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Team Iceman's Season Ender part 3


iceman
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9 hours ago, iceman said:

Day 5 Monday

 
We have our breakfast and then at 8am Playhard is starting to make his calls to try to round up a track and etc. to get fixed up. He calls to Gaspe and things seem to be going great. I hear him answering this guy with yes my slides are dupont and they are OK. Thought it a strange question but i was letting him do his thing as he was getting on fine and did not seem to need me to talk to the guy. Jacques from Copper had offered up his pickup truck for a sled swap this was plan B if we found no dealer to replace the track. Playhard would take Jacques truck go to RDL drop Apex and get a spare bullet (vector) and rejoin us in Rivere a Renard at Caribou. Jacques is a super guy and was willing to do anything we needed to help us. So Playhard now is set guy from Yamaha in Gaspe says he has all the pieces to replace track. Great. So we suit up as Yamaha is sending their truck for Playhard. We leave out of Copper bidding farewell to Jacques and David for now. I got to admit I'm gun shy now as Playhard's track had 
20k miles on it. Pretty impressive huh? Well I'm nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs as my Iceripper has close to 24k miles on it so I am on borrowed time. This I know. 
Out of Murdochville 597 south. Big rollers to get out of town. Get going from town it gets better but not up to my specs for sure. Definately a big disappointment. The NH boys are like what do you mean it's not bad at all. Hmmmm. I am spoiled i know it. Not far from the Orange Local off 597 to Gaspe we stop. We are taking a break and looking over my track. It's surprisingly not looking like it has almost 24k miles on it but we find one small tear near a window on one side. No big deal just need to watch it. I look on my left floor board near my footwell and I see a small black plastic piece. Huh? What is this? Well Mark and John knew right away it was a "button" from my clutch. One of three apparently. I ride them (sleds) not build em or fix them. I know stuff don't get me wrong but I learn things every day. What are the odds of this tiny piece getting flung out and making it onto my floorboard for me to find? We look at clutch yup 1 missing still got two others. Well so it shall be. Decision is made we ride to Gadpe to join playhard at Yamaha. If i loose another "button" it could be a problem, the guys say. Sled runs fine, of course i did not ride it like I normally would, but felt like normal. 
 
Onto orange local and it's much better than 597. No problems down and to TQ 5, we get to turn off for the Yamaha and it's not gonna be easy. For me anyway. Plowed road to get there. Screw it. I see the place I am getting there. NH boys put the landing gear down and roll on behind me. We cruise in. 
 
I go in front door and David is on phone with our Guru Pierre from our Dealer he is acting as a translator as there has been a serious breakdown in communication. They got no track. They got not much here. Now I am not bashing here so please don't take it that way. However before I grew up I used to ride Polaris and let's just say I know where pretty much every Polaris Dealer is throughout QC. I been to way too many. I was not picky as long as they could get me back going, hey do it up. Now a days is a whole different story. it's not just me as Playhard is very similar. I am very picky about who can put their hands on my lady. My misstress is not to be fooled with by just anyone. This shop here may have had the best intentions but no no no. 
We finished with Pierre on the phone as now with me there I was able to take over and talk to these guys. No track they want to order it, be here tmmrw at noon, no bueno. Just not feeling it here. They aint touching my sled. David looks at me I am already 2 steps ahead. He says we need to get out of here like now. I ask where is the U-haul rental. David finds it on his phone. I call. I french it up and get the ball rolling. The dealer here agrees since transport was already paid to put both our sleds in their trailer and drop us at U-haul. Get to U-haul is really no good snowbank to use to load sleds. Driver from dealer says he will wait so we can use ramp from his trailer to load rental truck. Takes a while but we finally get it worked out as they tell us u-haul has no dealer in RDL to drop truck. Ok where is closest to RDL? Guys says let me check.....
 
He says ok all set you can drop it in St Simeon or Clermont only 23 miles to either one. Huh? I said can i look at what you got on that computer. Nice guy but not sure he has ever left Gaspe town. I look and just as David said and we both knew. St Simeon and Clermont are 23 miles from RDL. As the Crow Flies or swims over the river to the other side. Again no Bueno. Finally we find La Pocatiere, fine as rental is for 3 days same price as one day. So we drop rental on way by headed back to Trois Riveres on Thursday morning. Sleds loaded and now we leave there about 1:30 not exactly sure. Stop for lunch and get out of Gaspe about 2pm. Blacktrail. 
 
Had to stop to visit Pierre at Mt st Pierre. We could spend hours talking with him we are there well over 30 minutes. Back in the truck and hammer down. Gas stop in St Anne des Monts and now this truck and I are aquatinted so i push it. Into Universel at 8:30pm. Tomorrow we will play locally on the spare bullets (vectors) the Apex's are very happy to be back here they know where they are going and who will tickle them in all the right places. 
 
