easyrider

notice how they are "native" cigarettes ........?????
You get a discount on them when you show your "QR.com Ambassador of Indigenous Affairs" card

Get on your 400 indy and go!
 

Get on your 400 indy and go!
 

Seemed like they were overreacting at the time didn't it. Guess we should have done the same.
 

Seemed like they were overreacting at the time didn't it. Guess we should have done the same.
 

You should have played your "QC rider ambassador of indigenous affairs" card and probably could have at least got lunch with her out of the deal.

You should have played your "QC rider ambassador of indigenous affairs" card and probably could have at least got lunch with her out of the deal.

You should have played your "QC rider ambassador of indigenous affairs" card and probably could have at least got lunch with her out of the deal.

Is you club sandwich punch card full yet?

Scooting across water would be one thing if you are headed toward a boat landing. If it's a rocky shore in the dark you will almost  certainly be killed smacking into that at WOT.

Loved the pancakes.
 

Hey all, I am one of Snowmasters life long riding partners. Just got some sort of radio call from him. Never has he done that before.
The caller ID said "out of area", usually I don't answer those, for some unknown reason tonight I picked up.
He is fine, but will not make it to Parant tonight. Details are sketchy at the moment but he will fill in the blanks when he gets to a place with WiFi 
Again, not in any danger, but you can bet he will have a story to tell soon.

Hey all, I am one of Snowmasters life long riding partners. Just got some sort of radio call from him. Never has he done that before.
The caller ID said "out of area", usually I don't answer those, for some unknown reason tonight I picked up.
He is fine, but will not make it to Parant tonight. Details are sketchy at the moment but he will fill in the blanks when he gets to a place with WiFi 
Again, not in any danger, but you can bet he will have a story to tell soon.

Another thing I  think about is the difference between say  a 2005 sled and a 2018 sled. The 05 sled you rode down the trail 55 and you were on your toes. The 2018 and newer sleds, and we discuss this, so many trails are so flat and straight you can go 70 and its like sitting in a chair.  Everyone knows it doesn't take long to get to 70 on any of the new sleds. Lots of people you meet are going faster than 70 too. Only my thoughts. 

How about an air mechanic? Leave all those tools home.
 

How about an air mechanic? Leave all those tools home.
 

How about an air mechanic? Leave all those tools home.
 

With the new snow fallen during this last week, we went for another last ride with our friend Luc yesterday, April 13, 2019 in Lanaudière



On this exceptionally snowy season the trails of northern Lanaudière were still surprisingly good,  here on #23 trail south of Cabanon




The temperature was very mild since a few days, no freezing during the night so we got very soft trail. Here passing at Cabanon in the morning



We left in dam direction. The whole reservoir loop had been groomed during the week!





The conditions were nice for an April 13th but very good from the dam trail junction(on the # 345) and for all the reservoir loop up to St-Michel des Saints





It's not visible on the pictures but it was so windy there that I had hard time to stay still the time of the pic, I almost went with the wind!



The #360 around the reservoir  was candy to ride, just superb. We did very good tempo on this stretch...






The reservoir is always impressive to see once emptied ...



I read from a buddy that the emptied reservoir shortcut was still ok on Friday, so with the good visibility we had, we tested our luck despite the wet conditions



It was not for the fearful ones,  alot of surface water on the ice. It looks worse than it realy was because even if there was water, we ride on ice already leaning on the bottom of the reservoir on more than 90% of the way but the rivers(yes there are rivers in there) where worrisome. I would suggest every body to go around by the trail, I personally would not do it again this season!



Luc learned the risks associated by following us too closely ... he arrived on the shore a little wet!



We arrived for lunch at the Central in St-Michel around 12:15



After a good lunch and a great talk with Luc we headed south on #63. The strong sunshine combined with good winds at 10C made the trails tender and juicy !



Without surprises, we found some dirt spots near St-Michel village on the larges south-facing hills



But a little further it was still very snowy





Back in the Cabanon courtyard, we could see how much it had melted compared to the morning pic



We  switched into the Mastigouche Reserve on trail #345 to loop back. As I expected beautiful conditions, very snowy ,almost no traffic and not a single bump





Among the best conditions of the day. We also saw some fresh moose tracks on the trail. A nice spring ride for us at its best!





We stopped a few minutes at Koubec (which was closed)



And we came back on #350 trail which was also in very good condition


 
In sum a beautiful spring ride of 170miles for the three of us. With the reservoir loop groomed during the week, it was definitely a record in the area to ride recently groomed trails on a April 13th. A big thank you to the clubs involved!
It could close our season with 4830 miles on the venture dreameter...unless Kristine twist my arm for another last one somewhere !!!

