Andyman Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Feb 2/12 Started the trip by driving to Bathurst and doing a local loop out to Governors of 145 miles while waiting for the last member of our ride to finish his official duties. Feb3 The day started great and we headed out in great conditions toward Cabano our intended first overnight. There is an old saying “things go along like this for a while then they get worse” well that describes our afternoon. We were riding west of Kedgwick heading for Moose Valley under a beautiful sunny sky when the 1100 Turbo took a turn for the worse. The engine shut down just like you hit the kill switch and the starter engaged!!! We tried everything to cut the power to the starter including removing every single relay and fuse and it still cranked until the battery died! Let me tell you that sled had a good battery as it cranked nonstop for over 10 minutes. So we towed the sled back to The Restigouche Chalets and started to make phone calls for pickup and delivery of a replacement sled. This process took until the wee hours of the next day to complete with 2 riders bunking down in Edmundston as the TQ 85 is closed after midnight and the other 2 of us in Cabano. 278miles for the day. Feb4 Well at 7am in roll the lads with a replacement sled already to hit the trails. We head west on TQ35 to Tourville for a nice breakfast then west to Pont Rouge for a 266 mile day. This day also included a visit to the Doo dealer in Montmagny to solve a code issue on my sled and a reverse lever problem on smclelan’s sled. The dealer was super helpful taking a part off a new sled to complete the repair after they were officially closed! Feb5 Headed out early only to find my battery dead and the start of my next problem. We boosted the sled and away we rode thinking it would charge, NOT. We pulled into St Michel des Saint and found the Doo dealer open on a Sunday and I bought a new battery and installed it in the yard. Problem solved and away we ride to Meekos to meet Timbo and Thad. 310 miles for the day on good trails. We saw one very bad crash scene and we wondered how the rider faired near La Macaza. Feb6 We leave Meekos and head to Rabaska to meet Snowfarmer and Lindasled girl and Richard. Well they don’t show so off we head to Clova via the Lepine Rd. Snowfarmer and company show up shortly after our arrival in Clova and we all settle in for a great night of laughs. 175 miles today. Feb7 We ride to Senneterre under sunny skies for another 175 mile day staying at La Bell Villa. Superb conditions all day. Feb8 Snowfarmer and company head west in the morning and we set off for Chibougamau for a 220 mile day on excellent trails again. Minor tech issue with my fuel gauge always reads empty! Feb9 We head to La Dore on table top trails and find the sawmill with gas but very little activity as far as logging. About 30 miles north of town we have a major problem as 2 of our riders had a rear ender. No one injured but 2 banged up sleds. We tow one to St Felicien and proceed to make the 2 sleds trail worthy again. It is obvious that we need to get rooms as we are there until the next day. With the 2 sleds ready to roll again we have a nice meal and relax for the evening. It was also here that 2 riders had to head east without us as they have work commitments at home. 195 mile day. Feb10 We head out in the morning toward Mont Valin and experience some high winds and drifts near the lake but overall great riding all the way to Les Escoumins with a 247 mile day. One point of interest we have seen very few sleds and it is dead here at Les Es. Feb11 Short day to Baie-Comeau stayed overnight at La Comte. Great trails and the new bridge is awesome. The relais west of Baie-Comeau is no more as it is a private residence now. However there is a relais closer to town that was a horse race track. Feb12 Riding to Sept Isle as I need a dealer as I have no charging system. It is a cold beautiful day on tabletop trails. Feb13 I get in to the dealer when they open and they diagnose the problem as a charging relay and of course they don’t have one but after much searching we find one on a demo Summit and after the install I am on my way. We ride east to the Moise River area and spend the night in Sept Isle again. 115 miles. Feb 14 We ride to Godbout and take the ferry staying overnight in Matane 130 miles. Feb 15 Matane to Cabano 185 miles good trails. Feb16 Rode to Grand Falls Nb then Serpentine for a couple of nights. Feb17 Local riding northern NB Feb18 Up early say goodbye to Alyre and back to the Host with 3360.7 miles or 5407 km for the trip. A great trip with some super people. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
