Wyman Pond Racing

Ride Report Day 1 (of riding anyway) Gaspesie, Quebec, Canada

After a long day of watching the weather channel, last summers movies, Hardcoresledder.com, and the endless snowfall we had asked our gracious hosts that breakfast be ready at 6:30am.  It was and none of the 6 members needed a wake-up call.  We were all at the table with feedbags strapped on.  We ate like lumberjacks as we watched the sky redden and then daybreak with a gorgeous sunrise over the lake and the small mountains.  By 7:20am the sleds were all fired up and the last adjustments were being made.  It was 3/10/08 and the day had finally arrived, the trip WPR had been talking about for years, and we were off.  Eric and Chantal waved us off from the deck with big smiles.  Well see you in 4 days!!

I was very happy to find the first trailhead easily enough and led us into 12 of unbroken fluff with a firm pack underneath.  A small distance of about 3km on Regional Trail 579 until we hit the trail we would spend the next 2 ½ days on: Trans-Quebec 5.  Est all the way to Perce.  TQ5 was also not groomed yet but was well established underneath so going was quite good.  #7 and I could not find the way to gas in St. Gabriel and we estimated Matane to be only 70 miles away so we decided to point our sleds down 5 and go.

Evidently I tortured #388 with my not fully charged communicator every time I spoke; I guess it sounded like a Vogon war ship crashing into his helmet.  So I decided to keep silent unless there was an absolute need to speak.  This, of course, became torture for me.

We hit gas in Matane and were back on 5 and pushing onwards.  The riding was big, very big.  The sleds were really stretching their legs and breathing deep.  It was cold, but now WPR riders are experienced and prepared.  The frigid Quebec air is tamed with layers of technical fabrics, except, apparently for #7s poor face.  Frostbite the second time around didnt even phase the Caboose, he laughed at it and wore it like a badge of honor.

The GPS units of #2 and #388 confirmed we were on track.  We decided to eat lunch at a Relais outside of St. Anne des Monts.  We had made great time and had 150 miles under our belts by noon.  We grabbed gas and went for chow.  We had two recommended places to stay that night, one if we didnt make good mileage and one if we did.  We had already passed the first by this time, so we booked at a place called Camp de la Haute Madeleine at Lac au Diable.  This was a fishing resort right on trail 5.  Now there will be an ongoing discussion of opinion on this place and it will be a topic of high debate during the planning next year, but if you ask me, this is exactly what I love on a trip like this.  Only electricity for lights, a piping hot wood stove in the center and keep your beers cold in the snow outside the door of this gorgeous rustic remote pristine perfect little cabin hide-away.

Ok, we are greeted by a tall pretty blonde named Joanne, and invited into a perfectly warmed cabin with burning fire and served fancy little toasts with tomato herb mixture (like bruchetta) on top and Pate (goose liver).  #388 discovers he likes the expensive spread.  #13 is disturbed at what he is eating, but continues to enjoy it nonetheless.

Dinner was enjoyed at the hosts cabin (there was another little Frenchman that we never learned the name of) and was delicious.  First soup, then chicken cacciatore and another scrumptious dessert smothered in some ridiculously sweet brown sugar sauce.  I guess this is how the Quebecois stay warm thru the long winters.

Another 15 rounds of Spades and 18 Bud Lites later we were ready for la la land.  The shower was hot and strong (albeit designed for maybe up to a large midget) but #388 seemed to manage fine and the snoring was kept to a minimum.  We even survived a place with only 1 toilet.  Imagine that.

The guys were very complimentary to me all day long and said this day was a high point to my WPR career.  Thanks guys, that meant a lot to me.  I had finally been a successful trail boss for the first time (I did it #3!) with a solid 250 miles under us before dusk and nailed two great places for me and my friends to eat and rest.  I fell asleep listening to #2 and #388 discussing Supercross with a big wide smile across my face.

Day 2 of riding was, in the unanimous opinion of all who were present, the greatest day of snowmobile riding that WPR has ever experienced.  I will never forget it as long as I live; it was why we drove to the ocean to snowmobile.  But we didnt have a clue of how spectacular it would actually be.  I am jealous of who gets to write the ride report for this day.  Johnny Flipacon doesnt make his appearance for another day though, so stay tuned

#5