Gaspe

[Jim Chabot]

After three years waiting for the right opportunity, where I would have the time and the weather looked favorable. Finally I was afforded the opportunity to make the 1200 mile Gaspe peninsula loop!

2074

In order to take full advantage of the weather, we needed to leave the states during a rainstorm. The forecast promised that we would be riding into snow as we headed north.

2075

Last stop before leaving the states! This is the beginning of U.S. route 1 in Fort Kent, Maine. We crossed over into Clair, New Brunswick and had a nice chat with the customs folks over on the Canadian side.

I managed to get a full inspection of everything on both of our sleds, because I wouldn't agree with the Canadian officials assertion that President Obama is doing a better job that President Bush had before him. While he searched our luggage, I was afforded ample time to expound upon why he was misinformed about conditions in the states.

2076


Saw this barn in a field in Quebec and thought that it would make a nice picture. As predicted the weather would remain absolutely perfect for the three days that we would travel here!

2077

This is "wind 480" a cutting edge wind farm in Cap Chat, PQ. The strange looking structure in the center is "Eole" the worlds largest verticle wind generator. It is nearly 400 feet tall!

2078

A walk in the wintry wood! The trees were beautifully covered in fresh snow from the storm the day before.

[Jim Chabot]

2079

A couple of moose cross the trail ahead of us. For some reason the moose have been skittish this winter. As I approached them slowly for a better shot, a third one came out of the woods and they headed quickly across and out of sight.

2080

Here is our first view of the Chic Choc mountains, we would be traversing them on Sunday or Dimanche.

2081

Nice recently groomed trails and ocean views, it doesn't get better than this!

I'll post more pictures in the morning.

[Benjamin Burch]

After three years waiting for the right opportunity, where I would have the time and the weather looked favorable. Finally I was afforded the opportunity to make the 1200 mile Gaspe peninsula loop!

2074

In order to take full advantage of the weather, we needed to leave the states during a rainstorm. The forecast promised that we would be riding into snow as we headed north.

2075

Last stop before leaving the states! This is the beginning of U.S. route 1 in Fort Kent, Maine. We crossed over into Clair, New Brunswick and had a nice chat with the customs folks over on the Canadian side.

I managed to get a full inspection of everything on both of our sleds, because I wouldn't agree with the Canadian officials assertion that President Obama is doing a better job that President Bush had before him. While he searched our luggage, I was afforded ample time to expound upon why he was misinformed about conditions in the states.

2076


Saw this barn in a field in Quebec and thought that it would make a nice picture. As predicted the weather would remain absolutely perfect for the three days that we would travel here!

2077

This is "wind 480" a cutting edge wind farm in Cap Chat, PQ. The strange looking structure in the center is "Eole" the worlds largest verticle wind generator. It is nearly 400 feet tall!

2078

A walk in the wintry wood! The trees were beautifully covered in fresh snow from the storm the day before.

Sweet pictures! The idea of there still being that much snow on the ground gives me the heebee geebees.

[Jim Chabot]

Sweet pictures! The idea of there still being that much snow on the ground gives me the heebee geebees.

Thanks Ben! I'll get some more resized in the AM.

Hahaha! We haven't gotten to the snow pics yet, there were areas with close to eight feet on the ground! And our family is heading back to Maine in the morning for a long weekend in the snow before winter comes to an end.

Vive L'Hiver!

[G R 'Scott' Cundiff]

What an adventure - thanks for posting the photos - I'll look forward to seeing more.

[John Kennedy]

I'd love to drive around the peninsula in warmer weather. We sailed around part of it (enroute from Halifax to Quebec City on a cruise a few years ago. It appears that the land is a lot like the Atlantic provinces.

[Jim Chabot]

I'd love to drive around the peninsula in warmer weather. We sailed around part of it (enroute from Halifax to Quebec City on a cruise a few years ago. It appears that the land is a lot like the Atlantic provinces.

The southern side is exactly like the Maritimes, the north side is completely different. On the north side, the mountains come right up against the ocean, and the shoreline is dotted with tiny villages in each valley. Looks like it would be an incredible summer road trip! From what I have heard the hotels in the larger towns are fully booked a year ahead.

[Jim Chabot]

2083

As we headed further to the east, the snow got deeper and the groomers had not been out since the storm. Here there was about a foot of snow on top of the groomed trail, luckily a couple of sleds had already been through to show the way!

