Ken, Sue, Stewart & Jessie's Eastern Canada Tour

MONTREAL TO QUEBEC LOG

DAY 8 Montreal +++ km by foot May 18/02 Saturday

Up early to head out for a walk to downtown and to meet Louise at the music hall for a great hour of clarinet music. Thanks to Catherine for showing us the way across Mount Royal as with all the turns we would have been lost for sure. It is a beautiful park even though it is slow to get into spring. It is COLD here. We are in fleece and still nippy.

We walked to the old part of Montreal. To the wharf area. Very larg buildings for the time they were built. We went with Louise and her friend Patrick to the museum of Archaeology and History to learn about "the Main" which is Saint-Laurent Street today. Very interesting to see what the buildings were built for and what is in it today.

We went to a play with Louise and Patrick called Divinity Bash/nine lives. I don't think I got everything, but did refresh my liking of live theatre. Patrick is a play writer so he knew a lot of the actors. It was in English so made it easier for us. We will search for our "blue dog" which was sort of imaginary "happiness" source in the play.

Very late night for us after a cab ride back to Catherines. She had to work 3-11 so we were sorry not to spend the night with her.

Tired

km M A T h min TD 300.26 km

DAY 9 Montreal +++ km by foot May 19/02 Sunday

We intend to head off to hear a boys Choir at a church this am and then tour more of Montreal's old sections with Louise.

We went to the Bacilica to tour the church grounds...I think the priest would be amazed at the numbers of people touring his shrine. Haven't been to a Catholic Church before, but people kept walking in and out of the service. The sanctuary can hold 3000 in seats or 10,000 if standing ! The stain glass windows are really impressive. We walked for ~6hrs about Montreal's streets. The houses are so great with bright colors and very distinctive architecture. I'm sure Megan would love the look. We had an opportunity to take a look at an open house... 1600sq ft on one level (3 bed rooms) lovely hardwood floors, 2 decks, in a 3 plex (up/down) in one of the old walkups with the steep stairs from the street...$269. which doesn't seem as expensive as I expected. I just love walking the streets and looking at the walkups.

We walked all the way to the Botanical Gardens. The tulips were gorgeous and the flowering crabapples really pretty. Would be nice to see it in summer with more variety.

We took the metro back which was fast and amazingly clean. It is so neat. There are little grocery stores on every street and lots of small fruit/veggie shops. Perfect for me! Really enjoyed getting together with Louise once more. The weather is not cooperating...mittens and headbands on and off thru the day. Jessie bought some fleece pants...patagonia.. $ ++, but she will have a warm butt next time ...tomorrow night in the tent. Must pack up and be ready for an early morning start.

sore feet from hoofing it many km TD still 300.26km

DAY 10 Montreal to Iberville QC 64.81 km May 20/02 Monday Victoria Day

Left 0830 from Catherines. 0 traffic as it is Victoria Day... slow travel thru town to Jacque Cartier Bridge. Mistake... 6 flights of stairs up with bikes and gear as bridge deck work in progress.(also down on other side) another time find the biking bridge! Sprinkling +10C. Nice paved path thru Longueuil... very nice but not well marked. Almost missed overpass over 116 and railway. Great spiral up ramp (someone was thinking of loaded bikes) Good path all the way to Chambly where we enjoyed lunch as the sun teased us along side of small Chambley basin. A nice fellow who didn't speak English showed us by bike to get to the canal route from town...nice people like this all the way along. The canal is an active lock system to ferry boats to the St Lawrence I guess. Bridges turn on turnstiles so they are along side of canal then across for cars.

We didn't make our planned destination so in a small hotel in Iberville as camping not open...info center suggested June 24!! Don't go in for early camping here! Overcast and raining at 1900...really looking forward to warm weather! Bikes running well. Jessie noted we are getting "strange Looks" from passers by. ++people on bikes with kids on trail.a.bikes, or wagons or walking No roller bladers today. Long day. Tired.

