound thru Cabano, NB, and northern Maine was flooded gullies, some heavy rain, water flowing over frozen rivers, , temps in mid forties, heavy fog in places. My guess is we will need several days of very cold temps, and a foot of new snow because what snow is on the ground is water logged.

Mark, Lot of new snow this past week, Trails have been amazing. Not sure if I am going home Thurs or Sat. Check with me later and I might have an idea.

I agree, Hotel Levesque. Classy big place. I would check first to make sure they are okay with leaving the rig there, and, not sure if they do breakfast. Last year they had a Starbucks set up in their lobby. To get there, take a left at the traffic light at the end of Universel's property. About a mile up on the right. Groomed trail goes from Levesque to Universel. mike

I am not sure. For sure I am watching the weather. Maybe Wednesday, maybe several days longer.l Are you coming up?

I've done the Maine to Ontario and back five or six times, but the last time I believe was a dozen years ago. Twice we went westerly through the middle of Quebec and I think all other passages were the far north trails. When you say you've done the Chouboug loop, did that mean you went all the way across to the Ontario border? While I don't know the current trail situations (closures etc.), I always preferred (by far) staying on the northern most trails in Quebec and then cutting across to Cochrane. (ie Chiboug to Cochrane.) The first time I made this trip I think was 1996. I also had some friends years ago drive to Ontario for a week of riding (maybe more middle section of Ontario) and said it was crowded, tight and twisty. mike

Hi Jack, Can't say for sure, but yesterday when I drove up to RDL via 95 to Houlton and up thru NB, it was steady light rain until I got into Quebec where it turned to snow. Temp hung around 35 til Quebec. Met two guys last night who sledded up from Mapleton to RDL and said they hit rain until Quebec. Rode a little yesterday afternoon and all day today out of RDL and trails were perfect. Packed powder and groomed. mike

Back in the kingdom and ready to put on some miles. Front desk said it was warm yesterday but conditions look good and appears a little snow covered the parking lot over night. Below freezing now. Room way out on the back side of the hotel. Find the red Ram and you'll figure it out. mike Edit: Just back from a 40 mile spin. Conditions are nice!!!

Hi Joel, It would be great to see all of you again. I am thinking maybe be up Sunday, but not sure yet. mike

Warmest wishes and prayers to you Dave. mike

wng-2, You and your friend maximized every minute of every day. Looks like you are having fun.

This site is filled with friendships. So sad if we lost it, but special thanks to those who kept it up and running for all these years. Not sure this is appropriate, but should we choose an alternate site to meet should this site go down temporary or permenantely until we get reorganized. Dootalk, or HCS, as both have a Quebec section. Thus we would not lose contact. mike

You guys hustled right along, glad you enjoyed it. With blowing snow tomorrow, I'd avoid going east. If not too much snow in the morning, recommend 85S, 526S, 35 S to Frontiers clubhouse, continue 35S and return 85N. Or 5 W to clubhouse at 45 mile mark, green trail behind club house, 35E to Explorer club, 526 to 85. Shorter day rides if snow not too deep

Thanks for posting, like the pictures. Wasn't sure if you were looking for suggestions going to Moose Valley. Anyway, 85S past RDL club, couple miles down RR bed. Sharp left turn onto what I believe is (turn not marked) orange 44, follow signs to St. Cypien . Follow signs to St. Cypien 544 then signs to Squatec on 571. I believe 545 and 571 both split, just make sure to follow signs to St. Cypien and Squatec. In Squatec get on 35 east and watch for gas signs at south end of Squatec. (downtown Squatec gas station currently closed). Continue another 20 miles?? on 35E and watch for Moose Valley turn off. After this turn you will enter New Brunswick. When you get to Y, take 150 to right to get to Moose V and take 135 coming back (to the same quebec trail you came in on. very high speed running. Recommend getting $20 to 30 gas at Moose Valley. Return same trails back to RDL, getting gas again in Squatec. 250 mile round trip.

Good loop is west to Hiboux clubhouse on trail 5, to St. Pamphile, and return via green mountain trail to Exporers clubhouse and back to RDL. Check map as I am lousy at trails numbers. Leave Universel, go past next door gas station and at end of gas station bear right (where most traffic goes right.) Go along left side of road (traveling road and short groomed trails along same road Universel is on). Once past all entry/exit ramps you will see trail crosses road to trail. Take a left onto this trail. This trail will eventually give nice views of the St. Lawrence. On this trail just keep bearing left for 25 miles until you meet trail 5. But!!!, do not turn left at tunnels, do not turn left at gas station (10 miles into ride, instead go behind gas station to pick up trail) and do not turn left around 20 miles in at sign for restaurant. 35 mile mark from Hotel and on trail 5 is clubhouse. Take green trail behind club house to trail 35, rail bed, and turn right. Stay on 35 and take first right on short trail back to trail 5. Stay on 5 til Hiboux clubhouse. We usually get $20 gas at Hiboux club as insurance. Turn around at Hiboux, east on 5 for a few miles and take green trail back to 35 rail bed, and take right on rail bed going west. Stay on 35W til major left marked St. Pamphile. (You will also go by St. Pamphile sign pointing left at a road crossing, this is for ATV's only) Follow signs to St. Pamphile, and along way watch for right hand turn to get GAS. This gas is a must. After gas get back to main trail til St. Pamphile golf club/restaurant. Bear left onto green trail after going by front door of restaurant. Green trail is great/mountainous, wilderness and comes back out to 35 rail bed. Take 35 east til rail yard/Explorers club house. Take trail 526 behind clubhouse, stay on 526 to 85 and back to hotel. Suggest you eat at Hiboux club as golf course seldom open and only other option is several miles into downtown St Pamphile. Trip is about 220 miles. Fairly fast trails.

Another trip wrapping up, time to head home. About 2,200 miles put on the sled the past week and a half. Trails have been so smooth and well groomed. Great group of friends to ride with and a few more who rode separate but found time to join us for happy hour. The saddle bagging days were fun, but staying in one place is sure relaxing. mike

Great pictures Stephen. Conditions are great. Had happy hour with EastMark and Lisa past couple nights. They enjoyed meeting you.

Jak, PADragon and I looped around Rimouski to Squatec and back. Coffee at Moulan club and lunch at the ski area outside Squatec. Placed was packed, looked like more sledders there than skiers. Food is quite good and fast service. 200 miles, back by 3:00. FYI, I have never seen so many police out on the trails as I have this winter. Yes, there are some stationary radar set ups, but most are just riding around on sleds just patrolling. Even on quiet weekdays. mike

250 mile round trip today to Moose Valley. I think every time I have made that trip the trails have been a silky smooth white carpet. Jak, PAdragon and Motonick and me today. PAdragon broke off with us at Squatec so he could loop around Cabano and have a 300 mile day. Yesterday I got to try out Jak's new 900R Rene XRS. This is one very impressive sled. Loved the motor and the feel of the entire sled. I was never fan of the 150T. This sled is a home run. mike

Fast enough that the police laid out the spike mats.