Gadgetman

Sounds like you didn't lose any days to blizzard conditions, like we did last year the end of Feb in the Gaspe region - Matane. This is a shot the day after I rolled ending my ride on the trip, and for the season last year. You have to respect the weather in those regions. The winds were close to 100km\hr that night, and when we awoke the next morning, you could barely find the sleds. Big group. Well done.

Nice. Funny. Ya, the babes are holding the curtain on the other side. Bad skill photographer. (That was Family day weekend. - I posted in failures how I managed to meet up with the group days later at Hearst.) John was the only smart Yamaha guy then, now we are all Yamaha guys. (RIP John, (blue coat) you're always missed.)

Just read that Travelodge dropped $1M into renovations in to the hotel. Our guy stuck there for three days agrees access not as easy as Super 8, but since Casey's is closed on Sunday's, and that tends to be the day where Timmins sits on our trips, time to change. (And I go way back with the Super 8, 2008 - first BRP 600SDI blown piston (Day 1). Sitting in the Super 8 lobby watching everyone else leave..

We noticed that Companion wasn't busy for dinner or breakfast. Super 8, doesn't help me, Holiday Inn would be awesome with my accumulated 460,000 IHG points.

Taking the L24 from Super 8, up to C to exit Timmins, then to Folyet was 151.1km when I did it about 9 Feb.

Misery likes company - try these two events of mine: 2008 – 2004 GSX – Blow Piston Day 1 coming into Timmins (Sunday Family day weekend) Take the Bus to Kirkland Lake to get truck (gave up trying to hitch hike); Drive back to Timmins to get sled (Family Day weekend dealers closed); Couple guys at hotel help me load busted sled in trailer; Drive back to KL – dealer answers phone on holiday Monday; KL dealer confirms blown piston – rents me sled; Trailer with rental to Cochrane – sled to Kap to meet crew Resume trip – somewhat; Sled and Trailer to KL to return rental. 2010 – 2004 GSX - Blow Piston Day 2 15Km south of Abitibi Canyon Had sled at dealer pre-season for injector cleaning – swears eliminates 600SDI piston issues – but doesn’t get it done before trip, tells me to come back after the trip for cleaning; Day 2 leaving Canyon Base camp – piston alley (but only about 10K into it – loose a piston; Bro and I wait for group to notice we dropped off; Group noticed (eventually) - lead turns back – runs out of fuel – buys fuel from other sledders who tell them we are way back; Lead then turns back to Smooth Rock as group is now scattered; Bro tows me back to Canyon camp, fills up, says cheers, and heads to Smooth Rock; Daughter of Canyon camp owner gets permission from dad to let boyfriend leave her there alone and drive me to Cochrane; Boyfriend and I lift sled in back of his HIGH pick-up truck – pay him to take me to Cochrane; We drop my sled in boyfriend’s front yard; Canyon camp owner finds me a driver and car to drive me to New Liskeard to get my trailer and SUV (pay him – and I drive down so he only has to drive back); I dig out SUV and trailer and drive back to Cochrane; At 11PM, I’m trying to load my busted sled into trailer – manhandling – finally pull a plug and drive it on with one good piston; Drive thru snow storm to get to KAP to rejoin group as my son is with them, arrive 1:30AM; Next morning, walk into Yamaha dealer and buy a 2010 Apex, has it put together by noon. Following two years the two other 600SDI’s blow pistons – we all now ride Yamaha. I can easily deal with the Yamys being difficult to start at -34c compared to two strokes just waiting to fail. (Yes, I know someone has 20K on his two-stroke with no issues - glad to hear it.) I miss that APEX, but my surgery shoulders enjoy the Vector and power steering more! Other funny part was that I came home and said "happy Valentines day honey" - she asked if I got my sled painted! Visa bill came in after!

