Ottawa to Quebec City
This segment might as well be called tail of 3 cities...
The stay in Ottawa was at the University res. quite nice...all you can eat breakfast buffet again!
Kind of a rain rest day here...too bad as Ottawa is set up with superb bike trails everywhere, especially along the famous canal system. So we opted instead for the bus to get to the Parliament buildings and the Byward Market. Getting in and out of the city to the campus on bikes seemed ultra easy, one turn coming in and one turn coming out. Our friend Bill broke a spoke about 30 kms out, and hobbled his bike to a lucky bike store few kms down the road (Orleans). They however did not have the parts so he ended up having to taxi back to down town Ottawa, and then start his bike ride over...big day of 166 kms plus his extra mileage, and he was still in camp by supper time! Some beautiful countryside and back roads, a ferry ride, and we were in Quebec. Luckly we were traveling with one of our french speaking swiss friends (Serge) so no language issues for our lunch stop.
Our days destination was a campground near Hudson, and on route we just happen to be passing right by one of the riders houses marked with balloons. (Marie-Andre). Her family met us there and fed us cookies, and iced tea. (3 sons and husband on pink chairs, just missing the daughter as she was still at work) The locals gave lots of support to Marie as she was greeted by the kids she teaches on a fly by of the Hudson school...and then at the campground, the community organized a pot luck with local in season corn and a cake at our campground.
Along the way, Judy keep surprising me with her french...she actually paid attention a bit in french class...(wished I had of...)
We passed by the famous Lachine Rapids which were a great barrier to navigation until some of the canals were built. the rapids are obviously popular for kayakers, surfers, and jet boaters, fun to watch.
Next stop Montreal...biked into city to stop at the Marche' Atwater (atwater market). Always some good food at these places...the a visit to a bike shop for supplies, and then Our friend Bill took us on a tour of Mount Royal for the views...and some uphill pedaling!! The trip to Chinatown through rush hour...not sure how to describe it...bikes just kind of go where they want...weaving in and out of traffic...cutting people off...going through red lights.....we lived through it anyway...Over all everyone in Quebec is extremely tolerable of cyclists and the roads are mostly cycle friendly...definitly get the prize for best bike province so far. China town was neat...but very similar to other china towns...Old Montreal was pretty cool...especially enjoyed by Judy and our 2 friends jodi and carol...they were all in their prime sitting eating supper on the cobblestone. The food of course was superb.
No campground this night....one of our riders (Daniel) lives in Montreal, so she invited a few of us to stay at her house...we had great fun. She was careful to remind me "you make sure to bring shorts to wear tonight or you will be naked" She of course had planned to wash our cycle clothes so that we could wear them again the next day.
On the way out from her house the next day, we stopped by the Olympic stadium for some photos, and then took a slightly different route (more scenic) then everyone else. Many memories made on our little stops at cafes, and one general store this day. note the collection of phonographs at top of one picture.
Back to tent camping...and our turn to cook this night...but we lucked out...our menu item was beef bourginous!! we were hero's...everyone loved the meal (big chunks of beef) our cook crew is amazing and it turned out great.
Next morning we headed out for Quebec city...1st stop a few kms from our camp was a provincial park based on the 1st Steel Forge in Canada. It was still early so the facility was still closed, but one of the techs saw us riding our bikes around investigating, and offer us a private tour. A quick radio to his boss for the ok...Wow it really was quite fascinating...and this forge play an extremely important roll in Canadian history....everything from stoves, to pots, to ship parts, to anything you could imagine were made right there. Lucky enough to have iron ore right on the surface in this location, so the forge was prosperous and ran for over 150 years!! It was worth me 'bringing judy' on this trip just for her spotting abilities...note picture of large white bird (still have to look up) she doesn't miss too much...
Often some of the most interesting stops we have had come from just wheeling into a place to see what they are about. One such place was a dog kennel. We just popped our head in the door and asked if we could look around...turned out to be much more then a kennel...it was a very well established dog breeding facility. Of course we got the full tour...and it is always free. Judy got to be mauled by puppies...of course the runt crawled right into her arms and did not want to leave. Springer Spaniels were the main breed.
About 30 kms away from our destination, 2 former Tour du Canada riders Set up a Corn Roast at a road side Vegetable stand for all the riders. They also supplied juice and water and fresh strawberries. This has happened to a lesser degree all trip...x tour du can riders link up
with us and give us goodies, and hang around camp to reminisce and compare notes. way cool.
We arrived at Laval University just in time for pizza, then quick showers and off to see the Cirque-du-Soleil. bus ride and a one hour wait...but who cares....it is a free show they do outdoors 6 days a week under all the freeway overpasses downtown. As always what an incredible show! (1st time we ever saw them live)
This segment might as well be called tail of 3 cities...
The stay in Ottawa was at the University res. quite nice...all you can eat breakfast buffet again!
