mikerider

Riviere du Loup is about two more hours north from Fort Kent. May be a bit more of a drive than you want. Its over six hours for me just from southern Maine. But once there, I usually stay about ten days. mike

Yes, I'm in Maine. Riviere area has great grooming and is not crowded. Stay at the Hotel Universal. Pool, spa, hot tub, restaurant and bar, trailside. Lots of restaurants just down the street. Gas next door. Club houses all over the place. But a long drive to get there. mike

Riviere is two hour drive east of Quebec City, but on the south side of the St. Lawrence.

I do a few vacations at Riviere du Loup, ride day trips from the hotel, 200-250 miles a day. Welcome to come up and join me. mike

If you are starting in RDL, and need to spend the night, the Universal Hotel is my favorite. Rest, bar, pool, hot tub, spa, secure parking. mike

Happy birthday, Phil! mike

Again, I have never rode to Moosenee and James Bay. But researching on the internet in the past it appears there are no groomed trails in the James Bay areas. It also appears the riding is along the frozen coastline. I also understand that guided tours, leaving from the trailer (picture I posted) entails riding ungroomed trails, powerlines, and frozen rivers. I've yet to see maps of this route to James Bay. It appears everyone hires the guide service or goes by train. mike

Load your sled on the train in Cochrane, few hours later unload in Moosenee and ride.

Looks like a long backwoods trail from Matagami, as I recall from the maps. I have been from Cochrane to the northern most tip of the groom trail section where the guide picks you up for the tour but we didn't want to lose three days of riding to do this tour. We looked into the train from Cochrane, and this looked like the best bet, takes you right to James Bay. Problem we ran into is that the train, as I recall, only runs every other day and we always arrived in Cochrane on the wrong day and we did not want to lose a day of riding while waiting another day for the train. Here is a picture of the start point for the guided tour to James Bay. Mike

Was great getting to talk to you at the show. See you this winter. mike

Timbo, Happy Birthday! mike

Happy birthday Eddie! mike

I'll be up at some point. Hope to see everyone. mike

Happy birthday! Hope you are out enjoying the day. mike

I would have loved to see you and hot tomato and everyone else. But was even more excited when I heard all drinks were on Ray!!!

Was looking forward to seeing everyone, but I just can't get away this weekend. Very disappointed! Mike

I'm hoping to make it, still up in the air. mike

Hi Rob! Always good to hear from you. Hope all is well. Should you ever want to go for sled ride, give me a shout. Mike

A very happy birthday Ray. May a large bottle of vin rouge find its way to you. mike

Greg, that looks like Popham Beach, just down the road from me! mike

A very happy birthday to both of you! mike

Quiet night at work, thought I'd post a couple more recent summer pics. All from the Rangeley area

Thanks Phil. Your pictures make me want to get a boat and a younger wife!!! mike

Few more pics including (turn of the century) cabin my wife and stay in at Grant's Kennebago Sporting Camps, lots of moose, lots of big wilderness, lots and lots of trout, and always great food. Also a pic or two of Bald Mountain Camps, an upscale sporting camp near town with a first class restaurant/bar, waterfront cabins, beautiful views, thist would make a great fall destination for a QR get together. Lots to do here with boat and kayak rentals, nearby pontoon boat rentals, fishing for trout and salmon via trolling or fly fishing, seaplane rides, Sugarloaf golf course (supposedly world renowned), quaint nearby shops, lots of mountains to hike and great bicycle riding. mike

(Steve, great idea for a post topic!) I try to get in about 5 weeks in Rangeley, Maine. Lots of mountains and big and small wilderness lakes. Lots of fly fishing for brook trout, and my favorite is to get out in the kayak before dawn on the big wilderness lakes. Staying at sporting camps in the area provides great meals and lake front cabins and antique fishing boats. Also each summer we have the 'air taxi' pick us up and take us to another sporting camp for dinner. mike