patrickjavicktrip

Day one.

We finally meet Jerry "C"(alias Zenwaiter)

(Pic 31)

(Insert Pic of Zen Den pic #1) ) Left Zen Den for start of 1250 mile run. Trail 318 to La Cabenon was a bit ice but cover was adequate. You need to watch for some larger rocks that are loose on the trail. Some are the size of baseballs. Overall the cover is great.

(Insert Pic of Dam #12 ) 345 north from La Cabenon to the dam had good cover same as above as the rocks were apparatn but not as much. Cover is good.

360 west to Mattawin was fast with much more cove. Hard corners are a bit light on coverand icy but you can motor on this trial. Gas up in Mattawin and eat at the Chateau Marinuae for a good meal.

You can head 360 West towards Motel Montguard to but I dont recommend it. The trail is new and is very thin with many rocks exposed. I would head back 360 west to connect into a new trail that was made that has much more cover. It cuts off the bare trail. You will still connect into 355 north that we took to La Tuque.

355 North to La Tuque is the pipeline. You pass the Spencer relay station, go under a railroad bridge (insert #10 bridge pic) and hit the scenic overlook (pic 8 trail to La tuque)on the pipeline. Can you rip on this trail heck yes.

Once in La Tuque gas up and go thru town to trail 73. Trail 73 after town will cross the river at a bridge and then head into the woods. You will come to Relay 22 (pic 27)were you can stay for the night. Meals and gas are available. In the morning pic your directions. As the trails are fast and marked. (Pic 25 )

Trail 83 (pic 26) will bring you up to Roberval and the Lac St. Jean area. In Roberval you can eat, gas up or stay at the Hotel right off the trail. We even played in the mall. (Pics 21 and 22 marked Roberval)

Stay on 83 West to head to Saguenay City and the Holiday Inn (Pic 62). It is the largest building in the area and they ahve meals, gas and a mail on site.

Local trails 367, 383 and 83 were our next few day homes. We went to La Baie a fishing village (pic 57, 58, 59). Think about the movie Fargo and thats what you have.
Chicoutimi and Jonquiere are industrial towns were paper and aluminum are the main businesses. They have an Aluminum bridge that is safe and has not needed service in 50 years. (pic 65 )

We went to Mount Valin, my favorite spot. Just look at the views (pics 38-43) When we were done we went to La Chapelle a warming station that is run by the local club. You can get a hotmeal and drink as well as talk sledding with other visitors. We met up with a group from Belgium. (pic 51). Look at the view from La Chapelle (pic 53) and how about trail conditions need I say more (52). Plenty of snow and trials.

The ride home we took a different trail that took us from St. Andre, to Lac Bouchette to Lac Eduard to La Tuque. This is trail 355sout to 73 west to 355 south. they were perfect. On 355 you ride a non plowed road for about 5 miles then hop back on the trail. This is Rich on a rock formation. (pic 4)

Then it was back to the Zen Den to load up. We even stayed the night as it was late.