Back Up to Two Groomers. + Update #1 Answers to the Government Covid Regulations

08:30 AM - January 14, 2022

Update #1 Government Guidelines as of Friday midnight, Jan 6 to Jan 30 midnight. #1 Individual sports, such as skiing, skating and snowmobiling, are permitted as long as distancing is maintained from those outside of a household bubble. Buildings that support outdoor sports, such as ski lodges and warm-up shelters, must maintain 50 per cent capacity, distancing and masking. Food and drinks cannot be served. #2 Restaurants are limited to drive-thru, takeout and deliveries only

“Our concerns as noted in the previous post. #1 We are basically running at 50% capacity right now, so that doesn't change. #2. Given that we can't serve food or drink indoors they basically want us to be a warm-up shelter, which will be costly for us. #3 Will the snowmobile pubic want a restaurant take out, to basically eat on their sled on a balmy -15 degree day. #4 Will we provide fuel service

As a result of our executive meeting this morning here is how we are going to address the current Covid rules brought down by the provincial government. We are going to keep the lodge open as a warming station with absolutely no eating inside. The kitchen will be open for take-out orders and only non alcohol beverages. Due to the above government guidelines our operating hours are going to be 12 PM to 6 PM everyday, which are cut back to alleviate our costs. We feel that this is only fair to keep the lodge open under the current circumstances although we may suffer financially in the meantime. We will have fuel during the hours that we are open.

As of last night at 8PM, we got back to two groomers in operation. We dropped it off at the breakdown site on St. Anne St. near the Host. Ron took it on a test run to the Atlantic Host then back on trail 19 East to East Bathurst where it arrived at 4AM this morning. Bryan replaced Ron at the shop and continued to Bass River where he will turn and head back to Nepisiguit on Trail 19 & 23 and continue to Rogers Lake. (will update later on its status). The Big Blue will head to Popple Depot this morning then back to Rogers Lake sometime today. It will then be moved back to its home base at Nepisiguit.

We had another successful Thursday Night wings special at the Lodge last night. A lot of questions are coming our way on what is the consequences of our lodge situation with this latest Covid level 3 status. We will be in executive discussions with what are we going to do. As for today it will be business as usual. Here are the points that pertain to us as a lodge and snowmobile club. #1 Individual sports, such as skiing, skating and snowmobiling, are permitted as long as distancing is maintained from those outside of a household bubble. Buildings that support outdoor sports, such as ski lodges and warm-up shelters, must maintain 50 per cent capacity, distancing and masking. Food and drinks cannot be served. #2 Restaurants are limited to drive-thru, takeout and deliveries only As you can see, this puts us in a very tough spot as to the operation of the Nepisiguit Lodge. It looks like the above will be in force until Jan 30. Here are the questions we have to answer for the lodge to remain a viable asset for us. #1 We are basically running at 50% capacity right now, so that doesn't change. #2. Given that we can't serve food or drink indoors they basically want us to be a warm-up shelter, which will be costly for us. #3 Will the snowmobile pubic want a restaurant take out, to basically eat on their sled on a balmy -15 degree day. #4 Will we provide fuel service These are basically hypothetical questions that we will have to look at. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/covid-19-new-brunswick-update-level-3-restrictions-hospitalizations-1.6312937