towing Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 (edited) Finally, here's the report of our first ride of the season did yesterday January 20, 2024 We could have ridden last Sunday but it was an after a foot snow storm day with mild weather and we knew well that the trail conditions would not hold and be hard for us 2up so we waited until yesterday and were not disappointed . The cold of the last few days has been very good for the trails and the ice... it's about time! We were able to start directly from home in St-Thomas near Joliette, the trails are open and there is more than 2 feets of snow and it increases over 3 feets in some spots on the route that we did. Here in the fields near St-Norbert. The sky was very gray with a little snow at times which makes the pics less attractive but it still allows you to see what it looked like. We strategically chose to do the wooded northern section to start the ride and to return via the fields to the south which remain nice for longer under the effect of traffic. Here north of St-Gabriel de Brandon. And here at #23/#63 junction in St-Damien 5 km north of the Renard Bleu outfitter, the trail turns 90 and takes a new route to connect to #350 this year due to logging in this area. there are a couple of kms to go on a plowed road but it ride very well Then we are on the road path which is snowy for a long section it ride really great, I really appreciated this new path groomed wide After the #350 west junction there is 1km where the trail passes either next to the plowed road or a new path in the woods that the club is at finishing but it is very short then we return to the usual #350 path which was really very nice and fast We quickly passed in front of the Koubec And we went up #345 towards the north which was as nice and fast And we continued on #23 towards the east which was just as beautiful, just the last 2km which goes up the mountain before reaching intersection #350 which seemed to still be on the first dozer pass... This #23/#350 junction(Gaston's trail towards Lac Blanc) was our expected meeting point with our friend Snowcruiser who was leaving from Trois-Rivières airport to meet us with the plan to eat together at Lac Blanc. It's a bit ambitious to arrange meetings in the middle of the woods like that... especially on the first season's ride. We had 140km to go and he had around 70km to get there but we had agree that we would wait a little and at worse we would crossed each other while riding, but we were lucky with our estimates that were spot on. I was stopped for less than a minute when he showed up! After a bit of chatting we got back in the saddle to try to get at Lac Blanc before noon to beat a bit the lunch crowd. The #350 going back down to Lac Blanc was still very beautiful, just a little worn in its big hills and very panoramic in terms of snow, it's impressive We arrived at the Lac Blanc Auberge at 11:40 a.m. with 165km done from the morning. We obviously weren't the only ones who had this idea! Given the size of the crowd we wondered how things would go for the meal inside but I have to take my hat off to their extremely quick and efficient organization which was ready. We didn't wait a second to be seated in the dining room and we had our meals in front of us less than 15 minutes later! I was impressed. After this good meal break and a refueling we left under the snow a little after 1:00 p.m. towards the southeast on trail #350. The view from the lake when we left! This trail was starting to get pretty beaten up by traffic but was not that bad on our side of the trail heading south. We tested our suspensions up to the #63 junction where we took a break. I was able to chat a little with Jonathan Doucet from Randonnée Motoneige au Québec on Facebook, whom I had recognized and briefly meet as I left Lac Blanc auberge The trail condition came back nice on the #63 and we were able to ride good trail all the way back home. Snowcruiser left us to return to his trailer via St-Léon/St-Sévère and we continued on #63 and #3 for the return The Bayonne River is already solid and the trail passes over it without problem near Berthier We got back home early around 3:45 p.m. with 272 km for the ride, very happy with this season's opener which had been a long time coming. The trail network is pretty much open and connected in Lanaudiere and Mauricie minus some rivers that are not ready yet. The cold we just had in the last days helped alot for this and I hope that mother nature will continue to cooperate in the next days to complete the puzzle. Have a great riding season! Alain Edited January 23 by towing actionjack, NSHM, Je me souviens and 18 others 21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikerider Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 Wonderful pictures Alain. Conditions look great. Are you totally happy with your SkiDoo now that you have had it for awhile? mike towing and MrGutz 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P Hardy Posted January 21 Report Share Posted January 21 Great report Alain, many thanks for taking the time to do it, helps