Last night we had dinner at 7pm at a long table that seated our group of 13. I’m pretty sure that I recall they have good ONION soup here, and my memory must be right because they were already sold out of it last night. But the escargot augratine looked good too, and I saw that at a couple spots on the table.
A few of us hung at the bar after dinner having large bottles of Labatt Bleue, and shooting the breeze. I didn’t hang much past 9pm as I really didn’t know what my morning was going to be like. Something that I forgot to tell you last night was that one of the Indiana guys chewed up his saddlebag in his track, on the trail yesterday, and lost his prescriptions on the trail! We had two issues to resolve this morning, he needed a doctor to prescribe the meds, and then a pharmicst to fill the script, and I had to come to terms with paying the $200 to the local yocal to cart my sled and my arse 40 miles to Chicoutimi to the Ski Doo dealer. I paid the money, in Canadian of course (there is about a 28% exchange rate to the US dollar right now, so it was about $150 American, my way of sticking it to the man).
With the help of several of my Darkside Teammates, we got my Ski Doo loaded into our drivers Dodge 4 door cab truck, and strapped down. I took all my riding gear because if I’m lucky, I’m going to be riding my sled back to the lodge tonight… you must go with the proper mindset. While that was going on, Jeff had the barmaid on two phones trying to get him into a doctor’s office to cure his ails. He is going to ride into town with me and my local yocal, at an additional fee of course, because the Dr. Apointment is for 12:40pm and the local is going to escort him to his appointment and bring him back to the lodge this afternoon.
The ride to the Ski Doo dealer was about 50 minutes, and after about 40 minutes, they had my Ski Doo unloaded and in the work bay. It took the mechanic about 40 minutes and lots of torch to get the clutch off my ride. My service writer, Tom, explained to me that they didn’t have the parts in stock to rebuild my clutch, and they didn’t have a replacement in stock. Oh boy, here we go, I’m thinking.
After unloading my sled for service, the driver took Jeff to his Dr. appointment, as there was no point for them to hang out at the Imperium Ski Doo dealer. I understand Jeff got back to the lodge around 2:45pm, and about $450 Canadian less in his pocket. But at least he had his meds.
Before Jeff could leave with his driver, I looked out the Service Room glass door and saw Feareless Leader Craig and Hedgehog Phil riding up on their Yamahas’. Looks like this is going to be family affair.
Back at the Service desk, my new best friend Tom the service writer, who spoke excellent English, was explaining to me that he was confident that another dealer in the area would have the needed clutch, or the worse case scenario, the local Ski Doo bone yard would have a used one to get me back on the trail. My new pal, Tom, was confident I would be back on the trail this afternoon! We shall see.
Apparently, the rest of the gang had a fun day riding the local trails, and off trail in the deep powder that is prevalent around here. Even the old man Ron had a good time playing in the snow today. East Coast Rob had a pajama day in his cabin, and enjoyed some solitude and rest on the trail. I was having pajama day at the Ski Doo dealer.
Around 1pm, Tom had gone to lunch, and there was no news yet about the availability of a clutch in the area. Plan B was sitting accross the dealership showroom floor. A new 2019 900 turbo. It was white though, not my first choice of Red or Black, but it would solve the problem if we get that far.
Fearless, Hedgehog, and myself were starting to get hungry, and antsy at the lack of information being provided to us. We decided to walk accross the parking lot to the St Huberts chicken resaurant, like a Canadian KFC, but first I wanted to let the Service Manager know how to reach me before we went to lunch. He stated, yes go to lunch, your part will be here in one hour. Exuberation filled my tiny cold heart, and off to lunch we went.
At lunch I saw the box truck doing parts deliveries backed into the dealership parking lot and said to my to lunch partners, my part is here gentleman. We finished our spiced chicken sandwiches and coleslaw, and meandered back accross the parking lot. Yes indeed, my brand new 6 blade clutch had arrived,, and within 45 minutes we would be putting on our gear, loading my saddlebags back on to my sled and be off. And for once, it worked just like that.
On our 40 mile ride back to Auberege 31, about 8 miles from the lodge, Action Dan, Yamaha Kevin and Chip Nasty were on there way to check on us at the Ski Doo dealer. We passed on the trail, pulled over, and let them catch back up with us. They each fist bumped me as they passed me on their way to pulling over on the right side of the trail to take our helmets off, and catch up on the days events.
After a few minutes of celebratory conversation, we were off and getting fuel at the gas pump in front of the lodge.
The group is mixed, some are in their cabins getting showers for our 7pm dinner, and the others sitting around the bar having tasty Labatt Bleues’. I’m with the group having tasty Labatt Bleues’. With a happy cold little heart right now. My Superior Bombardier Product is back on the trail, and we will finish this ride together (fingers crossed, knock on wood, and any other good luck saying).
Doube Double, Same Ole Same Old, and bye for now…
Stick