2024 Jack & Sandi's Trips

[jak]

I trip over a garden hose now.

[revct1]

8 hours ago, 800steve said:

Good Morning Jack, sorry to hear about your fall. I myself can see how you went down, I have to clean my shop floor all the time now, for fear of doing the same thing. When we were younger it seems we could dance our way out of these situations? Had elbow repair last year for bone chips and spurs, no way as bad as your mishap, but longest recovery of all the repair jobs I have had over the years. Good luck, and hope to see you two this season.  Steve

Hi Steve.  The surgery to replace the radial head went fine and healed in two weeks.  The torn ligament the doctor and physical therapist put the fear of God in me saying how easy it is to tear again.  I still worked while wearing the brace but worried about the ligament.  So far everything is good and I think I'm over the hurdle.

Jack & Sandi

[MrGutz]

http://quebecrider.com/forums/uploads/monthly_2024_01/Jack-in-Cast.jpg.2a765c1855580f4234b4a8452f667d83.jpg

Jack, your fine..... well mostly fine..... your left side is most fine.....

GutZ

[PLAYHARD]

On 12/27/2023 at 4:58 PM, GT Rider said:

Best wishes Jack.

Glad the worst is behind you.

May the trails be ready when you are.

Ditto! Ditto! Ditto!

I wish I didn't know what you're talking about, but I do, and along with that goes GOBS of respect for keeping your outlook right!

 

[revct1]

Sandi and I are planning on heading to the Delta Feb 1st via truck.  We are doing a one nighter to St Felician for Friday night and then will be back at the Delta Saturday night.  I'll report on conditions.

From what I see on the FCMQ site is most trails are OK.  The exception is in Saguenay which of course is around the Hotel.  Fingers crossed!

Jack & Sandi

[SnomoGary]

Looking forward to your reports Jack,  and we'll see you on Monday...

[revct1]

We are here at the Delta.  It was a nice drive up.  An easy border crossing.  As we approach Drummondville, a little rain sprinkles on the windshield.  Temperature, 37F.  Not good but there is snow.  All the way up route 20 the temperature fluctuates but always above freezing.  The highway is wet but not frozen.  Not much for traffic and I don't see many snowmobile trailers in either direction.

In Quebec, we get on route 175.  As we climb in elevation, the snow off to the side of the road gets deeper.  The temperature is now below freezing.  Not the typical February snow depth but so much more than what we had at RDL last week.  We pass L'Etape and where the trail runs along side of the road, we can see the red stakes.  Looks like a good 2' of snow here.  The sprinkles before Quebec City have turned into a light snow now.  I'm smiling.  I wasn't sure of what to expect but this looks promising.

We pull into the Delta and the parking lot has snow.  Not deep but there is a couple of inches here.  That is all were hoping for.  All we need is enough to get out of town.  From the FCMQ trail map, it is showing decent snow north of the river.  3 other sleds in the lock up when I park ours.

A lot of hockey kids here tonight.  A tournament in town.  As far as snowmobilers, 1 two place trailer and 4 four larger trailers.  Ours being one of them.  There is a grey Proline that looks like the Gutz entourage but I don't see them.

We ate in at Boston Pizza.  I had the "Big Dipper" sandwich in honor of one of my QR buddies.  It was just as good as I remembered.  Sandi had the smoked meat sandwich.  I never ordered one for years until recently because I didn't know what it was.  Now I have learned it is a Rueben and they are always good.

That is it for now.  A ride to St Felician tomorrow.  We will report back.  Happy trails to all.

Jack & Sandi

[revct1]

Hi guys.  I forgot to mention, Sandi has a 2024 Ski Doo MXZ X.  Of course that is one of the sleds that has the potential defective left ski.  The Ski Doo bulletin states not to drive the sled unless the ski has been replaced.  Yuk!

I had borrowed a used ski from a friend yesterday just in case.  I took the ski off and checked the mold number.  The mold number is cast into the ski, under the rubber block that is between the ski and the ski leg.  One bolt, easy removal.  Sandi's mold number is AC1.  The bad mold number is AC2.  Yea!  So, Joe, you can come up and pick up your ski.  It looks like we won't be needing it.  Thank you.

I attached the bulletin but I don't know if you can open it.  I don't have very good luck with attachments.

2024 MXZ X left ski.zip

[revct1]

Now that it is after 6 AM, the grooming map has been updated and I couldn't ask for anything better.  It is showing purple all over, groomed last night.  Even here in Jonquiere it shows groomed.  Just a little bit of blue, groomed within 24 - 36 hours.  The St Felicien ride should be fine.  The weather forecast is -9C now and -5C during the day with very light wind.

