And Then There Were Four....

Thursday, July 29

Trois-Riviéres to Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures

On the road by 8:30 to a sunny sky. We had a really nice ride today again along the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Again we rode through nice agricultural land. Dairy farm after dairy farm lined the highway. Silos, some farms with 5 or 6, were common.

The terrain was again mostly flat with good shoulders to ride on. A strong cross wind challenged us at times. As we rode today we came upon a cyclist pulling a 'Bob' trailer. He is cycling from Kingston to Halifax to visit his brother. We rode the rest of the day with him and are camping with him tonight. Jerome is a retired teacher and a real storyteller! Lots of fun. He entertained us all evening with stories of his riding and of his twin brother who is a priest in Peru. He cycles about 10000 km a year and does some marathon running as well.

We are camping in the Canadien-Americana Campground in the town of Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures. We are about 15 km outside of Quebec City.

Daily Distance = 106.39 km. Time on the bikes = 5 hours 38 minutes. Average Speed = 18.86 km. Maximum Speed = 44.51 km. Wildlife Sightings = Great blue Heron.

Kevin = 3, Sue = 0, Eric = 1.

P.S. Eric had his second 100 km day today!

Soybeans, Corn, Soybeans, Corn....

Wednesday, July 28

Lanoraie to Trois-Rivières

On the road this morning by 8:00 well rested. Today's ride took us along the Fleuve Saint-Laurent. (How's that for using my limited French skills?). The river really is bigger than any other river we have ever seen. Freighters could be seen regularly heading 'up stream'. We rode past some of the best fields of soybeans and corn we have seen anywhere. The beans were 4 feet high and the corn at least 10 feet in height. I really am unsure if this is normal or if they have just had the 'perfect' year for growing crops. (Maybe it has something to do with the agricultural subsidization that Quebec farmers benefit from)!!! Silos everywhere and numerous dairy farms dotted the landscape. This is obviously one of Quebec's best agricultural regions.

As we rode along the river today we came upon an area that is a 'playground' for para-sailing. Lac Saint Pierre is a shallow area (part of the St. Lawrence) with lots of wind. While stopped for lunch we were treated to quite a show.

We are staying in the Motel Canadien, a small motel that caters to cyclists. It is located on the eastern edge of Trois-Rivières. As the afternoon progressed the sky got darker and darker. Upon learning of the possibility of thunderstorms and the beginning of some rain as we were leaving Trois-Rivières, the motel seemed like the prudent choice over camping in Champlain.

Daily Distance = 93.80 km. Time on the bikes = 5 hours 3 minutes. Average Speed = 18.57 km. Maximum Speed = 34.81 km. Wildlife Sightings = Great Blue Herons, Goldfinchs, Kestrel.

Kevin = 3, Sue = 0, Eric = 1.

P.S. We saw more tour cyclists today than any other day of our entire trip!!!

Well Needed Day off.....

Tuesday, July 27

Lanoraie

After 11 days on the road we decided to spend the day on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. There could be worse ways to spend a day of rest. While the laundry was being done, Eric and I played a game involving bean bag tossing for at least 2 hours. We then took a leisurely ride into town to the grocery store and to a 'Frite Wagon' for lunch. Eric is presently having a swim in the campground pool while Sue is having a nap on the picnic table! Tough life on the road!!!

We have been entertained today by large container ships heading both ways on the river. These ships are massive boats with the cargo containers stacked high above the decks. The banks of the river in this area are lined with 'estate' size houses. It would be interesting to know if these are just 'summer homes'. People really do have 'too much' money, or more likely, the banks 'lend out' way too much.

Daily Distance =15.82 km . Time on the bikes =52 minutes . Average Speed = 18.20 km. Maximum Speed = 32.53 km. Wildlife sightings = black squirrels.

Kevin =3, Sue = 0, Eric = 1.

P.S. While picking up supper at the local supermarket I met 2 more Cross Canada Cyclists who are our age and left Vancouver May 1. Hard to imagine cyclists slower than us! Now I will tell you the reason. He has a really bad knee so they are only able to ride when his knee allows it. He could hardly walk and the knee was visibly swollen. Hope they can continue and finish their dream.

