I was a little worried about leaving Montreal but it turned out to be surprisingly easy. I just had to follow the road 138 / bike path - le route vert 5. Literally all the way to Trois Rivière. The road was almost completely flat and the first part was mostly shady, which was good as it was scorching hot 32 degrees. The last half was open and I think I got some heat stroke, well my face was burnt. And I did have Sun tan lotion on.
About 2 I stopped and. Found a wee strip of gras next to an IGA that was shady. So I slept there. I did have some comments by passing customers as it was close to the entrance. But not knowing the town I didn't want to try and don d another place.
I was in a token called Louiseville and the sign said 21 km to Trios Rivière. So dreading the heat but also dreading biking in thunderstorms that were threatening I carried on about 4pm.
Thus turned out to be a giod thing as the last 11km took for ever... I know I was exhausted but it was almost 7 and I.still wasn't there. I think Trois Rivière is a large town and a collection of villages. Also I think the distance wasn't to the city centre but to the edge some place.
So it was almost 7 and I had been taking a 10 min rest when a car stopped and the gent driving asked me if I would like to have dinner with them!!! He lived a block from there so I said sure. I had to overcome my urge to decline as I hate to be a bother.
His name is Alex and I have forgotten most of their names. The dog was Gaga (he plays a part later in the story). He was having a little bit of a party he told me. When we arrived he said I could set up my tent in their yard and then asked if I wanted a shower before supper. I can assure you that after a day biking you are covered with dirt n grime so I didn't hesitate in saying yes. There is nothing better then the feeling of being clean, nothing.
2 of his friends were Frank and Steve, his girlfriend, his older son, baby son Arthur and one other friend were there.
After supper we had some beer and. They offered that I could sleep on the floor, and help myself to what ever for breakfast. Alex I guess sailed around the world and new how much he relied in others hospitality so wanted to reciprocate.
I guess Alex and one of his friends is famous for doing something dumb. Using climbing ropes the tied them to a rail way bridge and jumped.
I am not sure who video taped them but they made the news and had to file reports with the police n railway as it was private property. He said he was very stressed by the experience.
Oh his dog always a pure bread ling haired German Shepherd. Very big and very big suck. Alex had been training home for the police and demonstrated the obstacle course in the backyard. That dog could jump a full high 6ft fence!
So at last I curled up on the floor and Gaga kept me company all night. I hardly woke even though there was a.baby and activity during the night.
I never set the alarm as I thought after yesterday's ride I needed my sleep. Yesterday I was up at 5 and on the road by 6. Sadly totally I was up by 6 and on the road by 645. The night before leaving Montreal I bought bagels n cheese which I had for breakfast while I was packing up at Alex's. Not even thinking about it I left it on the table. A couple minutes later I came back to find it gone and a very happy dog who was just going back for a piece of cheese he left behind. I guess it was a good type of cheese!
Actually the cheese was good. Very firm but quite salty. So I had to cut it thin. I know if one kid who might resist eating an entire block because of this.
So day 2 of biking was cloudy but still warm, the road wasn't as flat and had some hills. The country side of both days is amazing if you take 138. And unlike my ride through the mountains were I thunk I saw 1-2 bikes there were at least 100 a day on the road mostly passing me... Ah well, they were all travelling prety light.
I had a flat tire around 1 where I discovered that yes I packed list of tires but they were either for my mountain bike or they had the wrong valve stem end on them. I was not impressed with my self. Oh and the first tube of glue had evaporated, but I did manage to patch it.
Day one was about 140 km and day 2 was about the same. On day 2 I just focused on each next town. The towns are all 8-10 km apart although many of them are extremely small. You can tell when you are in a town or village because the church is massive it's bigger then the cathedrals in Calgary!
So by focusing lion each next town I actually made it to Quebec about 8. Where my patch job on the tube gave out and the tire started leaking. I pumped it up 3 times then decided it wasn't worth it. I was reasonably close to my destination but was at the part I needed to guess at. It was getting dark... Dusk. And I remembered biking into Vancouver last year at 1am through some pretty skanky neighbourhoods. So I called for a taxis.l, I know I know I wimped out.
The ride would have only cost $17 but to a traffic jam and then a long round about it became $25. Still worth it.
After another refreshing shower and an invite by my roomies to joy. Them for a beer I went to find them.
Vieux Québec is amazing amazing amazing. But easy to get lost as well. They said they were at the fountain. Which I eventually found and immediately tripped and fell in a little bitty step. Smashing both knees my wrist and my elbow and dropping my camera. What a way to end a day... Sore and exhausted from my ride and now bruised and battered.
Needless to say I never found my roomies, but it did then downpour which added more fun as I was carrying my expensive camera. Eventually I found a pub had a beer and then with help of the bartender made it back to the hostel.
Bon nuit!
Location : Joseph Samson Tunnel, Quebec City, QC G1K 8Z2,
Location : Unnamed Rd, Quebec City, QC G1J 5L7,
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