NSHM

3-16  Day 30 Back to the Delta.  The 355 trail was perfect except for one terrible section of plowed, sun dried sand and gravel that went on for too long. Not so long as having to stop to cool sleds but still too long. Nice lunch as usual at Auberge Eva. Where we were first introduced to by no other than Saguenay Bill. Thanks for everything Bill. Along the lake the snow was very thin. Around the frog to the Delta, trails are mostly good. Of course road crossings are mid March road crossings. Wheels around the Delta make life easy. We rolled in mid afternoon, and only sleds in the compound. After dark there were almost 30 between the compound and sleds out front. 
   I hope you've enjoyed my "wordy" read. And hopefully someone will be able to use something from my info. I know I've always gotten a lot of my info from you guys.
   Enjoy your summer, 
       Jeff and Sandy
 
 

We just rode from la tuque back to the Delta today. The 355 was great except for the few km that was plowed..very bad. Once we got to the lake, the 83 was bad, especially around Chambord. Towards Jonquiere snow picked up, nice in the bush. Around town, not nice. My guess is that Alma will be thin. Good luck...Jeff and Sandy

In the past Jack was awesome. He was a great guy and we had a great time at Hotel Copper. Rooms were relatively clean, dated, simple and I always felt it was like staying at a rooming house. But definitely a fun place to come out of the snow. 
 
Sadly, I had a similar experience this week. He was short and irritated. Asked me if I knew what was happening in Quebec! ?? You have to take the package $169 each. Salmon or chicken croquet. I said we would rather just pay the room and order from the menu. He said there is no menu. 😞
The table of 4 guys beside us asked if they could start with a salad, they would be happy to pay. Well it was the same salad as on the plate. Lettuce and dressing. 
 
We ate, they basically shut the lights off and you feel like it’s time to go. I think it was jacks wife and daughter working. 
Last year our room had no hot water ( top of stairs king bed) and we were in a hurry so I brushed my teeth and sucked it up. This year, same room and no hot water. He was mad at me that I asked for a different room. We were speaking with others on the trail they said same thing. They complained and he said wait…45 minutes no hot water. 
 
Just a sad atmosphere. I would love to help support them but two years now. I am going to look for options. 
 
it would help if he wasn’t chain smoking in his office. 😞
 
Would love to hear suggestions. 
 
lindasledgirl

Update: The dealer suggested the overheating problem could be caused by the air ride suspension being set too high. I did observe his sled kicking snow  out under the flap. Typically that snow, or at least some of it,  would be deflected back under the sled. The theory does make some sense, and would explain why the sled did not overheat on the previous three mornings when the conditions were similarly hard and ice-like.  He had played with the suspension. Yesterday my sled received his annual bath, grease, and was filled with stabilized fuel. He is ready for his ten month hibernation.

Here is the ride we did on sunday March 12th

it's one of my classics ride but I admit that this season with the St-Maurice river closed and the detour in the Mauricie wildlife reserve on the #360 it added some body work to an already big day ride.
We left at 8:30 towards St-Zénon. The trails near my home were just groomed but very hard in the morning, scratcher mandatory!

There is still a lot of snow even in the south of the area. I had put on the roller skis to do 2 shorts side of the road sections but no mud to start the day. Here in the maple grove in St-Norbert

For the rest, no roadside or marginal section to go north. Here's a guy who holds his right to cross!!!

Beautiful trails going up to St-Zenon.

We fuel up at the Cabanon before continuing towards the Taureau dam on perfect grooming


We went through the dam. The reservoir level is already very low.

And started the #360 to the east. It was not freshly groomed but still nice and fast

Riding the #360 in these conditions on a blue bird day like this is near the peak of snowmobiling happiness!!!


We took a first real break at stop #440, our usual spot

The 2 picnic tables... there's still snow there!

The 2nd part of #360 to Mattawin had been groomed overnight and was perfect

The beautiful Mattawin River

We finally arrived for dinner at Marineau at 1:30 p.m. with 245 km on the meter. The lunch rush hour was already passed but despite this superb day and conditions there are already fewer sledders on the trail.

We took a good lunch break (still so well received by Marie-Josée at Marineau) refueled and continued on the #360 which was perfectly groomed

Past the #355 junction, the #360 to the south had not been groomed recently and was less good. Near St-Joseph de Mékinac village on a plowed road section the groomer will really have to built us a little sidewalk on the side of the snow bank soon, there is way enough snow for the groomer to do that.

