Michcanska Adventure 2023

Our ride today will again take us on a little known route. From High Level to Rainbow Lake and then on to Fort Nelson on a winter only access road that they established this year. Our route planner for this Leg of our adventure is Yves LeBlanc. Yves had previously made this journey through this area in 2007, as part of his Snow Odessy Adventure. In 2007, Yves traveled across North America, and back, from Ottawa ON, on A Solo Snowmobile adventure, to break the Guinness book of world record, for a Solo Snowmobile trip. He successfully broke that record, in High Level AB. Wow!

Yves lives in Otter Lake, QC, with his wife Nicole. He is retired and enjoying life at the lake.

In Rainbow Lake today we found out that all of our lunch options, were closed. We had a great local contact that found us a place, that we didn’t know about and then even covered the cost. Again, our thanks and praise, for the great people that have helped us along.

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Good thing we got off the road.

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Makes sense!

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We have traveled from Bonnyville to High Level in Alberta with stops in Athabasca, and Red Earth Creek. We have the highest praise for the great people in Alberta for the way the have treated us, as we have passed through their towns.

There are three riders with us on this trip from Casselman, ON. Jean-Guy Charette, Normand Surprenant, and Serge Charette. I first met these gentlemen when I Joined the MichCanSka Club, for the World Tour in 2015. These three riders impressed me with their story of their cross Canada, snowmobile adventure from Kamloops, BC to Ottawa, ON, in 2006. I thought if this club can entice riders like that, I’m going to join.

For our Alberta adventure, we have had local club riders assisting us along the way. This has helped out a lot because for the most part we have had to make our own way, across lakes, down rivers, and along the side of the highway. Our two hundred mile days on the trails….. Are nothing Like the 200 miles we are riding these days. Each night we arrive at the hotel, very happy, very sore, very tried, and very thirsty!

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Today I want to highlight the wonderful people of Saskatchewan and Alberta. Throughout our trip we have had so many people come up to us in restaurants and hotels and talk to us about our trip and our fundraising. We have had daily donations from most of those that we have met. But the donations and support that have received in these two Prairie provinces is overwhelming. We have had donations come from all sources, which go directly to finding a cure for Diabetes. As our president says, ” if we can put a man on the moon, why can’t we find a cure to this terrible disease”.

In the last two days we have rode from Christopher Lake, SK to Meadow Lake, and on to Bonnyville, AB.

We have been escorted, and assisted, by the club’s and club members across this region. We have had device and support by the local people and the dealers. We have had dealers come out at night to find parts and stay open late to service our sleds. One dealer took parts off one of his new sleds, to repair one of ours, that had a serious mechanical issue.

Thank you to everyone so far, that has made our journey to Alaska become a reality. And of course thank you for contributing to our be fundraing.

The Alaska Team

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We arrived in Nipawin to find Hughie’s friends Fred and Debra waiting for us.

Hughie wouldn’t be on this ride if it wasn’t for them. They introduced Hughie to trail riding, When the only thing he thought a snowmobile was for, was to go ice fishing.

We had a great day riding with them and their son Mike, and friend Mike. We stopped during the day, at one of the newer warm up huts and had a trail side lunch.

Upon arrival in Christopher Lake, they opened their garage for some sled Maintenance. When we went to offer them some money for this, they donated it to Canadian Diabetes.

Great day, Great People.

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Today we rode 200 miles, which seems to be the minimum, for each day so far.

I’ve attached a picture of a stop at one of the many warm up huts that both the Manitoba and Saskatchewan trail system have. These huts are great. Number one, is they are available as an emergency source of shelter, but also as a great rest stop. Most have a toilet, wood stove, wood, battery powered light system, chairs, place to hang up and dry out your gear. Tomorrow’s plan is to stop at one for our lunch.

The second picture was a trail issue that we ran into today…… There were a few places today that had huge areas, of water that had covered the trail and turned into ice fields.

The third picture is of our team member and truck and trailer support driver, Dave Gentry. For those that haven’t rode with us, we usually have at least one support driver that follows us along to carry our gear, and some spare parts, and can pick up a broken sled if required. This really helps out and allows the rest up the group to move along. It is also very nice to arrive at your destination and find your bags already inside the hotel lobby. The group covers the cost of the vehicle and out of pocket costs of the driver. The driver himself donates his time. It’s kind of a neat way….. To come along on the trip for a participant that may not feel up to riding in a particular year.

Dave is 67, Retired from the Michigan State Police after 25 years of service. He was one of the original group that rode to Alaska in 2010. Is always nice to see Dave’s smiling face greeting us as we arrive at our destination.

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