SNOT is dead, long live SNOB

[Corbeau]

For August of 2010 (the first weekend, as always), there will be a change of venue for the annual gathering of STNers that Hurricane Helen and I host.

We have bought a ski chalet; SNOT is thus dead and will be replaced by SNOB (Somewhere North Of the Border)

The new location? The village of Sutton, in the Eastern Townships of Quebec
linky to Google Map.

Now, there are advantages and disadvantages to this:

CONS: Quebec’s notoriously bad pavement (“We’re not in “North Carolina anymore, Toto...”), Slab all the way to get there from Southern Ontario, unless you take an extra day and loop through the Adirondacks and Green Mountains.

PROS: Great twisty roads in Vermont and NH, good sweepers in Quebec. Possibility of a dual-sport ride (if I get a DS bike first and do some scouting...). Easier to get there for our friends in Region 6.

Time to book an extra day or two of vacation for next year, folks.

[DmCole]

just when I was was starting to figure out where we went, looking forward to 2010

[NHFZ1]

I won't mind being called a SNOB.  

[R Doug]

Congrats on the ski chalet!

CONS: Quebec’s notoriously bad pavement (“We’re not in “North Carolina anymore, Toto")

PROS: Great twisty roads in Vermont and NH, good sweepers in Quebec. Possibility of a dual-sport ride (if I get a DS bike first and do some scouting...). Easier to get there for our friends in Region 6.

Time to book an extra day or two of vacation for next year, folks.

I will keep an eye open for SNOB next year!  I believe my new steed will be up for it.  

Though, I will miss the obligatory picture in front of the Spider.  

[Against The Wind]

But in the Townships it won't be a long weekend. Doesn't that mean I'll have to work on Monday?

[Corbeau]

Have you checked your location lately, ATW?

[Against The Wind]

Nope. I seem to have lost contact with most reference points.

[Flyer]

...I seem to have lost contact with most reference points.

I just check in my athletic supporter, and go from there...

[Against The Wind]

She lets you do that?

[jimmy]

I am bumping this thread in the hope of seeing some holiday pictures!!

(I am assuming that you would enjoy the holidays at the chalet)  

[canban]

Here is one jimmy



Plus assurances I am not becoming some sort of western SNOB.
 

[Delegate1k]

 
I will be there providing work doesn't interfere. Draw a line due south and you will go through my town.

[Corbeau]

I am bumping this thread in the hope of seeing some holiday pictures!!

(I am assuming that you would enjoy the holidays at the chalet)  

I'm enjoying every single minute I spend at the chalet!

***

OK, folks, I spend most of my online time perusing telemarking forums, so I don't check STN as often as the summer. But SNOB is still on the radar, and here are a few pictures of the chalet:
http://www.grandcorbeau.com/chalet/photos.html

[jimmy]

Sweet!!!!!  

[Corbeau]

Thanks....

For accommodations, we have one double bed, one rollaway bed, one hide-a-bed (sleeps 2, spooning optional), four bunk beds (or would that be room for four in bunk beds), a double inflatable mattress and a couch.

Room for a couple of tents outside, and a huge motel on the other side of the valley, on the ski hill's access road.

***

As for food, you guys know what to expect.

***

Passports will be mandatory, because we'll soon run out of twisty roads in the area and VT is just around the corner.

***

The official SNOB website will be created soon. Watch this space.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

For August of 2010 (the first weekend, as always)...

Is the "first weekend" considered the 7th & 8th? Or the partial August weekend of July 31st & August 1st?

[canban]

Is the "first weekend" considered the 7th & 8th? Or the partial August weekend of July 31st & August 1st?

The statutory holiday falls on the first Monday in August each year. In 2010 it is August 2nd. I believe therefore that JF and Helen are planning for the weekend starting Friday evening July 30th and concluding Monday morning August 2nd.

I dont mean to speak for our hosts but JF is likely busy at this time shaping the minds of the future generation of Canadians.

