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RDL Ride


iceman
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Back in paradise. Little abbreviated Gaspe Mini Tour, I am happy to be here. The local rides with the wife I would not trade for anything. It’s surely different with mon ami Alain. 

 

This ride is dedicated to all of you, the dedicated Quebecriders who find themselves wishing they were somewhere else on their snowmobiles. I know you all will be back in Quebec next season. It’s been a very different season for me for sure. I miss my Riding buddies and am missing reading about everyone else’s trips throughout Quebec. 

 

Been trying to get away since mid February. Just did not come together until now. 

 

Arrived at Rivere du Loup at 4pm. We left Trois Riveres at 1pm. 3 hours door to door.

Dry black trail helps alot. Also not much wind which when driving the 20 east or west to or from Rivere du Loup makes a difference. 

 

Checking in hotel they verify we are coming from Orange Zone. All good. 2 people per table in dining room. They also verify you name address and phone number upon arriving at restaurant.

 

We got thrown out at 9:30 as we were breaking curfew. Yelling across the room talking with people we met from Montmagny. The resto staff was nice about it and they told us when we came in that by 9:30 had to be back to your rooms. 

 

This is probably worthy of its own thread. But this guy owns Ford dealer in Montmagny, him and Alain get talking cause Alain ordered a 2021 F150 platinum something, and evidently there will be no F150 delivery this year. Missing parts in assembly line holding up production. Maybe someone here knows more on this. Maybe it’s just Canada do not know.

 

To be continued.

 

Dinner last night in Hotel Universel

Bacon Pizza and frites

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Left hotel 8:15 ish. Lots of Blacktop as to be expected in town and hotels. Thin trail near universel. After a few KM gets fine. Not expecting any real groomed trail with the temperature but trails are great. Straightforward ride today to Matane. We will take the shortway in Rimouski. To mont joli. 

Trails in good shape, maybe 6 other sleds at Universel last night and about that same number here in Matane tonight. Traffic is light. Pretty warm today. Is nice but i am the Iceman. A bit too warm for my and the Apex liking. So much so Alain ran me out of gas shy of Mont Joli at 175km. Man I need to work to stay with him. Big thumb. 

Gas Mont Joli then on to St Damase relais for lunch and a break.(stripped down out of my suit to cool off.) ID verified upon entry to relais 2 per table. Great lunch long time since I stopped here. Local crowd hanging out in relais. Day shift. 

We ran like the wind as we arrived in Relais at 12:40 after a few trail side stops

to be continued 

 

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Edited by iceman
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Quick 40 km into Matane. Gas for the Apex and Pepsi for the Jack for me. Announcing a small amount of rain tomorrow and high temps +8c. I am melting.

270 or so Km today piece of cake. I got my work cut out to keep up with Alain he has one speed. Wide open. 

Tomorrow to New Richmond through La Cache. 

 

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Day 2

Matane to New Richmond 

Woke to no power at hotel. Came back on at 7am. Steady rain not heavy but rain. We decided to wait it out a bit as radar showed it would end by 10am. Group of 7 next to us waited it out a bit too but left about 9:30 am still in the rain. By 10am we were done waiting. Off we go. Not alot of trail left down near town these are conditions I would expect end of March not in the beginning. Up in hills is better. Temps and rain have things real soft. Many places headed east from Matane you can see bare ground already. The 7 sleds in front of us are going where we are to La Cache then New Richmond. It’s very obvious we need to catch them and pass them and stay ahead. They are using up what is left of the trail making things less than desirable. We hammer it out the occasional light sprinkle of rain but really not much now. 

Arriving at the closed relais St Paulin at the junction of 595. Its not just 7 in front of us its 14. Another group was just pulling out of relais when we stopped and the original 7 we though were just getting ready to leave. We give them a few minutes head start. Now there are for sure 14 sleds headed up to La Cache in front of us. 

Relais Saint Paulin by the looks of it has not opened all season.

 

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To be continued

Edited by iceman
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We leave and hang a right onto 595 to La Cache trail not bad here considering but this first section is pretty straight, it’s in the twists and turns where the traffic is hurting the trails most. We know we will catch the group its just a question of where. Luckily as we arrive at the first real lookout they are stopped checking out the cloud obstructed views. Well that was easy 7 down 7 to go. Arriving by the entrance road to Village Nature Chic Chocs along the road where the trail goes is really whooped out. We bang on through. No sign of the next group. Once we start to gain more elevation the trail is getting better. For me its great cause no one rides or at least lately where I do so my one sled width right ski planted against the groomer berm is like a private trail. Gotta love it. Everyone loves the middle.

Further up and our other group of 7 is stopped as well. We cruise on by. Trail is now really good not great but considering temperatures it’s fine. The heavy wet snow and temperatures are not helping the fuel mileage. That and a heavy thumb. Those who know me know I do not like riding on my fuel light. I been on it now for a long time. I am thinking it will be a miracle to make La Cache without dumping in the gas.

Almost made it. 168km out of gas. 3km short. Oh well. Drop in the gas and arrive at La Cache before the rush. 

Gas at the new pumps and a great bacon cheeseburger and soup. The others arrive as we are eating. We are all going to New Richmond and we will stay out front. They are ordering and the other group of 7 pull in. They are looking for lunch too. We slip on out and head south on the 595.

 

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