mikerider

Really enjoyed the report and pics Tom. You really pack in the miles! mike

Hi Jak, I used to like the old 232 motel with its 24 hr restaurant. Stayed there a night or two last year when everything in town was full. I believe restaurant is now a St. Hubert Express takeout. I was on the back side and seedy characters were hanging out there late into the night. Room was very dimly lit. Toilet never stopped running and sink never stopped dripping. Also I believe there is no longer a bar there. Most sledders use the L'O now, lots of sleds usually there Thurs-Sun 232 Motel looks empty every time I go by. It has a different name now. SkiDoo shop across the street is excellent. mike

Too funny Ray. I had dog biscuits and got pulled inside and I think they X- Rayed my truck. Had to fill out a million forms for bringing food back into the US. mike

Steve, my life isn't that exciting for the hockey moms! I leave Monday for home, will probably be back at RDL or Montmagny around next Sunday. If you cone that far west, stop in. Will post where I land. Have a great trip. mike

Groomer's post doesn't sound hopeful, icy in places. mike

Glad you are all back safe and had an awesome trip. And WOW!, what a trip. Hope you know we are all on the edge of our seats waiting for the full reports and pictures. mike

Sorry, no updates on the Gaspe conditions. Did pick up couple inches of very light fluff overnight and maybe another inch during the day. You probably already know this, the fmcq trail conditions are at sledmagazine.com. mike

Last I knew, no law enforcement, no border agent, is allowed to enter another country in pursuit of anyone.

It is a tough balancing act for sure. First, you have to consider there are hundreds of thousands(probably millions) of wanted people, people with warrants out for them, just in the U.S. Just in the little state of Maine, there are tens of thousands of people whose right to drive is suspended. (some are out of staters who are suspended in Maine). And the average person may have no idea how large the mentally ill population is. People with severe mental health issues are rarely treated for more than a few hours and sent home because treatment centers are always full. Some are ticking time bombs. Most end up in the emergency room at the hospital when in crisis, talked to by a crisis counselor and sent home. The ER is swamped with these people every day. Some are violent. So yes, I guess everyone at the border has to be checked thoroughly to prevent some from entering. At least til there is a better system. I have had a couple cases of Canadians on their way to Maine to harm someone. One call to Customs and a life was probably saved. That is all it took to deny access. Customs is notified with a special alert for a fleeing suspect and have caught many at the border. Just not sure where to draw the line. mike

No cheerleaders. Just hot hockey moms! Viper2, I have had no reports from anyone. I have overheard at breakfast people headed that way, but haven't talked to anyone coming back. Brought jugs of wine with me this trip to save money, so haven't been in the bar at all to get any news, which is where I usually meet the travelers. Sunday is my last night, if you get here in the evening and hit the bar, let me know. Rm 118 or send me a text 207-522-2673. Would be great to meet. mike

Steve, always enjoy running across you and Andy. I must have some pull here. My reservation ran out this morning, its a hockey weekend and Unversel is full, no rooms. I go to the desk last night, the clerk says he will talk to the manager. Suddenly I have a room for 3 more days, plus he arranged people around so I got to stay in the same room. Gave the clerk a tip hoping it will grease the way for future trips, plus really nice he did that. So someone this weekend is probably sleeping out in the sled garage!!! mike

I am still at RDL. Today went about 2/3 the way to Montmagny and all good. Also within a few miles of Tourville and all good. All very nice, same with down to St. Pamphille. I'm old! and did 220 miles today between 8:30 and 4:00 with a coffee stop and lunch stop. Riding is really good. mike

My guess is their screen is like what police use and only goes back ten years on driving offenses. They can go back further but it takes more typing and searching. That is why some get into Canada with an older OUI. And yes, I have always heard OUI's in Canada are considered a felony, thus Canada is a no go and other countries are okay because they are not felonies in other countries. I also imagine they can get your criminal record but it is on another computer program, takes more typing, and this is often hard to read and figure out in the format that is used. I don't know much about passports, but I would guess??? they wouldn't give you a passport if you had a felony record, thus you show your passport they assume you are crime/felony free. The criminal record doesn't show most driving offenses, except OUI. The separate driving offense history (the ten year one or the compete one also would show OUI's. The criminal offense one would list every criminal offense, big or small. Since most OUI's in the US are not felonies, you still can get a passport. That would be my guess. When you pull up to a border crossing, they know every date and place you have crossed. mike

My favorite place by far in Montmagny is the L'oiselere (spelling?) as mentioned in one of the previous posts. Well marked trail to get there, but a few hundred feet of road running. Food is excellent, rooms pretty good, pool, hot tub, nice lounge bar with fireplace and TV. It is where I stay when the riding in that area is better than RDL or just need to see different trails after too much riding in RDL. Avoid the place across from the SkiDoo dealer. If can't get into the L'Osierlere, the place across the street from the Cat dealer is nice, but has no restaurant and bar. I have never stayed in St. George. Also St. Marie never gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling. T3R3-when you say you spent years at the other end of the lake, are you talking Flagstaff or Lac Megantic. I too used to go north of the St Lawrence, but discovered RDL and Montmagny area trails are smoother and mostly less crowded, plus love the shorter drive getting there. mike

I had a camp in Eustis for decades and often took this trail. Traffic was always light from Coburn to Woburn, not many Americans go that way anymore to enter Canada and vice versa. And the first Canadian town, Woburn, is pretty small. Not many American sledders have passports these days, I guess. And the big pain going through the border probably discourages many. Always found the trails great starting at Woburn. Trail north to Megantic and really like the one going west. mike

Just a quick update. Riding is very good, trails slightly harder than normal in places but awesome conditions. Trails have been exceptionally smooth. not much traffic. Most places trees are coated with snow so looks very wintry. Had no problem putting on over 200 miles today. Only bad spot I've seen is a three mile section on trail 5 about 30 miles east of RDL. Low snow, couple big fields are very icy. No problems getting through. After that 3 mile stretch, returns to excellent again. Good enough I don't want to go home Monday. Probably be back up following Sunday. mike

Probably best meal of my life was at Balbuzzard. Great pictures of a fantastic area. mike

Awesome!

How would I type and hold a gun at the same time?

Ray says he can see Russia across the bay!

I bet a lot of us would chip in and pay for the original poster to stay in town for a night and then post his experience. What da ya say? I'm in for $20. mike

Happy to hear you made it through with mostly good trails and conditions. Nice to hear the bridge on 35 is back in business. So good to spend time with both of you. Safe trip home. mike

Couldn't get gas and flee fast enough! mike

Riding is not too bad. The base is hard as a rock and we got 3 to 4 inches now of new fluff. Often can feel the skis hitting the hard stuff. Will have to see if the groomers can break up that hard layer or not. If they can get under it the riding should be back to very nice. Looks wintry again with the new snow. mike

Ordinaire.