64.81 km M38.4 A 13.6 T 4h 44min TD 365.07 km

DAY 11 Iberville to Bromont 71.73 km May 21/02 Tuesday

0830 seems like the departure time...28k to Farnham on rock dust path thru farmland. Seems a little rough last 2km washboardy Cold. Fluffy clouds 12C but feels like fall. Good shopping in Farnham and a B&B here. 0 W/c on trail, but lots of picnic tables...must get hot as they are often under trees or in little gazebos. Paved thru to Bromont-Velo 2000 Campground right beside the trail...grumpy caretaker Set up and off 2k to town with good food shop and fast food. Rained enought to just get us wet, so hiding in the tent at 1730. More flowers along the way...trilliums strawberries prolific, dandelions all about and other pink and white ones new to us. Hope we stay warm enough it is 10C now.

71.73 km M30 A 14.4 T 4h56min TD 436.80 km

DAY 12 Bromont to Mount Orford Pk 43.5 km May 22/02 Wednesday

Well Second night out of 11 to be in the tent and we still froze our buts off!! Very frustrating...when is summer coming here! Up to the sun at least!

Paved trail to Waterloo mostly flat...Directions in trail book incorrect for getting to the next trail so after a major up hill, 1.8km of gravel and 4k on the hiway with no shoulder we are back on a really nice country road with no traffic. Lots of up hill, mega pot holes so the down hill is with brakes on to The Orford park trail which was crushed stone and not too bad. Campground is really nice by Lac Stukely. Not well set up for those arriving by bike path as you have to ride 12k to register. We were able to do so by phone. Emergency meal night as we didn't realize the camp was so far from the town. The sun shone all day, but no suntanning by the lake as the black flies are voraceous!! If it's not one thing it's another. Hopeing to be warm tonight

43.5 km M35.4 A 11.3 T 3h 50min TD 480.30 km

DAY 13 Mount Orford to Racine QC 67.51km mostly into the wind May 23/02 Thursday

Well we woke up to the sun on our tent and we were warm last night. Did some star gazing at 4am with a walk to the wc. Full moon alighting our way. Of early to see Mount Orford Center which has a hostel where we would have been out of the bugs!! Decide to change plans and go to Racine where there is a hostel.

The first part was going north from Magog on a country road which was most pleasant. Then we turned into the wind on 220. Not much traffic, view of Mt Orford, rolling hills until Bonsecour when there were big hills. Small stores in each town. Knowone must eat vegetables as very few to pick up. At Saint Anne de Larachelle we headed north on 243. Lots more traffic and gravel shoulder. When the trucks passed the spewed us with grit. We have been riding in the sun all day so are getting pink. At Lawrencevile we took a bike path that was fine gravel, but in spots so washboarded and loose like sand I would prefer the hiway. Once at Racine we headed to the hostel to find it 2km out of town. We pushed our bikes up a steep rutted trail of a road the .5km to the building. The black flies were eating us alive! Our host says the flies are out for the next 2 weeks so we will be well eaten by then.

The route was more strenuous today, but well worth the side trip to see the change in country side. The forests much thicker with that red tinge. Nowonder the fall colors are so great here, the trees have red even in the spring.

Happy Anniversary 32 to Jessie and Stewart... just seems like yesterday at their wedding. Well I think we will opt for the hiway tomorrow as you see more of the towns and unless it is a paved path it is tough going on a loaded bike. Jessie says it's like being in the circus. I think its like a dog with his back end going opposite to the front..anyways it must be hard on our bike frames.

67.51 km M44.6 A 12.7 T 5h 17min TD 547.81 km

DAY 14 Racine QC to Camping Melborne 56.29km May 24/02 Friday

After a visit to the local store for spinch salad makings/food we headed to the campsite...up...up...in Montaray (across the river from Richmond) to camp Melbourne 2000 ($17.25 special rate for bikers) Able to set up the tent very quickly before it started to rain. Bingo was the event of the evening although we were too tired to work on our french tonight.

