mcstar

bonjour !!!
 
just for fun !!!..........april 8 th .......2015 
same weather today .....-2c this morning !!!
 
jean-guy

https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/health/coronavirus/3m-makes-deal-with-white-house-says-canada-will-continue-to-receive-n95-masks-1.4885409

That's what I read as well,  but now a tiger at the Bronx zoo has tested positive for covid-19, this guy may have to look for a different outfit!

Brother Iceman!  This just in!  You & all brave field-ops heroes who need to wash your hands twice!  Tell Alain you need a paint touch-up?...
 
"When you live outside the city limits you usually have a septic system that needs to be pumped out about every five years.  
It's a pretty big business and requires a special "Pumper Truck".
This one gets a lot of return business.  Septic tank cleaned out by a local guy with a sense of humor getting a lot of business these days."
 

Just outside Quebec city on 3...

Just outside Quebec city on 3...

That was a good article back then and I believed  in all what was said and I  was hoping it was going to be all right! Its not quite as relevant anymore as far as the human toll to finances and everyday lives are concerned.  I’m sure we all know someone who is in a tough spot or some kind of a bad situation and all be can to is to try and help a fellow friend or someone we don’t know. We will all get through this it just might take a little longer then originally thought.Man kind will prevail !
 

JG, we are also going to miss your Groomer pictures!

JG, we are also going to miss your Groomer pictures!

im not shy to say that ....( hahaha )....my best season in many years....about 400 miles...maybe a bit more
riding with ontario and nova scotia friends !!!
chez nous c est ski doo !!!
 
jean-guy

JG, we are also going to miss your Groomer pictures!

Rolled into LeCabanon yesterday with my buddy about 1:30 with this on the odometer. All from this winter with a brand new 1200 left over. I feel EXTREMELY lucky to have been able to do this this season. Just in the “nick of time” too. It was sad leaving yesterday but the memories will last forever. Seasons come and go but THIS ONE is one that will NEVER be forgotten. It was like a cumulation of years of riding that all pulled together and enabled me to have the BEST year ever. Lifelong friendships were made and the riding was beyond spectacular. I want to give a “shout out” to all the people who made my winter so enjoyable:
”André” my soul brother in Quebec who puts up with me for going on 20 yrs. Thank you mom ami  You ARE the best
Jeff from Dansville, NY ....my BFF riding partner. I promise I will try in the future to get us in before dark. Especially when it’s 30 below
Glenn from Vermont....the guy who I have laid down the most miles with over the years. May we have many more my friend 
Kenny from Pikogan, My native soul brother who hooked me up in so many ways. Can’t wait to see you again my friend 
Jeff in Joutel for hosting my crazy ass for two nights while i assaulted the 396 trail mercilessly 
Samuel, Alex & Elphonse (half-ounce) in Miquelon for some of the CRAZIEST partying I have ever done. You guys ROCK !!
Nancy in Desmairsville for being the sweety she is. Thanks SO MUCH for your hair dryer 
Isabelle in Chapais for hooking me up with the locals and providing a GREAT place to stay
Kenny Loon in Mistissinni for the EXTREME hospitality and showing me the native culture and food
Clifford & Brian (the “Twin Towers”) from Oujé-Bougoumou for letting me camp out and have a fabulous moose steak dinner
Andre & Jeanie in Parent for having a 4 star place to stay while in town.....and letting me use your garage to work on my sled...LOL
All the peeps at the Parent depanneeur. Cynthia, Elodi, Alice, Veronica (Tony’s fiesta wife)& Karine. And Tony.....the worlds best groomer. Thanks for that 10 mile late night groomer ride brother.
Yann from Parent. One cool dude. Had a great time partying with you.
”Popper” the 40+ yr Skiddo mechanic from AB Sports in Senneterre for taking care of me multiple times
Jack and “ little girl” from Lac Faillon. You two literally made my winter. One seriously AWESOME dude
Jean-Guy from Haltaparche. This man is what Quebec is ALL ABOUT. Your hospitality is sincerely appreciated!!!!! Can’t wait to see you again my friend.
And to all the GREAT fellow QR members I got to meet and spend time with this season:
Cobra......we WILL lay down some tracks in the future 
Pipeman & Ike.....two seriously great dudes (and riders) had a BLAST hanging and riding with you guys  p.s.......that shower in Ouje was appreciated more than you know....LOL
Blueblood....we live WAY too close to not get together this summer. Fantastic dude. Bring your wife. I owe you guys a couple Captain & cokes
Je me souviens ....great guy and crew from Plattsburgh
Iceman....what a fu&* up I was. Next time I WILL wait no matter what.....LOL
Quebecbob.....your “one in a million” (maybe two).....look forward to seeing you again my friend 
But the MOST thanks goes to my wife Sandy for supporting me (and us) while I pulled this crazy stunt off. I LOVE you honey !!!!
i wish EVERYONE the VERY BEST off season and HOPE to see you all again next year.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ok hook the trailer back on

I heard that USA will be shutting down in less than 48 hours country wide, for a minimum of 14 days,  ofcourse I am hoping this is not the case,  but it is better to be safe than sorry and be with your family !