We could have pushed our luck. David's track was certainly not gonna go much further. Kind of silly to try to run the whole north shore back to RDL with it. Just not smart. My sled same thing it was running fine when put in truck. I chose to go with David rather than chance it and put the other guys in a position of having to tow one or both of us through the mountains on the North Shore. 
 
Been an outstanding season, not a record KM wise for me but damn close. Lots of KM ridden fir sure. 
 
Gonna be a welcome change to day trip for these last two days out of RDL. 
 

Great report as always ice. Good choice not to push your luck, enjoy the day loops on the bullets! 

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50 minutes ago, Carman said:

Great report as always ice. Good choice not to push your luck, enjoy the day loops on the bullets! 

Yeah mon, been there done that and got the t-shirt. Learn from past Experience. 

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Leaving this report in Gaspe section.... just FYI. I am now in BSL at RDL. Rode fresh snow on beautiful private trails all day. Absolutely awesome. 

Full report later tonight. 

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Today's visibility in some locationsIMG_0604.thumb.JPG.12e9abbd7168cc515a0728c68cc86042.JPG(Just kidding, that was looking up o the sky)

 

Thought this was a retractable umbrella, turns out it's a picnic table.....Mark is sitting on the tile tabletop ;<)IMG_0585.thumb.JPG.bb4a1ce9c74379d9e9ee17141d098569.JPG

The kids will need to wait a couple months, swingset is temporarily out of serviceIMG_0586.thumb.JPG.fe84fd4b6d1b0fd3c8caf21abb7cd4b0.JPG

The usual drifty section on the North Shore east of MSPIMG_0590.thumb.JPG.f9b788c555ed2fa6dc9dbe4038b3a2b3.JPG

 

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It's a long way down, I'd hate to be the groomer operator in this sector!IMG_0594.thumb.JPG.8b3106774f438f16bd1151016a8b157b.JPG

 

Lookout at Mt Louis overlooking Mt St Pierre. Due to visibility, nothing to see here, move alongIMG_0603.thumb.JPG.2cf15a64df7c35c362e7887bf0431af4.JPG

Edited by NH-Moose
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Day 6 Tuesday 

 
Playhard and I decided we would re-charge the batteries this morning so it was no hurry and we went for a fantastic breakfast at 9:15 am, bankers hours. I like it. So nice to have nowhere particular to go and all day to get there. Kind of a foreign idea to this bunch of long time saddle baggers. I could surety get used to this. Thinking I'll split my season and alternate between RDL and Saguenay next year. Maybe I will burn my saddlebags. You never know. 
 
We really are taking our time and head out into the snow to unload the Apex's from the U-haul into the trailer and bust out the Vectors. We do the swap and I sadly look at my "Blue Thunder" being locked away. We may have ridden our last trail together. We shall see. She's been a good girl for sure. 
 
Out of the Universel at 11 am. Fresh snow on the ground but not so much here just now. Temps just cold enough for snow, i talked to a guy just arriving and he says just 30 km west of RDL on the 20 is all rain. 
 
As we head away from town and the River, much more snow up here. Trails are covered with 2-3 inches in most places and the further we go seems its even more 5-6 inches here and there. Snowing but its a peaceful storm with zero wind just gently falling snowflakes. All day. Heavy at times but not causing problems on our visors or anything. Most trails we were making all the first tracks. So sweet. These Vectors are fun machines. Plenty of zip but fun in the fresh stuff. We discussed it and both agreed these were the machines to have today rather than the Apex's just fun. 
 
We ran 526 out of RDL then 85 to 526 again and 35 to Pohenegamook. Saw 2 other sleds. 
Then to 544 we headed for Riviere Bleue but could not find trail to gas. Road plowed good. Vectors got wheels let's run the road. I ask a person i see where is gas he sends us off in the right direction. We cruise in and meet Etienne, super nice young guy there. We go in to take a break and grab a soda at the gas station. he explains they lost the trail to gas station as a property owner pulled the rights to passage. Seems his house was robbed and they used the sled trail to go in the back to do it. So he shut down the trail. He points us up the road and its not far at all this way to get back on track. 
 
Next is 548 to Saint Louis du Ha Ha playing in the fresh snow still all alone on our private trails. 85 next to 565 up to St Hubert we stop at a relais for a quick break in St Hubert. Nice chat with the folks here, people here so nice. 
 
565 again to local orange trail Sentier Haricana back to 85 then to 526 back into Universel. 
 
Back at 5:30 150 miles all great stuff very private. Gonna be hard to leave here Thursday. 
We headed to the Spa to take in the outdoor hot tub, nice way to end a super day of riding. Not the longest but certainly one of the most enjoyable of the whole season. 
 
