GSX800

Ski Doo has a new bag this year.  It’s called the dry bag.  It takes up one LinQ location and is 40L.
https://www.ski-doo.com/shop/Accessories/storage_racks/linq_system/linq-dry-bag---40-l-rev-gen4-and-xu.html

It’s a nice ride.  Old RR bed from Mont Laurier to Rivière Rouge.  Then it turns north going over the top of Mont Tremblant park.  Gas up at the gas station/bar/restaurant across the street from the LaMacaza airport.  The food is good there, but it will be pretty early when you get there.  You won’t miss it,, the trail runs through their parking lot.  Then it’s on to Saint Michele.  You have choices once in St. Michele if you want to add miles and time to your day by going around Lac Taureau and crossing across the top of the dam on 345, or going directly to LeCabanon. I would say, if you are just taking your time, enjoying your day, and going the most direct route, it’s a 2/3 of a day ride.

Ski Doo has a new bag this year.  It’s called the dry bag.  It takes up one LinQ location and is 40L.
https://www.ski-doo.com/shop/Accessories/storage_racks/linq_system/linq-dry-bag---40-l-rev-gen4-and-xu.html

M20 is a really nice ride.  Definitely worth it.

As a side business, my wife and I have a boat canvas shop.  Other than new canvas, we get a lot of requests for alterations to an existing canvas.  What seems simple to the customer, isn’t quite as simple as it looks in most cases. Besides shortening to the desired length, and re-hemming,   snaps need to be removed and replaced, zippers need to be removed, shortened, replaced.  Velcro, removed, shortened, replaced.  Reinforcements may need to be installed to support the new fastener locations. Since you have Klim bibs, and Klim sports the Gore Tex name,  it will need to adhere to whatever standard Gore Tex imposes on Klim to use their name.  Not that you want to spend more money on an already expensive set of bibs, I’m just letting you know that there is quite a bit more to it than what most people would think.  

M20 is a really nice ride.  Definitely worth it.

I was last there in 2017/18 season.  Open and gas.  It still shows up on via explora/iMotoneige so I’m assuming it is still open.  We generally have 6 sometimes 7 guys and end up in one of the cabins.  Rustic but comfortable.  We have never stayed in the main lodge rooms.  Food is good.

As a side business, my wife and I have a boat canvas shop.  Other than new canvas, we get a lot of requests for alterations to an existing canvas.  What seems simple to the customer, isn’t quite as simple as it looks in most cases. Besides shortening to the desired length, and re-hemming,   snaps need to be removed and replaced, zippers need to be removed, shortened, replaced.  Velcro, removed, shortened, replaced.  Reinforcements may need to be installed to support the new fastener locations. Since you have Klim bibs, and Klim sports the Gore Tex name,  it will need to adhere to whatever standard Gore Tex imposes on Klim to use their name.  Not that you want to spend more money on an already expensive set of bibs, I’m just letting you know that there is quite a bit more to it than what most people would think.  

As a side business, my wife and I have a boat canvas shop.  Other than new canvas, we get a lot of requests for alterations to an existing canvas.  What seems simple to the customer, isn’t quite as simple as it looks in most cases. Besides shortening to the desired length, and re-hemming,   snaps need to be removed and replaced, zippers need to be removed, shortened, replaced.  Velcro, removed, shortened, replaced.  Reinforcements may need to be installed to support the new fastener locations. Since you have Klim bibs, and Klim sports the Gore Tex name,  it will need to adhere to whatever standard Gore Tex imposes on Klim to use their name.  Not that you want to spend more money on an already expensive set of bibs, I’m just letting you know that there is quite a bit more to it than what most people would think.  

As a side business, my wife and I have a boat canvas shop.  Other than new canvas, we get a lot of requests for alterations to an existing canvas.  What seems simple to the customer, isn’t quite as simple as it looks in most cases. Besides shortening to the desired length, and re-hemming,   snaps need to be removed and replaced, zippers need to be removed, shortened, replaced.  Velcro, removed, shortened, replaced.  Reinforcements may need to be installed to support the new fastener locations. Since you have Klim bibs, and Klim sports the Gore Tex name,  it will need to adhere to whatever standard Gore Tex imposes on Klim to use their name.  Not that you want to spend more money on an already expensive set of bibs, I’m just letting you know that there is quite a bit more to it than what most people would think.  

You’ll have a blast.  Your new person will enjoy it.  They’ll be planning the next trip on the way home.  

You’ll have a blast.  Your new person will enjoy it.  They’ll be planning the next trip on the way home.  

I am sorry, but not really sorry, I just couldn’t resist. 

I guarantee who ever did this has never been on this site or read a word on this site.  I  personally have and will think twice about inviting people to go to Quebec to ride these wonderful trails.  If you are a asshole at home you will be anywhere. Ice if you could post the club,the person to contact  and an address I will send a check directly to the club. 