I heard that USA will be shutting down in less than 48 hours country wide, for a minimum of 14 days,  ofcourse I am hoping this is not the case,  but it is better to be safe than sorry and be with your family !

Thought I'd share this. We've never had occasion to stop at mont joli except for lunch, until a couple of days ago. We stayed at the new Quality Inn. Very nice. Nice new hotel with groomed local trail to the door. Has nice rooms, free hot breakfast, free laundry, indoor pool and whirlpool. Right across parking lot is a gas station/tim hortons. Across road is a Normandin restaurant. Also next door is maple products store.

Just pulled into depanneur in Parent 
this was 45 min. Outside of here coming from Clova

Today 3/11 we depart Hotel Matagami at the crack of 9:47am and as luck would have it we meet the groomer which has just came up the whole way we are headed. I saw 4 Lynx all together which was cool as hell to see. Lunch in Barraute on our way to Gas at Sennetere and who pulls in.....Snowmaster2112 !  So here we are at Faillon together and will be heading to Parent tomorrow. 
 

Tuesday - March 10
Woke up to 8 to 10 inches of new snow and still snowing!  Today is going to be a great day!   Loaded up the sleds and pulled out at 8:30am.  Took 373 to TQ93 north & topped of the gas in La Dore.  Spoke with the store manager and we both couldn’t believe it’s been three years since the explosion and fire of their gas pumps. Time moves quickly indeed!  As Pipeman (Wes) stated yesterday the trail north of La Dore was somewhat choppy.  The saving grace for us was that all the fresh snow made for a very nice cushion!  Mark had a short off trail excursion that was cleared quickly with the tow ropes & Snobunje!  Had to wait for 30 minutes to get gas at the sawmill since we got there when it was lunchtime. Nice line of sleds behind us by the time they started pumping.  After leaving Scierie 54 we pushed right along & finally met the groomer about 25 miles before the cut off for Chibougamau.  Then it was time to depress the fun flipper a little deeper.  I didn’t look down but I was well into the triple digits when I had a large explosion at my left foot on my Sidewinder.   As the two sleds chasing me went by me like I was tied to a tree, scratching my temple, I was able to surmise that I no longer had forward momentum & I needed to get some rubber accessories out of my tool kit!  After quickly installing a new belt we continued on to Chibougamau.  Checked into the Nordic for the night.  A great day indeed!
195 miles

 

Overnight snow seemed to range from two inches to several inches as we traversed to Club Hiboux today.  The club has had a makeover on the outside and a small amount on the inside. Lunch was very good. Jack & Sandy, Jak, and I.
After lunch we dropped down to the RR bed #35. Coming off it  Jack and Jak mentioned how bad the stutter bumps were. They ride the Rene X, 850 & 900T.  Told them I was pretty comfy going over them on my 900na Rene Adrenaline. Thus started a round of back to the RR bed trying each others sleds.  Driving the 900T I found it softer on very small bumps, one or two inch. But on anything better, mine seemed smoother. ON the bigger bumps going across a bridge, my Adrenaline soaked them up much better, almost floated over them where the X's were a little too bouncy in the rear. I was so happy to have a chance to do this test as I so much wanted an X, but couldn't afford one. That want is now gone. Loved the 900T motor.
Tonight Gary from Ct., Jack and Sandy, Jak and I went to L'Estiminent Pub. Super meal, super beers. A nice relaxing evening with friends.
mike

good morning iceman !!!
 
i was at the gas station yesterday morning ....and guys there told me they are up to 4 guys to do my job now !!!
had lunch in albertville.....with linda + friends...
world is small .....2 ex gaspesian from bonaventure....now living in the toronto area since the last 40 years...and using same ski doo dealer than linda....
and after 40 years in ontario ....they remember how to say tbk !!!!😀
 
jean-guy

you do something well for 2 or 3 decades, it all becomes common sense to you and you make it look real easy, so those watching you also think it is easy, sometimes they begin to under value your skill, then one day you quit or retire...and shit hits the fan and the whole production is in limbo...nothing is like it was and the product is terrible... maybe they come back with a great offer...to find out that ship has already sailed...Zuesand said it well...sometimes you do not know what you have, until you don't have it anymore!!

Sundays, couple inches of new snow thrown in, where to go.The big city crowds are leaving the Universel heading back to the Quebec City/Levis area via 5 west. Gaspe crowd racing out 5 east. Hotel packed last night with sleds.
FarmerOld and I started out by doing the green trails thru down by Isle Verte. Nice going. One small area had 6-8 inches of new snow. Jump on 5 heading toward RDL, meet sled after sled heading east. Swing south around to Chevelliers Frontier club. Their trails are my go to Sunday perfect trails and they don't disappoint. Lunch and north to 5 and west for awhile. Pretty nice. Do the green trails along the St. Lawrence east back to RDL via the tunnels.  90% trails today really nice. High snow when entering tunnels, duck down or you will hit your helmet, (I know).
mike
 

Hi Mario, 
Yes we will be here. Looking forward to see you. Have a nice ride up.