Our arrival time was about 4:15pm, Thursday February 25, 2026. Most all of the riders are here, but they are all safe. Feels good to be in early for the day.
Last night’s arrival into Real Masse’ was a warm welcoming. Nancy, the original owner’s daughter, and now proprietor, and her daughter Stephanie were very gracious in their welcoming of our Darkside group. It is our understanding that Real Masse’ isn’t normally open these days for snowmobilers. But when Orange Helmet called back in July of 2025, to make our reservations, she said for our group they will open for the night to lodge and feed us! She has always appreciated our past visits, and that warm welcome was expressed again.
Dinner was at 7:30pm, and a few of the options were BBQ ribs and frites, Chicken breast and vegetables, or the spaghetti and Ceaser salad that Robere’ I chose. We were started with a creamy tomato soup. A great dinner on the trail, back at one of our favorites stops on the trail.
Apparently they have had a difficult time with snowmobile bookings the last few years, due to first the Rona virus, and then last year the local trail that leads right into their lodge was disrupted with logging operations in the area. We are glad to see them perservering.
This morning’s snowmobiler breakfast was more of the same, eggs, any way you like ‘em, scrambled or overeasy or in a cheese omolette. Bacon and potatoes and choice of white or brown toast on the side.
By 7:45am, the sleds were lining up at the gas pump behind the lodge. It was finally an overcast day, and snow flurries had laid a light snow dusting over our sleds.
By 8:20am we were headed down the trail. 148 miles were what we were billing out today. It only took us 1 mile to miss the first right hand turn onto the trail. Connecticut Jim conversed with Action Dan and they got us righted on the trall promptly.
On the 350 trail headed towards Pourvoirie Mekoos, the trails started off tight and twisty and slow moving. By the time we got to the 30 mile mark, they opened up, as we entered a Provincial park for about a 50 mile stretch of great, wide, easy sailing trail. Unitl it wasn’t.
At the 55 mile mark, the front 4 sleds stopped after a hard left turn. We were waiting for the rest of the pack to catch up. We figured the heavy snow dust had slowed down the rest of the pack. After a few minute wait on the side of the trail, and no signs of coming riders, we turned around and headed back a mile to the turn, We found Connecticut Jim, Wiki Rob, and Ole Man Ron there, and they told us that Yamaha Kevin was having a major issue with his Yamaha. all they knew at that time was that it was either a clutch or chainbox issue.
The partial group headed back up the trail. After10 miles back up the trail, we encountered missing part of the pack. They were in motion headed our way. That’s encouraging.
We got turned around, and caught up with them on the side of the trail to get more info. Yamaha Kevin started taking the side panels off his sled, and then began disassembling the clutch. After it was tore down they found the clutch spring had broken. The clutch would engage enough for the sled to move on its own, but the belt was loose and squeaky.
The decision was made, put it back together, ride it ‘til it pukes or makes it in. Yamaha Kevin and Action Dan took off in front of the pack to get ahead of the group and keep the momentum going.
We had about 40 miles to a restaurant/fuel stop. Along the way, we got to see a wolf running down the groomed snowmobile trail in front of the leaders. He ran probably about 100 yards down the trail in front of us, with us giving him plenty of room to move. It is his territory after all. He finally got tired of us behind him, and jumped off the trail, and ran into the woods. Pretty cool to see, have never seen a wolf in the wild!
At the 105 mile mark, we were at the Bar/Resto/Fuel stop. Yamaha Kevin had phone service, so he started calling Yamaha dealers in the Mt Laurier area, as Mekoos is only about an hour from there. The rest of us went inside to have lunch.
Lunch was Cheeseburgers all dressed, vegetable soups, and the Special was Caesar salads with chicken. If you ordered the Special, you also got stawberry cake as dessert! Wish I wouldv’e known that when I ordered my all dressed cheeseburger with onion rings. I really should lay off the onion based food groups for a day or two.
While we were ordering lunch, Yamaha Kevin (YK) found a dealer with the needed clutch spring in stock. Farmer volunteered to skip lunch, and ride with YK to get his sled repaired. The rest of us enjoyed a nice warm surrounding, conversation and a good lunch.
By 2pm, lunch was finished, and onto the sleds we returned. As we were gathered by our sleds, a single rider on a Ski Doo Expedition was pulled up next to our group looking at his phone, working on his directions. He made the mistake of asking us if we knew where he was at? We responded in unison, “Quebec!” He laughed.
We had about 50 miles to run. The trails started off again tight and twisty, but soon opened up, and we were in at a decent hour.
Upon arrival, we got checked in to our large lodge that has a large common area with kitchenette, a couple couches, a wood burning stove, that Yamaha Kevin usually keeps stoked up, but Robere’ handled it in his absence. Down the long common hallway, there are 8 rooms with two twin beds per room, and 2 bathrooms, one on each side, at the end of the hallway.
I took advantage of the early arrival, and took a short “rest” in the room Robere’ had picked out for us. The rest were either gathered in the common area, or resting in their respective rooms.
Most of us are now gathered at the table in the common area, sipping a couple cold ones’, while I work this stupid effing blog.
We got a report from Yamaha Kevin at around 5pm, that his sled was repaired, and that he, and Farmer were headed our way. They will have an extra 100 miles on their sleds today, by the time they get in.
Dinner is at 7:30pm, so they have plenty of time to get back, cleaned up, and ready. Tomorrow we head back to Clova, for our regularyly scheduled visit.
(I have pictures but the wifi does not support their uploading at this time. Stay tuned…)
UPDATE: Just prior to publishing, Yamaha Kevin and Farmer have made their destination at 6:37pm. The group is all together!
We shall see.
Bye for now,
Stick