mikerider

Ok since I'm sure my "buddy" won't report this but today was uneventful no off trail excursions no bird doo doo just fantastic trails
and in case anyone is wondering in my humble opinion Ski Doo has hit a home run with the 850 & Gen 4...freight trains pale in comparison to the way this thing pulls
I've just about have it dialed in for handling & bumps trail 83 from the frog was a bumped up today & this thing just drove through everything like it wasn't there
well done Valcourt! 👍

Except when the dirty bird does this to you...WTF I have no luck this shit is for the birds 🐦 lol 😂 

Hi RR,       Hope to ride tomorrow, see what the weather dishes out. Really doesn't look like any snow was lost or very little. Would be great to see you and your riding buddies.
mike; 

After the light rain, had half hour of wind swept rain and then clearing skies.Now very windy and slightly colder, maybe just above freezing. Total rain was very little.

After working a ten hour shift Monday night, loaded the truck, kissed the wife and pets and headed up to RDL/Universal Hotel.  Picked the sled up at the dealer on the way up.         Arrived Tuesday evening, dark out but looks like lots of snow and perfect conditions.
Now here it is Wednesday morning, looks like an inch of snow fell and has changed to a very light rain.Will wait it out a couple days and keep everyone up to date on conditions.
My beloved 2010 Ram 4.7 V8 finally was eaten away by rust, probably caused by whatever Canada uses to coat the roads in the winter. Still ran like new, favorite all time truck, and was hoping for another three years out of her. The new Ram Hemi 5.7 goes so perfect in every way it almost lacks personality. But wow, does the Hemi shit and go, Hard to believe a pick up truck can accelerate that fast. Gas mileage pretty good at 75 and under and no sled in the bed. 85 and sled in back and you'll wish you owned a gas station.
mike
 

After working a ten hour shift Monday night, loaded the truck, kissed the wife and pets and headed up to RDL/Universal Hotel.  Picked the sled up at the dealer on the way up.         Arrived Tuesday evening, dark out but looks like lots of snow and perfect conditions.
Now here it is Wednesday morning, looks like an inch of snow fell and has changed to a very light rain.Will wait it out a couple days and keep everyone up to date on conditions.
My beloved 2010 Ram 4.7 V8 finally was eaten away by rust, probably caused by whatever Canada uses to coat the roads in the winter. Still ran like new, favorite all time truck, and was hoping for another three years out of her. The new Ram Hemi 5.7 goes so perfect in every way it almost lacks personality. But wow, does the Hemi shit and go, Hard to believe a pick up truck can accelerate that fast. Gas mileage pretty good at 75 and under and no sled in the bed. 85 and sled in back and you'll wish you owned a gas station.
mike
 

After the light rain, had half hour of wind swept rain and then clearing skies.Now very windy and slightly colder, maybe just above freezing. Total rain was very little.

I realize many of you live further away than I do, but my number one thing to pack is my own truck. Be it saddlebagging or day trips, if I get sick, family emergency, breakdowns, etc., I can hitch a ride, bus or whatever back to the truck and go home without ruining anyone's vacation, or, if buddies have problem, I can stay and keep riding.
mike

After working a ten hour shift Monday night, loaded the truck, kissed the wife and pets and headed up to RDL/Universal Hotel.  Picked the sled up at the dealer on the way up.         Arrived Tuesday evening, dark out but looks like lots of snow and perfect conditions.
Now here it is Wednesday morning, looks like an inch of snow fell and has changed to a very light rain.Will wait it out a couple days and keep everyone up to date on conditions.
My beloved 2010 Ram 4.7 V8 finally was eaten away by rust, probably caused by whatever Canada uses to coat the roads in the winter. Still ran like new, favorite all time truck, and was hoping for another three years out of her. The new Ram Hemi 5.7 goes so perfect in every way it almost lacks personality. But wow, does the Hemi shit and go, Hard to believe a pick up truck can accelerate that fast. Gas mileage pretty good at 75 and under and no sled in the bed. 85 and sled in back and you'll wish you owned a gas station.
mike
 

I realize many of you live further away than I do, but my number one thing to pack is my own truck. Be it saddlebagging or day trips, if I get sick, family emergency, breakdowns, etc., I can hitch a ride, bus or whatever back to the truck and go home without ruining anyone's vacation, or, if buddies have problem, I can stay and keep riding.
mike

After working a ten hour shift Monday night, loaded the truck, kissed the wife and pets and headed up to RDL/Universal Hotel.  Picked the sled up at the dealer on the way up.         Arrived Tuesday evening, dark out but looks like lots of snow and perfect conditions.
Now here it is Wednesday morning, looks like an inch of snow fell and has changed to a very light rain.Will wait it out a couple days and keep everyone up to date on conditions.
My beloved 2010 Ram 4.7 V8 finally was eaten away by rust, probably caused by whatever Canada uses to coat the roads in the winter. Still ran like new, favorite all time truck, and was hoping for another three years out of her. The new Ram Hemi 5.7 goes so perfect in every way it almost lacks personality. But wow, does the Hemi shit and go, Hard to believe a pick up truck can accelerate that fast. Gas mileage pretty good at 75 and under and no sled in the bed. 85 and sled in back and you'll wish you owned a gas station.
mike
 

Maybe Bill,  your riding buddy is getting old?

