Day Fifty Nine - Atholville

Last night a lot of riders had problems sleeping because of the karaoke that was going on until 2 am. I am lucky not to have been effected too much. Ear plugs and noise cancelling head phones worked pretty well.

Despite the late night a lot of people left camp early. I left before Sam and when he caught up he was with Matt. We rode together for the day. 

Early on the cue sheet we weren't sure which way to turn but confirmed with my phone and it was correct. Parts of the road were obscured by fog on some downhill portions before we turned on the main highway. 

On the cue sheet said that today was a payback for yesterday. I'm not sure what that meant exactly. It wasn't too bad although the headwind was effecting others quite a bit. I found the day long and a little hit but not too bad.

At 67 km we stopped for lunch at  nice place that was at the top of a very steep hill. As we were leaving the town at Causapscal I passed a convenience store and thought that I should get some water but didn't. The cue sheet said the next town was the last place for services but when we got there everything was closed. 

At Routierville we went off course to drive over the beautiful covered bridge. It apparently had had some work on it lately to lift it higher above the river to prevent it from being washed away when the river is high. 

On the other side of the bridge we hoped to get some water but there was only an art gallery so we checked it out. The gentleman there was very nice and showed us his wife's art and the magazines that it had being published in. He offered to fill out bottles and we accepted. 

We continued on the route and stopped once more at a gas station to eat a couple of PBJ's and get a cold drink before we left Quebec. After that and before we crossed the bridge into New Brunswick we stopped at the Quebec sign and I got a picture at the sign because I didn't get one when we entered Quebec. Then crossed the bridge and got a picture with the New Brunswick sign. 

Morning fog after leaving campsite in St Damas, QC

Gallery tour guide in Routhierville, QC

Province number 8, New Brunswick

Day Fifty Eight - St Damas

I'm glad the forecasters were correct. The rain stopped shortly after 7 last night and didn't start up again. Even though I set up my tent when it wasn't raining my tent was very wet this morning. The humidity was still very high. Sam and I left camp with Matt and Viki as when the truck was packed up at 8.

We rode as a group which was nice for a change. The road was busy but not too busy. There was a bit of a tailwind which helped. There were some side routes on the cue sheet but we didn't take them.  Farmland was the scenery most of the way to Rimouski. 

We rode on the waterfront trail in Rimouski. It was very nice and reminded me a little of Dallas road in Victoria. We stopped at the Empress of Ireland memorial but none of us paid the money to check out the museum. We did take time to eat a sandwich and enjoy the sunshine on the banks of the St Lawerence. 

Past there we rode by waterfront houses and or cottages that were very nice. About 30 km past Rimouski I broke my rear derailure cable. I spent the rest of the  50 km using only two gears. 

With 14 km left I turned off the main highway on the road that leads to the campsite. In the cue sheet it talked about this part being hilly. I turned on the road and couldn't make it up on the easiest gear I had because it was on the smallest ring on the cassette because the broken cable. 

On the hill I flipped my bike over and rigged the bike to be in the 3rd easiest gear. I made it to camp an hour or so later and even enjoyed a really steep downhill. 

Once at camp Sam and Duncan helped my replace my broken cable. 

Arlen taking picture beside HMCS Onondaga in Rimouski, QC

Matt on bike trails through waterfront in Rimouski

Campsite just outside St Damase

Day Fifty Seven - Trois Pistoles

This morning I woke to the smell of fresh cow manure that had been spread on the adjacent field to our campsite. The temperature was 20 and even though it was raining it was to come in the afternoon. It was John, Kerry, Sam, and I first out of camp this morning. 

The cue sheet said that the terrain was easy today and it was right. It was a very pleasant ride especially with the strong tailwind that we had for most of the day. Equally as strong as the headwind that we had traveling to Youngstown. 

