NFG Kelly’s rolling gas bomb
Welcome back riders,
It is a brisk morning in Roberval, my snowmobile engine temperature was -17 when it begrudging came to life this morning.
Today we are headed for Chibougamau, approximately 200 miles to the north. Our morning depature saw a few small glitches right of the bat. Rimel went missing in action for a bit, until we discovered he had gone to the local automotive store to purchase a 2 gallon gas can for today’s ride. Truck Driver Mark also purchased a 2 gallon gas can and bungee strapped it the rear of his sled, but we will get to his debacle a little bit later. All of the other riders came prepared with their mounted gas cans, and others were creative in their jerry can’s mounting technique (see below for clarification).
NFG Kelly’s brother Chris’s rigged up fuel program
After Rimel was accounted for, Dylan had issues with his helmet shield. The heated shield was not operating correctly and it was fogging up pretty good, and made for obscured view for the day. And Stick’s sunviser in his helmet came detached, and had to be packed away in the saddlebag.
We still departed pretty much on time, around 9am. We traveled about 40 miles to top off our sleds, and to fill the jerry cans for the 140 mile run thru the Bush of Quebec. After a quick warm up, restroom break and last chance for snacks and drinks at the gas station and we were off. I grabbed a premade ham & cheese in a container sandwich out of the cooler for my trail lunch.
About 5 miles from the gas station and the pack in front of me is pulled over on the right side of the trail. I see Hedge Hog and Truck Driver Brian handling Brians gas can. I pulled up to inquire what the situation was, when it was explained to me that the cap of the just purchased gas can had come of, and gas was spurting out as he was going down the trail. So the gas can was set on the side of the trail, still with fuel in it for the next Southbound rider headed to Roberval could top off their sled, if need be.
This kind of excited me, for my own selfish reasons. If I have any new followers, I affectionately refer to my sled mounted gas can as “Bar Tab”. It is open for anyone to use should they need it, however fuel on the side of the trail comes with a price. You have to pay my bar tab that night, AND re-fill the can for the next unlucky individual. I just may have a customer today!
Anywho, back on the trail we were. The stops were at a minimum, as the temps were well below zero thru-out the day. And there just weren’t places to stop. Now I get asked often if I get cold while on these trips. Generally no. But if I do get cold, it’s usually at rest stop, standing on the trail. When you’re riding you’re moving, plus you have your heated hand grips, and some of us even have heated seats! But yes, I did get cold today at the infrequent stops, but was able to warm after being back on the trail for a short time. Further, if you check out our Tracking button, you can there were long distances between the Spot Tracker way points markings.
Somewhere around the 190 mile marker, and after about 150 miles since our last fuel stop, we came across the long awaited for gas station. Most of the Ski Doo riders, myself included, never added fuel at any point along the journey. This was our opportunity to really find out how far our sleds could go on a tank of fuel. The riders that did fuel along the way, did it at one of the few rest stops we took, before they actually ran out of fuel on the trail. And a few added the extra fuel they were carrying for assurances, into their tanks along the way, just to off load some weight off their machines. I came in with one “bar” left on my electronic fuel gauge, and a couple others came in, in the same situation, or their “low fuel” light had just came on.
After fueling, and using the inside of the gas station store as a warming spot, we were back on the trail with only about 8 miles to go. Yea right.
With Action Dan out front, we were headed to town. But a mis read of the well marked trail sign, and we turned right, down a local club’s local trail in the area. After about 4-5 miles on this loop around the city, Dylan flagged down Action Dan and Craig, and shared with them his thoughts about how tis loop is going to add about an hour to estimated arrival time. Fortunately, after they all laughed about the situation, they determined “Maybe we should turn around take the direct route…”.
After about 209 miles for the day, we were in to the Motel Nordic. It took a while to check in, as the language barrier was in full effect. The desk clerk could not come to terms that Craig was paying for all 8 rooms on his credit card, and part of our package. Most of us loitered in the lobby, taking advantage of the warmth, while a few followed Ski Doo Matt and Truck Driver Brian into the nearby bar. Eventually the mis-understanding on the room situation was resolved, with the assistance of some Google french to english and english to french translations taking place.
While I have been to this motel prior, about 10 years ago, like most of our destinations, I never recall the rooms, or the meals, and really not much about the town, unless something exciting and memorable occured. Craig likens to its always like a new trip for me. I can assure you I will remember this location, if for nothing more than the shower! It is 4.25 on the trail. And not because of any outlandish decor or layout, just a good old fashioned motel on the road shower but with a Spray Handle shower head and gobs of hot water, and separate thermostat for the bathroom itself, to keep it warm for those middle of the night trips, without over heating the main room with the beds!
After an exageratingly long HOT shower, utiilizing the handheld wand in all forms of obscenity, it was time to catch up with the gang in the lobby bar. The Midevel themed bar, with double swinging doors, and, horse shoe bartop and iron circular light fixture over head completing the theme.
Dinner was supposed to be at 7pm, and it was 6:15 by the time of my arrival. I gathered with Ski Doo and Dylan around the horseshoe bar, and the discussion turned to the fact that we have to walk about a 1/4 mile down the road to the restaurant, as the hotel didnt’ have dinner accomodations for us. This was frowned upon by our small group, and the friendly bar maid made the suggestion that she could order food in for us and we could stay right there at her bar and enjoy dinner. Now, I am positive she was being a good hearted soul, that was just interested in our health and safety, not wanting us to walk outside in the -15 temperatures and along the road where loaded down semi rigs were hauling their loads southbound, without much regard for what was in there path. And the fact that it would bolster her nightly tip income would have no bearing on her gracious offer (Ski Doo will definitely disagree that she didn’t have ulterior motives, as she kept trying to charge him twice for a single drink order).
Fortunately, the group was all in on having dinner brought in, and it was a very good dinner indeed. I saw several lasagna and Ceasar salads served, a couple hot chicken dinners, and several orders of poutine (if you don’t know what poutine is, google it).
Dinner was served out of Styrofoam takeout containers
As the evening passed, the riders slowing filtered out, and back to their rooms for the night. The long cold day had taken it’s toll on the group.
Dylan, Stick and Wingman Rob were a few of the stragglers in the bar after dinner
Tomorrow, Wednesday, is a layover day on the trail. We will be at this location for 2 consecutive nights, and use the extra day to explore the area, and see what this remote area has to offer, if anything. Usually I take advantage of these layover days, and have a pajama day and catch up on the blog, but I just may go out and take in the sights tomorrow.
We shall see.
Bye for now,
Stick