600IQHO Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Nice report and pics. Sure sounds like a trip you will remember for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scranton1 Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Andy Great report! Sometimes things just don't seem to go right. We have all been there....... Was the initial intent of this trip to go west (Ontario)? Regardless, you can't beat 17 days of riding! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sled Dog Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Holy crap that's a lot of miles!!! Good job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyman Posted February 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Andy Great report! Sometimes things just don't seem to go right. We have all been there....... Was the initial intent of this trip to go west (Ontario)? Regardless, you can't beat 17 days of riding! Hi Scranton1 Yes our intention was to go to Ontario but the conditions didn't permit us to do the loop we wanted so we went to plan B the Cote Nord. Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddieskidoo Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Hi Scranton1 Yes our intention was to go to Ontario but the conditions didn't permit us to do the loop we wanted so we went to plan B the Cote Nord. Andy nice trip!!! so who doesn,t know where the brake lever is ???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimcb1 Posted February 20, 2012 Report Share Posted February 20, 2012 Hi scranton1 do you go to Quebec riding. I am from dunmore Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pipemaster Posted February 20, 2012 Report Share Posted February 20, 2012 Hi Scranton1 Yes our intention was to go to Ontario but the conditions didn't permit us to do the loop we wanted so we went to plan B the Cote Nord. Andy And "B" stands for BETTER sometimes ! Ya gotta go with the flow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazysnow Posted February 20, 2012 Report Share Posted February 20, 2012 Hi Andyman, So looks like everybody had there share of fun, glad to see I'm not the only snowmobiler that has problems lol but all and all you guys made it work that's what it's all about looks like you guys and ladies had a good time that's what matters . Great pics i'm headed out on wednesday " quebec " of course. Will report when i get back !!!!! CrazySnow !!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid Range Posted February 20, 2012 Report Share Posted February 20, 2012 Great Report and pics Andy as usual.Thank you for sharing.One day we will hit the same relay or motel at the same time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil 1 Posted February 20, 2012 Report Share Posted February 20, 2012 Nice ride!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailblazer Posted February 20, 2012 Report Share Posted February 20, 2012 Wow!!!5000k in one trip how's your back? Break downs, crashes, conditions, weather.....snowmobiling is always an adventure, isn't great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyman Posted February 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 22, 2012 Wow!!!5000k in one trip how's your back? Break downs, crashes, conditions, weather.....snowmobiling is always an adventure, isn't great! Back is great. Sleds not so good! LOL Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viper2 Posted February 22, 2012 Report Share Posted February 22, 2012 Nice report Andy, sounds like you had a trip like we did a month ago. Sometimes to get through these trips it takes a little luck alot of experience and some help from the good Quebecois. Also some times helps to recall some old McGyver episodes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikerider Posted February 22, 2012 Report Share Posted February 22, 2012 Always like to hear about your trips Andy. Plenty of adventure, for sure! mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momojohnny Posted February 22, 2012 Report Share Posted February 22, 2012 .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane Posted February 22, 2012 Report Share Posted February 22, 2012 Nice warm up Andy. When do you leave for the REAL ride? Glad it was a safe ride. I am jealous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted February 23, 2012 Report Share Posted February 23, 2012 Wow Andyman, what a ride !!! I'm jalous Great ride report and pics happy for you that your cranking cat does not ended like this one... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwCQjrxsVCY Alain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpysanta Posted February 23, 2012 Report Share Posted February 23, 2012 Wow!!!5000k in one trip how's your back? Break downs, crashes, conditions, weather.....snowmobiling is always an adventure, isn't great! sound familiar . trailblazer.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpysanta Posted February 23, 2012 Report Share Posted February 23, 2012 Wow Andyman, what a ride !!! I'm jalous Great ride report and pics happy for you that your cranking cat does not ended like this one... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwCQjrxsVCY Alain WOW A REAL BURNDOWN...LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snobeeler Posted February 23, 2012 Report Share Posted February 23, 2012 Wow Andyman, what a ride !!! I'm jalous Great ride report and pics happy for you that your cranking cat does not ended like this one... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwCQjrxsVCY Alain Looks to me he blew the track off the sled and that started all the problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iceman Posted February 23, 2012 Report Share Posted February 23, 2012 That is normal its an Arctic Cat. No problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowfarmer Posted February 24, 2012 Report Share Posted February 24, 2012 Those Cats "They can take a licking and keep on ticking" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailblazer Posted February 27, 2012 Report Share Posted February 27, 2012 sound familiar . trailblazer.... You betch ya, it's all part of earning experience. You have to go through it to know it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.