Most of the terrain was farm land. There were some small villages that had very beautiful houses. Kamouraska at 24 km was on a hill that overlooked the St. Lawerence. Notre-Dame du Portage was 28 km later and also had very nice houses that lined the street at shore level.   Both towns I would like to spend some more time in to visit the restaurants and spend a night. 

We stopped in Riviere du Loop for a break. It was still early but Matt was getting hungry and I knew that it was going to be a short day with the tailwind. Sam had plans to visit his family and meet us back at camp. 

It started raining very lightly off and on after our stop and at 100 km it started to fall more frequently. We took refuge from the weather at Fromagerie des Basques. It was a bakery and cheese shop. Matt and I were there for 45 minutes when Arlen stopped in. The three of us spent 3 hours there before we decided to brave the weather and make our way to camp. 

It was only 11 km to camp but during that time we were drenched. The plus side of it is that our tents weren't getting wet. Just before diner the rain stopped and after I put my tent up. The food was good and chocolate cake especially. 

The sky still has clouds now but they are pink. "Sailors delight". The forecast for tomorrow does not call for rain so it should be a really good day. 

Accidental selfie near Riviere-Ouelle, QC

Field near La Malbaie, QC

Colourful house near Saint-Andre, QC

Day Fifty Six - Riviere Ouelle

I skipped breakfast in the caf today as yesterday's wasn't so good. I opted for a PBJ from the truck. After loading my gear  and eating the sandwich I changed my front tire. Yesterday I had bought the match for what is on the rear of my bike, a Shuable marathon plus 700X32.

Once Sam and I started on the route I noticed a difference in the ride immediately.  When I went over cracks in the pavement it was much less noticeable. Something that I could have used weeks ago. We will be in Quebec for still a couple days and my hands and bike will benefit from the tire change. 

The route took us down a steep hill to the waterfront and then along a trail along the river to a ferry dock. The ferry takes us across the water to Levis. Sam and I were the first to board the ferry and we didn't see anyone behind us. Just before the ferry was to depart Arlen, Kerry, and John boarded. 

Once docked we ride as a group for the most of the day. We followed a trial off the ferry for a while until we got in the highway that we kept on for the remainder of the trip. 

During the first part of the day we had a strong headwind. We took turns in a pace line to help conserve energy. Our speed was suprisingly fast considering the wind. 

Our first stop was at 45 km at a cheese and bakery shop. They produced both right on premises. Arlen as seen below had his first ice cream of the day and eat a pastry at the same time. It was once of the best places that we have stopped at so far. 

We stopped for lunch inL'Islet-sur-mur. It was a bistro in an old house across the road from another huge church on the banks of the St Lawerence. 

Past there we saw a lot of carvings and sculptures around St-Jean-Port-Joli. It must be where a lot of artists live here on the Gaspe. 

We got into camp in good time at 4. Only two riders were there before us. Just after diner we felt the wind temperature change quite quickly from cold to warm. It was from the wind shifting directions from coming from the river and coming from the land. 

The closer we get to the Atlantic we can feel the effects of the cold water. 

This was another very good day despite the headwind. 

Quite a few rivers had very rock bottoms within this region

Arlen double fisting an ice cream and a pastery

French humor

Day Fifty Five - Rest Day Quebec City

Today being a rest day I slept in until 7. I was expecting my roommate Ken to wake me up earlier as he is a early riser normally. Breakfast is in the cafeteria one building away. Ken and I walked over together and were the first of the group to eat. The food was a real disappointment and most feel that a meal off the truck would have been better. 

Others filtered in shortly after I finished my rubber omelette. We were discussing what we were doing for the day. Matt and Kerry decided to join me for the hop on hop off bus tour of Quebec City. Other had errands to do and some where visiting friends for the day. I had never been to the city before. 

We boarded a city bus for the chateau Frontenac. The bus tour starts there. The city buses do not come into the old city so we got off and walked at the closest bus stop. 

Quebec City is the only fortified in North America. We passed a beautiful fountain on the way to the entrance to the old city.   As we approached the walls I was amazed at the size and that an entire city was inside the walls. The walls of the city are 2.7 km in length. 

