Day 56 Quebec City (Rest Day)
Pointe-Du-Lac to Quebec City
Distance: 145 km
August 18, 2006
After closer inspection of the questionable bunks in the dorms, we decided to sleep in our wee tent on the beach; it was a beautiful night, with a sky jammed with twinkly-stars.
At approximately 4:00 a.m, which must be the witching hour for skunks, Lewis and I woke up to the overwhelming stench of the wretched creature once again-this time we had left our ‘fly’ cover off the tent, leaving us more exposed to the elements, skunks included.
We both lay there dead-still hoping not to anger the stinky bugger in any way, so that we would not have to suffer the same fate that the Aussies did.
After what seemed like an eternity, the fetid bouquet dissipated, and we could breathe once again-my heart was racing though, as I was terrified it had given our bare tent a wee squirt of the dreadful goo just for good measure.
Today’s ride was one of my favorite so far; the scenery in Quebec keeps getting better, and apparently as we move along the St. Lawrence, the scenery continues to impress.
What definitely adds to the enjoyment are the roads and wide shoulders for us to ride on-- not having to worry about getting creamed by a transport truck every few minutes, not surprisingly, increases the enjoyment factor of the ride considerably.
Quebec has however, had some of the best and worst roads; coming into and leaving Montreal had us riding through massive pot holes, on streets with more cracks on it than at a plumber’s convention.
The French definitely have got two things right; their attitude towards cyclists, with the wide shoulders and considerations given to riders, and in their food-some of the best bakeries and restaurants we’ve come across have been here.
We stopped off for lunch at a very typically French little restaurant-café that is only open in the summer.
When one walked into the place it was dripping with cutesey-French-European charm, right down to the toilet with was in a separate little chamber, with a pull cord for the light.
We had home made lemonade which came in a pretty glass with mint, and the most delicious veggie soup, and baguette with cheese- all really good.
It was so difficult to get back onto the bikes, in the heat, with a full belly in 30 degree heat, with another 75km to go-it took a while to convince our bodies to wake up and get back into the ride.
Coming into Quebec City had us descend some steep hills which gave us an incredible view of the river, and homes along it, followed by a leg-cracking hill on a road that was under construction.
This added to the ‘technical’ factor when climbing it (like having to sprint up the hill in front of impatient cars, over gravel-was pretty fun as I felt like I was playing some wacky video game.)
We’re staying at Laval University in residence, and since it’s now a rest day, a few of us ventured into the old city for some good ol’ drunken times last night, and boy did some of our crew do their party-due diligence, as some of them got home at 4:30 a.m, Lewis included, drunk, as they say, as a skunk.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Day 55 Pointe-Du-Lac, Quebec
Mont St-Hillaire to Pointe-Du-Lac
Distance: 130 km
August 17, 2006
In more Aussie news they not only had to chuck out their beloved tent, but their pillows and then their air mattresses as well, making last night’s sleep very uncomfortable for them, on the cold hard inhospitable ground.
Luckily tonight we’re staying at a camp where we are sleeping in dorms so they are spared having to sleep on the hard floor again, until we reach Quebec City tomorrow where they can purchase new, skunk-scent-free bedding.
Our ride today was very pretty, the Quebec countryside is quite beautiful with its rolling terrain and little farms.
We rode with ‘the fun people’ today, who ride at a more relaxed and enjoyable pace, and actually do take the time to smell the proverbial roses along the way.
Mercury must be in retrograde again as four people got flat tires today, slowing the ride down even more which was fine, as we no longer feel the urge to race into camp; it seems that the pace of the rides, at least for us has become a lot more relaxed compared to how we were riding in the beginning when we were ‘caning’ it on almost every ride (hence the dead legs) whereas now we are ambling along and enjoying the country side a lot more.
We’re staying at a defunct nun’s retreat in a rundown dorm; the beds look pretty dodgy, so most people are sleeping in their tents-the grounds are amazing, as we’re backing onto a beach and have the whole place to ourselves, so we can do as we please.
Mont St-Hillaire to Pointe-Du-Lac
Distance: 130 km
August 17, 2006
In more Aussie news they not only had to chuck out their beloved tent, but their pillows and then their air mattresses as well, making last night’s sleep very uncomfortable for them, on the cold hard inhospitable ground.
Luckily tonight we’re staying at a camp where we are sleeping in dorms so they are spared having to sleep on the hard floor again, until we reach Quebec City tomorrow where they can purchase new, skunk-scent-free bedding.
Our ride today was very pretty, the Quebec countryside is quite beautiful with its rolling terrain and little farms.
We rode with ‘the fun people’ today, who ride at a more relaxed and enjoyable pace, and actually do take the time to smell the proverbial roses along the way.
