actionjack

At least she let us know one of the secret ingredients being   HOPIUM.
 

This aged well.  What a moron.

This aged well.  What a moron.

This aged well.  What a moron.

This aged well.  What a moron.

Since we couldn't get into Quebec last weekend..... We got as close as we could .... Far Northern Maine had good snow for what looks to be the last blast for us this year

So  we had 3 areas on our radar last week but was waiting on the weather Wednesday to pass before we left. Based on the great reporting of Iceman we were debating Val D'or or LSG. Gaspe  I figured would be too soft as well some areas were getting quantities of snow and likely not the best trails without time. So Early Thursday am on the black trail to Saint Raymond. Arrived by noon. Anxious to try our very late arrival new sleds. Route was to be the Delta for the night and then over the mountain to a place Des Cedres? for Friday night and back up through the orange Saturday to Alma and truck Sunday. Well 10 miles in buddies new machine is not purring like a Cat and chain case not sounding good.  Turn back and bring it to the dealer next to the Roch. Turns out assembly at the factory missed a ring and gear was moving. Chain and other internals need replacement but all parts available and ready by 4. Great service. So new plan now. While I have never been to this little place they have and wanted to return. OK so if we take the 3 across we could potentially get there in a long day. I was not as enthusiastic on this as I never seem to find the 3 in nice shape. But being a Friday, albeit one after a rain storm it might be ok. Well turns out it was a white carpet. Incredible smooth. Some areas likely not ridden in days. Passed 2 locals all day. Only hick up was when we came across a section marked closed. Didn't see that on the app. Trail looks good though lets carry on. Not long after we see why. Its a water crossing and yes there looks like there might be some water. We joke we have floater suits and off we go. Appears to have looked worst that it was was. Next day might not be the same. Well as the day progressed my thoughts we're turning to the Fairmont for the night. It was about 4 when we were in the area and was starting to rain and it was an easy sell to the other 2. This Des Cedres place will have to wait another year. Other than the rental sleds there were 2 others in the garage. I miss the buffet but have a food porn pic for some of you sicko's from breakfast. Saturday plan now to cross at Tadousac and take the 93 up and over to the Delta. Well the rain and cold temps had the trails challenging in that they were darting like SOB till be got closer to the Ferry. Again only passed a few sleds west of the ferry. Rode to Sacre Coeur for Lunch and topped up. After the morning tight twisty trail the 93 was a welcome site. Double wide and smooth just the way our turbo's like it. Made short work to La Chapelle and was good till about the last 5 miles before the mountain sleds wrecked it all. Went in for a break you know support the locals. Not sure who does the hiring but all very healthy. They indicated even though there's an abundance of snow they will close after next weekend. So trail was beat up from there down to the ski hill. After that was very rideable and into the Delta about 5. BP for dinner and breakfast and nothing special here.  Maybe 8 other sleds in the compound over night. I think  there was a ground of 3 from Maine, rest Quebec plates.  I was really expecting purple when i woke up Sunday morning. Was cold enough over night i felt to groom but at 7 am wasn't showing me what I wanted. Well after breakfast I was rechecking the route and wow it was updated and there was purple every where, alleluia!  Route now changed as we take the 83 to the 23. Used to take the Bill trail but doesn't show as an option now. Well in hind sight who cares. This was perfectly groomed and well set. Great fun with the hills etc. Into Mt Aptica for gas & sugar pie a little after 10. Passed a few sleds but expecting to start seeing more coming north. They will also be closing after next weekend. Onwards the trail was a solid 9. Great sections to stretch  out the turbos again. Maybe 35 miles from St Raymond noticed a corner had been missed. Stopped and there was a burnt out 2 up sled hard against the tree down the hill. Hopefully they are ok. Just the skeleton of the machine as a reminder. About 20 miles from St Raymond as we get lower the trail is now soft mush but at least its smooth. Pull in at 1 and load up. 640 miles for the 2/12 day riding. Forget that its April this was some of the best riding I've had in ages. For the most part great weather, light traffic and rarely a bad trail. I think the very cold weather helped this season for solid base. While there's lots of snow places are now closing off. Its really too bad but its the economics of it all now. Hopefully next winter will bring many of you easy access to come north again and rekindle your love affair with Quebec.
Didn't take a lot of pic's as frankly more often than not trail was so nice I didn't want to stop but  will upload some that i took later.

