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We stopped in Perce for a view of the road arch and then around to Saint-George-de-Malbaie from where you can actually see the arch from the back side.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1795/...cea33d79_b.jpgPEI-39 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Our goal is to get close to the Forillon National Park. We managed to get just past Gaspe and to the Fort Ramsay Camp ground. The motel here like most in Quebec and for sure on the Gaspe are fully booked and this dive is 165$ per night! Camping is 25! https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1847/...e8b9a1f4_b.jpgIMG_3356 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1872/...d0619c80_b.jpgIMG_3355 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We had been told by the camp office lady there was a place to get dinner “500” m back towards town. Well we arrived back to the ESSO where we had just bought gas 1.4 km back and asked for directions to the place that was actually 2 km from the camping. Oh well at least we had a good walk to justify the juicy Montreal smoked meat sandwiches we had at La Bannquise! https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1817/...ca690b39_z.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-14 at 19.58.25 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We had to get in the tent at dusk as the mosquitos were driving us crazy (Welcome back to Canada). |
We had a great night as it cooled off nicely and we packed up just as the sun was burning thru the clouds about 0830. We set off north and east again on the 132 thru the Forillon National park to the end of the Gaspe Peninsula and then finally made our turn WEST on the 132 at the Cap-des Rosiers lighthouse (tallest in Canada).
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1890/...c88e1f08_b.jpgFILE1998 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1841/...eaacaa80_b.jpgFILE1999 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1834/...a3761b45_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1817/...65036e5c_b.jpgPEI-41 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
There were no services at all for the 50 km since we left until we hit L’Anse-au-Griffon, where there is a very nice cafe for a very hearty breakfast. The ride until the light house is thru dense forest, but after is much closer to the coast and winds thru villages until Cloridorm where the road is directly adjacent to the sea.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1886/...bf1caa2d_b.jpgFILE2028 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1852/...8171e901_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1832/...223188c8_b.jpgFILE2072 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1853/...539a5b72_b.jpgFILE2087 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1881/...7bba278c_b.jpgFILE2100 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1884/...08b1d8e5_b.jpg |
We stopped again at La Marte to see the all red lighthouse.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1800/...e561d89d_b.jpgPEI-42 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The road continues to snake along the coast and we stopped for fuel and groceries in Matane. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1872/...dc0e658e_b.jpgFILE2139 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1892/...cc7ae261_b.jpg |
Here we continued on the 132 to just before Metis-sur-Mer, where we took the secondary road east and then the gravel roads to get to the village of Padoue, where we had booked the only room left on bookings within 200 km.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1875/...7da75d87_b.jpgFILE2200 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1860/...c603f995_b.jpgFILE2206 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1877/...36bdabef_b.jpgFILE2211 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr This is at a nice Gite (B&B in Quebec) for a reasonable price. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1840/...3b482a2b_b.jpgPEI-44 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1833/...94ef7bca_b.jpgPEI-43 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1833/...716053dc_b.jpgPEI-45 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The forecast is for rain tonight and we don’t want to deal with that in the morning and then having a wet tent for a few days in Quebec City. Now QC is another massive problem as it is 99% booked and what is left downtown is 400-600$ per night. We finally found a place outside the city that is still very expensive, but has a free shuttle to the old city and with the forecast for rain we are not camping. |
Setting out from Padoue we made for the smaller coastal route along the St Lawrence on the 132 west (route of the navigators).
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1889/...f0b1620f_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-25 at 08.48.09 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1876/...98953386_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1839/...55faecd9_b.jpgFILE2233 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr Canada has 2 official languages and most everything has both French and English, except interestingly in Quebec where labeling and signage is almost exclusively in French only. An example would be that in the 84 countries we have been to KFC or Kentucky Fried Chicken is the same everywhere, but here in Quebec it is PFK (Poulet Frit Kentuky). We made a pit stop in the village of Kamouraska to check out the views. The tide is several hundred meters out from the shore even this far up the river. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1838/...719c4142_b.jpgFILE2262 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1833/...eb9dd24b_b.jpgQuebec City by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1878/...b67f9d8b_b.jpgQuebec City-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr For lunch we stopped at one of the frequent chip shacks for some traditional poutine. It started to pour about 80 km from the city, but this lasted only about 20 min. We had stopped just before this to put on our rain jackets and so we did not do too badly. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1896/...3db0fa84_b.jpgFILE2248 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Arriving to the city there was a 10 km long stop and go for a construction zone. This is when you have to be on the highway, but we managed to get off and go around after half an hour (and we were still 3 km from the actual issue). This took us to the Pont Quebec, which brought us directly to our hotel.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1874/...9b4abdd8_b.jpgFILE2271 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We arrived just after 3 pm and got sorted and then hopped the city bus #25 that goes directly into the old city. We spent the afternoon and evening walking the old town and enjoying some good food and wine. We know now why it is packed here as the international comedy festival is on. This is a beautiful only city with a very European feel. The Chateau Frontenac is a landmark on the waterfront. It is situated near the Citidel and the plains of Abraham. We hopped the bus back after dinner and had a great night sleep. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1892/...f60a9a0a_b.jpgQuebec City-27 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1845/...c5ffbeca_b.jpgQuebec City-28 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1820/...057efd69_b.jpgQuebec City-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1871/...c0c1bd81_b.jpgQuebec City-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1897/...c66277ae_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1893/...9235b9e4_b.jpgQuebec City-5 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1836/...02b2c6e5_b.jpgQuebec City-6 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1900/...19509620_b.jpgQuebec City-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1811/...73c720dd_b.jpgQuebec City-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1864/...72a7d620_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1863/...ce124acf_b.jpgQuebec City-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1875/...fcc327de_b.jpgQuebec City-16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1819/...87ce9f47_b.jpgQuebec City-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1847/...a0fd0fc8_b.jpgQuebec City-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1831/...627e86a5_b.jpgQuebec City-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1897/...5bc982f8_b.jpg |