Days Like Today Make You Forget All About The 'Crappy' Ones....

Monday, July 26

Saint-Jerome to Lanoraie

We were on the road by 8:40 after a full breakfast in the Hotel. We rode Saint-Jerome's bike path down to Hwy 158 and then turned east to continue our route around Montreal. Hwy 158 led us through really productive farmland. The sandy soil is obviously conducive to growing vegetables and I do not mean for market gardening. Carrots, beets, potatoes, asparagus, corn, cabbage, tomatoes, strawberries, and raspberries. (A greenhouse operation growing strawberries obviously has done OK! A 'massive' house has been built beside it with a 'private helicopter' in residence!) Dairy farms, sod farms, pork barns, and chicken barns dotted the landscape as well. The area grows 'abnormally' tall corn. While stopped for a washroom break we realized that the corn was at least 4 feet taller than Eric...6'1" + 4' = 10 feet. Must be all the fertilizer they spread!!!

Eric's comment part way through the day best sums up our ride today. "This is my favourite ride since I joined you guys". That says it all. A 'cross-tail wind', limited traffic, nice countryside, a town every 20 km, and sunshine made up our day. It really did make us forget about all the 'crappy' days on this adventure.

Today we managed to get to the St. Lawrence River. It is odd but this for me is 'right up there' with getting through the mountains of British Columbia. We are camping at the Chez Denise Campground outside of Lanoraie. It is a small campground right on the banks of the St. Lawrence.

Daily Distance = 96.34 km. Time on the bikes = 5 hours 10 minutes. Average Speed = 18.62 km. Maximum Speed = 51.93 km. Wildlife Sightings = Great Blue Herons, Cormorants.

P.S. We have decided to take a day off tomorrow to regenerate ourselves! (I have been told 'I' need it.)

Kevin=3, Sue=0, Eric=1

A Long Night....

Sunday, July 25

Pointe-au-Chene to Saint-Jerome

A long, long, long night. As cyclists we are ready to 'hit the hay' by 9:30 but last night that proved to be impossible. The 'live' band played late into the night. Lots of 'Doors' music, my era, but Jim Morrison the lead singer was 'not'! It seemed like most of the night was spent with people wandering by the tent and yelling. Sleep was impossible... Unless you were Eric!

On the road by 8:15 to a big black sky and a 'quiet' campground. Our ride today took us through agricultural land as we headed north of Montreal. Soybeans and corn dominated the cropland while poultry (both chicken and ducks) was the dominant livestock. For the most part we continued to have a good biking shoulder and flat terrain. The traffic was surprisingly heavy for a Sunday and we were surprised by how 'vibrant' a town Lachute was with numerous outdoor cafes busy at 10:00 a.m.

We decided to cut our day shorter than we planned. Sue's sore knees, Eric's quietness, and so I am told my 'testiness' (I cannot believe that) means we needed to find a Motel early in the afternoon so we could rest up both 'physically' and 'mentally'! We are staying at the Best Western in Saint-Jerome. As we entered Saint Jerome it became very obvious that an awful lot of people are cyclists. The old rail yard that is now a park had hundreds of cyclists in it.

Daily Distance = 69.60 km. Time on the bikes = 3 hours 56 minutes. Average Speed = 17.67 km. Maximum Speed = 33.07 km. Wildlife Sightings = Kestrel, Marsh Hawk, Coopers Hawk, Great Blue Heron.

Kevin = 3, Sue = 0, Eric = 1.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's Off to Quebec We Go....Finally!!!

Saturday, July 24

Orleans to Point-au-Chene

After a quiet evening and a great sleep we were on the road by 8:10. Thanks again, Maura for opening your house to 'total strangers'. Another 5 km of bike trail. And then onto Old Montreal Road for our ride to Cumberland and the ferry over to Quebec. When we rode down to the ferry we were allowed to ride right on and it took off before we were even off of our bikes. The cost...an astronomical 2 bucks each!

It is hard to believe that we are finally out of Ontario. What a 'huge' province especially to cross on bicycles. Five full weeks to cross it. I am not sad to see it behind us. A summary of it is almost impossible but suffice it to say that it threw a whole bunch of varied experiences at us. Now it is time for Eric to 'shine' with his French language skills.