[Corbeau]

Your assumption was great, canban.

In other words, Den Mother, he's right.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Thanks JF!  





NEWSFLASH!!!

STN member jimmystartup is back with Desteenation!!! After a nightmare of "stuff", he is now back at the helm of our best shirt provider. If there's going to be a shirt made for this event, I highly recommend dropping him a note    No one has better quality, he works closely with other STNer's on design requirements and he'll ship them individually to buyers or combine it into one destination shipment.

[DmCole]

Nice spot, hope you are enjoying the snow, have been out a few times myself.
Going to Tremblant with my oldest this weekend

From ski

[Corbeau]

The official SNOB website is up! (Mind you I have a few maps to create and the food page is the same as last year, but anyway...)

[jimmy]

I'll be there!!  I'm changing things up a bit this year, as I'll be approaching from the east, returning from thge Cabot Trail.

[canban]

If Jimmy is in, so am I.

[Corbeau]

Jimmy, Canban, you've been PM'd the directions.

***

Food note: Sutton is close to the world-famous Brome Lake Ducks farm, which would make quite the highlight of Saturday's meal. It would mean, however, that the usual $5/meal contribution would not be enough, though...

Thoughts, opinions?

[jimmy]

Prices have held fast since you (Helen) started this thing.    It's time to raise the price.  

You want to continue to attract the "right" kind of people.  

All kidding aside, I've never believed that what you have collected in the past has covered the cost of food, nevermind all the time that goes along with hosting an event.  

IMHO, you should put out a much bigger coffee can this year.  I won't think twice about coffing up some more dosh.

[canban]

Prices have held fast since you (Helen) started this thing.    It's time to raise the price.  

You want to continue to attract the "right" kind of people.  

All kidding aside, I've never believed that what you have collected in the past has covered the cost of food, nevermind all the time that goes along with hosting an event.  

IMHO, you should put out a much bigger coffee can this year.  I won't think twice about coffing up some more dosh.

This from a guy who tosses quarters around like they were manhole covers.

Hmmmmmmm Duck Confit Hmmmmmmmm

I am in ...

[jimmy]

This from a guy who tosses quarters around like they were manhole covers.

"The world judges a man by the size of his sporran!"

[Huron52]

Prices have held fast since you (Helen) started this thing.    It's time to raise the price.  

You want to continue to attract the "right" kind of people.  

All kidding aside, I've never believed that what you have collected in the past has covered the cost of food, nevermind all the time that goes along with hosting an event.  

IMHO, you should put out a much bigger coffee can this year.  I won't think twice about coffing up some more dosh.

 I have to agree with Jimmy. I know I threw in more than I needed to the only time I was there! I hope that I can make it back again some day soon.  

[Corbeau]

SNOB menu is up!
linky

We've decided to stay away from duck -- a large quantity is complicated, it's not that filling and not that healthy (unless you compare it to the baconator...)

The theme for this year's food offering is "French Canadian Cuisine".

[Acadian Rider]

I am seriously thinking about going this year but cannot commit at 100% yet.  

[DmCole]

Plan on at least 1 day if not more, will confirm once closer to time.
Will have to decide  to say over or drive home.

here's hoping for a great summer

[NHFZ1]

JF,
Count me in.  I would not want to miss this event.

[jimmy]

Hey gang, we are getting closer to this event!!  Do we have enough bodies for an event this year?  I don't want anything to keep me from Helen's cooking!!

[Corbeau]

Hey gang, we are getting closer to this event!!  Do we have enough bodies for an event this year?  I don't want anything to keep me from Helen's cooking!!

It appears that we do:

Here's a list, from serious posts on this thread, PMs, emails and face to face communication at the National:

• Jimmy
• Canban
• DMCole
• NHFZ1
• cjgauthier and his SO
• Acadian Rider
• Shil
• Delegate1k

I still have to get in touch with the usual suspects, aka Richard and Marty, to figure out if they're coming or not.