In the Tech Corner: Yamaha 4 Stroke Cold Start Tricks

For those considering what the fuel logistics are for a 6 day riding tour, here is some info on 4 stroke Yamahas. (Our group has done a version of this tour for 20 years when available.) Just completed it this year, same as 2018 except for excluding the Canyon between Hearst and Cochrane this year. (4 stroke Yamaha Vectors (3), 1 Viper, and 1 Venture. Yes, none started Friday morning in Cochrane at -34. Had them running by 9:30AM, learned a couple more tricks.) Generally we depart at 8AM, usually about a 45-55min lunch. Stop ever 45 mins for about 10 mins. Start point is Waterfront at New Liskeard (NL) (Tim Shores). Nights: Timmins, Chapleau, Dubreville, Hearst, Cochrane, NL. Traffic was light this year. Two other saddle bag groups we bumped into most nights. (Traffic was very light leaving Hearst at -39c Thursday morning, no 8AM start without the indoor sled parking (up to $12 per sled this year)

Stayed at Super 8 Sunday Feb 9th. Day 1 of the 6 day trip on the Northern loop. We have stayed at the Super 8 for 20 years if trip stops in Timmins. At 5PM, 2 of our 3 rooms were not ready for check--in, ok apparently had 61 rooms check-out that day. Issue I have was that hotel only seemed about quarter full that night! Shouldn`t be hard to focus on getting the rooms completed that are scheduled that night. Then, found out that Casey`s next door, isn`t open on Sunday`s any more. We walked to Swiss Chalet. As one of our group had to return to Timmins with a failing jack shaft bearing, and spending 3 nights at the Travelodge, that may be the spot going forward.

The ITG says Timmins to Gogamma is 122KM. Gogamma back to Timmins on L143 is 237km. Total is 359KM. Even with the Vector, 237KM is tight @7km\litre, with the Apex I use to use 5 or 6KM\litre - I wouldn't do it without at least 1 sled carrying extra fuel for the Apex.

If you can be a bit more specific as to where you want to start from, how days, then those of us that have been there can provide some more info for you. Example, I'm in Ottawa, trailered to Val-d-Or. Sat - sled to Matagami. Sun - sled to Rouyn-Noranda. Mon morning sled back to Val-d-Or, Monday PM drive home. 900KM of riding in 2.5 days. (and I'm 60+). Gaspe - did the whole loop first time. Tried a shorter loop last year. So much snow that the trails were closed from a storm. Pics are from the same storm around Matane where I rolled and ended my season. If doing the Gaspe, watch the weather as being snowed in 1 or 2 days very real possibility. Like everyone says, the atmosphere everywhere in QC is very supportive of sledding (except the Surete de QC around Mont Laurier - don't like custom plate numbers, apparently). Need a left side mirror also - compulsory (they are not fans of wrist mounted either.)

It seems to depend on the season. Several years back, the bottom section was on the road, except the road was ice covered and I wasn't studded then. Very slow when doing 5KM\hr for hours. 2018, the bottom section was mostly trail, not as fast as top section, and some creeks to skirt, but overall about 4 hrs from Auld R to Timmins gas stations. (Likley left Auld R at 1PM (after a great lunch and warm up,) Even when it is green, you have to watch for surprises, which can show up any day, holes, logs or small water crossing.) (My view.)

We started from NL. We start the day at 8AM sharp. We stop generally either 45KM or at 1 hr mark for about 15mins. (Yamaha Vector 4 stroke). Exact same trip this year driving on 8 Feb for the week. Enjoy the trip.

Not sure what else you need, looks well planned from what I see. We did this the opposite way 2 years ago, and doing the same this year since my splash last year in QC, I need to do trails I've been doing for 20 years, to get back in the saddle. I'm just on my porch having a stoggy and rum, but when I go inside, I'll post my fuel stops, which should also list times, so you can then add eta''s (extrapolated from my data) if you wish. it's a good cigar, give me an hour. (We go the opposite way because you can make up time along the top if you get snowed in along the bottom.)

OK, third scenario that is 100% valid, and yes I do, if any traffic behind us. That said, we try to cross as close to 90 deg to the road, when possible. Cuts down on stiff necks the next day.

Aren't they charging something like $20 out of the $40 rebate as a service charge to process the rebate?

Not sure I agree with "Fail to signal for turn - two counts". I'm reading this charge as not signalling when about to turn from one road to another, and I would hope that these offenders received the tickets because the riders acted in some "unsafe" manner. I'm not a fan of removing my left hand off the grip, except to signal on-coming sleds, or that I'm about to bring the group to a stop (I'm almost always lead sled). The rest - great.

Got to ask, Kitchen or garage. WOW if Kitchen, still wow if it is your garage. Looks very clean (both). Perhaps put the dollar sign in front of the 7350 if that is price. Should sell quick.Good luck.

revrnd Super 8 in Timmins no longer does the lock up for sleds (had already stopped in 2013 I think). Also, they just finished a $1Mil reno, so the room rates went up. Not enough breakfast hard boiled eggs for the guests when we stayed there last week, which ticked off my bro...