AC+YA

It's been about 6 or 7 years back that I spent the night in the "being remodeled" upper motel. Came late 8:30pmish from Halfway on our way to Elliot Lake and stopped to get gas and decided to eat and stay. Could not get BlackCreek on the phone and thought they might be away for the evening visiting family so we grabbed gas when we saw Aubrey Falls had lights on. Could not usually count on AF in the winter to be open since it was sold years back and so I usually tried to support BlackCreek as they lived there and would open up even after dark. That evening we decided to call from Halfway before leaving but got no answer at blackCreek. Guess they had a party line phone years back and were having issues with that.

I was just told summer of this year, 2022. You may be correct, but who knows?

The dealer called and is putting the sled together today. So far everything looks to be complete. The only thing not yet understood is the security portion of the DESS post. The magnet portion will definitely work as a tether switch, but they will let me know if the chip is there and programmed to control the engine response. When properly functioning, the motor will start but not rev up if the wrong tether is connected. If no security function, all tethers will run the sled. Wonder if my SeaDoo tether could be my backup if that is the case? Should pick it up Tomorrow afternoon or Saturday Morning. YEAH! I can start putting my accessories on this weekend. That should raise the value of the sled quite a bit...............

A month later............ Got a call from my dealer and my sled is in. They have not opened the crate yet to be sure all parts are there, but will let me know in the next couple of days. I am hoping it is a complete unit, Time will tell.

I go for a week ride and what if I don't ever look at my phone? I know where I have planned to go and actually don't need any mapping device to ride all around Northern Ontario. The trails were closed on me once in the middle of loop, and I had no idea and NO CHOICE other than to ride back.

Quite a bit has changed since I first rode in Yellowstone back in 1973. My buddies and I stayed at the north entrance for 3 days and rode from the campground which has been built up into Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel/Cabins. Living free in modified vans/RV's, we were chased out after a snow groomer came out of the park and saw us running the road south towards Old Faithful. We had been stopped by the deep snow as we went up into the mountains going south. The groomer with a sled on the back looked like it had come from Antarctica. It pushed through blizzard conditions and we could barely see through the windows. Apparently camping was not allowed, but we did not know and had to leave after the rangers showed up the next day. There was no manned booth at that entrance because nobody ever was there in the winter. We drove right up there in the night from Gardiner, Montana. We were running low on fuel by then and we had never gotten more than about 40 miles into the park before getting stuck and turning back. My brand new '73 El-Tigre 440 Cat was not running well as I never knew how much of a difference the altitude would make. I found that there were no leaner jets available at any dealers in Bozeman, Billings, West Yellowstone, or Idaho Falls after the races held the previous week in West Yellowstone. All I could do is take the air screws out of both carbs and as I went over the mountains near Two Tops, the machine would just gargle if the throttle was opened too far. Once moved to our new home in the parking lot of the laundry mat in W. Yellowstone which cost $10/night and offered a bathroom and a warm place with folding tables, we spent 10 days running out to Old Faithful after signing in at the tool booth (no charge to ride out there) but if you did not come back they would come looking. We usually did that starting Early in the morning and then were back to explore west of the park. Could not get off the roads in the park nor could these sleds do well in really deep snow. Following the trails over the mountains to Island Park, Idaho and thus riding in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho almost every day. Commenting on Ox's best technology and not all 4-strokes qualify............ I saw 2 couples drive a big motorhome pulling a nice trailer from New York State with 4 new Yamaha sleds about 12 years ago while on a more recent trip. They had planned to ride to Old Faithfull and stay at the Inn knowing they had purchased new sleds considered to be cleanest technology. What they found was that you need to get the sleds to the testing center in Casper, Wyoming to be certified and then they mail the certificate to the registered address of the sleds within a few weeks. The rental sled companies had it all figured out so only guided rental sleds could ever get into the Park. Did find some great off trail riding last time I flew out and rented real mountain sleds............ Accidentally got lost and saw we were on the wrong side of the Park Markers which are planted every so often. I had to go after one of my friends to get him back to the Montana side. If caught on the park side of the markers it is a Federal Offense with huge fines and possible jail time. The markers are sometimes under the snow or hard to see in the brush. No excuses though. While watching the news that night, a group had been caught inside the park boundary and the 4 sleds had been impounded and the riders were in jail waiting a court hearing. Nothing to mess with and the boundary is not a straight line. We were really trying to find our way through the trees and brush to get back to a trail and due to the mountains had to again enter the park just to get through a pass and then turn west again. It was a scary ride that day and never went near the park again.

Ox, PPS in Coldwater just got the SkiDoo oil shipment in today. Ordered 100 cases got 40 cases. 3 one gallon jugs in each case. Not getting anymore. I just bought a case for my son.

Maybe end of January? Still not sure what will be missing though.

While talking to my dealer who sells all makes, I found out that they have not received any Polaris 650 motor sleds this season. They have seen some 850 sleds. Most are still without some parts. They received about 40 of the new BRP 600 EFI sleds months back, but still have them in the crates out back due to missing parts. They returned 37 deposits last summer on Yamaha PWC which never came. Six others decided to let the deposits be moved out for the next year models. They are getting worried about all the sleds ordered. The only ones delivered complete were the Cat Snow Checks back in fall.

I totally agree. I can deploy them while sitting on the seat. I can stow them by bending down next to the sled and not on my knees. Try deploying the skid mounted while still sitting on your sled. The most important is that they work and the tips are replaceable. I have these on my Cats with custom mounts from the footrest bottoms. BRP has figured out accessories that scratch every itch.

