PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 A veteran riding buddy, who's on the every-other-year plan for the past 18yrs requested: "Not out too early, not in too late, not too many miles"... You get the idea. Friday 2/11: "Trail Meeting" at the lake, gear up, pack up, rest up. dooright 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 (edited) Saturday 2/10: Tucked into the Delta Sherbrooke. Nearest nice place to Valcourt. Happy Hour in the lobby bar. Then rolled over to “Big Red Chicken Head” (aka: St Hubert) for dinner. Traditional demi poulets all around. Edited February 20, 2018 by PLAYHARD iceman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 Sunday 2/11: Toured www.museebombardier.com/en and had the rare opportunity of a private guided rip through the previously displayed and now off-limits machines. dooright, iceman, GT Rider and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 Then across town to http://grandprixvalcourt.com/en/ Got center track view of ice oval for sleds & bikes and high-flying snowcross. 20180211_131745.mp4 NHRider, GT Rider, iceman and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 Nuthin washes down a grilled bacon-wrapped dog better than a Monster (oops, uh, sorry girls, I mean)… a RockStar! Florida Snowman, mikerider, iceman and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 Timing was perfect. We were on the track hay-ride back to the truck for the afternoon & evening freezing rain. WAY better dealing with the truck’s windshield & wipers & headlights freezing up, instead of helmet faceshields out on the trail! (Been there, dun that, no merci) iceman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 Stopped in to Chez Ice for a little Tennessee pre-game/anti-gel. And arrived at a decent hour in Shawinigan-Sud for the always warm welcome from Reggie @ www.aubergemoteldrakkar.com Then over to The Devil’s Hole with Mr. & Mrs. Iceman. The Mrs. is so very tolerant of hearing our same old stories over and over again! Back to the Auberge to charge up ourselves and our insurance. iceman, towing and NHRider 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 (edited) Edited February 20, 2018 by PLAYHARD iceman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 (edited) Trail Day #1) Mon 2/12: Depart Moto Thibault destination: Lunch @ Roquemont St Raymond. Frozen crust over the fresh few inches. Partly cloudy. Well behaved traffic. The weight of the freezing rain left LOTS of frozen hang-over/head-banger/face-slappers across the trail. Took 3 & 23 to the bunny trail up thru this place. Edited February 20, 2018 by PLAYHARD NHRider, iceman and towing 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 (edited) Edited February 20, 2018 by PLAYHARD NHRider and towing 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 Conditions were 9’s & 10’s all week (except lumpy thru Quebec City area of course). And not too cold all week. Don’cha always wonder “what if” a groomer was to show up in a weird spot? Well best to believe those "24HR" signs! This gent was manicuring the hairpin by the overpass just west of the 4 Points Sheraton. Merci! IceTripAdvisor Approved. Bunch of trailers here, and the rental outfitter had a whole fleet all ready to go. Got parked and the front-end gent (strongly) suggested we park the sleds in their tent around the side, but we (strongly) suggested that we didn’t prefer the machines being out of sight. A little appreciation/pourboire and all was well in the land. Got cleaned up and took a taxi to the Hotel du Glasse. 4 Points shuttle won’t go there anymore, just gives rides to the Old Quebec City. No worries! We go! Too bad Valcartier doesn’t have a direct trail (yet). This massive place has fun for the whole family (as the Gutz’s have shown). Circus theme this year. Strongman winking over you all night could be creepy. Might need some Patron shots to keep warm? Giddyup! Elephant! Dancing (and clarinet playing) Bears Tightrope What’s up with no Molson or Labatts? Kay nice. Even the taxi's approved! Florida Snowman and mikerider 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 (edited) Didn’t want to chance bagging the outdoor spa, so trunks & robes (and Roxanne's name badge) to dinner! Edited February 20, 2018 by PLAYHARD dooright 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 (edited) Trail Day #2) Tues 2/13 destination: Auberge du Ravage & Pourvoirie du Lac Moreau, set out on Trail 3 under BLUE SKIES. Is this your favorite sign or what?!... Beauteous Charlvoix Edited February 20, 2018 by PLAYHARD NHRider and iceman 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 These guys have gas this year. We waited out a groomer pass after a blizzard here last