Does anybody know about the snowmobile trail crossing the river at St Felicien?  We have always crossed the river north of St Felicien to Relais des Buttes.  The FCMQ shows a trail going directly to St Felicien but it is crossing the river via auto route 169.  Is that a transport or does the trail have a designated lane like in Alma?  Thanks.

Jack & Sandi

[iceman]

Jack

River crossing safe and open west of Relais Buttes

[iceman]

Misread your post

Bridge here lane for sleds

trail passes Hotel Du Jardin

 

 

[iceman]

Here ice crossing but i think is easier than other trail by hotel jardin it has too many roads to ride on that way

 

 

[revct1]

Hi Don.  I wasn't sure about the bridge crossing in the middle.  We have never crossed it after all these years.  We took the north trail to Relais des Buttes and then came down 373.  We checked out the bridge crossing in the middle (auto route 169) once we got to the hotel and there is a dedicated lane for the sleds.  This time of year there were also many tracks crossing on the ice below the bridge.  We may have taken the south crossing that you circled a long time ago.  That was OK way back then.  I'll post later about trail conditions.  We have reservations for supper.  Yum!  Gotta go for now.

Jack & Sandi

[revct1]

We have returned from supper. 

So this morning, we wake up and look out the window from the tenth floor of the Delta.  Sandi, all of the vehicles out in the parking lot have snow on them.  Maybe an inch or two.  Not a lot but we will take anything Mother Nature will give us.   A good breakfast and we load up the sleds and head out.  Sandi's son, Jason, and his wife, Yushen , are with us.  Not a lot of snow, a few inches, but the trail has been groomed and really not much snirt.  Just a little at the top of a rise or in a corner but better than what we were expecting.

We head for the two dams.  Just before the two dams is the scale house by the gravel pit.  The trail did go straight to the dams and 383 went off to the left towards Spence Ski Doo.  The trail no longer goes straight.  You have to turn left and about 1/4 mile there is a hard right, signed, to go to the two dams.  Easy enough to follow but it made me think for a second.  Be careful of the hard right.  There is a good drop off to the side.

The trail to the dams hasn't been groomed in a few days but is in decent shape.  We are heading to St Felicien so after the dams we go left on 367 instead of taking Pickle Park.  The trail is good.  Thru what were the scrubby pines which are now really tall, the trail is very good.  Cross by Geant Trailer and we turn left on 93.  Oops, detour around the Crevier station.  It is closed and there is the temporary construction fence around it and an excavator in the parking lot.  Looks like that station is coming down.

Not too far into 93 and it bears off the old trail and heads south.  I remember this from last year.  10 miles of a still young new trail and it is twisty, narrow and bumpy.  This is not what Quebec is known for.  Finally we get to road crossing.  I see a sign that says St Charles 2 km.  We cross the road and get on the old St Charles trail heading back to the warming hut where 93 used to join in.  The trail is much better now.  Sit back and enjoy the ride Sandi.  The further we go the better it gets.  The new section of 93 around Alma where the auto road was expanded is nice.  No more bumpity bump in Alma.  That is history now.

Time to tank up at St Henri.  The Petrocan is an easy in and easy out.  Good bathroom break for the ladies.  Now the trail is really getting to feel like Quebec.  The trail thru the fields is wide, flat and fast.  The sun is out bright and it is a beautiful day to be riding.  A fair number of sleds are out.  Everybody is behaving and staying on their side of the trail.  Cruising down the 8 mile stretch of power line after St Monique.  A little bit of chatter in the trail but still a beautiful ride.

We turn left on 367, the Peribonka trail I like to call it.  All of this is just gorgeous riding.  We have found where all the snow is in Quebec.  Maybe it isn't as deep as it usually is but it is smooth.  We pull into Relais Vouvert for lunch.  Only 3 other sleds here.  What a beautiful day.  My phone rings at lunch.  Who could this be?  Oh, I won't say my "friend's name" but he was scheduled to be with us but changed his mind at the last minute thinking the trails would be bad.  I tell him how bad the trails are so he won't feel like he is missing a really good ride.  More snow for us.

