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Always nice to bump into fellow OC’rs on the trail! Today, Rode from Linwood , north up to Mt Forest and loops around Palmerston and Listowel. Conditions were pretty good. Some rough patches though , not enough to stop me from going again. 😉

Flat light day with squals. Parked at Linwood Community Center. I rode from Linwood, through Conestoga Lake, Listowel, Atwood, lunch at Brussels. Across the top of what is open after lunch, wroxeter, Fordwich, Clifford, Harriston Teviotdale, Arthur and back to Linwood. Conestogo is fine. The odd thin spot in a field, bush trails are thin. West side had not been groomed in a couple days. Some areas heavily drifted. Couple of wet bushes near Listowel, passable. Snow is better above Atwoodand kept getting deeper to Brussels. Atwood was groomed. Bush trails are still thin but many of the fields are heavily drifted. As we travelled east towards Clifford the snow gets thinner. Clifford area was groomed. Below Harriston the plowed fields start showing through. There was a section of trail near Harriston that should be closed. It’s completely chewed from a tractor, no snow, 5 mph crawl. Below Teviotdale there are plenty of plowed fields where the tops are showing through and it’s very thin cover near Arthur. Arthur area was groomed. 215 kms for the day. Good first run. I stained my knee on the weekend but figured I’d be fine. My knee says NO…..lol Half a dozen trucks at the Linwood community Center when got there around 330. Id say we passed 70-80 sleds through the day, half of those after 2pm.

Meh……..lol It’s alright. I was hoping I would like it more than I do right now and most likely with more seat time and adjustments, I will. 8 years on my Cat so I have to compare. 1 ride and I miss my studs. Ice Ripper needs to go. Steering is heavy which I figured it would be. I find the seating is too far forward, banging my knees on the console, Cat felt more spacious. Cat front end is better in the corners. The ride is better on the Skidoo, especially the rear. The hand and thumb warmers are great and the multiple settings is handy. Can’t even compare the gauges, Doo by far but I have a lot to learn. From the seat of the pants, the Cat pulls way harder. Prefer the Cat exhaust tone. The Doo drones at low speeds. Interestingly, I was told I would never use the comfort setting for the Smart shocks as it’s too soft. I was preparing to send my shock module in to Precision EFI for their programming. Well, I couldn’t stand sport mode. It bothered my hands and shoulders cause the bars shook so bad. I switched to comfort and thought it was great, could be a tad softer yet for me but a huge improvement over Sport and never bottomed once. And I miss my heated seat…….lol

That looks to be a good 14-16" on the shed. were about 10" in the Sound. Problem is that it's light fluff. Doesnt amount to much once it's packed but it sure looks hopeful. My daughter lives in that direction and sends me video. Some of the high spots in the fields are blown clean but I'll take it and be happy about it. Time to get out and enjoy it.😊

Hey Gadgetman, It's a bit of a mix through Smiths Falls. Here are a couple maps. Map 1. Blue is groomed trail. Red are spots where you need to road run a bit. The first section runs along the street and grocery store parking lot. side slope cannot be groomed but there is always a single track in the ditch to use. This leads you to crossing at Drummonds Gas at Lombard St. Next red is to get across the Rideau at Detached lock. Unfortunately it had to be extended up a couple of blocks as there is no agreement to use the old train bridge. Once you hang the sharp left you are in a paring lot that will lead you to the trail again. Map 2. Red is the parking lot mentioned in Map 1. Trail then picks up again and is off the road until you cross at highway 15. Obviously it's not ideal but the pavement is limited to probably a couple hundred meters in total. still some snowbanks to ride up on for some of it. I haven't been down that way since RRRSC changed things to yellow and green. This is all past knowledge. Very exciting to see what Rideau Ridge Riders SC has done over the last couple of years. https://www.facebook.com/groups/160403710721723

Ride yo side! LOL

So far so good, only 153 k on it so far. Power steering is something im not used too, and takes less effort than before. And i was never shy of throwing the other one around regardless of weight, this just makes it easier on the body.

My buddy sent me that pic last night. His brother’s house in Wiarton.

Trails are open gotta give it a try this weekend

Seriously, I don't know exactly where you want to go on the trip, but I would never again use North Bay as my trip staging point. Most accommodations are a convoluted lousy sled ride to the good trails. Proper snow coverage is usually iffy until late in the season. Sudbury or even Sturgeon Falls offer much better good trail access. Just my opinion, of course, based on 30 years riding in the area.