Incredible photos. Hope they let purebloods in next year. Need some groomed trail therapy for the Winder and some Chic Chocs for the Backcountry. 

Incredible photos. Hope they let purebloods in next year. Need some groomed trail therapy for the Winder and some Chic Chocs for the Backcountry. 

Incredible photos. Hope they let purebloods in next year. Need some groomed trail therapy for the Winder and some Chic Chocs for the Backcountry. 

Just got back last night from this spur of the moment loop.  As you said everything was absolutely perfect and no traffic anywhere.  Locals on the Southern end of the loop tell me they got 2 more weeks before things start to close down.  Most areas have 4-5 feet of snow.  Some of the trail signs just poking through the snow its so deep.  It pretty much snowed non-stop since last Wednesday.  Saw the sun for 15 minutes yesterday.  
 

My money is on the stator. Seen the same symptoms  before on a friends Yammi.  First they need few jumps, then a new battery, then a slow drain of all power. 

I could care less as I haven't fallen for the propaganda!

Don't tell Hillary!

I posted this in the French section earlier by mistake...
After a ton of normal pre trip work plus, passport renewals, Covid tests, and my son getting his drivers license 3 days before we left for RDL we ended up having a great trip afterall.
Left RDL Last Saturday and returned 7 days later with 1200 miles on the odometer.  Rode the north shore to Perce then up to Murdochville and over to La Cache with stops in Matane, Mt Louis, Cap Chat, Perce.  It was his first ride in QC and he loved it.  I have not been there since 2010 or so.
No breakdowns or mechanical issues added to the success of trip for sure.  The only issue was the VERY pesky moose near La Cache.  I took us 2 hours to get by her.  We were already running late and this just added to a very long day.   We were about to give up and wait it out in one of the warming huts but the groomer came by and she decided to turn and run back the other way.  Fortunately no one was kicked as 6 sleds were stacked up waiting to pass by this time.
I give him a ton of credit for doing so well.  He rode a 17 year old Renegade all day everyday and LOVED it.   If any of you ride with your kids get some communicators, they are invaluable for warning for traffic, hazards, or just chatting about the scenery.

Ok to trample an elderly lady with a horse as long as she survives.  Got it.
 

Ok to trample an elderly lady with a horse as long as she survives.  Got it.
 

Awfully amusing claims in here.  
#safeandeffective
baaaaaa

I've introduced LOTS of Newbies to sledding Quebec over the past 22 years (I know, I'm a Newbie to some of you), and showing these horrible threads to any that we bring to the sport we love can be an important part of orientation.
Most popular Newbie question: "How fast do these things go?"...
My answer: "The only thing that can f#ck you up on these is too much speed, and we build it up quickly. So your pace should be determined by your ability to safely keep on your side of the imaginary double-yellow line.  Especially in turns, and that goes double for left turns, so shed your speed before the turns, and many come up quickly, then be on the lookout for yahoos who didn't have this chat today"  
Then like it's been said here, the lead duck sets the pace, on smart speed and keep-right tracking. Thanks again to all here who are excellent lead ducks.  Doesn't guarantee surviving, but hopefully increases the odds.

first thing I have seen accidents at high speeds and the snowmobile were not tore up that bad.  both sleds doing 100mph?  second thing from my riding this year is I have noticed more people riding left In groups when trying to pass from behind.  I finally was able to talk to one group that spoke English and the led guy has a communicator telling about oncoming traffic.   so when coming from behind these guys are all over the place thinking there safe.  I'm sure my passes on the right in a straight away pissed some off but what the he**

Some of us would love to come up an ride but forced vaccinations is not acceptable. Love your ride reports regardless !
 

Thinking it's a Google goof