Kind of a rain rest day here...too bad as Ottawa is set up with superb bike trails everywhere, especially along the famous canal system. So we opted instead for the bus to get to the Parliament buildings and the Byward Market. Getting in and out of the city to the campus on bikes seemed ultra easy, one turn coming in and one turn coming out. Our friend Bill broke a spoke about 30 kms out, and hobbled his bike to a lucky bike store few kms down the road (Orleans). They however did not have the parts so he ended up having to taxi back to down town Ottawa, and then start his bike ride over...big day of 166 kms plus his extra mileage, and he was still in camp by supper time! Some beautiful countryside and back roads, a ferry ride, and we were in Quebec. Luckly we were traveling with one of our french speaking swiss friends (Serge) so no language issues for our lunch stop.
Our days destination was a campground near Hudson, and on route we just happen to be passing right by one of the riders houses marked with balloons. (Marie-Andre). Her family met us there and fed us cookies, and iced tea. (3 sons and husband on pink chairs, just missing the daughter as she was still at work) The locals gave lots of support to Marie as she was greeted by the kids she teaches on a fly by of the Hudson school...and then at the campground, the community organized a pot luck with local in season corn and a cake at our campground.
Along the way, Judy keep surprising me with her french...she actually paid attention a bit in french class...(wished I had of...)
We passed by the famous Lachine Rapids which were a great barrier to navigation until some of the canals were built. the rapids are obviously popular for kayakers, surfers, and jet boaters, fun to watch.
Next stop Montreal...biked into city to stop at the Marche' Atwater (atwater market). Always some good food at these places...the a visit to a bike shop for supplies, and then Our friend Bill took us on a tour of Mount Royal for the views...and some uphill pedaling!! The trip to Chinatown through rush hour...not sure how to describe it...bikes just kind of go where they want...weaving in and out of traffic...cutting people off...going through red lights.....we lived through it anyway...Over all everyone in Quebec is extremely tolerable of cyclists and the roads are mostly cycle friendly...definitly get the prize for best bike province so far. China town was neat...but very similar to other china towns...Old Montreal was pretty cool...especially enjoyed by Judy and our 2 friends jodi and carol...they were all in their prime sitting eating supper on the cobblestone. The food of course was superb.
No campground this night....one of our riders (Daniel) lives in Montreal, so she invited a few of us to stay at her house...we had great fun. She was careful to remind me "you make sure to bring shorts to wear tonight or you will be naked" She of course had planned to wash our cycle clothes so that we could wear them again the next day.
On the way out from her house the next day, we stopped by the Olympic stadium for some photos, and then took a slightly different route (more scenic) then everyone else. Many memories made on our little stops at cafes, and one general store this day. note the collection of phonographs at top of one picture.
Back to tent camping...and our turn to cook this night...but we lucked out...our menu item was beef bourginous!! we were hero's...everyone loved the meal (big chunks of beef) our cook crew is amazing and it turned out great.
Next morning we headed out for Quebec city...1st stop a few kms from our camp was a provincial park based on the 1st Steel Forge in Canada. It was still early so the facility was still closed, but one of the techs saw us riding our bikes around investigating, and offer us a private tour. A quick radio to his boss for the ok...Wow it really was quite fascinating...and this forge play an extremely important roll in Canadian history....everything from stoves, to pots, to ship parts, to anything you could imagine were made right there. Lucky enough to have iron ore right on the surface in this location, so the forge was prosperous and ran for over 150 years!! It was worth me 'bringing judy' on this trip just for her spotting abilities...note picture of large white bird (still have to look up) she doesn't miss too much...
Often some of the most interesting stops we have had come from just wheeling into a place to see what they are about. One such place was a dog kennel. We just popped our head in the door and asked if we could look around...turned out to be much more then a kennel...it was a very well established dog breeding facility. Of course we got the full tour...and it is always free. Judy got to be mauled by puppies...of course the runt crawled right into her arms and did not want to leave. Springer Spaniels were the main breed.
About 30 kms away from our destination, 2 former Tour du Canada riders Set up a Corn Roast at a road side Vegetable stand for all the riders. They also supplied juice and water and fresh strawberries. This has happened to a lesser degree all trip...x tour du can riders link up
with us and give us goodies, and hang around camp to reminisce and compare notes. way cool.
We arrived at Laval University just in time for pizza, then quick showers and off to see the Cirque-du-Soleil. bus ride and a one hour wait...but who cares....it is a free show they do outdoors 6 days a week under all the freeway overpasses downtown. As always what an incredible show! (1st time we ever saw them live)
Woke up 7 AM to read the blog. Thanks for taking the time to share your trip. Amazing that while you were pointed West we calculate that we passed you via another route going West about late PM.Some of our photos at story telling time will be duplicated. If you can see the Anne of green Gables show in PE Island. You will laugh and maybe drop a tear as well. A visit to where the Silver Dart flew off the ice will connect you to our Canadian heritage forcefully. Yesterday we overnighted at a B&B in an area of Conservatives, Irish & British Empire Loyalists. You are connected to them via your Grandmother (Mildred nee Sedore) We are off to our new real estate this PM
ReplyDelete