mikerider

Probably a good choice jack. Hi Deano. Time to come north, miss seeing you. Be in the bar at 6:30, eating there or one of the hotel restaurants after a drink. The mayor's slush fund is broke already this winter, but if you come Ray, I will use my own money. And Jak, I absolutely remember you and have seen some of your posts elsewhere and wondered if it was you. Toast to the days in Montmagny! Stop by please. Today Farmerold and I did a loop that was groomed to perfection the entire way. We had the sleds in overdrive and dusted off Farmer's cobwebs. He is still a child inside that old body.. We helped unbury a mountain sled and helped a tracked four wheeler that was stuck mike

The hotel has been very active with Quebecriders past couple nights. So good to see everyone. The big news was that all the north American sled magazine writers were at the motel Thursday night, as well as SkiDoo reps. I suspect the mag writers got to try out the 2017 SkiDoos. Tried as I might, I got zero info on the new sleds. I suspect they had some very secure area nearby to ride them but I could not find it. I would have rented a plane to look but it was a dark and cloudy day with on and off snow showers. Conditions are great. mike

This generation humans already runs on wine! mike

I have to go back to work every ten days just to dry out! Some day there will be no more fossil fuel, but there will always be wine.

Im4snow made the Gaspe trip look so smooth and easy and stress free, I am starting to wonder about the rest of you all making it sound like a harrowing wild adventure. mike

Drank some of the bad boy wine last night. It was fine. Jack and Sandi, always happy if you come this way. Last I looked on forecast said showers here Tuesday and others said warm and snow flurries. Who knows! mike

Very funny Steve. And Jack, no spillage, will test it tonight. Don't know if wine is okay after heated up. Lots of Quebecriders here tonight at the hotel. mike

What kind of sledder goes south in the winter. lol Gotta admit, after this winter your picture looks pretty nice. Have fun. mike

Arrived back to the Universal today (Thursday). Had time for a quick 75 miles jaunt. First few miles an ice spot here and there, nothing serious, then smooth sailing. Next nine nights in Rm 114. 207-522-2673 (texts only) Driving up today I had my bottles of rouge on the front floor of the truck. Apparently too close to the heater vent. Heard the pop of a wine bottle being opened, a beautiful sound even at 8:00 AM. At the same time the cork launched like a heat seeking scud missile ricocheting off glass, plastic, and upholstery. I reached for the wine bottle, now open and cork nowhere to be found, and set the bottle on top of some items on the front seat. The bottle sat there for the next few hours like a scolded dog, ears down, tail between its legs, looking straight ahead. If posting this story saves just one life, it will be worth the silliness of it all. mike

Elastic and small handwarmer pack (50 cents) attached to phone should work.

John, Great job telling about your trip. Something tells me you had this well planned. Sounds like the smoothest trip around the Gaspe ever. Great meeting you, Hugh and Mark. mike

Sounds great Snobeeler. See you then. mike

Thanks Shane. Find any good restaurants? mike

Thanks, was looking for a weather report. Appreciate it. mike

Great report. Keep em coming. Heading to Riviere du Loup on Thursday. Thanks, mike

Shane, Let us know what the weather does today and tonight. Most forecasts say snow showers but a couple say rain showers. mike

Very nice report, Alain. Great pictures too. Amazing how good and bad the conditions can be on one ride and how little snow for late January. mike

Clk, Yes I enter Canada at Houlton. Then go straight and follow road to end, a long curve, and this puts you on the highway northbound directly to RDL. It is about 50 miles long going Houlton vs Jackman, but four lane road the entire way. mike

At the Skowhegan exit I decide to either stay on 95 to Houlton or take the exit to Jackman. Either way another 5 1/2 hours to 6 hours to Riviere du Loup. Cost of the Universal seems to vary. I've seen it listed from 82 Canadian to 109 Canadian. More for the dinner package. Seems to vary in price depending on the day of the week. Remember to subtract around 30% off on the US dollar vs Canadian dollar difference. So when all said and done I'm paying $55 to 60 US for a room per night. Much cheaper that hotels in the snow belt of Maine. And the Universal is many ties superior than most Maine snowbelt hotels. mike

I shall be return! Thursday! Mike

Remember, the Universal has two restaurants, the big one and the small one sort of attached to the bar. Each has a separate menu. A few blocks down is Au Cage la Sports, cool place with fantastic duck confit poutine!!! To get there turn right out of the Universal and go about a half mile thru a few traffic lights. Turn right at Tim Horton's then take a right into the big lot and shopping mall. Look closely and you'll see it. There is also an Irish Pub to the right of Au Cage. Also in that same corner is an A & W burger joint but it isn't open very late, maybe 7 pm. Across from Tim Hortons I believe there is a Subway and Pizza Joint and Canadian version of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Or continue on the main drag after leaving the Universal going a couple miles thru all the traffic lights and take a right, bringing you into the old city, a charming mini Quebec City with a couple restaurants (get directions at front desk). Leave the Universal and take a left at the first traffic light and go 1/2 mile to the Levesque Hotel, believe they have a nice restaurant. Or, after getting directions, leave hotel and take a left after 3 or 4 lights, this brings you down by the St. Lawrence and I believe there are several restaurants and cafes in that area. Or get on Highway 20 east and take the next RDL exit and you will land at the famous chicken place (St Hubert's???) right at the end of the exit. There may be more restaurants beyond that, but I'm not sure. One friend who stays almost as often as I do at the Universal swears the best food at night is the RDL snowmobile club house. Says the meals are fantastic. Glad you are finding good riding. mike

Was great meeting you and Molly. You too are trail animals when it comes to putting miles on. And, nice report. mike

Hi Jack. If anyone can cure Sandi's sled, it is you. And thank you for taking the time and all your suggestions last week on my sled. Luckily I cured it for free, still money left in the treasury for wine. Come back to RDL again, I am almost always there. mike

Took a few days but I got my sled railing, even with 4 inch carbides. Very happy. Was pushing bad when the top layer of snow was soft. Too much bite in first of the morning/hard snow. Then I remember having same problem about ten years ago and it was too much ski pressure. I moved the middle spring from how it came, softest, to one step stiffer. This was like a miracle and sled now rails in all conditions, feels balanced, rides great. I know less ski pressure doesn't make sense but it worked and suggest you try it. (I am guessing one notch tighter on adrenaline cam is maybe?? equal to 3 or 4 threads on X model spring. Anyone experiencing what I did should try this simple adjustment. Have about 350 miles on this set up in both conditions and one of best handling sleds I've owned. Love it. mike

Winter officially begins at the time of Towing's first pictures. Thank you for posting. mike