Dinner with the lovely Valerie and we are happy to help her practice her english as she is very close to completing here 3 weeks of English Immersion classes this Friday. Congratulations to her, she is a great asset to the staff here. They really got some great employees here. That go above and beyond for you. 
 
We explained QR to Valerie and even showed her Mikeriders comment about making sure you check for Valerie in the Resto or Bar. She was very happy. 
 
Mikerider save a room for me. I'm coming to day ride with you next year. 
 
Tomorrow we are getting the band back together. NH moose and NH Mark landed in Matane tonight. Tmmrw we head east while they head west. Wherever we meet we will ride back together and play some Pac-Man as we go. Hard to believe only one more riding day in this season. 
 
Iceman out....
 
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Wrapping up last night (got sleepy from riding shotgun in the uhaul?)...

Since Iceman was the kinda kid who took apart the elementary school swing set just for fun (shhh!), and I was the kid who played with the box that a toy came in, we weren't too traumatized by the 2 kaput sleds.

In fact we had a merry adventure with the box truck. Hell, anything that burns gas right?

Touchdown!...

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A little blowy snow along the way, but like the lot here at the Universel not much accumulation...

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Bar Rialto!...

IMG_20170327_211135.thumb.jpg.59d628b711c9515a8eb46c3613c4a618.jpg

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Iceman,     Don't forget to try the spa for a massage and the outdoor hot tubs and sauna. A couple nights in a row at the Universel was all it took to get me hooked on staying there and just doing day trips. Not to mention great grooming, more club houses per square mile than all of Quebec, great wine, and Vallerie and a super staff at the hotel.

Happy to have you join me anytime!

mike

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All righty, off like a herd of turtles!...

The Gourmand throws a bit of everything at ya:

IMG_20170328_092444.thumb.jpg.0132158e44b1c7f404b3c0d8892fbb52.jpg

 

Hotel's ramp looked rickety, but worked like a charm:

IMG_20170328_105408.thumb.jpg.d579b6c71792b70a2660bb345aa883fa.jpg

 

Time to play pacman!

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Always time for sticker beautification: 

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Local club (and Mother Nature) are in full winter mode!

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IMG_20170328_113521.thumb.jpg.677c9910997d4137dc18db5187f03c77.jpg

 

We go:

IMG_20170328_113427.thumb.jpg.6d875c14c103815857118adcca70fe12.jpg

 

 

 

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Mikerider's right on about many many many friendly clubhouses (with groomers raring to go)

IMG_20170328_121629.thumb.jpg.2fd4570782527f1e1b655553773f61ef.jpg

IMG_20170328_121712.thumb.jpg.b0bb2c202b3dad2743f17704bf8a25b5.jpg

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IMG_20170328_132205_edit_edit.jpg.fb202f17b9b94867d6a53bac9948c939.jpg

 

IMG_20170328_160142.thumb.jpg.0e0c3f6c306a5390dd726b76e0765ed4.jpg

 

Lunch of CHAMPIONS!

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Low-tech, but very productive 

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Yep! The calendar on the wall said get your summer fun ready!

IMG_20170328_160737.thumb.jpg.a10785fcd4f2c99ef24629de9fd8b712.jpg

Edited by PLAYHARD
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The last club house in the bottom pics, I just stopped there this winter for the first time.  Interesting place, down in the cellar, I thought it was a bar disguised as a club house. In reality its more like a senior citizen's center.

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Trail doesn't lead to the gas? Reserve lights came on early from slogging fresh? Roll on down into town!

IMG_20170328_141605.thumb.jpg.2133d988213c7d8dee2fa23793e15c7b.jpg

 

Our new buddy was PSYCHED about us showing up (despite the trail closure), and SUPER-PSYCHED about his newly acquired first sled (144"x2" Polaris)!

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Did ya ever notice that when you have no particular place to get to you wind up noticing stuff?

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First tracks anyone?!...

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IMG_20170328_124409.thumb.jpg.572197f9d34aa192190fbbbfdedbfa59.jpg

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Definitely a healthy dose, Freshy-fresh! So, we start up the icing-on-the-cake conversation, but hell who needs cake, just get after it?!...

 

 

IMG_20170328_151946.thumb.jpg.ed149430de82921e2abfe2731fc26296.jpg

 

Kickin it old school with a map (the Vectors have no mount)...

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The Universel's general pool & sunken hot tub are fine, but the Spa's outdoor scene is worth the small admission fee, and we've gotta take Mikerider's advice next time and sign up for services:

Hot:

IMG_20170328_190923.thumb.jpg.bb56b42b7bf4f404f98a0aa43fd0aaa6.jpg

IMG_20170328_190920.thumb.jpg.470a51cc51060c3f6b9915d30a6547f8.jpg

Cold:

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Damn! Forgot the marshmallows!

