Welcome back riders,
I am doing my best to get caught up here, it is now Saturday afternoon about 3:45pm and we are in Tadoussac QC. However we are not at our intended destination. But we will get to that in due time.
Friday morning we departed the Hotel Du Jardin in Saint-Felicien QB around 9am. Not without a few hiccups before our departure. It was another cold morning, around -15 degrees. Truck Driver Brian, Stick and Action Dan had semi warmed up our sleds already, and then shut them down to finish our pre-trip departure check list. Once the group was gathered up, we went to re-fire our Ski Doo’s and they were dead. Nothing, no power. We all looked at each and said in unison, “where is Ski Doo Matt?”. Naturally, Ski Doo knew the problem rather instantly, and said go get a bucket of hot water and pour it over the relay. Apparently by not letting our sled warm up to full temp, the electrical relay had frosted over, and the hot water would release it! Having Ski Doo Matt with us is like having our own Factory Authorized Service Tech with us. The sleds fired right up after that.
Our first destination was to the Yamaha dealer down the trail about 40 miles, where NFG Kelly’s brother Chris was already at. Upon arrival we would find out what his sled’s prognosis may be. We were supposed to have 10 sleds for this first leg. About 10 miles in at a short check in stop to make sure all was good with the group, Stick stated to Action Dan “ Where is Old Man Ron?” Apparently we pulled out of the hotel without him. We discussed what to do for a couple minutes, and decided that if he is at the hotel, he can ride in to our destination with Dylan, Rob and Wingman Rob when they depart when the hotel kicks them out of their room.
This leads me to a continuation of last nights story of Dylan and Wingman and their exploits at the bar with the locals. Apparently their over night stay in the hall way, sleeping in the roll around chairs and the mass quantities of trail juice had them not exactly in tip top shape. Yamaha Rob, Dylans wing man, was collateral damage, as he was now stricken with the traveling virus going thru our group like monkey pox. The virus seems to be getting stronger with each sequential host, ane he needed the extra time just to feel better and make the trip. They apparently left the hotel when they were kicked out by house keeping at around 11:30am. From listening to their conversation it was a long ride for the 2 new best friends, with a stop or 2 along the way for bodily relief. They arrived at the Auberge du KM 31 just shortly after our arrival last night, mostly intact.
Anywho, back to the trail ride for the riders that made call time. At the end of our previously mentioned trail break, as we were about to take off, lo and behold here comes the Old Man. He followed the trail, and we were back in tact.
After about 40 miles we arrived at the Yamaha dealer around 11 am. When we walked into the dealership Chris informed us that his sled would be ready shortly, and that he would be back on the trail. NFG Kelly, Cousin Bill, and brother Chris would ride as a threesome into Auberge 31, so the rest of the group could be on their way. And besides, Ski Doo Matt was getting hungry, and he was getting hangry, and we needed to feed him. Off down the trail the abbreviated group rolled.
But before we departed, Chip Nasty was making his own arrangements for his broked Ski Doo still farther down the trail, in our direction. Nasty was not convinced the dealer was going to be able to get him back on the trail in an expedited fashion. He talked to the owner of the Yamaha dealer, made arrangements for a dealership employee to drive him to the Ski Doo dealer, pick up his sled, and then transport them both about 3 1/2 hours back to Pont Rouge to his truck and trailer. We were sad to see Nasty have to do an early departure from the ride, but he had to do what he had to do. Fare well brother Nasty, we know you will get your problems solved and back on the trail for our next expedition!
We found a quaint little restaurant on the trail, where they lady working the cash register also was the cook that made our cheeseburgers all dressed, and prepared our bowls of hot soup. We fed the hangry one, and back on the trail.
We had a beautiful ride thru the mountains and arrived at Auberge 31 around 6pm. Shortly behind us NFG Kelly and his clan arrived, and shortly behind them Dylan, the infected Yamaha Rob, and Wingman Rob arrived. Also, now NFG Kelly was infected with the fast moving virus, and he was not feeling good at all.
Auberge 31 is located in a desolate area surrounded by mountains, and overlooking a lake. It is one of our favorite over nights on the trail. The kitchen takes the last order at 8pm, so we hustled up our showers and clothing change, and congretated in the main lodge. These outlaying, desolate locations always wind up having the best meals, and tonight was no exception. I saw ribs and chicken, lasagna, baked spaghetti and an assortment of other finely prepared meals delivered to the table. A great dinner was had by those that hung around for the dinner hour; NFG Kelly wasn’t feeling up for dinner at the table, so his brother took him dinner back to the room, and the self-inflicted Dylan chose to skip dinner service and retire early.
Our lodging for the night was in the outlaying cabins that have a living room and efficiency kitchen on the main floor, with an upstairs with 2 bedrooms, 2 beds each, and their own attached bathroom. I wound up bunking with Fearless Leader Craig, Action Dan and the Old Man Ron, with Ron & I sharing a room. I wish I would have paid more attention to the Old Man when I came into bed that night, I completely missed that he was wearing his snow mobile helment, listening to music when he fell asleep. It would have made a good headline picture I imagine.
We have about an 80 mile ride tomorrow, and because of the continued cold temps, -20 tonight, we are planning on leaving around 10am for “warmer” conditions.
We shall see.
Bye for now Stick