We boarded the bus but couldn't get a seat on top.  We got off and on a couple of times and managed the last time to get a spot on top. The old city is very beautiful and worth a trip anytime of year if you haven't seen it. 

We left the bus tour to meet Duncan at a bike shop and after we had lunch. Duncan had a rabbit sandwich and we had more conventional sandwiches. We got back on the tour which happened to be the last bus of the day so we couldn't get off anymore. 

When we got back to the chateau we watch some street performers juggle. While watching we got rained on even though there were no clouds in the sky. On our way to the city bus stop to go back to the campus we saw a large rainbow. 

We got back and shared our stories of our day off with the other riders. 

Bon Homme and me in Quebec City

Kerry and Matt with a giant pigeon in Quebec City

Old Quebec city, only fortified city in North America.  Amazing!!

Day Fifty Four - Quebec City

My group cooked breakfast so I couldn't leave as soon as I wanted this morning. We did however have the truck packed and ready to go by 8. Viki and Matt joined Sam and I and we headed up the steep hill out of camp. 

As we were in a pace line of four our pace averaged 30 plus kms for the first 50 kms or so. We stopped at the Notre Dam church. We took time to go inside to see the stain glass. 

Our next stop was for water at shell station at 45 km. surprisingly the station had a cafe and there were fresh baked goods that they had cooked earlier in the morning. We took some time to eat and cool at the back of the store which has tables and chairs.  

The next stop felt very over due at 90 km. We were all really hit and most were running out of water. I also got to witness another first for Matt. It was his first banana split. When we went in the store felt really cold but it was really only 23 degrees. 

We made pretty good time the rest of the 143 kms. As we got closer to the city we had to climb a couple of short but steep roads.  We got to the University of Laval and registered and into our rooms before 4:30. I hadn't really eaten enough during the day and decided to skip the pizza and get some real food on campus. 

Overall it was a hot and muggy day with very little elevation gain. 

Beautiful Notre Dame du Cap in Trois Riviers

Cycling up a short steep hill out of the campsite

Crossing Riviere Batiscan north of Champlain QC

Day Fifty Three - Trois-Rivieres

Yesterday when we got to the campground we had a suprise very steep hill up to the campsite which was unexpected and not appreciated by all. It was nice this morning to go down jet though. I really like the downhills but some people on the tour say that you earn going downhill by peddling up hill. 

Before I left this morning I booked my ticket home and was happy to see that the price was $70 cheaper than if I booked it 6 months ago when I first started looking for the ticket. I will get the 5 am flight and end up in Victoria by 12:30. 

Along some of the route today we followed Richelieu River. It passed by a number of small communities including Saint-Marc-sue-Richelieu and Saint-Antoine-sue-Richelieu. There were many very nice houses lining the shore. In every little town there are always large churches that seem a little out of place because they are very over the top ornate and beautiful. 

At Sorel the Richelieu River empties into the St Lawerence. Sam and I managed to board the ferry across the St Lawerence River 5 minutes before it departed. Other riders also managed to board before it left. 

The cue sheet routed us off the main highway and along a more rural route where the road was fairly rough. That caused us to reduce our speed and as a result made us even more hot. The temperature for today was 31 but with the humidity it peaked to 40. 

We made a stop at a grocery store in St. Berthelemy to grab a cool drink and eat lunch under the shade of some large trees. We made plans to return to the main road after lunch as sightseeing at this temperature is a little crazy and we just wanted to get the kms in. 

Once back on the highway the tailwind allowed us to average 35 kmph. About 10 kmph from camp Sam and I switched bikes to see how each other's handled. It was a good experience and although the 520 is a good bike I prefers my Domane. 

A good day. 

On the ferry from Sorel QC to Saint Ignace De Loyola

Many old stone houses lined the route

Quebec has no shortage of impressive Catholic churches