mikerider

BJ Congrats on the new SkiDoo. If its an '09, I think you will be very happy. You won't have any problems going through corners with it, that's for sure. Give us a report after you try it. See you in the fronzen north. Mike

Both of you, have a happy birthday. Mike

Make sure to give us a full report after you get some miles on. That is a nice looking sled. Mike

Happy birthday Rob. Hope to catch up this winter. Mike

You can do it in a day, but it'll be a very, very, long day. What I do is drive into Quebec and go to the snowmobile club house in Beauceville, which is the next town after St. George. As best I remember it is another hour and a half drive past Jackman. Then it is about an 8 hour trip by sled to Saguenay. After driving through St. George, it is another 8 or so miles to the club house, just stay on the main route from St. George heading to Quebec City. Turn right off the main route when you see a golf course sign. Go up the long hill and take a left at the sign to get to the golf course/sled club. I have left my truck there a couple dozen times without a problem. It is a very popular spot for Americans to park their truck for a week. The reason I start from Canada instead of Jackman, is because if you have a sled breakdown, it is pretty easy to get back to the St. George area via wrecker, hitching a ride with someone, or by taxi. Mike

Isn't that bridge by St. George, or am I way off? Mike

Couple hundred in Maine breaking in the sled, and about 6,800 in Quebec riding with Bill out of the HI. Nice season in Quebec, never saw better trails or such low traffic. And the best part was all the great people I got to ride with and meet. Mike

Happy birthday Bill. Have a great day. Mike

Gary, Don't drink all the Caribou! Have a great time. Mike

Hi Karl, Sounds like an awesome trip. Any more thoughts what next years sled will be? Yamaha or SkiDoo? Mike

Sounds like a great trip Darryl. Just maybe one of these days we can get together. Awesome pictures. Glad you finally got up above the St. Lawrence and got to enjoy that area. mike

Wow, trip of a life time. That was great. Just missed you at the Holiday Inn by a couple days. Mike

Gary, Very nice write up. Just maybe we will see you next year on a Doo. Mike

It is hard to put into words the great season I had riding with Bill for 7,000 miles. Thanks to Bill I have made many new great friends, and had a chance to ride with some great friends from seasons past. I had another year to ride with Bill over the awesome trails of this area. But most importantly is the friendship with Bill that has grown over the last three years. He is a best friend and favorite person to ride with. It was a fantastic winter of sledding and I owe it to him. And countless thanks to Juledele for her friendship. She is always there waiting for us at the end of the day with a warm smile and a warm welcome after a cold day of riding. And Greta is right there with the tail wag, and the willing help to share my Caribou. Thanks Bill and Juledele. Mike

Darryl, Riding is fantastic. You should make the Holiday Inn in one day from Armstrong, long as you get an early start. At the very least, I would make reservations when you get to Armstrong. Place is 155 rooms but is often full by late afternoon. Have a good ride. Also, if you are just passing through, would recommend continuing north to Chibougamou. But this area will keep you happy for days. Mike

Sasconst, John, Ethan and I went out today after the couple hours of morning rain. Left at 11`00 and did 150 miles down 83 and Labaie area. Trails were like white velvet, very smooth. But temps were very warm all afternoon, felt like summer. Bill stayed and did sled maintenence.

TNT is fine. Its a tough choice, the Cat rides so nice in the bumps and the TNT runs and handles so nice. When I stop at camp to get a sled on the way to Quebec, I never know which I want to bring. Its a last second of splitting hairs and loading one into the truck. This week I chose the Cat, and of course there wasn t a bump on the trails all day yesterday, and I wish I had had the SkiDoo. mike

Gary, Here in Maine we would have given you a ride....to the SkiDoo dealer! (so you could get better gas mileage).

If they bring donuts and beer, race could take a few weeks to complete.

Terry, I did not race him. No, I signed up the owner of that beast to be my partner in the Cain s Quest race. Because that beast can carry lots of items, our strategy will be to bring big meals of prime rib and lobster and good wine. We will then feed all the racers (when they catch up to us). The other racers will then feel like a nap, and we take off and win. mike

I, like you, always wanted to go to Chiboug. Been a few times now. Love it. Made it in a day from Jonquiere. Have stayed on the outside of town at the motel district, and in town at the hotel in the middle of town, an old place that has been restored. We had the better time at the place downtown. Nice restaurant and bar. Get more flavor of the area when staying downtown. Never saw the northernlights up there. Too many strange characters hanging around the motel district. Two of us riding on one trip and we both ran out of gas few miles from the mill after breaking 6 new and unexpected inches of snow. The trip is an adventure! Be sure to stop at the relais south of Chiboug. Great guy runs it. Fed us caribou meat one night. Be careful, he does not always have gas. But the riding around the Saguenay area is the best I have ever found. So do both. mike

Hi Karl, Over 3,000 miles on the TNT. Seat is like a brick and the rear suspension is stiff. Weird electrical problems. Handwarmers went and were replaced. No wheel problems. Very bad top speed vibration. Drive belt gets narrower by the minute. Handles really nice after some help from Rob in finding a good suspension set up. Ergonomics are best I have ridden. The hooked handlebars are worth it but only come on the TNT. I have heard next year the TNT suspension will be dialed in better. I just had the Renegade seat foam put in my TNT, it is much, much softer and cushier. Original foam sacked out, looked like the back of a camel and dealer is trying to warranty it. Gas mileage on the TNT is usually better than the SDI unless running very hard. The sled is a hoot to drive; I can t say that about too many sleds. Its just fun. But I would wait for the 09 models as I believe they will be better dialed in. There was a new E-Tech Doo in the hotel yard this AM. Half a pull and it fired to life after sitting out all night. Idled so smooth! Guy said he is getting 29 mpg, I assume he meant Canadian. No smoke at all while it idled and we talked. mike

Deano, We can thank Rob for the suspension set up. Glad it worked out for you. I heard Sylvain, a former Doo racer, has a killer set up for the TNT. He lives down near Trois Rivers. I can probably get his number if you need it. Mike

My new TNT 500SS is getting about 15 to 20 % better than the 3 different SDI`s I rode with this week.

Joel, Bill says he likes the new suit and is warm. It looks nice, When you coming up to Paradise. mike