Playing Catch Up

Sorry for the obnoxiously long one but the last two days have been interesting to say the least. After solving the dead sled problem in Wawa yesterday morning we headed out and were hoping the worst was behind us. Unfortunately not the case. Before we even left town the temp light on the Rage (one of the machines) came on indicating the sled was overheating. I was pretty sure it was because we had to run a bunch of roads to get to the trail, and so we decided to cross the lake where there was some deep snow to see if it kicked off. It did and that was good. Off we went. It was very cold - as in 30 below Celsius - but it was a bluebird day and the riding was awesome. After a few cold weather adjustments to our gear we finally left Wawa around 9:30, and by 11 we were in Dubreuilville, an old logging town that has been decimated by the economy.


The main (only) employer in town is the mill, which recently shut down, so the town is dead. Thankfully for us the gas station was open when we got there, because from there the next gas was not for 90 miles. We gassed up and headed to Hornepayne, which is another interesting town. In Hornepayne the whole town (practically) is in the mall, including a hotel, some apartments, the bar, the restaurant, the school, the community pool, the library, and a drug store. So we ate lunch at Craig's place (fitting huh) in the mall and both agreed it was the best meal so far. After lunch we went to gas up and got to meet the groomer guy at the gas station. We complimented him on the condition of the trails and he was a real nice guy. When we left town the trails were fresh groomed and it was fast riding.


Perhaps too fast because Craig and I both blew the same corner and ended up buried in like 5 feet of powder.



It took us awhile to get the sleds out but we did and off we went at a more moderate pace, at least initially. We headed for Hearst, this time 106 miles before the next gas stop. On the way in to Hearst the trail ran along the highway and I was really ripping. There were two Canadian National trucks that were on the highway and we were racing - it was a blast. There were these whoopseedoos and if you hit them fast enough you could launch and lose your stomach. It was a riot and when they finally past me for the last time they were laying on the horn and giving me the thumbs up, so evidently they were enjoying it too. We got to the Companion Hotel in Hearst around 6 and on the way in met some older (in there 60's) guys that had put on over 300 miles that day. Craig and I only managed 246. We grabbed some beers, hit the hot tub, and then headed down to dinner. We had a great Steak Au Poivre and the turned in early - around 9. All in all the day turned out pretty considering how it started. Some of the best trails I have ever ridden - just awesome.


This morning we woke up and the sleds started right up because the Companion had a heated garage. We met some guys on the way out and one of them had my same sled. He told me the problem was a relay switch and it as any easy fix. We headed out toward Cochrane and were hoping to squeeze in the Canyon today - time permitting - which would have made for a 300+ mile day. We started out on the right track; 15 miles out of Hearst we passed a groomer and the trail was like the Autobahn.


We left at 9:30 and by 11 we already had over 100 miles on. I saw 114 on the speedometer today and it was a rush. We stopped in Kapuskasing for gas, and then Craig headed to Tim Horton's for a doughnut and coffee, and I headed to the Yamaha dealership to get the relay switch replaced so we did not have to worry about the sled starting after a real cold night. Newsflash - it gets real cold up here this far North in Canada - so that is not a good problem for your snowmobile to have. We left town after that and were making great time once again, and by 1PM we were in Smooth Rock Falls. But when we got there Craig told me I needed to look at the sled because the check engine light had come on a few miles back. I checked it and it was an error code 42, so I called a dealer in Cochrane and he informed me it was most likely the drive shaft bearing was failing - NOT GOOD. He told me how to disconnect the sensor so the motor would not shut down and told me if I could get the sled there he would get it right in for me. So we crossed our fingers and headed out for a 45 mile run to Cochrane. It they was nerve racking but we made it there around 4PM, and they took it right in and got started. Two hours later they had it fixed, and they also took the other sled in and did a little preventative on it to make sure we (should) make it back to the Soo.


The people here are amazing - very friendly and really helpful, and BIG TIME in two Ski Dooing as they call it. We left the dealer at six and did a quick 20 mile loop to make sure everything was good and it looks like it is, so we went and had a pizza and some ribs for dinner and a few beers. Now we are at a little motel in town and Craig is already sawing logs. Damn that guy can snore - I might try to make a video of it.

At this point we are very far away from home, but are still planning to go 100 miles further north tomorrow before we finally make the turn back for the soo. If all goes well tomorrow we will end up in Timmons, and hopefully nothing else can or will go wrong. But then again there's always something eh?

I am really starting to get good at working eh in to sentences - almost natural. Noel - Shamus has been here almost the whole trip - you would be proud.

So good night for now and tomorrow is sure to be another adventure.