The rest of the day was spent riding Hwy 148, which has a dedicated shoulder for cyclists. What a pleasure after much of Ontario and Manitoba. We made a stop at the Chateau Montebello, a huge log Hotel that you would have to 'mortgage the house' to stay at. It is so large that you could not get 1\4 of it in a photograph! An information stop, an ice cream stop, a grocery stop and a chat with a cyclist riding a 'recumbent tricycle' made for a long stay in Montebello.

We are staying at the La Place Rouge, a small campground that actually was full but gave us a 'piece of grass' to set up our tents on. That is what happens when you arrive on Christmas Eve in Quebec. At least that is the reason for a huge party tonight with live music in the campground. Sleep might be hard to come by! Anything for a party!

Daily Distance = 83.35 km. Time on the bikes = 4 hours 39 minutes. Average Speed = 17.94 km. Maximum Speed = 44. 93 km. Wildlife Sightings = Eastern Kingbirds, Dairy Herds.

Kevin = 3, Sue =0, Eric = 1 1\2 "really close to a complete flop".

If Only All Cities Had Bike Paths....

Friday, July 23

Stittsville to Orleans

We were treated to a two part dinner last night. We had barbecued salmon at 5:30 followed by steak at 9:30. It was certainly our own fault if anyone went to bed hungry and as you can imagine no-one did! By 7:30 am we were 'fuelling up' again with bacon and pancakes (with 'real' maple syrup), muffins and coffee. Thanks again to Lori and Lionel. Our stay at your B+B was greatly appreciated. (And the dinner was not bad either)! And thanks Simon for letting me be part of your 'batting' practice last night. It was fun!

We were off by 8:30 with 'muffins' in our bags for treats on the road. Ottawa is such a dream for cyclists. We jumped on the Trans Canada Trail in Stittsville (after some minor trouble finding it...all our own fault) and rode a combination of old rail trail (hard packed gravel) and paved bike trail all the way to the Rideau Canal beside the Parliament Buildings. What a pleasure to not have to ride with traffic.

Upon arriving at the canal we were able to watch boats being lowered through the lock system. Everything was 'manually' operated to let the water through and to open the 'gates'.

A quick picture taking session at Parliament Hill and a chat with a fellow Cross Canada Cyclist going west to east but much quicker than us as he had left from Victoria one month 'after' us. Oh to be young!

So now we are 'three' again. Sadly, Patrik and Taryn had to leave us today to return home. Thanks guys for being a part of our adventure. We had fun and I hope you did too!

We left the downtown of Ottawa by way of Sussex Drive passing many of the foreign embassies along the way. Yes, Eric got to see the Prime Minister's Residence! We then got onto the bike path and rode all the way to Orleans. While stopped and looking at our maps and obviously looking 'lost', we had two cyclists stop to ask if we needed help. While talking they asked us where we were staying tonight and we said that we were not sure. We were promptly offered one of their homes for the night. Thank you Maura for opening your house to 'total strangers'. Your hospitality is amazing!

Daily Distance = 54.54 km. Time on the bikes = 3 hours 27 minutes. Average Speed = 15.76 km. Maximum Speed = 36.08 km. Wildlife Sightings = Groundhogs, Cardinal, Mallard, Black Ducks, Canada Geese, Coopers Hawk.

Kevin = 3, Sue = 0, Eric = 1, Taryn = 0, Patrik = 0.

P.S. Tomorrow we will finally leave Ontario!!!

The Ottawa River is Really Big....

Thursday, July 22

Renfrew to Stittsville

On the road by 8:10 to a totally blue sky and 'riders' eager not to ride on Hwy 17. (Seems like getting away by 8;00 is really difficult....it might be the result of the crew 'rebelling' against my timeframe!).

We took the 'River Road' from Renfrew to Arnprior roday, County Rd #1. What a beautiful ride! The Ottawa River is really big!!! Far bigger than we remembered. It was more like following a lake with islands and homes lining the shoreline. Beats the heck out of riding in traffic.

After consulting the tourist information place in Arnprior (the local antique dealer), we set off on county roads for a leisurely ride to Stittsville. Yes, I can imagine people are going "Where the heck is Stittsville?". Well, it is part of Greater Ottawa. Believe it or not we are almost out of Ontario! Can hardly wait!!

