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White Road Run


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We all celebrated the Team Maine victory today when we got the news in St Augustine. A great lunch there and than we hooked onto the WiFi from the store to get the results.  Congratulations Rob, Andrew, Dixon and Scott on a well run race.  The entire support team was awesome and a deciding factor in the win!  Couldn’t have happened on a better day as it was Robs birthday as well!

After that things got interesting again, seems to be a common happening on this trip😉. It started with RR Jr nearly rolling his led just outside of St Augustine, than a very nice stop at the fishing shacks, where we were treated to cod treats and a tour of the ice shacks.  Than onto Harrington  Harbor. We are making great time and talking about touring La Tabatierre and mutton bay on the way down.

Than, just like clock work, the gremlins came out again.  Yours truly was cruising along at about 40, when things started to go to pieces in a hurry.  I could see parts flying coming out of  both sides of the sled and we went from 40 to zero in about 50 feet. This is not gonna be good! , driven clutch, track ?  Where are all the flying parts coming from.  I walked out into the snow and picked up a piece,  and it was a track clip. This really is not good.  We are in the absolute worst location to break down on this trip.  It’s a boat ride next summer to get this behemoth out of here, if we don’t get parts and wait for it, that could be days! We unwind the track that has the spring arm up through it and has torn a third of the cleats and rods out of it. Put it back on the snow and say let’s see if it will move. It did!, We  Limped it in to La Tabatierre, about 10 miles, and found Cletus Gallichon’s garage, he brings the sled in as the track unravels, literally going in the door. He says it doesn’t look good but he has a used track he took out of his sled, it out in the snow bank, do I want to try it? Absolutely, how could this happen?  The trail gods are doing a blessing now!

Cletis, 603 Backcountry lead the charge, F3 and Yogi are also all over it, they  have the track out and Cletis’s Track on, in 1.5 hours.  This is pit crew time. We had to feed BC a mood enhancer as he was grease to his armpits, Backcountry does not miss a beat when he is turning wrenches, and the Wiff of Crown only speed things up, Yogi and F3 are right there too. Unbelievable!  We roll out at 5 pm, call Jean At Harrington Harbor to let her know we will be a few hours late.  Another day of adversity behind us.  A great home cooked meal at Jeans boarding house caps the night.

Off to Harve tomorrow!

Happy Trails RR52D73D65-12AA-4734-A4CB-027CFB5C5DE1.thumb.jpeg.8f5ba21ff75793755b4c41a2f656d3e1.jpegFC428D7A-5622-41F6-8198-608FBBD5F525.thumb.jpeg.8b5b1f96ec72b05bac96d13a17f2017a.jpegD7273E3D-F339-4891-B323-57FE1F0933E4.thumb.jpeg.32671ec35942c51b43093e1e002d6338.jpeg9A1C99A9-EF4E-4ECF-B0A4-38C4DA21A6A2.thumb.jpeg.4327c6e48930b560589e44068b2d1bdc.jpeg4D74A4FB-DE58-4081-867D-E877A778B973.jpeg.f78267efc3d8e6917748daa72191390f.jpeg3C69ABA7-275A-40BE-BC86-363D36BD1187.thumb.jpeg.892509a26f5025114a2ba6d190a4317d.jpeg23B5CA8F-F347-4725-A3BD-9F40D559D31F.thumb.jpeg.b8655dde2e498c3615346ff147b86c17.jpeg

 

 

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Edited by RoadRunner
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Labrador arrival as scheduled for Tuesday lunch time made for a lonely ride up or down I should say as the locals do. This is by far has got to be the craziest thing I've ever done, solo'd La Route Blanche half at night and half in the day. Guess I was in Cains Quest mode. Not far into Lab who do I meet in the trail? RR and crew, we are now reunited once more. In the hotel early and out comes the Captain. Yippy kay yeah. Not much going on here I missed all the action the day before.

Today leaving Lab it's a flat light day and stays the same all day, made for some pretty hard visibility. Just outside of Tabatiere we another sled issue 2 fold. RRs Expedition popped a spring and into the track it went, it's a goner, the other F3s Yammy Viper's hanger brackets for the upper wheels are showing signs of cracking and are in need of some welding, off we go to the garage in Tabatiere. I think RR will post more on his carnage at a later time.