Mercury must be in retrograde again as four people got flat tires today, slowing the ride down even more which was fine, as we no longer feel the urge to race into camp; it seems that the pace of the rides, at least for us has become a lot more relaxed compared to how we were riding in the beginning when we were ‘caning’ it on almost every ride (hence the dead legs) whereas now we are ambling along and enjoying the country side a lot more.
We’re staying at a defunct nun’s retreat in a rundown dorm; the beds look pretty dodgy, so most people are sleeping in their tents-the grounds are amazing, as we’re backing onto a beach and have the whole place to ourselves, so we can do as we please.
Day 54 Mont St-Hillaire, Quebec
Hudson to Mont St-Hillaire
Distance: 120 km
August 16, 2006
Breaking news-a skunk felled the mighty Aussie Taj!
This morning at approximately 4:00am the little, furry, black and white creature was nosing around their tent, when Peter, thinking whatever it was that was scratching and poking around could be discouraged by a solid ‘whack’, was unpleasantly surprised when the beast retaliated by spilling the nasty, oily contents of it’s smelly little stink-sack all over the Kookaburra Lodge.
Following the nasty spillage from the wicked creature, the contents of the Kookaburra Lodge came tumbling out of the tent, coughing, splattering, and gasping for air.
Poor Carol-Anne was retching and vomiting from the foul stench.
Since their tent had been sprayed, all the contents of the tent were tainted by the fetid stench; they could not return to sleep, so got up for a cup of tea to ponder their stinky predicament.
In the meantime, the brazen skunk returned for more excitement, and was nosing around the trash it had scattered around the camping area; Peter decided it was time to exact revenge and sprayed it with the hose-this time sending it away, albeit probably wet and stinky.
It probably went away to brew another rank and malodorous concoction-this time embittered even more by its last experience, and even more trigger happy for the next opportunity to soil some more poor unsuspecting campers.
The camp employee happily reported that a few days earlier someone had made their way tearfully into the camp store looking for skunk spray, as the same thing had happened to them.
Another guy in charge (we think) came roaring up to our site in a golf cart to investigate the scene of the crime.
He seemed rather proud that one of his skunks had sprayed another camper, as he had a huge grin on his face, and obviously found the situation very amusing (so did we, but not at that moment, it was too soon for humor.)
He kept asking, “Was eet the beeg wan or the leetle wan that make pee on your tent?”
“Ze beeg wan is the mamma skunk and she ees the wan to make pee on the tent.”
(They weren’t sure, but assumed it was the ‘beeg wan.’)
The poor Aussies, what a terrible thing to have happen; they can now say that they have truly had The Canadian Experience.
I think we should be warned more of skunks than of bears as they are definitely more prolific and not as scared of us-as-we-of-them (like the spiders and bears.)
Carol-Anne, understandably angry and embittered by this unwelcome of Canadian experiences suggested that we write to our MP’s and lobby for the abolition of skunks.
And wouldn’t you know it that this furry little stinker set in motion a series of most unfortunate events that ultimately led to us having one of our longest days ever.
To second the bad start to the day, we missed the first turn and ended up back-tracking 6 km-not an auspicious start to the day, when just 2 km into the ride.
Since the Aussies had such rotten luck, we decided to stick with them and go to a Canadian Tire to buy a new tent (The Almighty Taj was chucked-along with pillows!)
While there, Lewis took out his wallet to use a coin to change his cleats; the wallet didn’t make it back into his pocket, and thus, we set out-sans wallet.
Approximately 50 km away the wallet-less pocket was discovered when trying to buy lunch in Montreal-panic ensued, and was followed by frantic phone calls to all the places we’d been along the way-no such luck.
We spent a while in Montreal on the phone, trying to negotiate our way through the language and bureaucracy at Canadian Tire to reach the appropriate people.
I know that one can end up pulling out one’s hair when trying to get through in one’s own language, so never mind in French.
After cancelling the credit cards and sitting around with long faces for the appropriate length of time, we pressed on.
Poor Peter was carrying the tent in a backpack, and this was not the day to be doing it as the roads were terrible; cracked, bumpy and festooned with holes-making it a very slow and arduous ride.
Even though the distance was short, it turned out to be one of our longest days yet, as we got in at 6:00pm, just in time for the dinner clang.
Poor Aussies-all their stuff reeks and it will probably take ages for the smell to dissipate-oh well, at least they can boast to their grandkids that they were sprayed by a genuine piece of Canadiana!
They have not had good luck with the beasts and insects in Canada; Carol-Anne has been stung twice by bees, once giving her a bad infection that necessitated a visit to the doctor followed by antibiotics, and then she was stung in her tent in the wee hours of the morning before dawn (why and how a bee got into the tent shall always remain a mystery.)
