Last night our lodgings were quaint cabins, scattered around a lake. We were split into three cabins, and dinner was scheduled for 7pm. The group gathered in our cabin, with a group around the rectangular table in the kitchen area that could seat 10 comfortably, and another group surrounding the log burning stove seated on couches and pulled up chairs. Lots of conversation and adult beverages flying around.
As the dinner bell rang, we rode our sleds back up the trail to the main lodge that had a small kitchen and a room that looked like a Sunday school church gathering room. It was tight for our group of 13. Dinner choices were shrimp and scallop skewers with rice and sliced carrots or the spicey Italian sauasge with pasta. I didn’t need the spice, and the shrimp & scallop skewers were my choice. Dessert was a piece of choclate cake with a raspberry drizzle. (I was just informed by Fearless Leader Craig that the owners are in the design process of building a bigger main lodge with more dining space.)
After dinner we retreated back to our cabin for continued conversation and adult beverages. The group filtered out by about 10:30pm. Our breakfast was back in the tiny room in the basement of the lodge at 7:30am. Snowmobilers breakfast was the menu, with your choice of scrambled or fried eggs.
The group was on the trail by 9am. Sunshine shining, smooth and fast trails. Our destination is Auberge du km 31. We have actually been here before, to the top of the hill lodge, surrounded with a few cabins, overlooking a lake. Beautiful views in every direction. My view was obscured by Action Dan’s helmet, as I was riding two-up on the back of his Ski Doo, as we rode in.
My Superior Bombardier Product has finally given me issues, much to the chagrin of the Yamaha riders I have been spouting my mouth off too for the last few years. Action Dan even started this trip with his verbal lashing to me that “this is your year, Stick! I’ve got this pretty new 2up Ski Doo Expedition just to carry you thru the trail!” Well on my 11th trip to Quebec, I have finally had a mechanical issue. The primary clutch imploded, the weight lost it’s cotter pin, and worked it’s way out of the arm of the TRA, and we found the pin and roller in the snow beneath the machine.
Munising Matt, who is a true Ski Doo Macgyver got the belt off, we strapped to the back of Action’s tow truck, and on I boarded his airliner of a sled. At a short break on the trail, I mentioned to Action that I was disappointed this ride didn’t come with peanuts and a complimentary drink!
We got to our night’s destination around 1:30pm, had lunch in the lodge, and went about finding a garage on the property so that Munising Matt could get a look at what we were going to need. He was confident it wasn’t going to take much to get the Superior Bombardier Product back on the trail, so long as we can find a clutch puller. This is where the show goes to shit. A local at the garage on the property quickly and confidently jumped in to start taking the clutch off. He fabricated a couple quick devices and long story short, I need a Ski Doo dealer after his handywork. He has generously offered to drive me and my sled to the dealer in the morning for just $200. I am having a difficult time with this decision, and have not committed to his generosity. You’ll have to tune in tomorrow to see how this unravels.
We are at this location for two nights, as there are plenty of local trails the group was planning to ride tomorrow, and I was planning a pajama day in the lodge. My pajama day has been delayed. Dinner tonight is at 7pm, and I need to contemplate my next couple moves over a tasty Labatt Bleue.
Double Double, Same Ole Same Ole, and bye for now…
Stick