The day is done and another with out a dull moment, checked in to Harrington Harbour at Jeans B&B, 10 on 10 for this spot, she is by far the best cook we've seen up La Route Blanche yet.

 

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The norm up here, no helmets just goggles and pile as many you can on the Scandics.

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Vieux Fort landing strip, got lucky and saw this one landing.

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Was thinking about Lindasledgirl for the following 3 pics

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As Howard said literally fell apart rolling into the garage, timing???

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The boys hard at work, big thumbs up for these two saving the day.

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Ferry boat leaving Blanc Sablon port over to St.Anthonys Newfoundland

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Edited by Trailblazer
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6 hours ago, Trailblazer said:

This is by far has got to be the craziest thing I've ever done, solo'd La Route Blanche half at night and half in the day. Guess I was in Cains Quest mode. 

TB, after watching you and F3 this week, I suspect there may have been a few other times when the word “crazy” could be used to describe previous adventures. Just saying😉.

You boys can get it done.  A great adventure week for sure!

Onto Havre 😊

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On 3/8/2018 at 4:43 AM, GT Rider said:

Hi RR,

Super nice to be riding with competent mechanic's. Impressive repairs on the fly.

Reminds me of MarkUSVT's bush fixes.

You guys are superhuman! Love reading about your adventures.

GT, We truly have been fortunate to have  a group that, when assembled, all bring something significant to the table.  From riding experience, to working thru adversity and MCIvering things together, to mechanical ability, and GPS and navigational expertise.  We all bring something to the table for trip experience.

The other noteable, are the people you meet along the way and how they will always help you out!  We have found, that especially in these remote villages along the White Road and into Labrador, that the people are caring, kind and helpful.  Truly makes the journey a much more enjoyable ride. You find people like Cletus  and Jean all along the coast here ....On the White Road!

Jean has a very nice breakfast set up for us  this morning and than we are off to the. Next Town to see more friends that we have not met yet😉.

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Edited by RoadRunner
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2 hours ago, PLAYHARD said:

 

No merci!  VERY happy to be "riding along" from my desk!

 

You have that right, I got a back ach just looking at this pic!

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Fantastic adventure, you know that BS where the track comes apart, that never use to happen, sleds have become more and more reliable and then a track comes unlaminated and you are dead in the water, you were so lucky to find a used track and some one to put it on at the end of the earth, just reinforces all the good will I have been the recipient of over the years in Quebec, great report, happy trails!!

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As TB implied, this morning it was RR Jrs turn to feed the Gremlins and oh did he feed them well! We were 10 miles out of Harrington harbor 8:30am , when Jr says I got a bad vibration.  Now, kind of like yesterday, but this was worse than breaking down in la Tabatierre!

We are 100 miles, the short way, from a highway and we are heading west. We do a quick fact gathering session, and determine that if we go into Chevery, grab gear lube, grease and anything else that we can pack that might make this trip easier when the inevitable comes, that’s about the best we can do! We have two 20 wides (aka tow trucks) in inventory and “ one “ has a recently replaced used track.  We are in great shape! for what appears to be a drive system issue.

we head west for the nearest road.  We use “in reach” to contact our central contact, Tom,  from Moosehead Lake Maine and give him the facts,  we most likely will need a transport once we get to Kegaska to haul this sled to Sept Isle.  He is all over this and calls Ruth in Kegaska to get things in motion. We are near 100 miles out so no hurry!  

RR jr runs 10 miles and says it’s getting bad, well, only 90 to go, but if someone in La Romaine can fix it that’s shorter! We hook the 20 wide with the “new used track” on and send Back country and F3 to get things lined up in Romaine. Trailblazer, with the other “Tow truck”stays back to help if my 20 wide lays down.

..... hours later we roll into Romaine with Jr in tow, a no go here, no parts, lots of natives!  and nothing happening here!

we unhook JR and say ....run it until it quits , ....he goes 27 miles and the secondary implodes 3 miles out of Kegaska. 

