Northbound
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Posts posted by Northbound
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Next day we headed to the colibri for the shuttle. We had gotten a little 🌧️ last evening so we had scratchers down. At a RR crossing, one of my scratchers caught the rail a just about tore off. I was able to bend it around so it would somewhat work. Our scratchers are the spring loaded skidoo scratchers that we've had on many sleds through the years with no problems. I guess bad luck and a snow free crossing was bad combination. Now if the rails aren't snow packed, I clip them up.
The colibri transport vehicle was better than in past years, but the trailer this yr is a drive on- back off. Still $40 a sled.
We had planned 2 days at the Normandin (the old Bernieres) to taxi into the city, plus there are 2 good dinner options across the Rd. The Normandin restaurant and a st Hubert. A storm happened the next day with some snow and a lot of snow. We stayed in as the highway from Q city to RDL was closed part of the day and the taxis were suspended. So we took a cab into the city the next day, and stayed a 3rd night.
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On 2-15 our saddlebags were looking sad sitting in the corner so we reluctantly had to leave the party😞. We rode to the doubletree Quebec city, used to be the 4 pts. Early lunch at Mt Apica, great trails all day. They used to have a free shuttle into Quebec city, that we really enjoyed. Last year it wasn't operating, but I assumed it would be back up this year, but was not. Another casualty.
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We got back to the Delta on 2-2 just hours ahead of that extreme cold and wind. Soon our friends from across the pond arrived and we visited and day rode with many friends for almost 2 weeks. Our group represented Ohio, Michigan, Ottawa, the UK ( where they speak proper English😄) and Massachusetts We had a great time.
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We got to the Delta this year, mid January. We day rode for 4 or 5 days to remember which button did what. Plus I was sporting a 3 month old knee, and I was testing the water. It was fine.
We left on a northern loop on the 23rd. We were joined by Joel and Linda sledgirl,and Dawn and Keith. We had a great time with great people. They'd never yet made it to chibougmau. We slept in st. Felicien, chibougmau, Level, then we looped up to Matagami, (no one had been there) and slept in Amos. Slomo trail, thanks for the rodeway inn recommendation. The next day they headed south back towards the Delta, we headed west. They had other plans. We continued and stayed in Rouyn, then Temiscaming, then Pembroke. We usually cross at new lisk, but trails were not yet good in that area. We crossed at Rapids des Joachim's. After Pembroke we overnighted in Maniwaki, lac Taureau, then Latuque, where we had the pleasure of visiting with Andyman. Trails were mostly all good with exception of Ontario leg. In their defense it was a bumpy Sunday, and Ontario had limited riding areas open at that time. The other area that is often problematic is the area after crossing the border in the Ladysmith-danford lake area. Not knocking their area at all, but GPS is handy. There's a lot of cottage roads mixed in the trail mix, and not everything is signed perfectly. And in their defense, I don't think they get alot of tourists through there, and the locals, who have been very helpful to us in the past, know their way through
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Hi people, I decided to post some details and pics from our last ride this season. Trail conditions are a mute point this late, but there may be some new information that someone could use planning next year's trip. Besides no one at home cares about our snowmobile pics.😞 Don't expect to Towing's quality reports, but I'll do my best. First of all I retired Jan 2020 so we spent that winter in PQ, as well as in 2022. Good winters, not much posting from me.
Jeff and Sandy
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Steven, it was great visiting with you and Kelly. Enjoy that side by side this summer! I'm envious.😄
Jeff and Sandy
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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
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Happy Birthday groomer! Your pictures have provided hours of enjoyment from people everywhere, many who you'll never meet. Hope you have a great day, friend.
Jeff and Sandy
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Hopefully by next year the transport will not be needed, but if it is, this is what we found,today. We were headed west from sept isle. Called from Baie Comeau last night. Called the guy in Pointe-aux-outardes, seemed most logistical. He owns the Petro Canada gas station in that town and has 2 rollback trucks. Nice guy named Thomas. We told him we would get into town at 9am. Trail goes right into town. He dropped us at a side road crossing at Columbier. But he is flexible. He could have picked us up in Baie Comeau or dropped us in Forestville. But he charges by the hour, so shorter is better. He charged us 135 plus tax. His rate is 100 per hour.
All 3 of the guys on the poster are independent. Didn't check with the others. This guy seemed reasonable and was easy to work with.
