mikerider

Jack, there is like 20,000 QuebecRiders waiting to hear if its good. Sincerely, Your son, mike

St. Pamphile club is reporting green as is the Cabano club (Degalis?) reporting green so they should be good. If you're looking for a new place to go, not sure if you have ridden down to Moose Valley, NB , but a 5 star ride! However, grooming map on the necessary trail out of Squatec shows as red, not sure if it is really closed or not. Plus you may remember our Baker lake trip into NB. I remember Sandi really liking the two mile ride down the ice on Baker Lake to the restaurant.

And thank you, Big Lake. L'Estaminer Restaurant is simply amazing. I have never seen such a massive selection of beer. It will take me years to drink every one that they serve. Today all the clubs in Bas St. Laurent are showing green and fully open except for two clubs. The two are showing yellow meaning open but not perfect. As far as the Lottery goes, Years ago a voice from above gave me the choice of being richer than rich, OR, having the most wonderful life with the most perfect woman on earth. Looks like Smclelan will need to continue to stop in at the Universel and buy my beers.

Hi, I am not sure yet but will be deciding soon. I really got to like the 2 1/2 hour trip for Maine riding vs. 6 hours to RDL. But, I really miss seeing everyone in Canada. With only small areas with good snow in both Maine and Quebec, it's gonna be crowded.

Eleven of thirteen clubs in Bay St Laurent are listing their trails as open. With the new snow, hopefully it will be looking good.

Thank you Alain for the great reports and thank you to your wonderful photographer. What part of Quebec will be your big trip this year? mike

Just texted friend, he said it is Auberge du Ravage where he is at. He was really excited about how good the riding was when he called the other day. He hadn't gone up to Saguenay yet when he called, said he heard that area was a little thin.

An acquaintance called me this evening saying he is staying at a really posh lodge on a lake somewhere northeast of Claremont. Not sure if this is the area you are talking about, but says lots of snow and great sledding.

Day 1 from RDL to Amqui; I would recommend going via St. Cyprien and Squatec rather than Trail 5 to Rumouski. Same distance either way, just more scenic and less traffic via Squatec.

Mark and Lisa, I really enjoy your enthusiasm and spirit. Nice run,. mike

Always enjoy reading your reports Jack. You and Sandi have a wonderful trip mike

But is the EDL accepted coming back into the states or is the passport necessary.

Correct, I believe the enhanced driver's license will eventually be needed to board a plane and to enter federal buildings. The only foreign country I enter is Canada and I go via land crossings. When my passport expired, I was able to save money and just get a passcard, which is only permissible for land crossings and only Canada.

I don't believe an enhanced license can be used in lieu of a passport of passcard. My advice; When you are about to enter Customs, put on your baclava and go like hell.

I haven't heard any news. Looking at the groomer map this morning, it looks like maybe you can leave on sled at RDL, go south on 85, hit 526 and then the rail bed for a ways on trail 35 before having to turn around and come back the same way. I also checked all the club reports for the area and most say trails are closed. For those not familiar with this feature of getting trail reports: 1. Go to 'Sled Magazine' web sight 2. At top of page click on 'Services and Tourism' 3. Scroll down and it will list Quebec areas such as Bas St. Laurent and Gaspe etc. Click on the area of your interest and it will list all the clubs of that area and give a color for their trails as to good (green), fair (yellow) and closed (red). mike

I have heard Bill is doing great and loves wintering in northern Maine. Also heard he has made many friends there. Shorter rides nowadays, but still goes out often.

A very Merry Christmas to all.

I have no magic crystal ball. But I expect one of the three I listed will light up right before or right after X-Mas. Many, many years ago I went looking for a place to try out the new sled in mid December. Drove hundreds of miles and Amqui was groomed in all directions.

I would watch for one of the following opening right after Christmas: RDL, Jonquiere, or Amqui.

Love going downtown to eat, and looks like a lot of new restaurants downtown since I was there a few years ago. But on those bitter cold nights it sure was nice not to leave the hotel and just walk down the hall to the hotel restaurant.

Gentlemen, have a very nice day. Happy birthday. mike

Thanks for taking the time to post and share your pictures. Its was just like being there with you but without the cost.

I would also add that if you wish to see pictures of the area, go to the Bas St Laurent section of these forums and scroll down to both the "2019 RDL trail conditions" and the "2020 RDL Trail Conditions". Myself and others have posted hundreds of pictures of the area. mike

If you are staying in one place and doing day trips, my pick would be RDL just slightly over the Jonquier/Mt Valin area. I have done many years of day tripping out of each area and now pretty much have settled on RDL. I find the grooming is better at RDL and weekday traffic is less. RDL seems to have many more restaurants and club houses in the area and on the trails. While there aren't many scenic vistas except maybe looking at the St. Lawrence, the forests in that region are just so neat and beautiful. The area has a wonderful mix of trails, from big logging roads to rail beds to fields. I recommend staying at the Universel Hotel in RDL although someone mentioned they are remodeling the restaurant and it won't be open for dinners this winter. The Hotel Levesque is also very nice. Within a few blocks of the Universel is numerous fast food places and several restaurants. Maybe a mile or so is the downtown which is pretty cool with some great restaurants, pubs and breweries. Also a couple blocks away is an indoor mall. Also just a few miles away are very large Doo and Poo dealers.

One sweet looking ride Andy. How will your crew ever keep up? mike