The hotel has a free shuttle to the city in the morning and we got on at 11. This dropped us right at the heart of the old town beside the Chateau and we again spent the day enjoying the old town. Today we spent time in the “lower town” and on the Rue de Petit Champlain. Then we walked up the stairs to the Plain of Abraham.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1875/...d7d6a45c_b.jpgQuebec City-10 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1839/...9fd6e745_b.jpgQuebec City-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1847/...bdbe3159_b.jpgQuebec City-18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1890/...574238cb_b.jpgIMG_3367 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1844/...4f959f28_b.jpgIMG_3369 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We did go on the free tour of the “parliament house”, which was pretty interesting. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1881/...d50fd253_b.jpgQuebec City-11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1863/...e0b044df_b.jpg |
For an early dinner of the very Quebecois Cipaille. It was an early night for us and we were back on the shuttle at 6.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1813/...bb428cdb_b.jpgQuebec City-29 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1880/...82d25b07_b.jpgQuebec City-30 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1886/...37d3157a_b.jpgQuebec City-31 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1839/...cfb98d09_b.jpgQuebec City-32 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Today the weather is supposed to turn to rain by 2 pm and we decided to find a place not too far away from QC. The riding is again on the secondary roads, but this time on the north side of the St. Lawrence on the 138 West. We headed out about 10 and got off the highway and onto the route de Roy.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1867/...96ce4de1_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1849/...e36e271c_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1891/...6464184c_b.jpgFILE2301 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1841/...825b988e_b.jpg Just before Trois-Riveres we turned off towards Shawinigan for lunch. The rain did start just after 2 when we stopped for a menu de jour (hearty pea soup, a huge entree, coffee, and dessert for 11$) and we were so full we needed a nap. Anyone who has ridden in Canada can appreciate the dreaded metal wobbly bridges! https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1857/...4c6688ec_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1812/...44b3edb5_b.jpgFILE2308 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The Gite we booked was just another 25 km and we could check in at 3. This was in the village of Grande-Piles. It really started to rain in earnest about 30 minutes later. Luckily we were too full to need to go out for dinner and we tucked into our room. |
Today we have a biggish day 475 km to Rideau lake.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1876/...23b87190_z.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-25 at 08.53.19 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr This means first we have to get past Montreal. Initially we stuck to the back roads thru the small villages until we made it South west to the 40. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1878/...bb40525531.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-25 at 08.53.05 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1855/...0c5be349_b.jpgFILE2334 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1850/...3f37c213_b.jpgFILE2337 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We did have a bit of traffic to get past Montreal. You then hit the trans-Canada and continue onto Ottawa. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1841/...1e9c269b_b.jpgFILE2353 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1855/...fb59ac85_b.jpgFILE2362 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1899/...d3f403f8_b.jpgCanada-22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr A reminder we are back in the first world! https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1886/...b4b24f64_b.jpgFILE2366 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr From there you get off onto the 7 south west to Smith Falls (where Sara’s mom grew up) and then onto Lombardy. Sara’s brothers cottage is here on the big Rideau lake. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1893/...984d2f75_b.jpgFILE2368 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We had a few days here of R&R to visit with the family, play cards, and water ski.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1887/...d155a983_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1878/...fdee7afc_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1850/...da12451a_b.jpgOntario-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
Today we are going just 194 km to Rice Lake and the Elmhirst resort.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1866/...bb3f592b_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-25 at 08.55.16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We have been invited here by our friends Peter and Anne Elmhirst. We met them first at the sign for the national Park in Ushuaia in 2014 and then in St. Emillion France in 2015. https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3753/...3b334cd0_b.jpgthe end of the road 51 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7300/...c580cde1_b.jpgDSC00737 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1841/...82b961e7_b.jpgFILE2399 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr The voltage meter of the 650 has been reading 13.6-13.7 for the last few months, but today it was 13.2-13.4. This started about half way to rice lake and just after it had started torrentially raining. When stopped it was 13.9 ( must be the regulator and not the stator). Stressful hour, but we managed to arrive to our destination. (My stator had died in 2015 on the way to see Anne and Peter in 2015 BTW). https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1883/...7bca0c58_b.jpgFILE2401 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
We were warmly welcomed to they home and treated royally. We had some nice meals, great conversation, and exceptional wine! Dan also swapped out the regulator and charge was 14.1!!!
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1863/...87313562_b.jpgOntario-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1846/...a500a9ca_b.jpgOntario-16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr For a treat today Peter took us on an hours flight over the region in one of his sea planes! Dan even got to fly the plane for much of the ride. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1863/...2cff447a_b.jpgOntario-18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1896/...a5848b82_b.jpg https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1850/...4d162fd4_b.jpgOntario-21 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We then decided on a road trip to the Norman Hardie Winery for very good pizza and excellent CabSav. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1849/...8c30a5a2_b.jpgOntario-22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1895/...88ddde91_b.jpgOntario-23 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We are supposed to be in Pickering tonight at Sara’s cousins home to meet up with he family again. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1887/...d84ef6f7_b.jpgOntario-24 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr We set out for the 120 km to Pickering at 6 15 and stuck to the main roads to make time. This was on the 7 to the 115 to the dreaded 401. This is here an 8 lane highway with very high speed drivers. It was nice to have a family dinner and spend time with the kids. https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1868/...372be663_b.jpgScreen Shot 2018-08-25 at 08.56.30 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr |
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