To the south of the village there is another short short plowed road section and then it becomes quite nice

On the #23 to the south the rivière des envies is holding up and was solid but this one is always to be watched at spring 
It's not the snow that is missing there!

The St-Maurice was still solid, no slush

We then took back #3, a little bumpy but still going fast. There is a short section of plowed road in the power lines which would also require a small sidewalk to not play in the mud!
Otherwise it was riding fine

We crossed the St-Maurice at the Gabelle and it was still very good

We fueled up one last time and took a little break in St-Étienne before continuing on #3 trail. A little bumpy at first in the woods but nice and fast in the fields.

The whole rest of the trip was nice with a good snow cover

We finally got home around 7:45 p.m. with 475 km on the meter, very satisfied with our ride but haven't took long to fall asleep that night!
Despite the impressive snow cover, the season is already well advanced. Some outfitters in the north, such as Repos and Kanawata have announced that they will close after this next weekend which is quite usual for them. Some others continue to operate until the trails close...
There is still great snowmobiling to do, it's often the best conditions of the year so enjoy these last weeks of sledding
Alain

This is how to eat a banana!
 

2 blocks on the mach Z not including the original in 16,000 miles

More than a little insulting this went on essentially all season. Those affected businesses must be livid over the Zec collecting probably no more than a few hundred dollars among people willing to pay it while their businesses were dampened nearly all season. 

https://blog.kimpex.com/snowmobile-retractable-wheel-system-rouski-evo?hs_amp=true

Well, our last trip for the season has ended.  Yesterday we did a ride east on 5 to Relais Moulin.  A u-turn after a short break and down 571 to Squatec for gas and our new lunch stop Resto Chez Lelou.  It was packed with Quebec sleds.  I guess the locals know this place.  Then a direct ride 571, 544, 44, 85 back to RDL.
The trails this year had a late start but once the snow came, the clubs have been out grooming like crazy.  Thank you to all the groomers and volunteers that make this sport so enjoyable!  http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/emoticons/default_drinks.gif
Everyone be safe over the summer and we hope to see you next season.
Jack & Sandi

Arrived at Motel Caribou, many Quebecriders here having supper last night!
Pics of yesterday
 
 
 

Maybe the operator's from Europe?!

I am certain that is the same stretch me and my riding partner were stopped on 10 yrs ago,late for our dinner reservation at Fallion.coming from Lassare..After a late night in the bar.We were also let off with a warning..they were drinking hot coffee ,which seemed to have a kalua frangrance..but of course i did not mention😉. wouldn't be to hard to hand out driving awards on that stretch of trail..al part of the Motoniege experience..

They checked for trail stickers and reg. Said to slow down. 

We were very fortune. At 8:00 am the ski doo dealer recommended a welder- Soudure Martin St-Pierre.  We were riding out of town at 9:00am sharp.
can’t say enough about how people in this area will bend over backwards to help when needed.
in murdochville  for the night. Considering the above normal temps conditions have been better than expected.

Had a new shortblock installed at the dealer in Chandler on my MachZ. Less then 24hrs and the block came from Amqui on a bus over night! Under warranty. $40 for the bus

2 dead after multiple pedestrians struck by pickup truck in Amqui, Que.
Mon, March 13, 2023 at 5:03 p.m. EDT
Emergency services blocked access to Saint-Benoît Boulevard in Amqui, Que., after several pedestrians were struck on Monday. (Samuel Ranger/Radio-Canada - image credit)
Two people are dead and nine others are injured after a pickup truck hit pedestrians in Amqui, Que., about 640 kilometres northeast of Montreal, Quebec provincial police say.
The driver, a 38-year-old man, allegedly fled the scene after the collision but later turned himself in and was arrested at the Amqui police station, according to a spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec (SQ).
The incident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. on Monday in front of the Captive microbrewery on Saint-Benoît Boulevard.
"The driver of the pickup truck hit pedestrians who were walking along Route 132. He continued on his way for a certain distance and hit other pedestrians," said Sgt. Claude Doiron.
Two men, one in his 70s and another in his 60s, have died. Two people have serious injuries. Some victims were transferred by plane to a hospital in Quebec City, but others were treated locally.

Another great day. Did 175 mile loop around Val Dor. Got caught speeding, got off with a warning.