Back on the sleds and ride on.  We cross the river at Dolbeau.  Turn left on 901, local trail to St Felicien.  We catch up to 3 slower sleds.  I take my time thru the woods here and stay behind them.  We get to a nice open stretch and we carefully pass and give a thank you wave.  Making good time thru here.  These yellow trails are always well kept.  We cross the river at Relais des Buttes.  Boy is this place packed.  There has to be 30 sleds here or more.  No need for a break now.

We run down 373 and pull into Hotel du Jardin.  It has been awhile since we have been here.  A lot of businesses along the road.  The first time we were here, this was all empty fields.  We came in from the back side of the hotel back then.  What a difference but I'm dating myself now.  That was a time when snowmobiles had pull ropes to start them and reverse was tuggin' on the rear bumper.

It looks like no snow in the forecast but the temps are going to stay below freezing.  We head back to the Delta tomorrow.  See you then.

Jack & Sandi

[iceman]

Great info, sounds great, enjoy,

love it up on top. 

[smclelan]

Always enjoy the adventures of Jack & Sandi.  Good to hear you are finding some smooth trails.  I look forward to more stories of treks in La Belle province.  

[revct1]

Thanks guys.  This season had such a late start, it is good to get a few really nice miles in.  We are here for a week.  No snow in the forecast and temps are OK until the end of the week.  Then it is suppose to get warmer!  Its February and we are in Quebec not Connecticut.  It should not get above freezing.  We shouldn't need the suntan lotion.

I imagine sled sales will be down this year due to the short season and lack of snow.  Maybe there will be some good deals on left over sleds next year.  I know we won't have the miles we usually put on.

Back to the Delta after breakfast today.

Jack & Sandi

[revct1]

The grooming map looks good.  They were out in force last night.

We head back up 373 the way we had come in.  We wanted to go to the zoo but couldn't find the trail for it yesterday afternoon.  Today as we head north on 373, we see the auto road for the zoo but no signs or snowmobile trail leading to it.  One would have to run the side of the auto road to get to the zoo.  Carry on.

We go by Relais des Buttes and turn right to cross the river.  Instead of the local trail to Dolbeau like we came in on, we turn left and head towards Normandin.  The trails are fine this morning other than a little thin in a few corners.  Nothing to get concerned about.  Turn right and go thru Albanel and then head south towards Dolbeau.  Just before Dolbeau at the intersection of 93 and 901, there must be 20 - 25 sleds here parked all over the trail.  The maps are out and they are looking at the signs.  Come on guys, at least pull over to the side of the trail so others can get thru.  We get past that mess and continue on.  Nice riding to Relais Vauvert.  Good spot for a coffee and bathroom break.  Quite a few sleds here.  Most of the riders are almost as old as me.  They must out taking the wife for a ride.  Great day to do it.

After Vauvert, we take the local trail to St Jeanne d'Arc.  This trail is always nice.  Not much traffic and it is well groomed.  After Relais Erabliere the trail is getting rough.  Still enough snow but just a lot more traffic.  Its getting pretty bumpy into the truck stop.  This place is full.  There has to be 50 sleds here.  No wonder the trail is beat up.  A good lunch as always and off towards the big bridge on 373.  This is a very scenic trail but everyone must be heading to the bridge.  The trail is showing a lot of wear.

First time we are at the bridge and it must be Happy Hour here.  Got to be 25 sleds before the bridge and another 35 sleds up on top of the hill overlooking the bridge from the east side.  Everyone is stopped, taking pictures and having beverages.  I'm sure they aren't consuming alcohol.  We stop and no beverages for us but I have to take a few pictures.  I'll try loading a couple.  I usually don't have very good luck doing it though.  Quite an impressive bridge.

Back on the trail.  Very rough going down 482.  As we get further away from the bridge, it smooths out a little.  I decide to take 328 to the east and then 134 south to the two bridges.  134 is perfect most of the way.  The last 10 miles or so get rough again and the snow is thin on the hills and corners.  Not as much snow the closer we get to Jonquiere.  We cross the bridges and get back to the Delta.

The best riding was from Alma to St Felicien yesterday and then today from St Felicien to St Jeanne d'Arc.  A lot of traffic the closer we got to the east side of Lac St Jean.  It is the weekend and many people were out.  Lets see what tomorrow brings.

 

[revct1]

I woke up at 2 am during the night.  Boy was it foggy out.  It has cleared off now, 6 am.

Today is a short day.  Jason has to have the Evasion rental back at 3:30 pm.  We won't go near Mont Valin on a weekend.  That is just asking for torture.  We had enough bumps yesterday afternoon.

We will discuss a ride at breakfast.