2087

As we head into the mountains we discover that there isn't enough room along the coast for both a road and a snowmobile trail. The sled trail is routed up and over the mountains, in most spots I noticed that we are climbing faster than in an airplane!

Here we need to traverse a sidehill trail where the last storm has deposited enough snow to cause a couple of small avalanches. The largest one we had to cross was about six feet high. My first approach was too slow and I got stuck. The only way by was to jump it. At roughly 800 feet up, I felt that it was prudent to stay as far away from the downhill side as possible!

2085

Here is the view from the top. I'm not sure of the altitude, my guess would be somewhere in the 1200-1800 foot range. I stayed away from the edge because I couldn't be sure whether the snow was on solid ground or if it was hanging past the edge.

2084

Here is the view into the next valley. Five minutes after this picture was taken, we were at the valley floor riding along the roadway that can be seen below. In all we traversed somewheres near eight or ten valleys. The combination of height, ocean and snow was breathtaking, I wish that I could get it to transfer accurately to film. His creation is truly magnificent!!!

2086

Somehow the perspective in this picture didn't work out. There is nearly eight feet of snow on the ground here. A couple of pickup trucks passed by on the plowed road, we were looking down onto their roofs!

I'll try to get the rest of the pics resized tonight when I get to the house.

[Hans Deventer]

Thank you VERY much for the pictures, Jim. They look great! I like the stories around them as well.

[Bill Morrison]

Pray for my attitude....I'm definitely ENVIOUS of you and your great experience as I face another day of imprisonment in my job!:smilies1722:

BILL

[Susan Unger]

Sweet pictures! The idea of there still being that much snow on the ground gives me the heebee geebees.

While it makes me green with envy!

I have always wanted to visit Gaspe - thanks for taking me there through your pictures, Jim.

[Kevin Rector]

Makes me glad we moved south... we mowed the lawn yesterday.

Great pics though and it does seem like it would have been a fantastic adventure!!!

[Kenda Armstrong]

Wonderful pictures! Thank you for sharing; they are so vivid.

[Jim Chabot]

2093

Out on the far edge of no where on a bright Sunday morning, a work crew erects a transmission line tower. This transmission line is being constructed by Hydro Quebec to connect a large new windfarm to the grid.

2094

High atop the partially erected tower, four workmen wait patiently while another crew prepares the top section to be lifted in place. On our way we passed a couple of workcamps, a staging yard and a portable concrete plant. These folks are working and living a long ways from home.

2095

This church is not a model sitting on a desktop. This is in the village of Saint Maurice de L'Echouerie. Someday I would like to come back and spend a bit more time in each of the small villages along the Saint Lawrence.

2096

Perce Rock! This was the highlight of our trip, this incredible huge edifice jutting from the water is an incredible sight. I had awoke at 5:30 and rode around the area locating vantage points and taking pictures in different lights from dawn to full light.

I took about 100 pictures of the rock, hopefully I will find a couple to be real good. I'm limited by the lack of color in the wintertime, I need to use a point and shoot camera due to space restrictions and I'm still learning. I did buy a Nikon P7000 for this trip, so far it does seem to be taking better pictures that my earlier attempts.

2097

This picture shows how immense this rock really is. This place must be prime real estate for sure!

[Jim Chabot]

Thank you VERY much for the pictures, Jim. They look great! I like the stories around them as well.

Thanks Hans. I did think of you a few times as I am still struggling with the french language. I did notice that I was able to make better use of what I have learned once in a situation where french was the only option. As I contemplate the incredible complexity of language, I stand in awe at your fluency in english.

[Jim Chabot]

Pray for my attitude....I'm definitely ENVIOUS of you and your great experience as I face another day of imprisonment in my job!:smilies1722:

BILL

I will do so Bill! I am ever so grateful that God would see fit to give me these opportunities. Even though my job has many times places me in similar situations as the folks on top of the tower, it has also given me incredible freedom.

[Jim Chabot]

While it makes me green with envy!

I have always wanted to visit Gaspe - thanks for taking me there through your pictures, Jim.

It is truly a beautiful place, I am anxiously awaiting another chance to go back!

[Dennis M. Scott]

Great pictures Jim! Several years ago in July, Linda and I drove as much of the Gaspe as we could, but we didn't know it was as famous as you've revealed. We thought we were just having an extremely pleasant drive. On a sled would be great!

[Dana Grant]

Beautiful!!