Almonte, Ontario

FWe left Trois Rivières Friday morning and just after getting up to speed on Highway 40 heading southwest to Montreal, Gayle told me to pull over. Sure enough her sunglasses which she had hung on the Seal Line bag strap while getting ready to ride, were gone. ( Sunglasses you say..... even with all the rain of late...... we remain ever optimistic)

We did ride through some showers, but nothing compared to the rains and wind of the day before when we were hold up in the motel in Trois Rivieres. 

What is the first thing you do when you ride into the Nation's capital. Go to Mountain Equipment Co-op of course! Gayle picked up a wind shell jacket and I picked up some new Smartwool socks and some snap lock buckles to have as spares for the Seal Line bag tie downs, which hold the majority of our clothing on the bike. I had already broken one when cinching down the bags onto the bike a few mornings back.

We continued our ride out to Almonte, where we have the loan of a condo for a few days. An old friend from BC Hydro days in northern BC, offered it to us through his friend Sue. Her new still under construction..digs are amazing. (Wish I could post some photos, but hey; its not my place right :) Now that is one great lady; that would offer her place to you and we have not even met... yet! Hopefully she will approve of us when we ride up to her cottage on Tuesday, to meet for the first time.

After settling in, we called friends who also live in Almonte and took the opportunity to see their home and catch up for a few hours with each of them and their son. Great to see them doing so well.

A trip to the local grocery store and we were in for the night. Did I mention how great accommodations are. :) The sounds of the Mississippi river are prevalent right now with high flows just outside the condo building.

A phone call or two to the cottage and we had the internet up and operating (the construction crew had pulled the coax antenna cable out of the rear of the modem); so we kicked back and watched a movie and posted some e-mails. Talk about relaxing.

We were up early today and I had some yogurt and banana before taking the time to go for a 5km run. You just know when you get out and go that it is going to be a good day. Morning runs will do that for you. :) What is not to like about taking a run in such a wonderfully scenic locale? I wished that I had been more diligent of late in getting some runs in, because I wished I could have gone further. I would have paid for it though, as I have not been getting the miles in like I used to! It is a shame to be lazy.

Dr. James Naismith the inventor of basketball sitting around on the Little Bridge street side of Cenntennial Square.(He was born in Almonte Nov. 6,1861)

I knew that hydro generation has existed in Almonte for some time but on a walkabout found a new-to-me plant just down treat of the old one. For all you HYDRO geeks out there... a few pictures.

Gayle took the opportunity while in the big city to head off to the hair salon so I took the time to look up an old classmate\ supervisor\friend and got to meet his friend Jacqui for the first time. Great to see them so happy and talk about busy! These retired people still surprise me. Short visit though it was, I find it so meaningful to keep in touch with friends. Stay well and healthy folks.

The NEW Gayle was sitting outside the hair salon when I rode back to pick her up. She had it cut shorter and had highlights done for a great new look! I'm not sure she wanted to put her helmet on and cover it up. :)

We rode into the Bayshore Shopping Mall to find a new pair of sunglasses and to pick me up a Canada embossed T shirt (from the Bay collection) for me to wear tomorrow.... Canada Day. What could be more Canadian than to wear something to show your pride in living and riding in the greatest country in the world.

 

I touched up the food supplies with a ride to Patrick's Independent Grocers  and we have spent another relaxing evening "home".

Trois Rivieres

Waited out some rain until10:30am then made the decision to mount up and head to Quebec City. Grey cool day that would take it's time getting warmer. Gayle had me dial up ambient temperature on the bike's digital display screen and leave it there for today's ride. The warmest it got all day was 19 on the ride into Trois Rivieres on highway 138. (We began the day at 10 degrees and drizzle.)

An hour's stop for lunch on the west side of Quebec City to allow us to get out of the relentless wind was a welcome break to the four lane riding on 175 south from Chicoutimi; especially closer to the city with the increased truck traffic. Highway 40 is just as crazy as highway 20 on the south shore of the 

St. Lawrence. We took it to get to the city's edge before following the big river's coast road 138 "sud-est."

Gayle took a fancy to this "late" Ford Model T during a break on a dock, in Batiscan.

Do you think she might prefer 4 wheels to 2, on these windy days?

I would recommend taking this ride to anyone who is travelling between Quebec City and Trois Rivieres         or visa versa. So much more scenic and relaxing than highway 40. Farming country and quaint villages

provide the eye with something engaging each kilometre of the way.

Gayle: I stayed warm enough, but only because I had a total of 8 layers around my middle. Makes getting on the bike interesting. Saw some beautiful country.

Chicoutimi

Well we made it to the Saguenay yesterday and managed to get something to eat and shopping done for a shell to act as a wind break for Gayle, before the rain and wind blew in again.