Started the day in Orangeville and rode the rail bed up to Owen Sound. A nice 200 k day to kick the season off. Seriously , I couldn't believe how good the conditions were considering where we were at 2 weeks ago! Great day of riding and maybe saw 40 sleds through out the day .. no to busy at all! Nice flat trail and a lot of snow , especially as u get north . Get out and enjoy!

Maybe you should try a Polaris next. 😎 apparantky new matrix does everything well. I want to get one too.

Get a new seat. I grabbed one off an 850. Supposed to be way better. But I dont have any seat time yet

A lot of people bitched at how old the Procross was and that it had fallen behind the others. But I still like it. It just fits me better. I was in the shop this morning going back and forth to see where I need to change the Mach to feel more like the Cat. The difference is in the distance from the rear of the seat to the footwells. The Mach is definitely shorter. I have to sit on the tail of the Mach seat to get the same knee bend.

I didnt get back out yet. I left from my house to use a trail head just a couple blocks away and it was posted "no motorized vehicles". After calling eveyone I could think to call within the cities "powers that be" I turned to the ofsc, got a number, got a call back within minuted from a local club rep. I was told it was a post by conservation authorities and that I was good to use the entrance. Seems they have a single sign for this purpose but it does not include use by snowmobiles at this particlar location. I decided not to go out because the local members were swarming the trails trying to get work done. Hats off to them. Seems they are making good progress. I hope to get out this afternoon. It's happening. Happy trails folks.😊

That’s great. I think you and OntarioF7 bought the same sled from the same dealer.

Not the rave review i was expecting .Im sure with a bit of sorting you will love it .Part of the fun .

Thanks for the info i will look into it. Here are some photos from last years adventure out of Wawa to Cochrane and back...

Sudbury area options would include: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiGjuTst-eDAxV7DHkGHde_CFQQjBB6BAgOEAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsportsmanslodge.net%2FBlog%2Fwinter-activities-at-sportsmans-lodge-wilderness-resort-kukagami-lake&usg=AOvVaw0WbIRA2aYbRnEeCnpFag2L&opi=89978449 Our group has had great trips out of both the North Bay and Sudbury areas in the past, but we have settled on greater Sudbury as the better sledding experience primarily because of better trail access. I haven't stayed at the Sportsman since the fairly recent ownership change, but its hard to beat the location on a main trail. We have stayed there in the past and been well served, but I know others haven't felt the same. Our more recent 'go to' staging accommodation in the near north has been Windy Lake Motel, northwest of Sudbury near Levack. I can't say enough about this two generation family business. Their motel is just a basic motel, but they have a provincial highway to the door, fuel pumps on site, loads of parking for trucks and trailers, excellent local trails and access to the major trails to get on with the trip that you have planned (minus NB). Food has always been good, and when we have had mechanical issues, they have been most helpful. We have staged from Windy Lake up thru Gogama and Timmins to Cochrane, then back south via Kirkland Lake, Gowganda and back. That might be a little longer than you had planned, but it was all good. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjfr_qvuueDAxWqBDQIHfmKAOEQFnoECAcQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.windylakemotel.com%2F&usg=AOvVaw1ThCBuZX5N87u_Hb28VGzb&opi=89978449 Wherever you stage, have a great trip and let us all know how it goes.

Fergus, Arthur and Conestoga lake showing yellow today !

https://www.christmaslightsetc.com/p/500-foot-c9-commercial-light-spool-spt2-green-wire-61558.htm And bulb choices https://www.christmaslightsetc.com/p/C9--Cool-White-OptiCore-LED-Replacement-Bulbs-13604.htm#F373V332 We purchased 500 of the commercial C9 large sized opticore bulbs, extra male and female plugs, etc... choose your length, color bulbs, plugs, and go. Looks like there is a sale right now. We went with 1 foot bulb spacing. We have the entire perimeter, peaks, and corner drops covered on a 30x60 barn, costs us about 500 usd. But, we have a lot of extras to do more. This way you are buying everything separately but, getting what you want. They have 50 and 100 foot pre-mades but, unsure if they are the commercial units we have. The cool white is white white. the warm white is more of a yellow color. The wife researched, and found these, then waited for a super sale, (Christmas in July) and then bought them. now at least you have the website, and can search shop, for what works for you. Good Luck! Ski

Yup lol. Our crew has been hard at it. Still working on the wet areas. They are super insulated right now.

Living a couple blocks from Georgian Bay and a stones throw to Lake Huron, we very seldom get accurate weather. "todays forcast" Look out your own damn window.

Busy today in the Forest, saw a few SRX's in the Black and Gold. They look sweet!! A few people from NY too

southern riders ,a section of rail line is open in the markdale area and is yellow ,will be like the 400 on a long weekend tomorrow lol