Poor Peter had to wake up and tend to another bee sting, while all bleary eyed and half asleep, and Carol-Anne had to suffer the indignity of another sting.
As it turns out Bob also lost his wallet today, but had the fortune of having someone decent find it, as they turned it into the local police station (who called his wife and left a message, “please call the police regarding your husband Bob.”)
Not the kind a call one wants to receive, but in this case, with a happy ending-not so for us unfortunately, leading me to think this Karma thing is a bunch of crap as I have found a few wallets and have always returned them with all the contents still inside!
Hudson to Mont St-Hillaire
Distance: 120 km
August 16, 2006
Breaking news-a skunk felled the mighty Aussie Taj!
This morning at approximately 4:00am the little, furry, black and white creature was nosing around their tent, when Peter, thinking whatever it was that was scratching and poking around could be discouraged by a solid ‘whack’, was unpleasantly surprised when the beast retaliated by spilling the nasty, oily contents of it’s smelly little stink-sack all over the Kookaburra Lodge.
Following the nasty spillage from the wicked creature, the contents of the Kookaburra Lodge came tumbling out of the tent, coughing, splattering, and gasping for air.
Poor Carol-Anne was retching and vomiting from the foul stench.
Since their tent had been sprayed, all the contents of the tent were tainted by the fetid stench; they could not return to sleep, so got up for a cup of tea to ponder their stinky predicament.
In the meantime, the brazen skunk returned for more excitement, and was nosing around the trash it had scattered around the camping area; Peter decided it was time to exact revenge and sprayed it with the hose-this time sending it away, albeit probably wet and stinky.
It probably went away to brew another rank and malodorous concoction-this time embittered even more by its last experience, and even more trigger happy for the next opportunity to soil some more poor unsuspecting campers.
The camp employee happily reported that a few days earlier someone had made their way tearfully into the camp store looking for skunk spray, as the same thing had happened to them.
Another guy in charge (we think) came roaring up to our site in a golf cart to investigate the scene of the crime.
He seemed rather proud that one of his skunks had sprayed another camper, as he had a huge grin on his face, and obviously found the situation very amusing (so did we, but not at that moment, it was too soon for humor.)
He kept asking, “Was eet the beeg wan or the leetle wan that make pee on your tent?”
“Ze beeg wan is the mamma skunk and she ees the wan to make pee on the tent.”
(They weren’t sure, but assumed it was the ‘beeg wan.’)
The poor Aussies, what a terrible thing to have happen; they can now say that they have truly had The Canadian Experience.
I think we should be warned more of skunks than of bears as they are definitely more prolific and not as scared of us-as-we-of-them (like the spiders and bears.)
Carol-Anne, understandably angry and embittered by this unwelcome of Canadian experiences suggested that we write to our MP’s and lobby for the abolition of skunks.
And wouldn’t you know it that this furry little stinker set in motion a series of most unfortunate events that ultimately led to us having one of our longest days ever.
To second the bad start to the day, we missed the first turn and ended up back-tracking 6 km-not an auspicious start to the day, when just 2 km into the ride.
Since the Aussies had such rotten luck, we decided to stick with them and go to a Canadian Tire to buy a new tent (The Almighty Taj was chucked-along with pillows!)
While there, Lewis took out his wallet to use a coin to change his cleats; the wallet didn’t make it back into his pocket, and thus, we set out-sans wallet.
Approximately 50 km away the wallet-less pocket was discovered when trying to buy lunch in Montreal-panic ensued, and was followed by frantic phone calls to all the places we’d been along the way-no such luck.
We spent a while in Montreal on the phone, trying to negotiate our way through the language and bureaucracy at Canadian Tire to reach the appropriate people.
I know that one can end up pulling out one’s hair when trying to get through in one’s own language, so never mind in French.
After cancelling the credit cards and sitting around with long faces for the appropriate length of time, we pressed on.
Poor Peter was carrying the tent in a backpack, and this was not the day to be doing it as the roads were terrible; cracked, bumpy and festooned with holes-making it a very slow and arduous ride.
Even though the distance was short, it turned out to be one of our longest days yet, as we got in at 6:00pm, just in time for the dinner clang.
Poor Aussies-all their stuff reeks and it will probably take ages for the smell to dissipate-oh well, at least they can boast to their grandkids that they were sprayed by a genuine piece of Canadiana!
They have not had good luck with the beasts and insects in Canada; Carol-Anne has been stung twice by bees, once giving her a bad infection that necessitated a visit to the doctor followed by antibiotics, and then she was stung in her tent in the wee hours of the morning before dawn (why and how a bee got into the tent shall always remain a mystery.)
