Northbound

Happy Belated Birthday Bill!! Jeff and Sandy

Glad to hear you guys had a nice ride. Nice report as usual. Sometimes sunshine and fresh air can be the best medicine. Jeff and Sandy

RR Thanks again for taking the time to share this trip with all of your pics with us. I will be the first to admit that I would never have anything close to the skill for a trip like yours, but like many it has been an adventure to follow along. Jeff and Sandy

Jack, We've been using the grooming app on the fcmq site a lot this year. One thing that I think I've learned. I've been watching a section of trail that we need to use on the next day and it shows as white and dated either a long time ago or not groomed. When we pass that area the next day we find that there has been a reroute. So the old route does not get groomed. Most of the reroutes work so seamlessly that you wouldn't know you were on one except for memory or your gps. Sounds like you and Sandi are having a great season, keep it up. Jeff and Sandy

Roadrunner, Timing sounds right. I remember a few sleds together with a lot of hood decals. Have fun. Jeff and Sandy

Roadrunner, I am anxiously following your trip. We've been only as far as Sept illes several times which is far enough for us. Today we were traveling towards baie comeau from godbout and we think we saw two in your group heading east. One of the sleds looked like the lime and blue colored sled in today's pic. Stay safe and have a great trip Jeff and Sandy

Safe Travels. Glad that you had a good trip! We are disappointed that we didn't see you. We will look forward to getting together with you next year! Jeff and Sandy

JG, We saw the 5 going green on the map and knew you were on the job. We had just finished lunch at your clubhouse when you called in reporting that you were done. Enjoy a nap my friend, Jeff and Sandy

For those of you that remember, we bumped into Andre and Nicole today. We were running from Bernieres to RDL on the poog and they were getting their mail as we were crossing the road. They both look good and we were happy to see them if only for a few minutes. They were always very welcoming as we have made this trip for many years. We always stopped for a snack and gas. They have been closed in the winter for the last few years. I can remember Andre posting whenever the groomer would pass back on HCS. Unfortunately with sleds getting such better mileage than in the past, some fuel stops are not as important as they used to be. Happy life to you, Andre and Nicole, and thanks for your support in our sport. Jeff and Sandy

Great report and pics, thanks for sharing. Wish we were there.

Happy birthday Bill !!!! And..... say hi to J.D. and pat Pepper on the head for us, Jeff and Sandy

Happy birthday Jean-Guy, Thanks for all you do for our sport. Looking at your pics, when we can't be up there, is sometimes the best part of our day. Don't ever stop, a lot of people are counting on you. No pressure.....haha. I hope the powers to be in your area know how important you are. Thanks again, Jeff and Sandy

Groomer, cool video, looks like your nephew got some of his uncle's talent. Jeff and Sandy

Jack, I would have won that bet! Jeff

Yes, I've been following this tragic story, my heart goes out to his family, listen to his brothers 13 minute interview. The story just doesn't make sense. Having worked for an urban fire/ems department for over 20 years, I don't believe that I could have done nothing in this situation. If it would have been a policy violation to provide help in this situation, as it was described, I think that I would suffer whatever administrative consequences, with a clear conscience. I would rather be in trouble for doing something than doing nothing. I can't stess enough, that these opinions are based on the information that I have viewed to date.

Snowman, thanks for extending my season with the story and great pics. Hope you have a good off season. Jeff and Sandy

Jack, I think you've already answered that question, if you don't want to worry about that oil light again. Who knows, there is a new 850. I'm anxious to hear. It was fun reading your posts as usual, it's the next best thing to being there. It was nice seeing you guys this year. You and Sandi enjoy your summer and don't work too hard. Just enough to feed our addiction. Jeff and Sandy

Snowman, You' re doing two days of riding in one day, and still find time to dig out? You're my hero. I've been following but have not had a chance to post. Earlier you talked about the connector Ontario trail between Cochrane and LeReine. I read on HCS this year that the Ont. club responsible for grooming it is down a groomer this year, so could not open it. It seems like it is often a late trail to open. Last year we rode it from Cochrane to Amos on a trip when we saw it was open, its a rail trail. About 10 or 20 miles out of Cochrane over freshly groomed trail we came across a stuck groomer. I helped him dig out, unhook and rehook his drag. Talking to the very nice man he told me that that the trail takes 12 hours to groom each way. he grooms to Lereine, spends the night and then grooms for another 12 hrs. the next day home to Cochrane. The amazing thing about the story was that the man was a volunteer. His paying job was as a dairy farmer. I hope the trail will be open in the future. It just made me think.

What a great trip and post! Great pics too. I especially liked the one with your sled taking a nap, I've seen my sled a few times in that position, but am never in the frame of mind for photos. Good for you and we're glad your finals days of the season were so nice. Jeff and Sandy

Jean-Guy, I don't know it I'm happier for you or the lucky folks who get to ride your trails. Wish we were there. Keep the great pics coming. Jeff and Sandy

Loved your posts, thanks for sharing My trips are never that exciting, and that's a good thing for us. Jeff and Sandy

Gotta love those blue skies. Enjoy, we're watching Jeff and Sandy

Roll off update, We had called marcels towing about a week before our crossing, told them the situation about transporting our two sleds across the river and were quoted $65 pickup and then $3 per km. We called them on 2-19, they picked us up and delivered us across river, the driver called it in and told us it would be $200. We said whoa let me talk to your boss and the lady on the line said the price was per sled. Our sleds have wheels and we drove them on and off the truck and he strapped the sleds down together. The mileage was approx 10km. The driver was very nice, this was not his call. After negotiating with the lady on the phone we settled on $110. BUYER BEWARE. MARCELS TOWING

Sounds like you're having a very memorable trip even if it's not what you planned. There's always next year, it's good to have goals. Stay safe. Jeff and Sandy

We staged from there a few times years ago, never had a problem. We carry our own truck boot. But we also at times use the following. I have a pretty good length of 1/2" grade 80 chain. I unhook the trailer, pull the front of my truck over the trailer tongue and chain the front of the trailer frame to the front suspension of my truck. For sleds they used to have a common chain to use as a tie off point for sleds by the front doors and if I remember they used to supply loaner chains and locks if you didn't carry your own. It runs in my mind that they, at the time had a pretty healthy quad runner clientele.