#388, great report, sorry I didn't see it the first time. I want to say that #388 kept me laughing the whole trip: from the "TURN IT OFF!" story on the drive up, to all the name calling, to saying I had "creepymouth" at the restaurant, I am still laughing when I recall all those moments. too funny.
you were too gentle in describing Johnny Flipacon but thanks for sparing the embarrassing details. Now I know how over-zealous race car drivers feel when they lead a race for exaclty half a lap before - Kapow.
I don't want corroboration on the Perce trail debate since I still have no clue what you guys were debating. It was like that movie where I got it for about 2 seconds and then it escaped me again. Please forgive us non-GPS users for just following the old 2-dimensional technology (map) and enjoying the scenery.
You know, after reading your report, I have to admit brain fade. I forgot that I was leading for all those spectacular cliff views. I got mixed up that that was still part of day 1 riding. Man, what an amazing day of riding. Incredible.
Great report 388, other than the wager part. The Blue must have to much for you that night.
The bet was the trails into Perce looked to be re-routed and i didn't think the trail along the shore back to trail 5 was there anymore thus needing to go back the way we came in.
Very simple comment, Blown way out of proportion. don't worry next year i won't even mention it.
#2
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member # 2, Club Founder, Director, 2003.Dash For Cash Club Champion, 2001 Pole position Dash for cash, 2000 Dash for Cash Champion
After our 1st ride out of base camp in St. Donat to Camp Madeleine led by WPR member #5, we looked at each other and wondered who might lead us on day 2 since two newly appointed named membersLame # 3 and Lame #99 bagged out on the trip the day before departure.
We awoke to a balmy 4 degrees and ate a hearty breakfast comprised of eggs over easy, bacon, pancakes, toast and fruit.After our bodies were fueled for the morning, we packed the saddle bags and started our sleds.Sleds were frozen and needed some time to warm up.Everyone looked for a leader and #5 took the lead across the frozen lake and towards trail #5.Once on trail # 5 we werent 5 minutes into the ride when #10 was pulled over with a blown belt.A quick change and we met up with #5 a ways down the trail.#5 looked my way and made the infamous gesture to take the helm and lead us for the day to Perce Rock by the ocean and then to Chandler for our stay overnight.
Once in the lead and clear of any snow dust, I picked up the pace to a steady 50-65mph.A few miles into the ride I hit the The mother lodeVirgin groomed trails.The trails had been groomed the prior night and had plenty of time to take a set.The Apex was handling like a dream and speeds got faster as the trails were long and wide with sweeping rights and lefts.There was little to no traffic this day and I was glad.I really dont like to lead for fear of some idiot riding out of control on my side of the trail.I realized that the biggest danger in the Gaspe could actually be crossing deer and moose.
My 1st stop was to be at Pointe-a-la-fregate so #5 could purchase oil.We stopped for gas and I found one of my saddle bag clamps had lost a rivet.The gas station attendant was nice enough to check for a rivet but returned with some type of automotive rivet the size of a 16 penny nail.#5 was thinking ahead and already departed with #10 to the Polaris dealer where we would meet them.Once at the Polaris dealer I purchased the correct rivet and installed it.Next stop was Riviere-au-Renard were #10 and #7 would purchase a new belt.I believe #7 started to feel his belt was possibly on the outs and didnt want to follow #10s lead. Soon after we left the Polaris dealer we were back into our ride mode and I came down a steep trail only to notice a large animal on my right hand side.It was a moose!I immediately stopped and yelled on the intercom for people to slow down.I was worried the moose would jump out onto the trail.#2 and 13 decided the trail was so steep they would ride with their hands in the air as if on a roller coaster.We all pointed to the moose and they quickly had their hands back on the bars.We took a few pics and headed for the rock.It was on this stretch of trail that conditions went back to a loosely groomed trail.Conditions were excellent but myself and a few others felt our front ends pushing a little on the corners.I didnt realize #5 was lurking behind me and must have sensed my slower speeds in the corners.I hit a straight away and soon found #5 to my left looking for a race.I mashed the happy flipper and immediately broke traction and hit the engines rev limiter.As I let off #5 happily proceeded to pass me (smiling none the less!) and hit the next corner with authority.I knew his sled railed on the corners and wondered if I could stay with him.We hit some silly speeds around corners and the game was on.We stuck together for quite a few miles until #5 came to a 90 degree left that left his sled upright into the snow banking and him following close behind only to roll his body over the hood of the sled.I pulled forward and prayed he was ok and that his sled didnt break.#5 was on his feet and the sled was upright!He was fine as well as the sled.No harm done, other than #5s pride?We laughed it off and headed to the Doo dealership.Just before the dealership we all stopped at a local club/Relay for a quick lunch.Once stopped we were missing#5 and the Prez?I was very nervous that someone had made a mistake and possibly went off the trail by a bridge that had a good drop off by its side.#7 volunteered to head back and soon found the 2 members looking for the trail to the Doo dealer.We ate the typical burger and fries and headed for the dealership.Once at the dealer we found that it didnt open for another 25 minutes.We patiently waited until it was open and #7 and 10 bought their belts.#7 came out with a puzzled look on his face?The dealer had just charged him $140 for a belt?WTF?Oh well, it was needed and we were off to the rock.After the Prez got a little confused on where the trail was, I led us onto trail #5.
