Northbound

Day 10 short day to Edmundston. 148k Woke up to fresh snow for a nice change. Short hop to Grand Falls. Dealer put on my scratchers and I talked then into servicing our clutches. Very good dealer! When we were waiting we saw that they had the new improved skidoo muffs. (Thanks Linda) We carry old Katahdin muffs that look like elephant ears for cold days. Not real good to get your hands into but they fold nicely in the saddlebags. I really like wearing muffs with real light gloves, so tried the old style skidoo muffs last year but felt too restrictive. Sandy didn't like them either for the same reason. The new ones are much better so guess who got them. Now I need a pair. The dealer we were at had only one pair. Every dealer we've been to since don't even know about the new style. The old style is #860201144 The new ones are #860202207. The new ones are yellow on the inside. We stayed at the Quality suites next to the casino in Edmundston. Nice hotel. No sled parking in front. dammit!

Day 9 to Bristol 160k another short day. We had planned to go to plaster Rock then Fredericton, miramichi then Campbellton. But snow was thin and getting icier south so we headed north. My crippled scratcher broke off yesterday. We had heard about a cool rail car room in Bristol (again thanks slomo trail) It was called Shamrock suites, very nice, but no food nearby. We again stopped at a grocery enroute and picked up frozen dinners and salads. On the way,  to avoid going any further south than required we took the 405 trail approx 60 km long, showed green on map.😳 About half way in we came to a completely open river, I mean no ice. No signs, no detours. We knew the groomer had stopped at last road crossing. Usually you can see scratches on the road, marks along side and find your way. Nothing here. Checked phone found bridge in town not too far, flipped down the wheels and headed that way. After one cool down stop got to Stanley and a bridge. Went into a little store and a nice, we'll intentioned guy gave me directions. It went something like this....go down this road until you come to a barn with a red roof, go behind it and you'll find a trail, follow it until you come to a steep uphill on your left, go up it........anyway, we made it back. Many of the trails we were on were rail trails, but they were not boring or monotonous. Many followed pretty rivers and went through interesting towns. The rest of the day was great. When we got to the rail car early, I called the doo dealer in Grand falls to see if they had my scratchers in stock and could swap it for me tomorrow when we pass through, they said sure
 

Day 8, to McNamee 236k a short day because we had planned a longer route through the park, but after yesterday took a direct route. Lunch at Tim's in Doaktown. Got some M&M meals in the gas station and a salad at the grocery for supper. We stayed at Wilson's Lodge, ate in our cabin which was very nice. We got there early afternoon and really enjoyed our stay.

Day 6 to New Brunswick. I know this is a Quebec forum, so if this offends you skip ahead 5 or 6 days, but I know some Quebec Riders that do venture south, so this is for you.
This was only our 3rd trip into NB, so I'm no expert at all. We rode from RDL to Grand falls about 220 easy kms. We stopped for a lobster roll, passing by the casino in Edmonton (thanks slomo trail). We stayed at a Best Western, dinner at Tim's across the road, good free breakfast in the am.

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.
 
 
 
 
  
 

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.
 

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.

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.

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
  

Happy birthday JG. I hope you had a good day! 🎈🎈
    Your friends, Jeff & Sandy

Linda and Joel, 
     Ditto to you guys. The Mandarin awaits!!
      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

Great trip report Jeff!
Thanks again for including us in your trip to Chibougamau! We had a great time with you and Sandy. Hope to see you this summer at Sarnia Bay Marina.
Linda
 
 

Hey Gary, we were surprised too!  Rode up to the ski hill for lunch today, better luck. Once past the dam, trails were all good. High of -2, sunshine, no wind, saw 5 other sleds in 175km. It's hard to complain. We'll hit Otis tomorrow 🙂
Hey Jack, sorry we missed you guys this season. Hope you and Sandy have a good summer!
        Jeff & Sandy

Hey Gary, we were surprised too!  Rode up to the ski hill for lunch today, better luck. Once past the dam, trails were all good. High of -2, sunshine, no wind, saw 5 other sleds in 175km. It's hard to complain. We'll hit Otis tomorrow 🙂
Hey Jack, sorry we missed you guys this season. Hope you and Sandy have a good summer!
        Jeff & Sandy

