We are back in Matane tonight. Sound familiar? Sound off schedule?
Yesterday we took the 8am ferry from Matane to Baie Comeau. We crossed the St Lawrence Seaway in about 2 hours. The Ferry carries passenger cars, tractor trailers and our group of 9 snowmobiles were loaded last. We were on time and on schedule. The only 2 hours of the last 3 days we have been on schedule. Because it was out of our control for those 2 hours. We debarked around 10:30am, proceeded to the first gas station about 3 miles away. After fueling, we spent about 45 minutes attempting to find the correct path back to the trail. After some friendly assistance from a local on his way ice fishing for pike, we were on our way!
We are in the Gaspe' region of Quebec. This region is very mountainous and very beautiful. It also gets ALOT of snow. The last time we were, I believe in 2013, we received 18" of snow one overnight. This time is no different. The trails have FEET of snow. And we are traveling the trails between grooming days. It's alot of fun, but it also slows the pack down dramatically breaking the trail.
We were scheduled for about a 180 mile day after the ferry trip. When we reached the town of Godbout, around 3pm and after approximately 60 miles, there was no way we were going to make our original destination of Port Cartier within a reasonable and safe time frame. We searched the 1 restaurant town, which also has another port for the ferry back across the St. Lawrence, for a fueling station. There wasn't one. There was not much for lodging either. After a brief conversation with a few more locals, the restaurant owner opened their facility just for our group, for dinner. They also happened to have 2 attached rooms, each with a double and single bed. That's all good. But there are 9 in our group. Four have lodging. Further conversation ensues. There is a Bed & Breakfast 3 doors down with 2 more rooms. Now we are making progress. The group split up for their chosen accomodations.
My Wing Man for this trip, Jamie Elfstrom, and I took Chamber #1 right outside the front door of the restaurant. Perfect. Our leaders, Craig & Ole took the B&B. Since we had a double bed in our room, and new guy Ron Nicks was looking like a lost puppy with no where to go, I invited him to stay with us. We got the double bed. It was cozy. The room was just big enough to walk around as long as nobody else was standing up. Needless to say that is where everybody congregated to after dinner at 5pm. (Also, our place was the hangout because the proprietors of the B&B were not interested in 9 guys hanging out in their front room drinking beer and busting each other up. Plus the guys staying in the B&B had a 9PM CURFEW! Doors lock at 9, your late, your out!)
The restaurant didn't have a liquor license, so the proprietor arranged for a local to make the 15 mile round trip run to the nearest beer store for 2 cases of Budweiser. Much appreciated sir.
One thing I must say before I continue on...it doesn't matter how small the town or the restaurant, the food is always made from scratch and is very good. Nothing off a truck or out of a can here in Quebec. I had a delicious baked spaghetti with melted cheese on top.
Due to the massive amounts of snow, Craig & Ole decided last night to alter our travel plans for today, Friday. We were supposed to catch the ferry out of Godbout on Saturday. Instead, we took it today, back to Matane. We are now back at the Quality Inn that we were at 2 nights ago.
But lets not get ahead of ourselves.
This morning we boarded the 11am ferry back to Matane. On time and on schedule again. Only because it was out of our control. We debarked around 1:15, checked into the nearby Quality Inn, dropped off our gear, and took off for a little local loop ride. About 65 miles in total. But it was a very eventful 65 miles, however.
As I have said, they are hogging the snow here in the Gaspe' region. Feet of snow. Along some roads, the snow is above my head as I ride in some places. (no short jokes, its above everybody's head)
Ron Nicks, as you will see in the attached pics, had a good ravine ride along the trail, coming out of a turn. I was pretty impressed he made it as far as he did before he finally buried it. Other than that, it was mostly everybody having fun playing in the fresh deep snow.
It's Friday night, and apparently the Quality Inn bar, where we are having dinner, is the locals hotspot. It's loaded with a diverse age group having dinner and drinks, and it looks like a few tables are going to be moved shortly for the dance floor. If our photographer hangs out late enough we will get you some pics of our atmosphere.
Tomorrow's scheduled departure time is 10am with a destination of Cap Chat, at the base of the Chic Choc Mountain Range. It should be a very scenic ride, up and down mountains and such. Tune in tomorrow to see if the schedule comes to fruition.
Before signing off, we would like to send a special acknowledgement and Thank You to the Savard couple. They are the proprietors of the Chambres A' Louer Bed & Breakfast that hosted, and tolerated, half our group. It's always been a pleasure in Quebec when adversity sets in, and the locals come to our rescue.
Cheers,
Stick