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2017 Jack & Sandi's trip


revct1
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Wednesday morning and it is overcast but with comfortable temperatures.

A trip to Evasion Motorsports to pick up a rental to replace the infamous Red Rocker's untimely death is the first stop for Mr Gutz and Long Hair Gutz via their truck.

In the meantime, four of us Sandi, myself, Ethan and John are ready to roll.  Trail 83 east to 368 and it is all groomed.  We get to where trail 368 crosses route 170 and Long Hair Gutz is waiting for us at the rendezvous point with the Yamaha rental.  The groomer is going in the opposite direction as us and we know this is a good sign.  A few flurries in the air and the snow dust is flying.  368 is wonderful.  We get to the junction with 383 that comes down from the barrage.  This is rendezvous point number two to meet Mr Gutz.  We pull over and park.  A few minutes later and we hear a sled.  No we hear a couple of sleds?  What a coincidence.  Ray, Ginger and Bill pull up.  They said they saw Mr Gutz at the Delta getting dressed up for the ride and he should be here shortly.  They wave good bye and head down 368 towards 23.  About fifteen minutes later another sled is heard rolling along.  It is Mr Gutz.  The group is complete.  The six of us take off on 368 towards 23.  This is fresh and fast.  The snow is falling a little more or is that Sandi's snow dust?  It doesn't make any difference, keep on going.

At the end of 368 it is time for a quick break.  A few sleds heading south on 23 pull over and take a stretch.  A couple sleds pull up from behind us and stop.  Busy place.  Our turn to leave.  23 northbound and watch out for the southbound traffic.  This is highway speeds here.  All the way to Hebertville and fill up the tanks.  Back on the trail and we are on 83 west to local trail 558 north to 23 and we stop at Ski Bee Doo for lunch.  Quiet here today.

After lunch we stay on 23 north.  It is pretty windy in the fields here.  Drifting isn't too bad but everything has that grey overcast look.  It is hard to pick out the trail at times.  So glad those red stakes are there.  We work our way up to the bridge and stay due north.  555 to 328 east.  After we pass the Relais des Lacs, we pass another groomer coming toward us.  This is the way it should be.  We hit 367 and turn left and then right to stay on 328.  We get to the junction with 134 which we were at yesterday.  We know this is perfect.  A quick cruise back to the bridges, a jog on 367 to Chicutimi and then 83 to the Delta.

Trails were great again.

We were going to head home tomorrow but with a storm brewing in VT, we are booking in one more day at the Delta.

Jack & Sandi

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Thursday morning our last day for this trip.  We haven't been on Mont Valin this trip and its during the week and the groomer map shows green.  Lets try it.

The six of of us, same as yesterday, take off for a ride up 93.  We leave the Delta and do our normal 383 to 134 to 93.  We turn right on 93 and run thru St Honore and start up the mountain.  Everything is good so far.  We stop at Le Passion for fuel.  93 is chopped up some around Valinouet but that is expected.  Once we get to the little bridge seven miles out, the trail improves greatly.  There is some fluff on the trail but it is smooth and fun to drift around the corners.

We get to La Chappelle and have a short break.  Too early for lunch.  

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It looks like one of those new 850's but the suspension is sitting a little low.  Maybe the driver should forego a few cheeseburgers all dressed and settle for Salad Caesar.

We spin around and head back down 93.  Onatchiway sounds good for lunch.  We turn right on 267 and go.  267 is always a great ride.  We then turn right on 477 for Onatchiway.  A lot of people miss out by skipping the yellow trails and that makes them good because of low traffic.

We pull into Relais Onatchiway and what's this?  Twenty five or thirty sleds in the lot.  A lot of them look the same.   A tour group?  I know they may not be our favorite sledders but they contribute to the economy too.  We go inside and there isn't a seat to be had.  The group must have just arrived because they are just getting served drinks.  No we aren't going to wait for this one.

Plan B is Mont Vilain.  This end of 484 is groomed and in forty miles we will be at Mont Vilain .  Lets go Sandi.  This is better than waiting for a table any day.  Ten, twenty, thirty miles gone.  The groomer marks are getting fresher and less sled tracks.  Hmm?  Just before we drop down onto the river for Mont Vilain, there is the groomer getting ready to spin around.  Perfect timing.  We carefully squeeze by the groomer, drop down on the river and run down to Mont Vilain.  This is more like it.  There are only a dozen sleds in the lot and it is a little after 1:00.  We go in, sit down and have lunch.  We talk about how great a trip this week has been.

After lunch  it is down to Lamarche for gas and then head back to the Delta.  We take the local trail to Begin, 328 to 367 and then to the two bridges and home.

Another fine day of riding.  A great way to end our trip.

See you on the RDL Trail Conditions thread in a week.

Jack & Sandi

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