Day 7 started with a late night for most last night, like Bruce Springsteen sang: Monday morning ran into Sunday night. Big Al signed the International Peace Treaty with Ms. Québec; Video Mike spent too much time trying to Video Ms. Québec, and forgot his video camera in the bar last night, and the rest hung around to see the outcome. (Big Al has requested to be called "International Playboy"; not gonna happen Donkey)
Breakfast was at 8am, a later than usual 7am, because Ole had to wait until 9am to call the Ski Doo dealer to find out the condition of his sled. Finally, around 9:45, with the rest of us badgering him to make the call, he finally relented, and was informed his sled was trail ready. The departure time from the hotel, with full gear on & saddlebags ready to be mounted on your sled, was quickly issued to be 10:15, and 4 taxis would be ready to transport us back to the Ski Doo Dealer. Right now is an appropriate time to commend and praise the prompt attention and solution and repair to get Ole's sled back on the trail the very next morning. Equipment Villeneuve Inc. provided superior service and assistance to get the DarkSide Team back on the trail! Thank You Equipment Villeneuve and your top notch staff for exceeding our expectations!
We were on the trail around the 11am hour. A quick 130 miles on some long, straight and fast trails with a lunch stop around 2pm and we were into the Hotel du Jardin around 4:30pm. Hotel du Jardin is a 4 story hotel in St. Felicien, with a 4 star rating by the Québec Tourism Department. A little bigger and upper scale than we are used to, but we will make do.
Not a lot of excitement or drama on the trail today. So this would be a good time to introduce you to Rob Sheehan. Rob is on his first DarkSide Adventure. Rob is the riding partner with Connecticut Jim, and they have been riding together in Vermont for about the last 4-5 years out of a cottage they share. This is Rob's first saddlebag tour; Quite a way to start saddlebagging Rob! He says he is really enjoying his first saddlebag ride, but the company he is with is questionable? It only gets better Rob. Rob started riding about 15 years ago with his wife Tammy. Tammy has been a life long snowmobiler, and got Rob started when he couldn't ride his Harley in the winter. Back home Rob rides a Yamaha Vector LTX, and usually clocks 2-3000 miles per season. He says he can't wait for his next saddlebag tour, so look out Tammy, I think you might be doing something different when he gets home! Tammy, don't worry, he is fitting in just fine and we are limiting him to Jack Daniels only on odd numbered days! j/k
That's about all I've got for tonight... We've got approximately 220 miles to travel tomorrow, and have a prompt start time of 9 bells. Per protocol, we are sitting in the hotel bar/restaurant waiting for me to complete this blog. Dinner is at 7pm. Tomorrow's overnight is a lodge/outfitter Kanawata. I have no idea if internet service will be available or not... tune in to find out...IF you see a post we have service, IF not, then we don't.
Cheers...
"Stick"