Donna and I booked to go dogsledding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing on Ile d’Orleans, a little way out of the city and (surprise, surprise) in the river. It was a good price, $120 per person for all three activities, with an hour available for each. The only difficulty was how to get there. No public transport goes to the island, and it would be at least $40 each way in taxi fees. We had enough time to spare, and I quickly did some sums and figured out it would be cheaper for us to hire a car. (It wasn’t until we got to the place that ran the activities that we learned there was a shuttle, but it was $55 and in the end the car cost less and gave us more freedom.)
We raced over to the Hilton, where the Avis rental place is, hired a (filthy on the outside) car and set off for the island. 30 minutes later we arrived at Le P’tit Bonheur, a hotel and activities centre in one. We were two of nine people going dogsledding. There was a family of four from Brisbane, one guy from China (who was on our flight) and two guys from Orlando, Florida.
When Glen and I went dogsledding in February, there was an hour of orientation. Here, there was fifteen minutes. I suppose for such a short ride and over fairly flat ground, there was no need to learn how to jump in and out of the sleds. The only thing we really needed to know was how to slow the dogs.
Unfortunately there wasn’t much snow on the ground so it wasn’t a true powder experience, but it was nice to get out and go riding with the dogs. Our team were a little slow, meanwhile the guys behind us kept coming up beside us until we eventually let them pass us completely and we stayed at the back. Far back, too.
We both took a turn driving while the other went along for the ride. After an hour, we returned and played with the dogs for a bit, including a few puppies, who were just adorable. So many of the dogs had heterochromia (two differently coloured eyes).
We then had a hot drink and then Donna and I went for a snowmobile ride. At first, I thought our guide was pretty morose and unfriendly but he soon cheered up once he was out on the snowmobile. Donna and I shared one snowmobile, me driving first with her behind, then swapping halfway.
They’re not as easy to drive as you think, especially when the snow is packed or worn away. Visions of running into a tree and exploding kept flashing through my brain. You have to keep quite rigid to keep the bike in line, and we barely went over 30kmh. It was fun though, and I’d like to have a go on one when there’s more snow to zoom over.
Back at the hotel, we grabbed some snow shoes and went for a ten minute walk before returning our stuff and heading off in search of food. Being out of season, all the restaurants were closed. We drove around the whole island (it took a while) before conceding defeat and getting some snacks at the service station.
We drove back across the bridge (must say it was really interesting to see the frozen river and the big chunks of ice) and stopped at Chute Montmoncery (waterfall) for a look before it got dark. Back into town, dropped the car off, went back to the room for a rest, then went for dinner at Chez Victor, a gourmet burger place. Nice food, good beer, then a walk home and another early night. What a day!
Travels with Dan 
What do you say, eh?