What's a Darkside Adventure if we don't have issues. Just usually our issues arise after we are the furthest point away from our base, and much more expensive.
Today we arrived at the Quality Inn in Mont Laurier, QC. This is our regular landing spot where we leave the trucks and trailers, and do our 10 day circle around the Bush of Quebec. The proprietors Michel and Renee' and now their daughter Mariane & son Marc, are the best hosts you could ask for. They convert our American cash to Canadian mulah, which happens to have a very good 135% exchange rate, in our favor, and sell us our Quebec Trail Permits. One stop shopping. The restaurant here is also top notch with a 4-star meal and a solid 4.5 star out of 5 ONION soup (Vinnie and I have our own 5 star rating system for the ONION soup, and today's onion soup at lunch was only a 1.5 star; Nice presentation but poorly executed).
Pretty uneventful ride in the trucks here. Our convoy was 3 trucks, 3 trailers, and Stick & Bob bringing up the rear with a single pickup. Some ask with all these vehicles, there's not room for you? Yes, matter of fact Vinnie the Driver drives RS's truck and trailer while RS & I peacefully enjoy our ride up together, without the 2 motormouths and a hick rambling on all the way (Junior Trail Boss Jamie, Big Al, Vinnie). Video Mike was about an hour behind us with his truck and trailer, as he had a meeting with the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, to set up a future promotional tour with SnowTrailsTV.com.
We arrived around 2:30 pm, and brought our gear in to warm up for use in the morning. Dave Josselyn- Young and Kristina "Tina Bear" Young unloaded their sleds upon arrival. And that's where the issues begin. They decided to be Safety First and, before leaving MI, installed new skid plates underneath the front of their Ski-Doos' to protect vital components. Well, after unloading their machines, they realized the digital displays are now not working, and the DESS light is on (Digital Encoded Security System). After checking a couple of electrical connections and the dash power connector, without success, they ran up the road about a mile to the local Ski Doo dealer, who is very familiar with our group as there has been at least one rental there each of the last 4 years!
After trying a couple of their quick suggestions, no dice, still not working.
So, the next step is to call Grace Performance back in Port Huron MI, where the sleds were purchased, and see if they have a solution. With no luck from their suggestions, Mike Minjoe (from Grace) kindly got us on the phone with Bill from Ski-doo Tech Support.
After that call to Ski-Doo Tech Support, there was one suggestion..."When you put your digital dash cluster back together, did you put the correct cluster on the correct machine?" "Huh...? Let me check that" Metro Dave responds. Voila, problem solved. Apparently Vinnie the Driver was assisting with that skid plate project and mixed them up while he was playing mechanic's assistant.
Every body feels good, Big Booty Moody Judy is at peace, and we are now in the Quality Inn Bar on the 3rd floor busting up the responsible parties with an adult beverage, and warming up for our 7pm dinner call.
Tomorrow we only have about 60 miles to ride to get to Meekos (again, anyone that followed us in the past, all 7 of you, will be familiar with Meekos). We usually plan a short run the first day as a shake down run, making sure your equipment is good, then get on with the run the next day.
Time for me to enjoy my evening, tune in again tomorrow night as we push our way into the bush... humma humma goosh goosh...
Cheers,
"Stick"