IMG_20170328_191003.thumb.jpg.2625cff4a9d53122a0b500b5edc181fe.jpg

 

 

 

Edited by PLAYHARD
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7 hours ago, iceman said:

Tomorrow we are getting the band back together. NH moose and NH Mark landed in Matane tonight. Tmmrw we head east while they head west. Wherever we meet we will ride back together and play some Pac-Man as we go. Hard to believe only one more riding day in this season. 

Where will we meet between Matane & RDL?...

IMG_20170328_205919.thumb.png.1c53b85dbb37cca80345a093007aab62.png

 

Do you think they know it's going to be the season-ender?...

IMG_20170328_212813.thumb.jpg.953c8a34253fb67cde46668d39cc9530.jpg

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25 minutes ago, PLAYHARD said:

Where will we meet between Matane & RDL?...

IMG_20170328_205919.thumb.png.1c53b85dbb37cca80345a093007aab62.png

 

Do you think they know it's going to be the season-ender?...

IMG_20170328_212813.thumb.jpg.953c8a34253fb67cde46668d39cc9530.jpg

 

Leave early, meet them in Rimouski, then take Trail #35  east(the old 548) to Squatec, which is one of my favorite trails (unless you've already done it this week). From Squatec go towards St. Cyprien (571 to 544??) and then local trail that brings you to the RR bed #85 just a few miles south of the RDL club house.

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Day 7 Wednesday 

 
The Day has arrived. The end for the ender and this exceptional season. A grey day not particularly cold at all but still flurries on and off. Some very heavy at times. Plan is to run east as NH moose and NH Mark run west on 548(which is now 35) so we can meet up and ride in together to wrap up this trip and the season together. Out of hotel and up the trail just minutes after 8am. We retace our steps from the run in yesterday up 526 to 85 then the local orange Sentier Haricana. No grooming but still lots of fresh snow not many tracks besides ours from yesterday. I cannot get the classic tune from the Doors and the man himself Jim Morrison. "The End" this is the End my only friend the End......
Onward to 544 then 571 then 546 to a gas stop at Lac des Aigles. Back and we join tge 35 and run east. Thinking we should be seeing them soon. Playhard has been checking for communication via texts when we have some cell service. Not far from Saint Narcisse de Rimouski I stop and playhard gets a hit from the NH boys. According to the text it's from almost 45 minutes ago. They are just outside Saint Narcisse. Huh? Impossible cause we would have seen them. Well now we are confused we think they passed us when we went off for gas. Damn it. Playhard sends a text telling them hold up in Squatec. If they get the text cause we are now behind you.  Plan B was 2pm meeting in Cabano so one way or another. I take off now running full out. I think i'm following their ski tracks but it's just not feeling right. Into Squatec and no tracks. There are tracks but on the left. No way its these boys. They are on the right always. 
Got me cause I have no clue what is going on. About 15 miles out of Squatec I stop to make sure I still got Playhard with me. He comes rolling in. We are not sure what happened. We are checking for cell service and i hear sleds coming behind. They are moving. Sounds like Team Iceman speed to me. I said they are coming I know its them. It's been real lonely saw one group of four much earlier but that was it. Sure enough around the Corner comes NHmoose and NHmark. Howdy boys. 
We take a few minutes to debrief and decide its off to Cabano for Lunch and Gas. 
35 to 85 into Cabano. At the 35/85 split, its groomed. I was convinced I'd seen my last groomed trail this season but not so fast. Thanks to the club in Cabano. Into Cabano fir gas at Shell then back just next to trail for some awesome wood fired oven pizza. Great stop there. Back out onto groomed 85 and to groomed 35 into Pohenegamook. Awesome. More groomed trail. Just after town its all over for the grooming. 544 not groomed and rough under the fresh snow. Hanmer it out up to 85. This is much better and I launch the Vector toward the finish line. To the bar on the 85 here. Nice trail. Closer to St Modeste, well hello, nice big groomer. I pass slow and its groomed all tge way to Clubhouse on 85. The other groomed is just warming up to head out as we pass. Smooth ride into RDL and it's snowing like crazy. We touchdown at Hotel with 260 miles for today. 2 years in a row my season ends running 85 back to RDL. Not a bad way to go out swinging. 
 
Great run with great people. Love riding with pro's. Locked and loaded tomorrow begins the long off season. Need to drop the girls at Moto Thibault then head to the pharmacy to fill my prescription for Prozac. The depression begins. 
 
Still a week for sure maybe more. Thinking grooming will end after this shot here they are doing for the weekend. Saw a few Relais with signs saying closing on April 2 some others already closed. 
 
Until next time everyone.
 
Chow Bye
Edited by iceman
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