us fellas riding along on the couch.. towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida Snowman Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 (edited) Thanks Alain & KriKri. Glad things are finally starting to set up nicely. Hope to see you in Paradise this winter! Edited January 22 by Florida Snowman towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnomoGary Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 Thanks Alain great report as usual... looking forward to your next one . towing and MrGutz 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowmaster2112 Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 Nobody does it better Makes me feel sad for the rest Nobody does it half as good as you Baby, you're the best I wasn't lookin' but somehow you found me I tried to hide from your love light But like heaven above me The spy who loved me Is keepin' all my secrets safe tonight And nobody does it better Though sometimes I wish someone could Nobody does it quite the way you do Why'd you have to be so good? The way that you hold me Whenever you hold me There's some kind of magic inside you That keeps me from runnin' But just keep it comin' How'd you learn to do the things you do? And nobody does it better Makes me feel sad for the rest Nobody does it half as good as you Baby, baby Darlin', you're the best Baby, you're the best Baby, you're the best Sweet baby, you're the best Darlin', you're the best Darlin', you're the best Sweet baby, you're the best Baby, you're the best Sweet baby blackjack1, MrGutz and towing 1 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poltodoo Posted January 22 Report Share Posted January 22 Thanks for sharing towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smclelan Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 It would appear Snowmaster 2112 has been too close to the glue bottle again!! mikerider, wng-2, snowmaster2112 and 2 others 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted January 23 Author Report Share Posted January 23 On 1/21/2024 at 4:50 PM, mikerider said: Wonderful pictures Alain. Conditions look great. Are you totally happy with your SkiDoo now that you have had it for awhile? mike Thank you Mike! the little GT 900ace does a great job up to now, plenty of power for our needs. I would just love to stretch the suspension legs and add 4-5 inches more of stroke which was around what the Boivin skid gave me in the past! My best half is still a bit reluctant to the skidoo, big chance it have an heated seat to make some points! On 1/21/2024 at 6:05 PM, P Hardy said: Great report Alain, many thanks for taking the time to do it, helps us fellas riding along on the couch.. You are welcome P Hardy ! I'm glad to still make my pics contribution on here and I'm also happy to see some more action in the last days from many others. It's nice to see the forum with many reports On 1/21/2024 at 7:15 PM, Florida Snowman said: Thanks Alain & KriKri. Glad things are finally starting to set up nicely. Hope to see you in Paradise this winter! You are welcome Tom! Snow amount are impressive here, Yes I hope ours trail path will cross this winter 👍 15 hours ago, SnomoGary said: Thanks Alain great report as usual... looking forward to your next one . You are welcome ! i'm hoping for many more ahead 👍 15 hours ago, snowmaster2112 said: Nobody does it better Makes me feel sad for the rest Nobody does it half as good as you Baby, you're the best Thank you Chris! but I miss your own aventure's reports. I hope to see some this season. Is your sled repair from your last season badluck? 10 hours ago, poltodoo said: Thanks for sharing My pleasure polodoo! 3 hours ago, smclelan said: It would appear Snowmaster 2112 has been too close to the glue bottle again!! I think he just need some more throttle therapy 😉 P Hardy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted January 23 Author Report Share Posted January 23 here is some music footage from this last weekend ride... MrsGTRider, jak, wng-2 and 3 others 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wng-2 Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 Very nice. Merci. It certaily looked busy at that stop. Funny you mention Doucet. That is my name.. Not that many here in the states. More with the spelling Doucette. Can't wait to get back to Quebec on my Sled! Thanks for the excellent report! towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowmaster2112 Posted January 23 Report Share Posted January 23 8 hours ago, smclelan said: It would appear Snowmaster 2112 has been too close to the glue bottle again!! I still prefer the old fashioned, original “Elmers” in a bottle. Leaves a nice aftertaste running down the sinus tubes MrGutz, PISTON LAKE CRUISER, blackjack1 and 1 other 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MXZ700RIDER Posted January 25 Report Share Posted January 25 Thanks so much for the great trail pics! They are awesome and much appreciated. Please keep them coming.  towing 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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