 

Alain

Holy smokes, that sucker is bent! I would much rather bend that than a nun though. I have bent 2 nuns to date.
Still running a tweaked one now. 

Both my friend and I left our back packs in  Clova a few years back, and realized it in Parent a 6 pm. We called back to Clova and after they were able to identify us by our licenses inside our packs they sent a rider to Parent, on the trail to deliver them to us, the guys name was Bob Morton, he was headed our way, in the dark and was from Ontario. He had our passports, a few thousand in US dollars, our truck keys, wallets, credit cards, etc. He would not take any money from us so we paid for his room and food in Parent without his knowledge. A week later he sent me a thank you card, he was thanking us...amazing, try that in most place today and see what happens, I have always said that some of the nicest folks I have ever met have been on the trail in Canada, second to none!!

Pretty hard to predict and bring the next part that is going to fail. If you could predict you would change it before you left. At some point I looked back on my history and asked myself what tools and other items that I tote all over creation did I actually use.  Those that I did use got invited back. Most have already been mentioned.  Also if you are in a group you don't need 4 pairs of vise grips, 4 ratchet straps, 4 tow ropes, etc. You can spread it out over everyone. Like a potluck dinner. Next, what are you really going to do out in the weather, to troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair a malfunction? It's pretty hard in that environment.  You will most likely limp it in or tow it. 

My sweetheart being back from her trip, she accompanied me riding yesterday to see the Black Mountain of St-Donat. We made a nice big loop of 235 miles following the route below



The bad weather last Thursday (January 24th) left some ice in the trees in the south of my area. Here on trail # 43 near home in St-Thomas



We took the #3 trail westbound. Beautiful hard and fast trail,  a bit hard (-17C this morning) so I lowered a scratchcher for security but not really necessary.



Here a river in  St-Roch l'Achigan area. A little scary but it's just some water that had risen on the ice and frozen there, very solid. We crossed several rivers and they were all in good condition, this one being the worst



In St-Lin direction, still some ice  in the trees and perfect trail



We passed through St-Calixte ...





and ride to the #33 trail that we took in west direction(northwest)





Here on the lake at Ste-Marguerite Lake Masson



We had not seen any trace of ice for a while but here a little north of Esterel there is a still icy area. So beautiful with the sun!





And going north towards St-Donat it quickly becomes a white painted scenery





the beauties of nature ...



We turned before St-Donat to get the local trail to the Mountain





Here the view of the summit taken from the top of the belvedere ...



It was our first time on a clear day. The view is simply amazing





The gray jays were there again always as hungry



We spent quite a bit of time at the summit as we improvised a dinner/snacks there. Cold for the fingers but it allowed us to enjoy the place a little longer. No it's not one of her finger that the bird is eating but a piece of saucage!!!


We then continued on the other side of the mountain(north)





the north side trail is also really nice to ride/see and the snow is really good





We crossed the Archambault Lake to return to St-Donat and refuel



And then returned to the east by the #33 trail,  first part was somewhat bumpy but we met the dozer there



We passed the Coin Lavigne, joined the #63 trail and ride back down to Ste-Émilie de l'Energie



Where we crossed another dozer


 
We stopped to have a good meal break around 5:00 PM in St-Jean de Matha before continuing and come back home around 7:30 PM with a total of 235 miles on the dreammeter.
In the end, the bad weather of last week has not damaged the trails and on the contrary had increase the snow to the ground. In fact the snow is impressive especially on the north side, we are really spoiled this season with a really better than average snow cover.
The best of the season is now,  don't wait because it is too cold: it's winter !!! go out and enjoy, it's now that it is happening !!!
You can still take a look here to see trails details in the trail condition section or use the rest of the site as a planning helper for your next trip: https://www.snowmobilecountry.ca/en/conditions/
Alain

good idea on the tape, a few strips on the seat, a couple on the plastic, double sided on the windshield, they will leave it alone.
 

The wife and I decided Thursday night at 7pm to load up sleds in Vermont and make the trek to St.Zenon.  We arrived at the Cabanon at about 11:45pm.  Hit the trails on Friday morning on freshly groomed trails.  We went to Lac Blanc for lunch and back to hotel by 4pm.  Amazing conditions for a ride on the last day of November.  We did 120 miles.  My wife was real trooper for going with me at the last minute...she knew I really needed to ride.  Here are some pictures of our ride...
We will be back soon !!