2 days later still have not hit a bump. Today rode 225 miles all groomed  door to door. LSQ to Lac Fallion to Val Dor. 

No snow at home so 5 of us back in Quebec again. 6 Day Loop in the Abitibi region. Couple pics from first few days. Trails have all been perfect. My rating 9-10. Started in New Liskeard, then La Sarre, now in Amos at Rodeway. Thanks Linda for the suggestion. Nice rooms.

Get it in now while you can!
Riding is exceptional, really. 85 to Temiscouata yesterday was a great burn. Over to Sully for lunch, that burger was worth the wait. More traffic than I’ve ever seen out here but good stuff all around. Didn’t hit a bad trail yet. 
It’s that time of year and unless another storm hits, the in-town material will fade quickly. I lost the turbo on my new Expedition SE Turbo R (blew the cooling line) so my ‘21 XRS 900T has been seeing some use (fantastic sled). Thinking this may be the last ride in QC for us this year. Back to St Sabine today to load up/head home. 
Signing off ‘til December. You all stay well!
 

I rest my case !
thank you 

https://www.lequotidien.com/2023/03/08/des-motoneigistes-boycottent-les-monts-valin-8b9a64bcb39ee55126b5ec6b83324c1e?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR07FSF4kOV9YLBusqGwGKaDDKqUfVD_f3xrRJl2NCBR0A8s8MnenxBIFj8#Echobox=1678237750
Snowmobilers boycott Monts Valin
CHRONICLE / The Monts Valin are being boycotted by snowmobilers and tourism businesses are paying the price. The saga of the "$400 tickets", given by the patrollers of the Martin-Valin zec to snowmobilers who have not paid their right of way, has spread like wildfire.
"We announce that there is currently a boycott of the Valin Mountains and we are paying the price. Tourists are talking to each other on social networks. There are petitions from customers who are also circulating against these ways! No matter how many tickets are issued, the damage is done! The snowmobilers BOUDENT the Monts Valin", wrote the owners of the Domaine l'Or-Piste outfitter and snowmobile relay in an email addressed to the MRC du Fjord-du-Saguenay
Cry of the heart
"The diplomatic line and the correspondence with the MRCs, the ministers and the tourist associations are over. Nothing is happening, the clientele is boycotting us and the Martin-Valin zec continues to give $400 infraction tickets to snowmobilers who travel on their territory. It doesn't make sense, my dining room has been empty for two weeks. On Saturday, I had two customers sitting at a table when usually there is a line outside", denounces the innkeeper who shares his distress with the Auberge du km 31 and the Relais La Chapelle, which manage tourist operations under a cover of more than 10 feet of snow.
"Two weeks ago, I had four snowmobilers sitting at the Inn and they were depressed. They had come in from the North Shore and they had each received a $400 ticket [for riding without access rights]. I didn't know what to tell them, they ate soup, it spoiled their appetite. They left saying they would never come back to the Valin Mountains. The word went out on social networks, the snowmobilers launched a boycott of Monts Valin, it will hurt the tourism industry," says Charles Marchand, innkeeper at Domaine l'Or-Piste.
On the one hand, the Ministry of Tourism invests in the Valin Mountains for the development of winter tourism and on the other hand, the Zec Martin Valin under the reign of the Ministry of Wildlife and Parks, harms and puts obstacles to tourists. Ministers Caroline Proulx and Andrée Laforest should discuss this with Minister Benoit Charrette! and this, urgently!", wrote the owners of Domaine l'Or-Piste to the MRC.
"We are a start-up business that has lived through two years of pandemic and we have just opened the restaurant Le Saloon in the middle of the forest in January 2023 with all the issues of being on an unorganized territory (TNO), we can tell you that this saga initiated by the Martin-Valin zec is too much! Finally, we could see the light at the end of the tunnel, because our restaurant has experienced an excellent start with a satisfied clientele from Quebec, Ontario, France, Switzerland, the United States and we see ourselves as a trigger for adventure tourism on the Valin Mountains during the winter, "he denounces in his letter.
 