Jeff and Sandy
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Jack, thanks for taking the time to share real time info. Safe trip home for you and Sandy. Hope you get good news from your shoulder doc. We are hoping to see you in feb. Jeff and Sandy
- SnomoGary, PLAYHARD and MichiganRev
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Thanks for the great report Jack. Hope the tylenol helps.
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Good morning, just woke from summer hibernation. Maybe this will help someone. We crossed the border by boat in September, this is what we found, no rumors here🙂. We found a provider in michigan that offered the proper test, and did it "in house", so results were in about an hour. They didn't have to send it to a lab which can take a day or two. It cost $155. Back home, I've called around and found a place here in columbus ohio that is set up the same way. It will cost $200. Haven't used them yet, do I guess that's a rumor. Back to September, we loaded the Arrivecan app, filled in our info, nexus #, vaccine info, type of and dates, travel plans, quarantine plans, if required. We heard you needed a street address, so we used the address of the marina where we were docked. We were approved within minutes and given a number. Both sandy and I were both covered by same #. When we crossed into canada, we called in the same # we've always used for marine entry, gave them the #, answered the normal we questions and were given our boat #, same as always. If we were crossing by car, as I understand it, you a give the border people your arrivecan app #, which gives them access to all the info they need. It really didn't seem as complicated as it sounds. We were in ontario for about 2 weeks, ate most of our meals out, did what what we would normally do on vacation. We wore masks indoor in public places, everyone was. At restaurant you went to get seated, if you wanted to eat indoors, they asked for your vac records and ID. I carried a copy of our cards in my wallet. You got to your table and removed your mask. You got up from your table, you put your mask back on. Didn't seem like a big deal. Seemed like it worked pretty well. We were guests in their country, we didn't have to be there. Think snow
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JG, you are absolutely correct about the 3rd pic. The real question is how she ended up "parking in the rhubarb" there😀
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While looking through some old snowmobile stuff I came across this quebec snowmobile map from 1992 that someone might enjoy. Try to find the trails you rode this year.
And then remember to be thankful and appreciative to all the club members, groomers, FCMQ officials, trail permit buyers, LAND OWNERS and all the businesses including relays, gas stations and hotels.
Without those people we wouldn't have the options or great trail network we now enjoy.
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I was always a dirt bike rider. Sandy's not big on Ohio mud and dust. We always canoe camped since the 70s in canada. Then we started cross country skiing in ontario. We rented a sled one day and became hooked. We bought a used sled that year, I think in 92. A second used sled the next year. I think.
We rode ontario and began saddle bagging, staging in Huntsville and looping through sunbury, Hearst, Cochrane. On a reciprocity weekend we jumped over into the abitibi region from Kirkland while on a trip.
The next year we trailered to Quebec, staged in Berthierville, rode north. Stayed in a few places including the Cabanon.
Next year, we staged again in Berthierville, and looped the gaspe. Now we were really hooked. That was 2000. We've looped the gaspe since then ever year but one.
We've ridden most areas of quebec and enjoy them all.
Many ohio snowmobilers trailer to michigan. We tried that once. But figured we had to trailer anyway, so we might as well trailer further for better conditions.
We've got a ton of pics and really enjoyed looking through just some of them this morning.
Jeff and Sandy
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So.....tomorrow we head for home. Sandy really likes her 137. We both love our oxygen helmets. We rode 9893 km or 6147 miles. No exciting stories or drama but we had a great time. We enjoyed visiting with the many Quebec Riders.
I think I like retirement.
I hope everyone finishes the year safely.
Jeff and Sandy
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We got to the Delta monday. Just hung around trying to decide what to do on tuesday. Trails are still great, but because of everything going on we decided to ride one more day, then head for home. So today we rode Bill's Tour Du Lac. Very nice day for a ride.
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Now on the south shore we spent a night in matane again, the the day of the storm just rode to mont joli for the night, then RDL, then Bernieres for 3 nights to avoid some rain and one day for a cab into the city. Then we took the shuttle across and rode to la tuque and then back to the delta.
- SnomoGary, MrGutz, MrsGTRider and 7 others
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Northbound's 2023 season
in General Discussion
Posted
Day 5 to RDL. Not a pretty day, but trails were perfect. Good choice to wait a day for the groomers to fix the wind damage. We stay at the Levesque, no offense to you, Mike at all. We've staged from the universal with the truck which works great, but if we're just passing through we like the view from the Levesque and they do have a good restaurant. They are not although, as snowmobile oriented as the Universal. The Levesque used to be a little more of a challenge to get to, but now the trail ends right in front.