The Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts is committed to enhancing safe snowmobiling in Massachusetts.

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2 N o v e m b e r V o l u m e t w e n t y - s i x I s s u e t w o The Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts is committed to enhancing safe snowmobiling in Massachusetts. The Decoigne family of the Savoy Kanary Kats was honored as SAM Family of the Year, Doug, Debb, Doug Jr. were recognized for their volunteer trail work and grooming. On the Cover: Members of the Conway Club line em up for a group photo. Photo by Craig Warner 8 Legislative Corner After decades of work SAM s DUI bill is now law. 5 Tech Corner Ethanol update. It s still not that good. Riding in the Quebec Maritime Endless trails are the norm and 300-mile days are a cinch. Membership Info President s Message On the Vintage Side of the Trail Boonville Road Trip Club News Psychology of Trail User Groups Best Ride of Eighty Eight Calendar of Events Marketplace Water sculpts a passage through fresh snowfall. Photo by Terry Holland O n t h e T r a i l s w i t h S.A.M. N o v e m b e r

3 In Search of The Quebec Snow By Dan Gould Maritime This is not a mirage, the trail actually goes to infinity. Seemingly endless trails are the norm throughout the Quebec maritime region and the reason why 300 miles are easily clicked on the odometer. O n t h e T r a i l s w i t h S.A.M. N o v e m b e r

4 Tracks mark the trail over fresh snow in a farmer s field. Breaking trail is not unusual, as snowfall is abundant, exceeding 30 feet a year in the mountains. Snow can really ruin a winter. No enough of it that is. Last season was tough all over, with little or no snow throughout most of northern New England. Not only did they have all our money in Washington D.C., they had all our snow, too. Talk about being slapped around. By late February I d had enough and packed my bags. Eight hours later I arrived in the Quebec Maritimes. Finally, snow, and plenty of it. I d never ridden in the Bas-Saint-Laurent or Gaspésie regions before and had no idea what to expect. Friends had told personal stories and the photos online looked nice but being there was something else. Physically, Quebec isn t all that far from home but you feel as though it is. It s a compilation of Mont-Saint-Pierre in the Gaspésie Region overlooks the St. Lawrence River and the little village below. This is just one of many beautiful mountaintop vistas that are in fact a northward extension of the Appalachian Mountains. Snowmobilers take a break under a wind turbine in the Matane region. There are over 100 turbines in the maritime, more than I had ever seen. the language, food and traditions. All of which are quite good and give the sense of a vacation far away from all your worries. Yeah, the cell phone worked but I kept if off for the most part. My stay lasted just under a week. We rode easy miles, cruising about a day, through some of the most spectacular scenery I d ever come across. If you re a high-mile junkie, you could travel in excess of 300 big ones in a day. No problem. The trails are that good. The endless mountain ranges and long views over the St Lawrence are what I enjoy the most, not to mention the great chocolate desserts. Word of warning: You should avoid this place if you like to ride all day and eat all night, because that s just about all there is to do. That s not entirely true. You can lay back in a Nordic spa and have a relaxing massage, too. Did I mention the desserts? It s amazing that I made it back home. Yes indeed, it is that good. 18 O n t h e T r a i l s w i t h S.A.M. N o v e m b e r

5 Domaine Valga is a hand-built log inn located on the edge of a lake in Saint-Gabriel-de-Rimouski. The hospitality and home cooked meals compliment the traditional Canadian atmosphere. Lodging in Quebec maritime Auberge L Ambassadeur 266, boulevard Saint-Benoît Ouest, Amqui / / A modern facility with all the bells & whistles: restaurant, bar, exercise room. Close to many businesses and services that snowmobilers may need. What s unique: a secured garage to park your sled in; leave the canvas cover at home. Domaine Valga 300, chemin des Écorchis, Saint-Gabriel-de-Rimouski / A beautiful log inn, hand-built by the family that runs the lakeside facility. Relax by the wood stove after a day of riding. What s unique: obviously the log building but the home-cooked meals and desserts are outrageously good. Hôtel Levesque 171, rue Fraser, Rivière-du-Loup / / A fabulous hotel/resort that offers views of the mighty St. Lawrence River. Beautiful facility, gorgeous rooms, familyfriendly, health spa. What s unique: good choice if your significant other doesn t like to ride everyday. Pohénégamook Santé Plein Air 1723, chemin Guérette, Pohénégamook / / The resort is all about active families. Nordic spas for the adults and snow tubing for the kids. They offer many lodging options. What s unique: this is the place for families. Activities for the kids and opportunities for adult relaxation. Village Grande Nature Chic-Chocs 951, route Saint-Octave, Cap-Chat / / Nine cottages sit below the main hotel in this quaint village. French dining is an experience not to be missed. A place where rustic charm and European elegance collide. What s unique: spellbinding views from the balcony are unforgettable. An antique Bombardier Snow Bus being offered for sale sits in the front yard of a home in St Jean De Sherbourg. The 12 passenger vehicles were used as school buses, to deliver mail, emergency vehicles, and a whole lot of other chores in the 1940 s-1960 s. Just in case you were wondering, the asking price was $13,000. O n t h e T r a i l s w i t h S.A.M. N o v e m b e r

6 Dan Gould and Steve Gaudreau, of Panda Aventures, pose in front of an authentic log cabin, which was just about buried in snow. Steve noted that it wasn t the best year for snowfall in the region. Could ve fooled me. Rent or Trailer? When I visited Yellowstone a few years ago, trailering wasn t even considered, but Quebec is closer to home, and taking your own sled is an option. So why would you rent? Consider this: driving by car versus truck and trailer will save upwards of $300 in fuel and allow much quicker travel. A 7-day trail pass costs $180 per sled but is included in a rental. Wear and tear on your sled and trailer are eliminated. We re talking over 1,000 miles on each. Mechanical failures? So long as you didn t inflict the damage, you don t pay a dime for repairs. Renting can make good sense. Proprietor and Rimouski native, Steve Gaudreau, is a genuine snowmobile guy. A great one at that. He rents sleds, motorcycles, ATV s and more. Panda is the only rental provider in Quebec that carries all four brands of sleds, so you should be able to ride something you re familiar with. You could even go crazy and try out something completely different. I did. Rental fees hover around $200 a day, depending on the model. Weekly rates are even better. The cost includes helmet, clothes and boots, which you may not need. Panda Aventures 460 2ème Rue Est, Rimouski (Québec) G5M 1R6 Tél: (418) 725-PANDA (7263) / 20 O n t h e T r a i l s w i t h S.A.M. N o v e m b e r