Thanks for the route suggestions.  We ended up at the Delta for 5 nights (3/11-3/15)  and had 4 great rides.  1st day was to the Chapelle and out to a lookout for a spectacular view and back to the Delta.  Hardly anyone on the trails and conditions were quite good.  Lots of pavement at the delta but still not too bad.  2nd ride we went down to Mt Apica for another great view.  Took the green 368 back to the south side of Saguenay and it was PERFECT. What a great ride.   3rd day we went up to Onatchiway and over to the new bridge on 373.  Also checked out the Lac Lamothe cave along the way.  Lots of groomed trails all day.  Getting much thinner from the dam to the delta now..   4th day we went back up to Valin and went up the 251 Bras louis I think,  I was chatting to my son on the communicator how this is the best trail EVER and we came across a plowed section maybe 2 miles long and it was just chunky rocks.  After that is was awesome again.  The last 10 miles back to the Delta was a lot of snirt so we called it a trip.
I took the same picture of that same tilted Bras Louis sign 15+ years ago with that same sled next to it. Time flies.   I will say the Delta has lost a little snowmobiling magic since Saguenay Bill was not there....

Hey Gary, we were surprised too!  Rode up to the ski hill for lunch today, better luck. Once past the dam, trails were all good. High of -2, sunshine, no wind, saw 5 other sleds in 175km. It's hard to complain. We'll hit Otis tomorrow 🙂
Hey Jack, sorry we missed you guys this season. Hope you and Sandy have a good summer!
        Jeff & Sandy

Hey Gary, we were surprised too!  Rode up to the ski hill for lunch today, better luck. Once past the dam, trails were all good. High of -2, sunshine, no wind, saw 5 other sleds in 175km. It's hard to complain. We'll hit Otis tomorrow 🙂
Hey Jack, sorry we missed you guys this season. Hope you and Sandy have a good summer!
        Jeff & Sandy

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
 
 

Hey Gary, we were surprised too!  Rode up to the ski hill for lunch today, better luck. Once past the dam, trails were all good. High of -2, sunshine, no wind, saw 5 other sleds in 175km. It's hard to complain. We'll hit Otis tomorrow 🙂
Hey Jack, sorry we missed you guys this season. Hope you and Sandy have a good summer!
        Jeff & Sandy

Hey Gary, we were surprised too!  Rode up to the ski hill for lunch today, better luck. Once past the dam, trails were all good. High of -2, sunshine, no wind, saw 5 other sleds in 175km. It's hard to complain. We'll hit Otis tomorrow 🙂
Hey Jack, sorry we missed you guys this season. Hope you and Sandy have a good summer!
        Jeff & Sandy

Hey Gary, we were surprised too!  Rode up to the ski hill for lunch today, better luck. Once past the dam, trails were all good. High of -2, sunshine, no wind, saw 5 other sleds in 175km. It's hard to complain. We'll hit Otis tomorrow 🙂
Hey Jack, sorry we missed you guys this season. Hope you and Sandy have a good summer!
        Jeff & Sandy

Hey Gary, we were surprised too!  Rode up to the ski hill for lunch today, better luck. Once past the dam, trails were all good. High of -2, sunshine, no wind, saw 5 other sleds in 175km. It's hard to complain. We'll hit Otis tomorrow 🙂
Hey Jack, sorry we missed you guys this season. Hope you and Sandy have a good summer!
        Jeff & Sandy

Hey Gary, we were surprised too!  Rode up to the ski hill for lunch today, better luck. Once past the dam, trails were all good. High of -2, sunshine, no wind, saw 5 other sleds in 175km. It's hard to complain. We'll hit Otis tomorrow 🙂
Hey Jack, sorry we missed you guys this season. Hope you and Sandy have a good summer!
        Jeff & Sandy

Hey Gary, we were surprised too!  Rode up to the ski hill for lunch today, better luck. Once past the dam, trails were all good. High of -2, sunshine, no wind, saw 5 other sleds in 175km. It's hard to complain. We'll hit Otis tomorrow 🙂
Hey Jack, sorry we missed you guys this season. Hope you and Sandy have a good summer!
        Jeff & Sandy