We rehook on, and drag him into Kegaska, onto a transport and off he goes to Sept Isle.

the rest of us made Havre, later than we planned, but the club house coming in, provided spirit lifting refreshments

All in a days journey 

 

we reflected over spirits how in many  previous years we would run thousands of miles on and off trail without incident? Are the sleds getting weaker or....?  Is it just the sled Gremlins😉

Happy Trails

RR

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7 hours ago, RoadRunner said:

we reflected over spirits how in many  previous years we would run thousands of miles on and off trail without incident? Are the sleds getting weaker or....?  Is it just the sled Gremlins😉

Reflecting upon this ride so far, and BackCountry 603 and I got chuckle this morning to the above comment I made last night.

we reflected back to last year and the quote made than:

2017 White Road Lab Loop

“Of the 8 sleds that left, we had 4 sleds that made the loop and we're ridden every day, albeit minor repairs. Those sleds were the 3 Freeride 154s and a 146 standard  back country.”

 

How soon we forget about last years carnage on that adventure ride!

So We are thinking the White Road Gremlins really do exist😉

Onto Sept Isle today, Oh and what is today’s weather🤪

❄️❄️Warnings❄️❄️

4:34 AM EST Friday 09 March 2018
🚫🚫Winter storm warning in effect for:🚫🚫

Baie-Trinité area

Sept-Îles - Port-Cartier area

A major winter storm is expected. 

Another adventure day

 

Happy Trails RR

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On March 8, 2018 at 5:23 AM, RoadRunner said:

all bring something significant to the table.  From riding experience, to working thru adversity and MCIvering things together, to mechanical ability, and GPS and navigational expertise.  We all bring something to the table for trip experience.

And somebody pulling the Crown out of a saddlebag!!:good:

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51 minutes ago, RoadRunner said:

Onto Sept Isle today, Oh and what is today’s weather🤪

❄️❄️Warnings❄️❄️

4:34 AM EST Friday 09 March 2018
🚫🚫Winter storm warning in effect for:🚫🚫

Baie-Trinité area

Sept-Îles - Port-Cartier area

A major winter storm is expected. 

Another adventure day

 

Happy Trails RR

And it just keeps getting better and better, gotta love adventures.

Local weather also reports zero visability today, after the last few days practicing in the flat light were ready for that.

Edited by Trailblazer
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A smooth, uneventful ride in from Havre to Sept Isle yesterday! No breakdowns, the winter storm warning only provided high winds and occasional snow blasts, than sleet, that limited visibility, for a few sections  of the trip.. We have three snowmobiles that were disabled during this trip at the Ski doo dealer here, two have been repaired but The 850 with the blown motor is not ready. Infamous Quebec guide Yves will be staying back in Sept Isle waiting for the engine which was delayed by storm related road closures between Baie Comeau and Forestville.

That engine issue  we found out was due to an oil injection pump failure.

The last leg today is onto Forestville, just an inch of new snow here in Sept Isle this am,  we suspect that will change as we head west😉

Yours  truly has offered to bring the vehicle that Coutter and RR Jr used to catch up with us on the first day, back to Forestville so these two can run that section of trail, as they missed it on the first day due to a suspension failure.

Trailblazers sled will be ready at 9 am, It’s a big day , so the gang will head out, I will bring T B in the trailer down and intercept the boys at a road crossing for TB to finish his ride in.

An excellent meal last night at Bistro Blanc. Infamous trail guide Yves lined up this location for dinner and treated all of us to various selections of wine! 

we are trying to broaden RR Jrs taste buds and introduce him to other fine dining experiences 😉42EAC7E5-663A-446F-9176-B6A9BA28FB08.thumb.jpeg.7612999ab4c407bcd1233d26c2da5f63.jpeg8646EE6E-7B03-477F-9849-BB9236919599.thumb.jpeg.0b098ffa9a2c024334ee81756ad51fbf.jpeg

 

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Edited by RoadRunner
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We had dinner last night with Trailblazers cousins Serge, he is an engineer on the Quebec Northshore Labrador railway.  A very nic conversation with Serge and a few interesting factoids.

The ore train that they run will way 33,000 Tons!  When at full capacity it is 1.8 Miles in length and the grade change elevates from sea level to 2600 feet.

A very unique railway for sure. Only One person operates this train on the run from Sept Isle to Lab City.

We could have talked with him all night about the experiences on this rail line.

some pics from their web site

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