We headed towards the town of Gaspe and the trails continued to be perfect.We decided to gas up in a small town called Sunny Bank as we still had over a 100 KM to get to Perce.Once in Perce, we had a 18km ride east to the town and the Rock.The trail was long and straight so you could easily get a good speed run in.We made our way to what we thought was a vantage point to view the rock, but it turned out we were looking at an island and the rock was off to the left .We took a few pics and went farther down the trail towards town and Walla!There it wasthe Rock!It was a very cool site to see, we were looking at a beautiful village on the ocean with this massive orange/tan colored rock just off shore.Time was short as we still had 70kms to get to Chandler before the sun set.
Heading towards Chandler was stop and go through the small towns.We had a lot of road crossings and basically followed the signs to Hotel Chandler.Everyone was tired and we made it into town just before sunset.The hotel looked like a nice place to stay but we soon found out they were booked solid and we would have to venture on to another place.We all thought it would be another 5 plus miles but as luck would have it, we immediately saw a sign for Motel l Exploratuer.We headed across the street and booked our rooms.The hostess was a knockout so it didnt take much to consider the stay.They had a small bar, free cab ride to a local restaurant and breakfast was included.
We received our room keys and locked up the sleds.This was the only stay on the trip where we felt we may have a security issue.Rooms were your typical motel style, so we unpacked and got ready for our dinner.The hostess said we would get a free cab ride to a restaurant down the road which was also owned by the same motel ownermonopoly!She said the dinners were great and to expect excellent food.I also inquired about breakfast as well and she mentioned donuts, bagels, etc...Once at the restaurant, compliments of our cab driver Sonny, we found the menu was in full French.We made the best of it and ordered.The meal basically sucked and everyone was disappointed.Oh well.We did get to see Perces finest (EMTs) come into the building and take out some elderly woman who had basically fainted in the parking lot and was carried into the restaurant by some people.We got to enjoy her purging her stomach while we tried to choke down our less than average meal.We later found out the old hag did a bunch of shots at a family outing in the back room and was basically an elderly alcoholic!
The night came and went, with myself and the Prez wagering $20 large that we didnt come in and leave on the same trail to Perce.I had enough of the Prezs banter and left him in the bar still rambling on about the trail.(It should be noted that I proved the trail we traveled on into Perce on my GPS as well as the map, #10 and #5 also pointed out the trail and its relation to a certain rock on the map which concurred with the trail we took.The Prez continued on with his old stubborn self and would not concede that he was wrong.He claims that once home, we could load it onto mapsource and then see?Well, I did just that Prez and it looks the same as it did on my GPS. We traveled on the same trail in and out to Perce, we never did a loop or traveled in on some mysterious trail.Thanks for loaning me the $20!)We awoke the next morning to all our sleds and warm temps.Breakfast was a flop, no donuts, just some cereal, and toast and soft grapes.We were spoiled from our previous 2 mornings of hot eggs, pancakes, bacon, fruit and home fries.Next destination-Relias La Cache, AKA, set of the movie Texas Chainsaw Massacre!
Total mileage was around 225-240 I believe.I am missing a section of track on my GPS for some reason on this day of the trip.
Highs:Virgin trails, long speed runs, Moose, views, The Rock, riding with 5 buddies, no breakdowns