It has to stop
The people of Domaine l'Or-Piste, Auberge du km 31 and Relais La Chapelle are right to say that enough is enough. Frankly, the tourist industry of Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean invests considerable sums of money to attract snowmobilers to the white gold paradise of Monts Valin and the management of the Martin-Valin Zec scares away tourists by issuing infraction tickets to tourists who cross their territory.
It's time for a minister to stand up and tell the administrators of the Martin-Valin ZEC not to respect the law, to let snowmobilers ride on federated trails and to launch a national appeal on social networks and in the media in general to let people know that this practice no longer exists and that tourists are welcome in the snowmobile paradise, without fear of being double-billed
No reaction
At the office of Tourisme Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, the general management has indicated that it will not grant an interview on the subject. "Tourism Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean is aware of the situation and has been working with local partners since the beginning of the winter to find a solution. The ATR is aware of the comments made by clients and is concerned about the long-term effects on the destination, particularly on businesses in the sector. However, they are not in a position to know the impact at this time. It is wrong to believe that the client will systematically choose another destination, since the region offers many other alternatives, sectors and tours that are very interesting for the snowmobiler, which is why it is still too early to make a decision at this stage," said the organization by email

Day#4: Matane/Forestville
A day that started early to be on the wharf around 7:15 a.m. for boarding the 8:00 a.m. ferry to Baie-Comeau

Once boarding done we go upstairs in the passenger section for a 2.5 hours to relax. We had plenty of time to visit this infamous boat which has caused so much talk for the wrong reasons, but in our case everything went well.

It is therefore a little before 11:00 am that we begin our snowmobile ride on the north side of the St-Lawrence river.

and we went west on #3 trail

The Manicouagan River footbridge is very impressive

Very high in the air, it offers us a very nice view of the surroundings (to be seen in the video)

We stopped at Chute-aux-Outardes for lunch and then continued on #3 trail, which we kept for the rest of the day. Being a mountains, lakes and rivers lover, I really like the north coast.


The famous section of #3 trail in the Pessamit sector which was closed for almost 2 seasons is now reopened and apart from a few 50km/h signs we barely recognized it and realized that we had already passed when we arrived at the Betsiamites river bridge

We continued to Forestville where we arrived around 4:00 p.m. with 181 km on the clock to spend the night at the EconoLodge
I put together a fairly complete musical video memory of this fourth day that I share with you below. Set sound on and quality to 1080 for best viewing.
 
Day#5: Forestville/La Malbaie
We start our ride at 8:00 on the trail from the Econo Lodge in Forestville because we had a good day ahead with a gray weather and a little snow.

Beautiful mountainous and wooded sections on trail #3

We decided to not going down south to les escoumins to keep the day's milage reasonable and cut through by the local trail bypass

Approaching Tadoussac

We ate there before taking the ferry of the Saguenay River.

Here, leaving Baie Ste-Catherine

It was more snowy in the afternoon but it was riding well

We took trail #378 which goes further north instead of keeping trail #3 which went down along the river. The route is beautiful but it was more bumpy on the 2nd half, we regretted it a bit.
Arrived at the petit Manoir du Casino around 4:30 p.m. with 290 km on the dream meter

The services on site are very good and the 2 spa areas, especially the Spa O'Quartz with its tropical decor and its many pools and waterfalls, is an exceptional place to relax after a good day on the snowmobile.
I put together a fairly complete musical video memory of this 5e day that I share with you below. Set sound on and quality to 1080 for best viewing.
 
Day#6: La Malbaie/Quebec
An outstanding sunny day awaited us for the last day of our trip, seen from the hotel on our way to breakfast...

We stayed closer to the St-Lawrence river to continue west taking the locals and trail #378


Here's the view at Baie-St-Paul

We took #3 trail further west. The trails were all very nice.

We took a lunch break at the Relais Ste-Anne, happy to see that it survived the covid's time well.

We resumed after lunch for the last segment, still on trail #3 west

Here crossing the Montmorency River on the west side  of Quebec city

As we expected a little, the trails were more bumpy when crossing Quebec city, especially west of this small bridge (St-Charles River I believe) where my wife seriously think of just walking through it !

But it got back to normal maybe a 12km further just after Val Bélair and we quickly returned to our starting point a little after 3:00 p.m. with a little less than 220 km for the day.

We were impressed to see the foot of snow accumulated on our van and trailer and had a good snow removal job to do, but despite the 2 hour drive to do, we came back home for dinner very happy with our trip and to relax in our stuff.
So an another very nice trip for us without problems which filled our heads with beautiful memories that I try to keep even more present with the help of my videos that I put together for each day.
Here's the last one, Day#6 La Malbaie-Quebec which is very nice with the beautiful sun we had. Set sound and quality to 1080 for best viewing.
Hope you enjoyed the ride!
Alain