Monts Valins Quebec
Early Season Snow Ride; Nov. 26 2004

Part Two:
Heading to Chicoutimi from Shawinigan on 155

11 am Nov. 23 2004:

After a good sleep at Motel Safari (thanks Bernard), and after a good breakfast at that Greek Place that Bernard takes everyone for breakfast, I headed north into the Mauricie on the 155 N. The views are breathtaking.

This is a small Yamaha snowmobile dealer in the Mekinak region of the Mauricie, J.B. Pothier Sports. Stop in and buy something, anything, a pair of socks... We need to encourage all the little guys, because these are the people that save our asses when we blow the engine on the river behind him!

 

Every mile or two, a huge logging truck blew past me, hauling wood to the mill.

Click here to watch video of truck.

 

Extraordinary views await the visitor with astounding beauty.

 

And.... occasionally the industrial reality of the place is not so pretty. Lumber and electricity are the cash engines in this region, and of course, tourism.

 

Thought you would enjoy this restaurant in LaTuque, "The King of La Poutine"! If you haven't had the pleasure yet, this is worth the trip, though it may also cause heart attacks! French Fries (not Freedom Fries in this case), slathered in rich deep brown gravy, and pebbled with lumps of melting white cheese! That is POUTINE!

But, to make you feel at home, they also have KFC and McDonalds in every big town along the way.

Click to see Mc Gag and Puke here...

 

Just North of LaTuque, you continue straight past this sign.

 

...and past this one, though all those names are destinations to see on a sled!

 

Next to the signs, there is an old cemetery, with this sign, that says no dogs allowed. The doggie drawing was cute!

 

A half hour later, there is this cool covered bridge..

... built in 1946.

 

The landscape keeps you entertained. I saw a sign that said; "Wild Bore Hunting"!

 

After a long stretch of trees for an hour, I stopped in here to grab a coffee. The trucker next to me was eating a huge plate of spaghetti and meat balls, it looked very good.

 

Every village has one big church.

 

Then you come over a huge hill, and see Lake St-Jean on the horizon. At first blush, it looks like the ocean because it spans the horizon. On the right is LP's Chombard mill. (Louisiana Pacific, the same outfit as we have in SMdS)

 

In the village of Chombard, you come to a T-intersection, where you can see this little Tourism bureau.

 

Inside, Dyane shows me around, but is a little nervous about the photo.. And probably a lot nervous about me in general! She was very welcoming, and said that everyone is welcome to drop in to get maps and brochures, and directions.

 

A few miles east of Chombard, it looks like I am arriving at the sea. To drive or ride around the lake, it is 300 kilometers.

 

The land is flat and fertile, and there are some huge modern farm operations.

 

Coming into the city of Chicoutimi, be sure to slow down to the posted 90 kms on the expressway when you see this tower...

 

 

... because the heat is very busy nailing people left and right.

 

I stopped and called my host, and got further directions to get up to the LaChappelle relais.

 

Once I got close, I got lost a little. I drove 25 kms up the mountain, then drove right past the club's garage. I asked these two snow plow operators where I went wrong. They said I overshot the garage by 5 kms. I turned around.

 

AHA! This was a sure sign. I parked next to them, and there was Richard on his Bearcat waiting to take me in to the Relay.

 

Richard is a good guy, and has a small Chalet that will accommodate about 10 guys. That is where I slept the first night. It has no electricity, and is 15 miles deep in the woods.

 

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Richard drove me to the LaChapelle Relay, where I met a bunch of great folks
who fed me a good hamburger with fries. So much for my diet!

 

These two angels were in the kitchen.. mother and daughter.
Left is Andre, Yvon's wife, and right is daughter Sonia!

Some of the gang... (the camera setting went off). Send me the
names, and I'll fill 'em in! Yvon far right. Richard my host on left.
Two unknown bandits in the middle! (Rich and Steve is my
guessboth from Bridgeton Maine.)

This is Rich from Bridgeton Maine... right?? Had a great day
of riding, and then started telling me all kinds of tall tales!
Hahahaha! Now I've gotcha!

Let's see now... he rode 1,000 miles last trip to Monts Valin last
April, and 500 kms around the big Lake St-Jean. He's done the
Gaspe twice, and ridden to Chibougamau. He's had all kinds of
excellent adventures riding in Quebec, and says he's been helped
many times by Quebecers, who have refused to take any money.

He stayed at the Passion Inn, at the ski hill in Monts Valins, it
cost him about 320.00 Canadian for 3 nights. He rode 465 miles
in one shot yesterday.

To drive up, he says Quebec is located two hours north of
Portland Maine.

After an hour or two of visiting (and writing notes which I now
can not decipher), Richard drove me to my auberge deep in the
forest.

In the morning I would ride the groomed trails and shoot some
more pictures in the deep snow, and meet another bunch
of riders from all over.

Part 3 Here

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