[jimmy]

Leaving for the East in the morning.  I hope to see you a week from Friday.

[Corbeau]

I think I worked out an interesting route for Sunday:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/124735

It features in its 310 miles:

• A nice pass on 105, eastbound, in the North East Kingdom of VT
• Twisties with elevation change on 242, near Jay Peak
• Smugglers Notch on 108, home of the first-gear corners
• Appalachian Gap, on VT 17 (East to West, tight on the way up, sweepers on the way down)
• Tracy Rd in NY
• Twisting along the Au Sable River, NY, on 9N
• Crossing back into Quebec onto average roads -- we might find better ones in northern VT if we have time...

****

If, in a previous post or email, you haven't told me what is your arrival date/time, please let me know, so we can plan the meals a little better. Thanks in advance.

BTW, I'll be at SNOB-Central from Thursday (July 29), so you can arrive as early as you want on Friday.

****

BTW, if you're planning on having mechanical breakdowns, please note that I have very limited tools at my chalet (as opposed to my home, where I have a compressor and a very nice set of tools.) However, there's a Honda dealer 13 km away and a couple of mechanics in the village of Sutton.

[Corbeau]

OK, here's a work-in-progress: interesting roads in Quebec, for the Saturday ride. Unfortunately, it's only 161 miles, so I need to figure out how to expand it... View it as terrain and you'll see that our options are limited... (Damn, this is not WV...)

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/124739

[Acadian Rider]

Here's how it looks for me right now.  

I'm planning to take Friday to ride to SNOT Central.  I have two options to get there.  If I stay in Canada I'll have to do 1,000. kms of mostly slab.  If I cut across Maine I can get that down to just over 800 kms but on slower roads.  My arrival time therefore should be sometime in the evening.  

Susan who had showed interest early on is now out.  Something to do with too many kms in too short of a period of time.  Maybe next time.  

[NHFZ1]

I will be leaving from work, so....I should be arriving Friday between 6 and 7 pm.


Here are a couple of notes and suggestions for the Sunday ride.  

This Richmond to Richmond route is around 315 miles.

http://tinyurl.com/3x8yzf5

First a disclaimer.  Google maps is not playing very well today.  At Rouses Point the route is supposed to go straight into Vermont.  Google maps has its' own ideas so, just go straight if you go this route.

In late May I rode VT 105 and VT 242 around Jay Peak.  At that time they were pretty rough.  I don't know if they have improved since then.

VT 118 from East Berkshire to VT 109 has been paved within the last couple of years and I think is quite good.

VT 108 almost into Stowe I added a bypass around the downtown.  Unless you really want to go into town.

In New York:

Take CR 4 and CR42 (Ensign Pond Road) then Rt 9 to Tracy Road (I enjoy EP Road more than Tracy) then Rt 7 to Elizabethtown.   Rt 7 had a bunch of paving done last year.  You will enjoy this group of roads, trust me.

At Ausable Forks I have never been north on Rt 9.  I take Silver Lake Road (don't miss the right at Silver Lake) up to Rt 3 and Standish Road up to Rt 374 (all of this is CR 1).  Rt 374 had some paving last year but I don't know how far east it went from here.

The remainder of the NY County Roads would be all new to me.  I look at some of my reference sources and try to pick something that "feels good".  The Vermont roads on the return were chosen for the same "feels good" reason.

I sometimes select roads this way because I prefer to ride off the beaten track.  Sometines you ride some clinkers but sometimes you find some little gems.

Chuck

[Corbeau]

Thanks for the route suggestion, Chuck.

BTW, set your GPS for Richford, VT, not Richmond -- that one will get you somewhere south of Burlington (SSOB).

[DmCole]

trying to decide to meet on along Sat loop, or at chalet later, what's plan for Sunday?