We are staying at Lori, Lionel, Sebastien, Simon and Natalie's place. Lori and and Lionel are Eric's Aunt and Uncle. We are being treated 'royally' and have literally taken over the house! Thanks guys, we really appreciate it!

Daily Distance = 82.87 km. Time on the bikes = 4 hours 7 minutes. Average speed = 20.10 km. Maximum speed = 59.34 km. Wildlife settings = Mallards, Turkey Vulture, Eastern Kingbird.

Kevin = 3 1/2 "Way too close for comfort!" Sue = 0, Eric = 1, Taryn = 0, Patrik = 0

Downhill All the Way....

Wednesday, July 21

Denbigh to Renfrew

After a really nice dinner in the Swiss Inn Restaurant we had an early night. I guess that is the result of yesterday's hill climbing!

On the road by 7:45 to a partly sunny sky and the beginning of an easy ride. The highway was smooth with very little traffic and wound its way 'down' through a valley. The key word today was 'down'. It seemed like the ride was 'downhill all the way' to Renfrew. The consensus among all of us was that this was our reward for yesterday!

Today's downhills produced the top speed for the trip, over 70 km/hr. Some people might think this seems awfully fast and maybe even stupid. You would be right!!! But what a rush!!!

Today's ride took us through an area of marginal farmland dominated by old log barns with many of them still in use. We will have to drive this route sometime in the future and photograph all of the log buildings. As we got closer to Renfrew we came into 'good looking' farmland and lots of silos.

Upon arriving in Renfrew we were helped out by 2 different individuals in our search for our campground. One even gave us a map from her car and advice on a really nice route to Ottawa tomorrow.

We are camping in the KOA Campground west of Renfrew. It is just off highway 17, the TransCanada. There was just something wrong with the idea of getting to Renfrew and then heading towards Pembroke when we want to go to Ottawa. What the hell, what's 8 km out of our way?

Daily Distance = 80.66 km. Time on the bikes = 4 hours 7 minutes. Average speed = 19.55 km. Maximum speed = 71.44 km. Wildlife sightings = Red Breasted Nuthatch, Red Squirrel.

Kevin = 3, Sue = 0, Eric = 1 + "Thank God Patrik was there to grab onto!", Taryn = 1/2 "My bike fell down, but I didn't!", Patrik = 1/2 "Oops, there goes my bike!"

Hills, Hills, and More Hills....and then THE DENBIGH HILL.....

Tuesday, July 20

Bancroft to Denbigh

On the road today by 7:55 to a sunny sky and ready for our climbing. We had planned a shorter day and it is a darn good thing we did. The day was definitely challenging as we climbed through the rock and trees along Hwy 28 away from Bancroft. Every once in a while farmland would appear, not very good, but farmland just the same. I cannot imagine what it must have been like 150 years ago to get your land grant from the crown, somehow get to your property and find nothing but rock. Those first few winters must have been pretty tough.

After getting a lecture from a local resident about our choice of where we were taking a roadside rest (and if you can believe it I did not tell her what I thought) we had a fun downhill run that made us nervous about what was coming ahead. Sure enough, the downhill was followed by 'a hill', not just any hill, but a 12% grade that seemed to go on forever and ever. Not what we wanted after 55 km of riding. The young crew members powered up the hill while us more 'seasoned' riders went for a 'stroll'.

We are staying at the Swiss Inn and Motel in Denbigh. We could not resist the opportunity with Patrik along! The reality is we had no other choices for accommodation in this area!

Daily Distance = 65.87 km. Time on the bikes = 4 hours 3 minutes. Average speed = 16.23 km. Maximum speed = 62.25 km. Wildlife sightings = Turkey Vulture, Great Blue Heron.

Kevin = 3, Sue = 0, Eric = 1, Taryn = 0, Patrik = 0

P.S. As we took a break in the village of Denbigh we were stopped in front of a fire hall, a 'volunteer fire hall'. No big deal! However, when we looked behind us we realized that the building directly across from the fire hall was burned to the ground. The people of this area might not feel overly good about the abilities of their fire fighters!!!