year. What a difference! Got a little un-bunched at this switchback one time and rolled into the local neighborhood for a bit, pretty easy to spot on a day like this. The riding's too good, no need for a sit down lunch, gas & jambon et fromage sammies at the Polaris Dlr. mikerider and iceman 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 Cleremont Express does not disappoint. Setting the big toe into Saguenay. Approved. Coming up on driveway du Ravage. Not that any of it was bad this day, but these were the best 17k ever-ever, especially with laying first-tracks on the right! iceman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 For the record: I did promote advertising here on QR and... they already are! Very accommodating, Kentucky's finest Buffalo Trace, and they even supply sled-porn in every room! Not that the 4 Points or Fairmont are slouches in the chef department, but Michael @ Lac Maureau is the best. We gave him our full confidence. He went to town. And we KILLED it: Sneaky wife arranged saddlebag Valentines from Aruba: And off we go. iceman 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stei Posted February 20, 2018 Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 Great report and pics! Might have to check out that area sometime. Would you recommend to bring the wife? She's not a novice but not one I would consider highly experienced either, never been to QC before and not one for 200 mile days. Looks like nice accomodations..? PLAYHARD 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 8 hours ago, Stei said: Would you recommend to bring the wife? This is THE trip for you'ze. 150mi per day. Super-Kush lodging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 Trail Day #3) Wed 2/14 destination: Le Manoir Richelieu et Casino de Charlevoix. 83nw, then up and over 383e. She's twisty but a great ride in beautiful condition and (most) traffic is well behaved. Thru Petite Saguenay for gas & snacks & SAQ. No need to stop for lunch & burn Fairmont time. Wouldn't have been a complete newbie ride without an Intro to Extrication Clinic! Stomp-stomp, tug-tug, blip-blip! (Full disclosure: It was a soft shoulder, like quicksand) Yep! Believe those mid-forest stop signs! I forget how nice the upper 3w is from Baie St Catherine, not just powerline rippers, awesome mix of woods trails. Detour for local ferme by Port au Persil, so stayed on the 3w and closed the loop on the Clermont Express. Just for the record: In case anyone might think IceTripAdvisor stickering is any form of vandalism: The gents at the Clermont gaz saw the stickers when I pulled out my wallet to pay and they inquired and requested one and applied it themselves with pride. “Approved!” Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 In-room trail meeting and the JD's gone-in-60-seconds?! Out to the pool. Down to the resto. Over to the casino. Checking all the boxes. NO FREAKING WAY. Confirming that I'm not cut out to be a pro gambler. The last spin hits on 14 on Valentines AND I'M TOO TOASTED TO REMEMBER TO PLAY IT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 (edited) Trail Day #4) Thurs 2/15 destination: Roquemont Saint Raymond. This was supposed to be the grand finale back to Trois Rivieres, but with rain & mush forecast for midafternoon the crew opted to extend the party. “BONUS RIDE” tomorrow! A little flat light but easy enough to navigate. An easy "Where am I now?"... Closed the loop on the 3 & 378. The big-boys have a stop sign in both directions here: St Anne clubhouse for Relais-Burgers! Then back to the power lines. And sure enough right as expected, wet snow/rain. No worries with freezing to the visors. But definitely needing to squeegee the rest of the way. Fine live entertainment at the microbrew at the Roq: Corral was pretty full. Edited February 21, 2018 by PLAYHARD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 (edited) Trail Day #5) Fri 2/16 destination: Moto Thibault Cap de la Madeline. Easy burn. I think I like the half-day ride on the drive-home day! And back to home-base doing a dissappearing trick with the contents of a bottle of duty-free Sortelege maple whiskey: Edited February 21, 2018 by PLAYHARD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PLAYHARD Posted February 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 You choose: La Malbie sunset... Aruba sunset... Pas de compétition! mikerider and Triggerhappy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markusvt Posted February 20, 2018 Report Share Posted February 20, 2018 (edited) I choose La Malbie sunset..... Edited February 20, 2018 by markusvt PLAYHARD 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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