56.29 km M 47.9 A 12.4 T 4h 31min TD 604.10 km

DAY 15 Camping Melborne to Princeville 68.65 km May 25/02 Saturday

Left Melborne after awaking to sun on our tent...Oh so nice! Frost on the roofs and car windshields. Feeling the cold a little more today. Allergies abound. 12% grade back down to Richmond...could have been wonderful if the roads weren't so full of potholes. Garage sale day (200 families to support the figure skating club) Alas no warm toque to be found...Jessie did get a buy @ $ .25 for a hanky. Plaid at that! Easy Leisurly ride to Victoriaville. Lovely "hauts" stopping places with cute w.c. Trail crushed fine rock so little slower than road travel. We ate at the Beanarie...first "no" english ...almost got French toast (NOT called that) instead of waffles. We wanted poutine fries but waitress informed us that was "fast food". Apparently they were invented in this area. Birds are singing as we find our campsite. A nice man from Montreal who has been coming here for 14 years "Trailer Resort" was our first "boiling water" supplier. We had the most yummy instant mashed potatos with cheese sauce! Amazing what is good on the trail! Camping seems expensive for no utilities $20 Our pj attire is Not found in vogue....long johns, fleece suit, wool socks, head band, mitts & fleece vest close by depending on the night! We are hoping for sun...will even do a sun dance if it will help!

68.65 km M 28.4 A 12.6 T 5h 24min TD 672.75 km

DAY 16 Princeville to St Agapi (Lac Sacre Coeur) 74.79 km May 26/02 Sunday

Started off late as the rain started at 3am...overcast but not so cold as yesterday. Few drippy spots in the tent. Not sure if needs resealing or just operator error. Slept in until 8am then decided 11 hrs in the sac was enough. Dressed up for rain ...booties, long pants (I've been in shorts for 4 days), jacket and it just sprinkled on us.. we layered down soon. Took the trail as no shoulder on the road and rain spray was ++ wind at our backs. St Jolie was lunch of what else bagels, fresh veggies, hummus. Looked at a cute B&B but decided to go for camping.

Terrible last 5 km int the wind...saw a sign for camping heading north and changed directions. Jessies front rack decided to fall off shortly after leaving the busy road... luckly no evident damage...guess we need to do some preventative maintenance. Tried Pouline fries for our first time... kind of yummy and Jessie had a great burger. Campground more like a trailer cottage site with ~200 large sites . Very friendly host, but no other overnighters at present as it remains cool.

74.79 km M 28.3 A 15.1 T 4h 55min TD 747.54 km

DAY 17 Lac Sacre Coeur to Quebec 38.81 km May 27/02 Mondayday

Up to do bike maintenance after a really good sleep. Off on the trail 0930. Was sunny when we got up, but overcast on leaving. Not cold ~10C. Birds seem to love this weather. Singing up a storm. Black flies are starting to swarm again.

Headed back to Saint Agapit 8km to Bi-Sports a bike shop we had seen on our way thru. The fellow checked Jessies bike over, gave her a hand full of bolts, zip ties and tweeked the brake, gears for a large sum of $2.00 Lots of cyclists on other parts of the trail, but none about here. Headed off on the trail for Quebec and of course we got a little damp. Met 2 men close to 60, who were monitoring the trail. They are volunteers trained in first aide. They gave us a map of the area trails and lots of good conversation.They even carry bike parts to help stranded cyclists. After a nice dry lunch in a haut with a tarped table area we headed off in the rain for the Pont du Quebec. Interesting accessing the bridge as they were paving the trail so we did some over the bank to access the sidewalk. It is a old metal bridge with a narrow metal walkway, so walking was in order. No pictures as it was pouring really hard. The visitors information is very close and huge ? sign drew us to it. They were very good and we were able to contact Claudette. We spent a lovely evening with her and her friend Rita. Great to have a home cooked meal! and sleep in a comfy bed. Good friends are our treasures in life.

38.81 km M 31.1 A 14.0 T 2h 45min TD 786.35 km