We stopped in the small village of  Saint Rose du Nord to take a break on the way here and discovered a gem. Quiet little place, fantastic scenery, minimum number of tourist types and sheltered from the winds. At least while we were there!

I thought it would be good to ride around Lac Saint Jean area in the afternoon, but the thunder, lightning and rain made me return to the motel and hunker down once again! Keeping an eye on the weather, as it rained all night and is showing no signs of drying yet. May make a dash to Quebec City....Trois Rivière, if it is only windy after breakfast:) It will allow Gayle to try out her new "windbreaker". I cannot find any sunshine in the forecast as we head towards Ontario. Can anyone find us some?

On to the North Shore

It rained over night just to show us what the next week is supposed to be like here in the belle province. The ride through Rimouski on hwg. 132 was foggy and cool (noted as COLD by one member of the team).

We had made reservations for the afternoon ferry from Trois Pistoles to Les Escoumins that would put us on the "Heritage" at 3pm and landing around 5pm (late because of a rough river crossing and docking in high waves). The crew was timing the exit of each car with the rise and fall of the ferry deck in relation of the ramp to the dock decking! Once we undid the bikes tie down straps
they left me to do my own timing on exit. Interesting process when sitting aboard only two wheels. :)

I should have taken another photo to show all the additional tie downs the crew added during the crossing. (This picture was taken as we just got under way across the St. Lawrence.)

No whale sightings during the crossing, however, we enjoyed the company and conversation of a retired couple, who were on bicycles. Interesting pair, well traveled and very friendly.

Pulled into a gas stop to top up and while I was in "the toilette" the skies opened up! Cold wind and much water in a very short period of time! We would not be riding to Chicoutimi  tonight (still several hours away); so we checked into a local motel, hung things up to dry and went to supper.

Gayle's addition: COLD means 3 layers of merino wool under my motorcycle jacket, merino wool tights and knee socks, merino wool buff pulled up over my chin! Only my arms and hands were really cold but the cold rain made me nervous. Didn't think we should set off for 2 hours through sparsely populated area in case I didn't stay dry. Ten degrees along the windy, wet ocean is not equal to 10 degrees standing still in the sun. I wonder what the wind chill factor was. Ferry ride was exciting though. 

Gaspe Coast

We would recommend a tour of the Gaspe Coast to any rider. Fabulous scenery, even a few switchbacks. Perce Rock is quite impressive; I didn't realize how close to the shore it is. We had very hot weather this morning and afternoon, then rode the last hour into Matane in cool rain.

It is great to ride along sections of a sea wall that allows you to be perhaps 20 feet above the water for kilometre after kilometre. Riding from south to north puts you right beside the water for some very long stretches! It is definitely the preferred direction if you are riding, not driving. Not as many riders today, (the) National holiday here in Quebec probably had some of them recovering from the partying done last night. :)

Adventure Begins June 2013

The adventure began yesterday with a stop in Fredericton to see family before riding to Porter Cove where we visited old friends and enjoyed  lunch and laughs. It must be the air and water of the Miramichi.

Heading north to Miramichi City the wind picked up and buffeted us for the remainder of the day. Very noticeable on the high arched "Chatham" bridge. By the time we made it to Bathurst, the passenger was ready for something to eat and some down time.

Visited a cousin and her husband plus two wonderful grand children before calling it a day. Watched with  disappointment Chicago's win over Boston. Feels good already not having to be anywhere "on time":)

Took our time getting under way this morning ( let the fog clear) then took a ride down memory lane by  travelling the coast road from Bathurst to Campbellton. Stops in Dalhousie, Macleods Siding, and Campbellton... my brothers were nowhere to be found, so moved on.

Stopped yet again this time in Miguasha QC to visit friends Dot and Buzz Bujold from our Dalhousie days in the 70's, whom we now see so little of. So great to catch up and hear about their lives and family and see pictures of their two boys and each of their families. Yet another reminder of how fast time flies. Don't ever put it off, get out there and enjoy life. 

A ride up Mont St. Joseph at Carleton let us know that it probably has not been paved in the 39 years  since we rode our Honda CB550K there so long ago. The gravel road of the Dempster Highway in the Yukon was smoother!

Ah the  smell of the Bay du Chaleur was in our nostrils the remainder of the the ride to Bonaventure. What to have for supper but some local salmon, right. Comfortable room at the Grand Pre Motel for the night.

Saw many bikers today. Both motorized and pedal driven. Must have been a road race because I have never seen so many at one time. Most motorcycles were in groups, just the odd one riding alone like us. It really felt like summer vacation has started...... Oh, wait I'm not on vacation.....I'm retired!  :)

New Brunswick

This is our new bike, a 2013 BMW K1600GTL.