Jack & Sandi

[revct1]

It's after breakfast and the decision was to make a small loop and come back up thru La Baie and see the fishing village.

83 south it is.  A few miles out and 83 crosses autoroute 175.  Straight thru the intersection and the trail goes into the field.  A change here.  The trail keeps going straight instead of left into the woods.  It runs a good mile and then goes thru a couple more fields.  Nice and open.  We come to a stop sign and this is where the cul-de-sac for Chicoutimi joins.  A little easier running.  You don't go behind the houses any more.  That is part of the  cul-de-sac now.  Then we are back on the old 83.

Good running along and we turn right onto 368.  The trail has been a little bumpy but enough snow.  No trouble with dirt.  A few miles in and the groomer for Laterriere made a pass from here last night.  We turn left on 383 still following the groomer's path.  We are first tracks now.  What a nice ride this is.  Crossing back and forth over the quad trail.  The quad trail is on the old road that went to the old Relais Boullanaise.  I know I must have missplet that.  The trail gets cranky after the old Relais.  Still groomed but tugging back and forth on the handlebars.

We pull into Ferland for coffee break.  A few sleds and quads outside.  Sunny day and mild temps.  What a great day for riding.

We continue south on 383.  Just after Ferland, wow has this area been logged.  Much of it has been clear cut.  A lot of nice scenic views.  The trail has been changed around here too.  It's following the access roads for the logging operation.  Nice gentle sweeping turns.  The up and downs are too big for big trucks.  Maybe its access for the smaller equipment.

383 now cuts back up to 83 on what was the old local 22 trail.  It joins 83 near the spur to St Felix.  383 no longer goes straight south to 83 where there was a warming hut.

83 is used but in decent shape.  We haven't seen too many sleds today.  I would have thought there would have been more traffic for such a nice Sunday.  At the little bridge for the cutoff to La Baie, Trail Security is checking sleds.  They have 3 sleds stopped and the younger riders are pulling out paperwork.  Oh oh for them but good for us.  One of the Security workers motions for us to continue on.

Into La Baie and gas up the sleds.  We cross the road and get on the local trail that runs on the walking path.  Slow going here of course.  In town and it is narrow and bumpy.  We jump down onto the bay and see the fishing house scattered all around.  A lot of activity but as we approach the north side, we notice no fishing village!  The signs are up and the lot markers are here but no fishing huts.  The only thing I can think of is the bay was so late in freezing thick enough, the trucks and tractors used to pull the houses onto the ice weren't allowed on the ice.  I don't know.  A disappointment because it is really cool to see the village.

We get off the ice and back on the trail.  Oh my is this bumpy.  I don't think this has been groomed this year.  The red stakes are in the ground and the stop signs are in but no grooming.  Rough is being polite.  About 8 miles of torture and we finally join back onto 83.  The rest of the ride back to the Delta is nice once again.

We get back early enough to trailer Jason's rental back to Evasion.  Overall it was a nice weekend for them.  Tomorrow they drive back to Connecticut.  Sandi and I are here for the week.  Can't wait to see Pat and Gary.  They should be on a plane right now coming across the pond.  See you tomorrow.

Jack & Sandi

[SnomoGary]

Hi Jack  , we're in our room at marriott Montreal as I type this.  We are getting the 9 am flight to bagotville should be at the delta around 10.30 so we'll see you tomorrow evening,  think Dave aka michigan rev arrives tomorrow as well....

[revct1]

That is true about MichRev.  Sandi and I will see you this afternoon.

[revct1]

Today we had a very nice ride.  A little short so we could get back to the Delta to visit with the new arrivals from across the pond and Michigan.

The grooming map looked excellent this morning.  We took 83 east then 368 all the way to 23.  83 was very good and 368 we haven't been on for awhile.  It has been rerouted from where it crosses autoroute 175 to 23.  It is wider and more open now.  Such a great improvement.

23 was groomed to perfection also.  We then took 83 back to the Delta.  Not much traffic on the trails today.  Probably being a Monday.

Many more trailers at the Delta now and saddle baggers coming in each night.  Starting to feel like winter.  Finally!

Jack & Sandi

[revct1]

I'll practice loading a picture.  This is from the other day on trail 383 / the old local 22.  A lot of logging has been going on.  The trail is way off in the middle of the picture.

[revct1]

Not much in the forecast for snow.  This weekend there is going to be a little precipitation but the temps are going to be right around freezing.  A little snow or a little drizzle?  It has been three weeks since any significant snowfall in Quebec.

Jack & Sandi