Poor Peter had to wake up and tend to another bee sting, while all bleary eyed and half asleep, and Carol-Anne had to suffer the indignity of another sting.
As it turns out Bob also lost his wallet today, but had the fortune of having someone decent find it, as they turned it into the local police station (who called his wife and left a message, “please call the police regarding your husband Bob.”)
Not the kind a call one wants to receive, but in this case, with a happy ending-not so for us unfortunately, leading me to think this Karma thing is a bunch of crap as I have found a few wallets and have always returned them with all the contents still inside!
Day 53 Hudson
Ottawa to Hudson, Quebec
Distance: 164 km
August 15, 2006
This morning we all met at the Parliament buildings at 8:15 to have our pictures taken; as usual Lewis and I were the last to leave Carlton, and scrambled to catch up with everyone else so we could also be immortalized with the rest of the TDC in front of our nation’s government HQ.
One of the riders works for National Capital Commission, and organized for us to visit his work around the corner from the Parliament Buildings and have coffee and donuts with the NCC team; they had very kindly put a package together for us, which included maps of Ottawa as well as information about what was happening around town-this was very useful as usually we have no clue what is happening and end up wandering around whatever town, aimlessly hoping to figure out what is going on-and usually don’t, so end up doing laundry and hanging about in internet cafes on our rest days.
The NCC presented us with pins in the shape of the maple leaf made from the old copper roof of the Parliament Buildings-we were all very happy to hold a piece of Canadian history in our hot little hands.
After meeting and greeting with the nice people from the NCC, Bob took us on a route out of Ottawa, and was coincidentally the route on which he rides to and from work daily, and in fact he ended up taking us right past his house.
We also rode past 24 Sussex Drive, and stopped to make faces at the stoic-looking Governor General’s Guards wearing the bear skin hats.
Once we arrived at Bob’s house we couldn’t resist jumping off our bikes and rolling around on his front lawn (very nice and manicured) and had his neighbor take some more pics (our second lot that morning.)
We had a wonderful morning getting a full tour of Bob’s life; his work and work mates, his bike commute to work, and then his house-we all feel very much closer to him at this point.
Too bad we don’t all get to do this.
Since we’d started the ride in such a jocular mood, the rest of the ride seemed to follow suit; for the early part of the day we stayed together-something we never do, and gave the ride a feeling something like a traveling circus, replete with clown and air horns (recently picked up by a couple of riders in retaliation to some of the idiotic motorists.)
We took a ferry which took us right into Quebec, making this our fifth province.
The rest of the ride was very pretty-riding in Quebec has always been a favorite for cyclists due to the scenery.
Ottawa to Hudson, Quebec
Distance: 164 km
August 15, 2006
This morning we all met at the Parliament buildings at 8:15 to have our pictures taken; as usual Lewis and I were the last to leave Carlton, and scrambled to catch up with everyone else so we could also be immortalized with the rest of the TDC in front of our nation’s government HQ.
One of the riders works for National Capital Commission, and organized for us to visit his work around the corner from the Parliament Buildings and have coffee and donuts with the NCC team; they had very kindly put a package together for us, which included maps of Ottawa as well as information about what was happening around town-this was very useful as usually we have no clue what is happening and end up wandering around whatever town, aimlessly hoping to figure out what is going on-and usually don’t, so end up doing laundry and hanging about in internet cafes on our rest days.
The NCC presented us with pins in the shape of the maple leaf made from the old copper roof of the Parliament Buildings-we were all very happy to hold a piece of Canadian history in our hot little hands.
After meeting and greeting with the nice people from the NCC, Bob took us on a route out of Ottawa, and was coincidentally the route on which he rides to and from work daily, and in fact he ended up taking us right past his house.
We also rode past 24 Sussex Drive, and stopped to make faces at the stoic-looking Governor General’s Guards wearing the bear skin hats.
Once we arrived at Bob’s house we couldn’t resist jumping off our bikes and rolling around on his front lawn (very nice and manicured) and had his neighbor take some more pics (our second lot that morning.)
We had a wonderful morning getting a full tour of Bob’s life; his work and work mates, his bike commute to work, and then his house-we all feel very much closer to him at this point.
Too bad we don’t all get to do this.
Since we’d started the ride in such a jocular mood, the rest of the ride seemed to follow suit; for the early part of the day we stayed together-something we never do, and gave the ride a feeling something like a traveling circus, replete with clown and air horns (recently picked up by a couple of riders in retaliation to some of the idiotic motorists.)
We took a ferry which took us right into Quebec, making this our fifth province.
The rest of the ride was very pretty-riding in Quebec has always been a favorite for cyclists due to the scenery.
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