towing Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 Saturday morning, a beautiful sunny day ahead -26°C ... brrrrrrrrrr !.We are nearly in February in the best of the season so it was the perfect time for another of our classic ride: The big loop Joliette/St-Zenon/Mattawin via #360 trail/Shawinigan and return by the south side. Here’s the final path traveled:We had several ride partners: Horsroute that started from Laval and Steph who was leaving L'Assomption both by sled while Snowcruiser came drop his snowmobile at my home. We started our ride all together from our meeting point, the St-Thomas gas station at 8:40The 4” of new snow we received Thursday evening combined with the deep cold gave us ideal trails conditions, well above the usual for the entire day, from fresh groomed trails to very good condition throughout the ride. My krikri who had a cold was dressed like an onion to face this cold day in backseat and at my request she had limited her pics shots while riding to avoid to voluntarily freeze her hands. The riding report will be a little less colourful but the key information will be thereIt was a good day for chance encounter. Here we met Stef40 from cmiq waiting for his riding partner near Notre-Damde de Lourdes. We usually year after year cross our paths a time or two during the season. It was brief Stef but it's still a pleasure to shake your hand!We stopped a few minutes to warm us up at a junction north of St-Felix de Valois and another great meeting for me, TrailBlazer! It was the first time we had the chance to cross our path and it was a real pleasure to talk a bit with you and your group! I hope you had a good ride and enjoy the return path I had suggest you…We continued on a perfect trail to St-Gabriel de Brandon and then we took the #23 North. I want to say a big BRAVO! to St-Gabriel de Brandon snowmobile club who take care of this trail this year up to the #350 north. They had cut branches and they groom much wider than before. I do not have pictures that do justice to the work done this year, but it gives a trail with better visibility and more space to ride and cross other sledders, really a big improvement ... BRAVO!We had continued on the #23And arrived at around 11:15 at CabanonWe had fuel up and took our lunch break. Again, pleasant encounters: ford347 from CMIQ who came to shake my hand and also our friend Bily with whom we rode a few times who was taking a break to warm up with her boy. We left a little past 12:30 going northbound. The snow amount in this sector is very good ...We pass the bridge over the Mattawin riverThis river has not frozen yet because of high water flow. It’s because they empty the Taureau reservoir via this river in anticipation of spring waters. This gives many beautiful winter views ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted February 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 The #360 trail is my favourite trail in the area. It is a beautiful trail rather wide with good visibility,groomed on a beautiful forest road of the Zec Chapeau de paille with good stretches and nicely shape curves.In addition, the scenery is complemented in several spots by the river flowing at clear water right nextWe took a break at my favourite spot ...Then we continued ... the classic view already somewhat in the shadowsAnd we stopped to refuel and take a good break at Marineau at 3:00 p.m.We then left southbound to get on the St-Maurice river. The 20milesof river was good overall but with some snow blades which limited my speed with my passenger but not my friends who have gone ahead to enjoy the powderWe joined them back at the #23 junctionWe had continue down, picked up the #3 trail and rode until next refuel at the gas station near the Gabelle dam in St-Étienne des Grès. We continued and kept the #3 trail (instead of taking the #63) to stop supper at Portes de la Mauricie in Yamachiche. I was a little worried to ride as down south along #40 Highway about snow issue but it was okay. Good hard packed trail, no earth and despite we saw less well with the dark I would say almost no brownish snow.After a good big meal break where we talked a lot and we had well warmed up, we were ready for the final stretch via trail #3/local St-Norbert St-Elizabeth+/#43. The cold was come back, and I kept it easy on the throttle to avoid to froze my Krikri on the back but we still got back to our morning meeting spot near home at 8:50pm with 297miles for us .... plus l’Assomption round trip for Steph and Laval round trip for Horsroute!A good ride mileage but so nice and easy to ride through this path that consists of easy and fast trails in the majority. I recommend it without hesitation to all lover of good rides or those less ambitious who would like to relax and ride it in 2 days.This was my best ride this season and the new venture ride like a charm!It's really the best time to rideAlain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trailblazer Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 It was a real pleasure meeting up with you and KriKri, when I arrived at the inetersection where you and your group was taking a break i saw that very noticeable Venture of yours from all your internet pics. I had to stop and say hello. Thanks very much for the return suggestion of yours, I did take you up on it and was indeed a quick return, it took us the better part of the day to get to Shawinagan although we did not make our lunch destination as we took a wrong turn, instead of taking the 349 North to the 23 we took the 345 then 350, had lunch at Koubecs. We arrive in Shawinigan at 3:30 took gas and your route took us 3 hours to return. All trails were hard flat and very very fast. 385 Klms not as big as your ride Alain, your still the king of day loops. All your pics do Justine for everyone looking, keep up the good work. JG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpysanta Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 LOOKS LIKE A GREAT RIDE . great pics . I bet you were glad to have that BIG WINDSHIELD on that sled . go big or go home .. in the cold.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markusvt Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 Nice run, some of our favorite trails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida Snowman Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 Nice report & great pics Alain & Krikri. Looks like you had a good day to ride. I recognized you in that pic right away Jean-Guy! Hope to catch up with you this winter. Have fun, Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikerider Posted February 2, 2015 Report Share Posted February 2, 2015 Great story and pictures. I think you like looking at water: rivers, as much as I do. They are beautiful and I always think there must be big trout in those rivers. Thank you for sharing. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towing Posted February 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2015 It was a real pleasure meeting up with you and KriKri, when I arrived at the inetersection where you and your group was taking a break i saw that very noticeable Venture of yours from all your internet pics. I had to stop and say hello. Thanks very much for the return suggestion of yours, I did take you up on it and was indeed a quick return, it took us the better part of the day to get to Shawinagan although we did not make our lunch destination as we took a wrong turn, instead of taking the 349 North to the 23 we took the 345 then 350, had lunch at Koubecs. We arrive in Shawinigan at 3:30 took gas and your route took us 3 hours to return. All trails were hard flat and very very fast. 385 Klms not as big as your ride Alain, your still the king of day loops. All your pics do Justine for everyone looking, keep up the good work. JG I'm really glad you had took the time to stop for us finally, your wrong turn lead you on a easier trail path less twisty overall, longer in mileage a bit but the Koubec is a nice spot to bring a group that have not seen it before. Glad you had enjoy your south side return, always nice to end a ride on a good note! LOOKS LIKE A GREAT RIDE . great pics . I bet you were glad to have that BIG WINDSHIELD on that sled . go big or go home .. in the cold.. Thanks Grumpy! this huge and ugly thing that I had want to replace had won his ticket to stay there! the more I look at it and the more it look nice now!!!!!!!!!! Nice run, some of our favorite trails. a nice one for sure! Nice report & great pics Alain & Krikri. Looks like you had a good day to ride. I recognized you in that pic right away Jean-Guy! Hope to catch up with you this winter. Have fun, Tom Thanks Tom, it was one of the best days to ride of the whole season Great story and pictures. I think you like looking at water: rivers, as much as I do. They are beautiful and I always think there must be big trout in those rivers. Thank you for sharing. mike Thank you Mike! Yes, I love all rivers scenery even i'm not really a fisher. Looking at those turbulent water waves flowing in a winter scenery had always fascinate me, so much nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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