PS I need to get directions  also

Hope weather is better than last year

[Corbeau]

Meeting during the Saturday loop could be difficult, but worth a try. Lemme think about the details.

The Sunday loop is a close-to-400 mile day in VT and NY. You could easily bail out three quarters of the way through (near Keene NY, say) and make your way back to Brockville. Or complete the loop and stay another night...

Directions PM'd...

***

CanBan, I haven't heard from you in a while...

[canban]

Just getting the new shoes on the Bandit tomorrow. I hope to depart Friday  early am cross at Ogdensburg and take the short way to SNOB Centrale!!! Arriving mid to late afternoon???

Any word from Richard?

canban

[chas]

trying to decide to meet on along Sat loop, or at chalet later, what's plan for Sunday?

PS I need to get directions  also

Hope weather is better than last year

 DmCole...what's your plan for Sunday?  Maybe want to join up for a Sunday ride?

[NHFZ1]

Thanks for the route suggestion, Chuck.

BTW, set your GPS for Richford, VT, not Richmond -- that one will get you somewhere south of Burlington (SSOB).

Oops wrong name but, the right place on the map.

[chas]

The Crown Point Bridge is under construction and you will have to ferry across.  The best riding in the Adirondacks is south of route 9.  Play there and use the interstate to shuttle home quickly.  I could show you some good stuff to the North on Sunday.  The best are Tracy Road, Ensign Pond Road, and Lincoln Pond Road. I'm waiting to hear from Mr. Cole.  Maybe we could meet at a designated time once you cross into N.Y.

[Corbeau]

Thanks to all of you who have checked in... It appears that we'll be a dozen for Saturday's supper, featuring tourtière (French Canadian meat pie)

Info on the ferry at Crown Pt: http://www.ferries.com/temporary_schedule.asp

Weather forecast for the weekend:

Friday: A mix of sun and cloud. Low 10. High 21. (Low 50. High 70, in imperial units)
Saturday: A mix of sun and cloud. Low 9. High 24. (Low 48. High 76, in Yankee units)
Sunday: A mix of sun and cloud. Low 11. High 25. (Low 52. High 77, in Fahrenheit)

[DmCole]

geared up, ready to go, I think Ill take the scenic route, should be checking in late afternoon, early evening

He's to great weather, good riding

[DmCole]

Back home, thanks JF & Helen for the great time, as always
The Chalet was great, best 2 days of riding I have had in a long time

As always the food and hospitality was far more than expected.
Thanks for making this a event not to miss
Love the Magic Tricks

From SNOB 2010

Smugglers Notch

From SNOB 2010

[Delegate1k]

Home again, Home again.  Had a great time at SNOB, want to thanks our host again for a wonderful time and showing us some great roads.

Dinner




The Corral on Saturday evening

[Dex]

Wonderful time meeting new people, seeing familiar faces, great conversation and really enjoyable riding,...

Outstanding hospitality, many thanks to Helen, JF and the kids for letting us into their lives  

S.N.O.B Rocks!!

[Acadian Rider]

Thanks for Saturday's ride J.-F.  The scenery was excellent and I appreciated the way you waited for everybody at each intersection.  When I left the group after lunch I rode to Montmagny before stopping for the night.  

Yesterday I made a little detour and rode to Mont-Joli and then down through the Matapedia Valley before hitting the East side of NB.  

Thanks to J.-F. and hurricane Helen for putting up this event.  

Here's a couple of pictures from the Saturday's monster traffic jam in Magog caused by the Spyders.    







The reports are that they were more than 400.  

[canban]

Home safe!!

Another spectacular event.

Thanks Helen, JF, P and T !!

A report to follow.

[jimmy]

Home safe!!

Another spectacular event.

Thanks Helen, JF, P and T !!

A report to follow.

[canban]

The Hosts Sunday 6 AM



The Notch  Sunday 10 Am  Conrad and Judy ??





The App Gap  Sunday Noon


All times approximate

Report to follow

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