Well I was out with the GutZ boys and got back late.  Good thing is no disaster.
This morning I take off heading to the Delta.  I'm a little late and the boys are waiting.  They were thinking about going up towards Milot.  OK.  A lot of that area was groomed last night but the Millot trail gets groomed tonight.
We are off on 383 to the two bridges.  Bumpy.  On the other side of the bridges, 93 is still pretty good.  Running along thru the scrubby pines.  Dust in the air and smiles on our faces.  We get to St Ambroise and turn left onto 93.  Going past Relais Montangarde I notice a couple of vehicles.  It looks like they are getting ready to open for the season.
Cruising along on 93 we turn right onto 554.  From here on up, the map shows all groomed.  We are at Relais des Lacs in no time.  We aren't ready for a break with the trails this good.  Trail 328 to 554 north.  So good.  We catch up to a couple of two ups.  they slow down and let us by.  A quick thank you wave and we are back up to speed.  Left thru the blueberry fields and right on 367. 
We get to the junction at the top of 367 and 373 just before the river.  Decision time.  Relais Vilain or the truck stop at Milot.  Its a little after 11:00.  We opt for Relais Vilain.  On the river and we are at the relais in a few minutes.
We go in and order lunch.  The sleds keep rolling in.  It's busy today.  Always good food here and super friendly wait staff.
After lunch, we get back on 367 west.  This is one of my favorite rides.  When 367 is groomed, it is so much fun.  It seems like we are at the junction with 93 in St Monique in a blink of the eye. 
I've been negligent and forgot to fill up the oil on the 850 today and yesterday and when did I do it last?  My low oil light has come on.  We aren't that far from DRC in Alma.  Lets head there and grab a liter.
We turn right on 23, cross the Alma bridge and take local 562.  Oh the groomer hasn't been here yet this year.  Boy this is tough to take after such a nice ride on 367.  I hope that water crossing is frozen because I don't want to u-turn and ride this a second time.  We get to the water and yes it is frozen.  The ice huts are out, it is staked and they are a lot of tracks.  Lets go DRC is only a few miles away.
Around the airport and there is DRC.  Oh not so good.  They are closed.  That's right, it is boxing day.  Ugh!
A quick check of my oil tank and there is still a fair amount of oil.  It is just below a quarter of a tank.  We can't do anything here.  Back on the trail.  We stay on 562 and turn left onto 383.  This is a little better.  We get to Relais Genouille and this is busy.  It is now around 4:30.  The GutZ brothers decide to take a break here.  I give it some thought and tell them I'm going to continue on.  I'll run 83 all the way back.  I ask them to keep an eye out for me on their way back just in case.
We part and off I go.  Take it easy Jack.  I'm in no hurry.  Reasonable speed, conserve my oil.  No need to do something dumb.
The first part of 83 is rough but the headlights really light up the trail and it is easy to pick the best path over the bumps.  As I get closer to the Delta, 83 is deteriorating.  This is falling apart.  Bumps and more bumps.  I take another look at the oil tank and still good.  From the Delta to the Sag is the worst section all week.  I pull in and park in front of our room.  Sandi is there waiting and has a big smile on her face.  It's late but I'm back and the sled is fine.
A big hug with Sandi and boy does it feel good to sit in a soft chair after trail 83.  She is feeling better.  She said by noontime the stomach had calmed down.  She just put her feet up and relaxed all day.
This was a very typical early season ride.  Some good trails some bad trails.  Enough snow to ride out of the hotel on but as always, a little more snow would make things nicer.  The temps were mild, -15 C to 0 C.  The trails need some cold temps to let the snow pack really firm up.  The snow cover gets soft during the day and gets pushed around.
Plan your trips folks.  the season is here and there is no time to waste.  Our next trip is going to be at RDL starting January 14th.  We hope to see Mayor Mike there and a few other QR members.  Be safe.
Jack & Sandi

Yep,
Prefer to hang out with my 3 pups more so then ever!

The older I get the more I realize I hate people....... holy crap I am turning into my Dad 😂

Food is very good.  I never heard of a sled getting stolen from their corral.  They close/lock it at night, I don’t recall the time, 10 or 11.  They open it at 7.  I wouldn’t leave your sleds in the trailer out in the truck trailer compound.  Although they watch it, it would not be hard for someone to walk in, unload it and ride it out.  Load up the morning that you leave, not the night before.

They were shooting the pics for the new calendar spread and the oil-boy called in sick?!?

We need Larry to show this gent what time it is!...
 
 

Hey guys, just got back from the LaCabanon 26/31. Actually left while the 6 + inches of snow was going on. You’ll have no problems leaving sleds in the corral, Dennis does a nice job having a night watchman walking the trailer pen throughout the night keeping an eye on any suspicious activity. Be careful out on the trails because underneath all the new snow there are icy turns with some rocks but believe me it’s not as bad as the INTERNET says it is. Signage is not 100% with a lot of reroutes north of dam.Was able to ride 910 miles while up there.
Who ever is considering going up, just go and have fun.

Food is very good.  I never heard of a sled getting stolen from their corral.  They close/lock it at night, I don’t recall the time, 10 or 11.  They open it at 7.  I wouldn’t leave your sleds in the trailer out in the truck trailer compound.  Although they watch it, it would not be hard for someone to walk in, unload it and ride it out.  Load up the morning that you leave, not the night before.

You will have no problem keeping yourself entertained in that area.  You can spend a day each going East, North, and West...probably South by the time you leave.  Grab a map and pick your route for the day.  LeCabanon will have plenty of maps at the front desk. Pretty easy to do loops to whatever you want for miles.  Make sure to include some of the orange local trails too. 

^^^ Real Masse, excellent food!  Steak👍