I recommend make copies of your truck and trailer registrations and sled registration, especially truck and trailer and have them on you. Should you return to the rig and it is gone/stolen, it makes it much easier for the police report. If your state is like Maine and has many types of license plates (ex.: Veterans, Commercial, Agriculture etc) make sure you explain that to the police. Also have another copy of insurance card you can give to other driver in case of an accident, and write your phone number on it. Carry pen/pencil and paper. 
I also carry the smaller packets that you shake and they get hot. I place one on the bottom of each boot on a cold day and they seem to keep the feet warm.
mike

Left Jackman to Armstrong club house for breakfast,  Trails great door to door, after a great breakfast we headed we headed out on 25 to 55. Stopped at the covered covered bridge for a quick pic or 2.   Trails were in great shape, flat with plenty of coverage.  Then we headed up 75 to Bercerivile for lunch.  After lunch we headed out on 55 east, 55 had a few bumps but not bad at all for a Saturday afternoon.   Then jumped on 545 south for the run back to the boarder.  545 was in perfect shape, hard to believe the a trail could be in such great shape late on a Saturday.   about 240 for the day.  Looking forward to the next trip.
 
 

Well today started out good . We left Montmagny under clear -20 degree day . 5 was fresh groom south for most sections down to the warming hut just south of Saint Lambert de Lauzon. Pictures will follow and for those of you who travel this often know this hut. Coffee , hot chocolate instant hot water , and bathrooms . Quebec knows how to do it right. After this break not to far up the trail Richard cat blew a belt but did some damage to a rad hose . We couldn't find the leak and lost a lot of fluid . After a brief discussion we got it to town and left Richard at a diner and booked it back to the truck. We took 537 to 35 and then 533 back to the hotel . All those trails have great scenery and the grooming was spot on. We managed to put in 500 miles and I'm not all hunched over! This is a great area and hope to get back with Nora later in the season.

I'll be at the Universal in RDL Jan 11-20.  Would be great to see any of you if you come that way.
Mike
BTW   The median age of Quebecriders is getting up there. Maybe we need a contest when the site becomes Quebecdrinkers.com !

I'll be at the Universal in RDL Jan 11-20.  Would be great to see any of you if you come that way.
Mike
BTW   The median age of Quebecriders is getting up there. Maybe we need a contest when the site becomes Quebecdrinkers.com !

Sounds great and looking forward to saying hi.  I'll be nursing a rouge or two that week.
mike

They do it right.

Hi everyone.  Today is our last day to ride for this trip.  It snowed a little again last, 2".  It is 5F.  Nice way to start the ride.
We leave the Sag and head west on 83.  We stop at the Delta and yes the Gutz boys made it.  We chat with them and decide where to go.  It is the holiday today and places may be closed like we found out yesterday.  The receptionist is nice enough to make a phone call for us.  No answer at Mt Apica.  Scratch that idea.  How about Ski Bee Doo.  She calls them.  Again, no answer.  Lets try one more, Relais des Lacs.  She calls and someone answers.  She is told they are open until 4 PM.  That is great.  We are looking for a lunch stop.
We take off on 383 and cross the two bridges and then turn right on 134.  At 93 we turn left.  The trails are good.  Again there isn't much traffic out.  We run thru St Ambroise to 554 and ride up to Relais des Lacs.  Yes, they are open.  There are a couple of sleds and a few cars in the lot and it is just before noon.
After lunch we run out 328 to L'Ascension to tank up.  We continue on 328 to 93 and turn left toward Alma.  The trails are OK.  We didn't see anything that was groomed last night but the traffic has been light this week so the only bad areas are near the bigger towns.  We ride 93 to St Ambroise and turn right on 367 to cross the bridges.  At the bridges, we bid the Gutz team goodbye and go our separate way.
A nice way to end the trip.  Today, no problems, no one falling off the trail and no break downs.  Sandi just looked out in the parking lot and our truck and two sleds are the only vehicles on this side of the hotel.  Come on up folks.  There is plenty of snow, grooming is on going (other than the holiday) and the traffic is light.
We are planning our next trip for Martin Luther King weekend.  See you then.
Jack & Sandi

Jan 2 -4°c
I decided to wait no longer, big time rain coming in tomorrow 35mm, that'll wipe out everything around here and no snow in the 14 day forecast so out the back yard I go, head for the lake, get to the lake and tracks are going left and right but none across the road onto the lake and no tracks to be seen on the lake, dam I hate to be the first. I go right 100' later there's a ramp and sled tracks going down and out to the abiss, I follow, only 2 tracks I'm the third. Stakes you see on the lake are markers for the ice fishing village roads, they've started to pump the lake.





Once on the other side the hydro line trail was well covered but watch out for the ditches between the fields, not quite filled up yet. Cross a few fields and I'm in Rigaud.




Rigaud river has got an oval track groomed, maybe some races coming up. Further on the railbed is nicely groomed to the Ontario border, gotta take the last exit, no Ontarion pass. Last exit jumps on the Dalhousie club trails which have the best reputation for grooming in this area. You be the judge.








Took a little peek at the Ontario border, trail leading to it was well groomed, lots of snow in this area, these guys know what they're doing. JG you been giving lessons that we don't know about. Lol.

On the way back took a little detour to visit a Relais that's bee open for a couple years but never took the time to visit, had a peak inside and met the owner, every Saturday night they put on theatre acts, the owner raves about. Will have to stop in and check it out one week end.

196 Klms for my afternoon run, probably have to wait a couple weeks for the next backyard departure with hopes the Valleyfield crossing will be ready so I can get to the south shore.
 

Two weeks before I arrive at RDL.
RR, if you could get that snow packed down for me, that would be perfect.
Thanks, And thanks for posting, looks awewome
mike
 

The jackpot was down near lac of the east on the way into St Pamphile on trail 557, gorgeous powder!!

Christmas eve into Christmas morning has always been my favorite night of the year to work. It is the one night there seems to be peace on earth. The city is quiet, the few people out and about are cheerful and concerned more for others than themselves. The last several hours lived up to my expectations that there is one day in the year that gives hope to all.                      Merry Christmas!
mike