Sunday, June 9, our group of 35 quad riders left Amqui to embark on a dream ride. Indeed, over the next seven days, we will be on our Gaspésie Quad Tour. This journey of about 1,400 km will allow us to discover this region where each day becomes an adventure in itself.
As for me, this is my seventh tour, and like many other participants, I am simply hooked! I eagerly anticipate this ATV trip every year.
This week, I will try to present a brief daily summary. At the bottom of each of these articles, you will find a photo album.
Reunions
The day before departure, participants from all corners of the province converged on Amqui. This year, we even have an ATV rider from Nova Scotia among us. At dinner, it’s time for reunions. Indeed, for the majority of participants, this is not their first edition. Naturally, the atmosphere is festive and you can see a beautiful smile on every face.
The organizers take the opportunity to communicate the guidelines and special features for this edition. After dinner, everyone returns to their rooms for final preparations. We meet the next morning at the Matapédia ATV Club garage. That is where we will start our journey.
Departure of the Gaspésie Quad Tour
By 7 a.m., the parking lot at the club’s premises is buzzing with activity. Everyone ensures that everything is ready for departure. The weather is perfect. In fact, over the past 24 hours, a good amount of rain has fallen. Moreover, the forecast indicates light precipitation throughout the day. This will spare us from riding in dust.
Around 8:30 a.m., we get on our ATVs and set off. The first few hours pass without incident. However, the Gaspé Peninsula had a few little surprises in store for us…
A Few Flat Tires and…
Flat tires in Gaspésie are quite common. Even with a new set of tires, it’s rare to complete the Gaspésie tour without having to pull out the compressor and plugs at least once. So, as precise as a Swiss watch, we had a few flat tires. However, this was just a preview of what some of our ATVs would endure.
An Unusual Towing
Gaspésie’s rocky terrain struck late in the morning. Indeed, a rock damaged the ATV’s rim. After a session of hammering out the dent and several unsuccessful pressure tests, towing became the only option for our riding companion.
That’s when the experience of our guides and support team came into play. As you can see in the photos, we managed to tow the vehicle to Route 132, where a trailer picked it up. For our friend, Monday will be spent searching for a new rim so he can resume his Gaspésie Quad Tour.
The Gaspésie Trails Strike Again
In the late afternoon, we arrive at the hotel. It’s here that we notice other ATVs have suffered minor mechanical issues. Like a Formula 1 team, our support crew gets back to work in the hotel parking lot.
On the agenda: wheel changes and a bent handlebar. Without going into detail, I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.
Tomorrow, We Do It Again!
After a well-deserved dinner, everyone returns to their rooms for a restful sleep. This first day has been filled with anecdotes. Let’s hope the second day is more “normal.”
Our Gaspé Peninsula ATV Tour continues at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning!
