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Mike & Ray's excellent adventure


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Ray and Mike's Trip

1/14/09

Leave home 3:30 am for Old Forge to pick up my sled after seizing a piston the week before. Thankfully the work is covered by warranty. Leave Old Forge (in my Tahoe) 11:30 am headed towards Plattsburgh. Cross the border about 4:00 pm start heading east, destination Jackman, ME. Arrive at Spruce Meadow Cabins 8:45 pm.

1/15/09

Mike meets me at the cabin and we go down town for breakfast. Mike drops me at the cabin and continues on by truck to the Beauceville (Quebec) club house. I get ready to ride and ask Scott from Spruce Meadow Cabins to ride with me in the Tahoe so I can start the ride at the border and he can bring my Tahoe & trailer back to his place for secure parking while I’m gone. 9:30 am I clear Canadian customs and the ride is on! I arrive at the Beauceville club house 12:00 pm and by 12:30 pm Mike and I are on our way. We make it to the south shore shuttle that will transport us across the St. Lawrence River just west of Quebec City where we pick up the trail again. We continue west using a variety of Trans Quebec trails and secondary trails to arrive at St. Anne de le Perade at dusk. This is where we found the most elaborate ice fishing village we have ever seen. This place had everything plowed streets, stop signs, electricity strung along poles, vendors selling food and restrooms. You have to see it to believe it!

Trails – 75- 3 – 302

1/16/09

We continue west towards the St. Zenon area and onto St. Donat where we spend the night at a very nice lodge. This area is very scenic with well maintained trails.

Trails – 3-350-63-310

1/17/09

Our march continues westward through the Parc du Mt. Tremblant and onto Mt. Laurier.

We make good times as all the trails are freshly groomed and we ride the first of many rail beds. Once in Mt Laurier we make a wrong turn due to some sketchy trail markings.

This wrong turn takes us out of our way but later we find out it actually benefited us. We spend the night at a tiny road side motel. At the restaurant we find out that ahead of us there is a section of trail that has not been groomed yet. It was better to tackle this section during the day.

Trails – 33-63-322-63

1/18/09

Our day starts well and it’s not long before we reach the section that is not groomed. It’s not bad, we just had to have quick reflexes to stay on the trail because if you didn’t you would be quickly stuck in the deep snow. We reach a point where the single path trail splits and we have to decide which path to take. (No signage) We spend about an hour following different paths when we decide we must double back. We are both disappointed as this will severely affect our trip. When we reach the first intersection there are two couples on sleds that point us in the correct direction. Another half an hour and we’re enjoying an excellent lunch at Joncas. The rest of ride to Ville Marie is uneventful and we even find a local couple to lead us right to our destination for the night, a place called La Bannik. We rent a cabin and enjoy one of the best dinners of our trip.

Trails – 63

1/19/09

Our next destination is north to La Sarre. The trails are smooth and fast through beautiful terrain. We stop for gas and realize they also serve food and we have a great breakfast. We arrive in La Sarre about dusk and once again rely on the friendliness of the locals to find a nice motel for the night. That evening while studying the trail map we realize there is a trail to Cochrane, Ontario.

Trails-83-93

1/20/09

We head for Cochrane on a freshly groomed rail bed. We’re in Cochrane just after 11:00 am. While gassing up the owner tells us that you can ride to James Bay from here. I see the light go off in Mike’s head and we’re off to the Comfort Inn for more information. We find out it’s a three day adventure and the last leg must be guided. We decide against extending the ride even further north, but we now have a new goal for future adventures, James Bay. We head back and stay the night in La Sarre.

Trails-396-local trail-Ontario A105Q

1/21/09

It’s now time to start eastward. We ride towards Amos, then south to Val-d’Or and finish the days ride in Senneterre.

Trails-93-307-83

1/22/09

Today’s destination is Chibougamau and another rail bed. We have had extremely cold weather the whole trip and today is no different. The cold is even more intense running the rail bed at speeds up to 80 mph. But we make good time and arrive at Chapais just after 1:00 pm. After a good lunch and gleaning information from the locals we continue onto Chibougamau. We stay the night at the Hotel Chibougamau in the center of town.

Luckily the hotel has computers in the room and we are able to confirm that there is gas available along our route tomorrow.

Trails-93

1/23/09

We get an early start out of Chibougamau as tonight’s destination is the Holiday Inn in Jonquiere. We arrive at the relay have breakfast and gas up. Our next stop is a huge sawmill that has recently closed. We have a quick coffee, gas up and go. The trails are excellent as usual and we reach the Lac St. Jean area by late afternoon. For the first time during our trip it’s snowing. This causes me concern since I was planning on using a short cut across a corner of Lac St. Jean. Fortunately the trail is staked and we arrive at the Holiday Inn about 5:30 pm.

Trails – 93 – 373 – 83

1/24/09

Today is very windy. Mike and Bill decide not to ride today. I tag along with Dale, John and Wayne from PA as well as Dave from NY. Although it was very windy and the fresh snow made for drifts we had a great ride.

Trails – 83 – 383 – 93 – 328 – local trails

1/25/09

Today Dave, Mike & I are escorted through the beautiful Lac St. Jean area by the one and only Saguenay Bill. Bill took us on all freshly groomed trails and as he would say “just another day in paradise”.

Trails – 83 – 383 – 328 – 93 – local trails

1/26/09

Today is our last day and we have a big ride in front of us. We plan an early departure but for the first time during the whole trip my sled doesn’t start and Mike’s is only running on one cylinder. After some quick work (new sparkplugs) we are back in business and on the trail by 8:30 am. The trails are in great shape and we make good time. The scenery is beautiful and we get the shuttle across the river about 3:00 pm. We push on and arrive at the Beauceville club house at 5:30 pm. Now its decision time for me since Mike’s truck is at the club house and my Tahoe and trailer is in Jackman. I decide to ride to Jackman with Mike waiting at the border to make sure I get at least that far. The trails are in good shape and I arrive at the border in what seems like no time. As the border agent is checking my passport I look over my shoulder and there’s Mike. I beat him to the border! I clear customs, have a quick chat with Mike and continue on to Jackman. The Jackman trails are freshly groomed and it is fun to finish the ride on trails that are familiar and bring back a lot of great memories. When I arrive at Spruce Meadow Cabins, Scott and Mike are waiting for me with the Tahoe running! I quickly load my sled and change out of my suit and Mike and I are on our way to his house.

Trails – 83 – 383 – 368 – 23 – 369 – 3 – local trails – 75 – Maine ITS 89

This has been a trip of a lifetime and Mike is an excellent guy to ride with.

My trip total is 2,878 the most I have ever ridden during a single trip.

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It sounds like Ray's EXELLENT adventure!

It was great to meet you and get to ride together.

John

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