Well, last night we spent our second night in Baie Comeau. Very rarely do we spend two nights in one location. After breakfast it looked like we were going to be spending a third night here, because there are no rooms available in Matane, when we get off the ferry. Just forward my mail here to the Travel Lodge here Baie Comeau, think I'm going to be here awhile!
Action Dan and his BIG dessert
We got here to the Travel Lodge around noon yesterday, had the afternoon to ourselves, and the ferry doesn't leave until 6pm tonight. We have NEVER had this kind of down time on the trail. Last night the group was kind of splintered, there was 4-5 guys together working on Craig's Yamaha Sidewinder, while the others settled in and cleaned up. Jamie, Vinnie, Chip & I went downtown via taxi to the Grand Hotel for dinner. I am not sure what or where the others went, as we got back around 8:30pm, and the group was kind of gathered outside by the snowmobiles having a cold pop and shooting the shit. I guess everybody just needs to be around their snowmobile to conversate?
I also got caught up on the status of Craig's sled. Craig's sled was dropped off at Hamilton & Bourassa in Baie-Comeau around 11am. This is a Honda, Harley-Davidson, Arctic Cat dealership. The proprietor, Germain Deschenes, told the boys they had until noon to use his heated garage and the box chest of tools in the corner. The manufacturer book calls for this repair to be a 14 hour repair for a dealer! Action Dan occupied the time of Germain in conversation, while Craig, Phil, Kevin, and Ron Nicks worked steadily on the tear down. As time went on, and Action Dan kept up International relations with Germain, his attitude loosened. Germain told the boys he was going to dinner, and when he came back, then they would have to be done for the day so he could lock the shop up. The boys stayed steady at it. At 6pm, 7 hours later, the boys had the Yamaha back in one piece and ready for a test drive. Germain actually became a true friend of the Darkside Team. Phil gave Germain a custom made, stainless steel exhuast spring puller for his mechanics tool box. Germain was so estatic, that he told the boys that "this is their home" if they ever need anything when back in the region. We send a very heartfelt "Thank You" to Germain for his hospitality and use of his shop and tools. People like this that you meet on the trail is what makes this sport fun and enjoyable.
Germain Deschenes, Honorary Darkside Team Member, sitting on the fully repaired Yamaha
This morning, every body again kind of splintered off onto their groups for breakfast at whatever time they awoke, as our departure time is 5PM today to make the less than 5 mile trail ride to the Ferry station. Hopefully we maintain our new 25% on time rate for today's ferry.
When Jamie & I returned from breakfast around 9:30am, we ran into Craig and his wingman Phil. Craig was putting together Plan C. When I inquired about Plan C, he stated that Plan B was now a wash, because yes, we can catch the ferry tonight, BUT there are no rooms in Matane when we land there. I laughed outloud. I went into my room to take a nap.
When I awoke, I saundered down to Craig & Phil's room to find out how Plan C was going. With exuberance he said Plan B is back on! He found rooms 4 miles up the trail in Matane! Stop my mail!
We now will have a different itenerary than is outlined on our DarkSideAdventures.com website. The new path is as follows: Tonight we will be in Matane,
Monday January 29: Leave Matane and arrive Cap-Chat
Tuesday January 30: Leave Cap-Chat arrive Carlton Sur. This is the original day for this overnight so we will be back on the original schedule from there out...hopefully.
We are cutting out Murdochville and Perce. Tomorrow's ride out of Matane to Cap-Chat is short ride, so if you follow our trackers you will see alot of wandering as we try to fill up our day.
It is now 2:15 pm at the Travel Lodge, we are gathered in their restaurant, awaiting 5pm. That is our departure time to make the Ferry.
I will be doing a few Rider Bio's next to kill some time today, so check back later.
Bye for now,
Stick