A few years back we left Dub on a big loop trip. Meeting up the first night in Timmins with others that had left a day earlier to loop up through Abitibi Canyon. Starting off the 2nd day of the trip as a full group, the weather turned warmer, but still great riding to Foleyet. When we stopped, a local who helped groom happened to come through the only gas station in the area and told us he thought the trail was going "RED". No problem until we got through Chapleau and started heading south past the airport. We had reservations at Halfway Haven and no way back except to keep going. Loggers had bulldozed the trail to dirt for over 5 miles near Poulin Lake next to Hwy 129 and the cut though Sheppard Morse Road was all plowed to dirt as well. Once past this area it was again all good, though the trails had officially all gone "RED". Back in Dub the third day all was good. My point is that Green may go Red overnight or in the middle of a day and you might have no warning. I do not feel as though we did anything wrong as there was absolutely no warning. We do respect the trail status when we plan and even until we find ourselves with no choice. Then we try our best to get off the trails.

Ox will like this!

I already have a set of Simmons Flexi Skis ready for mine. I was going to try them as I have liked them on other sleds. I put red hoops to match the little bit of red on the black machine. I just want to get my machine.

I agree. I have not stopped and stayed to explore local loops since the Centre Inn Days. Been through Hornepayne countless times, but since the 4 Stevens changed have not made Hornepayne a food destination other than a quick bite while passing. This will create more interest for staying and spending a day local riding.

ski, Paige and I had plans to come to Dub for a few days after Christmas to play just a bit even without real trails and visit everyone we have missed. So sad that the weather changed and took the snow. Would have at least ran down to Hawk Junction and played on old roads along the Magpie and in the bush. We figured in case the border situation does change we would have at least visited while we could. Paige may not have another chance to get up there this season anyway. Just sad that the snow is gone for now. The new sled is not expected until end of January either, but I did purchase full season permits so I hope they can get some use. Otherwise it was our part to help fund the system for the 21 -22 season. Still planning to see you later this season and hoping that those making decisions understand that the "rule following fully vaccinated & boosted with negative tests" are not the worry! Scott

I got almost the same info from my dealer except it was delivery not shipment on my 2022 SkiDoo Renegade X-RS 900Turbo R. He said that some of the FreeRides had been cancelled and that other Doo sleds had February or March delivery dates. They may still come missing stuff and not be able to be picked up.

The rest area / welcome center on northbound I-69 approximately 5 miles north of the Indiana/Michigan border has been giving Covid tests from 10 am - 4 pm daily. This was 7 days a week. They have quick tests (my friend said it was under 4 minutes) and PCR tests which they sent to his phone about 20 hours later. He said they took no money, but if you give them insurance info there may be a bill in the future? So far he has seen nothing. He thought some were just indicating that they had no insurance and still received the testing.

Ox, Corporate offices are in Auburn, Indiana. We have a foundry in Auburn also which is what you see from I-69. That was purchased after Auburn Foundry went bankrupt. Prior to that purchase, I was working for MTI in Three Rivers, Michigan and chose to stay even though the drive to Auburn is shorter. I have worked in Three Rivers for 25 years now. We have foundries from Minnesota to Mexico. We owned Sachs in Germany and sold it years ago. We bought the TRW foundry in Woodstock, Ontario and ended up closing it some years back. Prior I was Employed by a Danish Foundry Equipment Company. Got to travel all over the world working for DISA. Now I drive 54 to 60 miles each way to work depending on my route and I never take the same route twice in a day. I drive to Auburn only for company meetings or to take one of the company planes.

I drive past it everyday going to work. Few sleds at the last auction last weekend. 15 minutes from Coldwater Lake.

Yes, it is the Blueberry Flats on SSM2 which is across Hwy 17 from the Blueberry Motel and Campgrounds. The Goulais River Valley at the bottom of Blueberry Hill coming down from Heyden on 17. You are correct. All the pictures following the one showing us parked at the Hampton Inn in Elliot Lake are all taken between Seachmont and Goulias River on the D trail. Coops Crossing and the power line from Searchmont is a great trail. The sunset was at the end of the elevations and you can just see the Goulias Bay shinning which is part of Lake Superior. The very last picture is part of the D108A north of Hornepayne about halfway to Hwy 11. I don't know how the pictures get out of order? Where you see a portage sign on a tree was way back in maybe 10 miles off Dunlop Lake as we followed lakes and looked for ways to go deeper. It is fun, but easy to get turned around when everyone in the group is running tracks in all directions and sometimes there are 3 portages leaving a lake. Dan-Senior showed us some of that area and we always like searching for more trails. Snow was not real deep so we had fun.

Ski Hill was in Searchmont riding with some of the trailblazers. We stayed at the Blueberry and met John Breckenridge at his home. Then we did the loop around on the D Trail and SSM5.

They were from our last Ontario big loop before the border closed. A week in February of 2020. We spent only one day/night in Dubreuilville and I don't take as many pictures as I used to take. Pictures were from Elliot Lake to Dunlop Lake to Goulais River Valley to Dub to Hornepayne to Moonbeam Clubhouse to Smooth Rock Falls to Timmins to Foleyet to Chapleau to Searchmont to D trail. My brother from AZ. missed a turn and the bridge on C101D between Foleyet and Chapleau. No fish were hurt. Great trip and got to see Dan-Senior, & Nunz at the Dunlop Lake Lodge.

Some of our last trip around the big loop… We found Luc putting up signs while grooming. Stopped by SSM and Elliot Lake.

It is good size. I would not hesitate to bring my 4 place inline trailer pulled by my HD2500 crew cab truck. There has always been plenty of room when i have stayed over the years. The triple axle trailer is 33' on the box plus the 7' "V" nose and then 3' of aluminum hitch frame. Parking lot is good.

TD, I think it might of been the next morning at breakfast that you introduced yourself at the Companion. (pics below were that night when we arrived)