I wish it had been a clear morning today. The view from my fold out couch bed was thru the front room window, with the Chic Choc Mountains just on the other side. Would have made a great picture, if opportunity allowed. Take my word for it.
After breakfast at 8am, our departure time was 9:15. No snow overnight, and it was a comfortable 28 degrees (F). The trails were groomed and in excellent condition. We had topped off our fuel tanks the day before, just before lunch at the Relais, and had only put about 30 miles on our sleds before we were in for the night. We didn't inquire if fuel was available at Rejean's place when we left this morning, but, hey, we've got this trip planned out. Fuel is on the trail.
It was a beautiful ride today. Mountain riding up one side, coming down the other side, riding thru the valley, riding up the mountain, down the other side, and repeat. Awesome views. It's very cool to be able to experience the things we see while on the trail, and the pictures are good, but they never do justice to what we really see.
Riding up mountains really uses more fuel than going down mountains, or for that fact riding thru the valleys. Apparently ALOT more fuel. We put about 80 miles down today on top of the 30 miles we put on after our last fuel stop, and a couple riders, especially the notoriously short on fuel Connecticut Jim, had their sled low fuel lights flashing at one of our scenic overlook stops. Our trusty Leaders Craig and Ole calmed the low on fuel riders with their old addage of "It's only another 10 miles to fuel" story, and on we marched.
For about 2 miles. Then Connecticut Jim ran out of fuel in front of me on our next mountain incline. Finally...Bar Tab (my spare 2.5 gallon tank of fuel I carry on my sled, that I affectionately refer to as Bar Tab, cus if you hit that tank you're picking up my bar tab tonight) got put into action. Fortunately for Connecticut, he prepaid for his tank of gas the night before with his $207 dinner wine tab, so we re-fueled him on the side of the trail and went 12 more miles to the gas station. Don't anybody get impressed and think, "wow that Craig & Ole were right, just another 10 miles", as they didn't have a clue. It's just a calming phrase they use on the trail when sh*t is about to go south, but they don't want to rile the troops.
We re-fueled, and rode a total of about 140 miles today. We arrived at Grand Vallee at the Hotel Grande Vallee des Monts around 4:30! Before dark, only 1 out of fuel experience, and once again no time for lunch on the trail. But it's all good, we are now at dinner, I'm ordering my first bowl of Onion Soup (as Vinnie the Truck Driver reminds me, it's not "French" Onion Soup when your in a French Providence), we are enjoying happy hour, and their is a festive mood in the wood floored cozy former home that is now a hotel and restaurant, that it appears the locals also frequent. Should be another great dining experience.
I should mention that our current accommodations are just a 100 feet from the beating waves of the St Lawrence Seaway, and while it is very soothing and peaceful listening to the waves crash against the boulder retaining wall, it still ain't sand nor Ft Myers Beach. Soon, very soon.
Tomorrow we will be on our way to Perce, Quebec. This is where the natural wonder The Perce Rock is, and we are hoping for a clear day so we can get a great picture of our group near it.
Tune in tomorrow and see how we do.
Cheers,
Stick