Nas pas de Englay...

Day 44, Portneauf - Montmagny (Wigwam Motel)
Dist, 130km, 22.5km/hr, Saddle Time 5:45

Easy ride to Quebec City. Had some more lovely TAILWIND Again and some rain. Great scenery. The properties all seem to have large lawns with at least one riding lawnmower to be seen. They love the green lawn here, that's for sure. These are very big lawns by the way .
Once in Quebec, I had planned to find the Ferry to Levis. Without a proper map and the lack of communication skills, I was DOOMED !! Actually, a friendly bus driver pulled up beside me with his door open and asked me (with strong quebecois accent) "Where is it you are going ?"
He gave me directions and I stupidly ignored them. This cost me aout 90 minutes of grief.
After many U-turns and swearing competitions, I finally made some headway.Just stuff a map in someones face and they're bound to help. Once I found the Ferrry, I could relax. (in hindsight, I wish that I found the right bridge to ride over, and save me half the F'n day !)
Anyway once I got on the otherside, things didn't improve. I had a WICKED CLIMB that twisted with no end in sight. Road work had stirred things up a bit. The pavement was broken and cars wanted around me, I was almost Redlining.
There was one sign pointing me to the #132, but after that I had many options, and No signs. Also, roads were blocked from the construction. I was lost again and FURIOUS !.
I found my way out to the highway, hit a MacDonald's for easy calories...
Surprise!!, No, it's not easy. There is no Lineup area persay. I'm in the middle of retard ville, with frogs hopping in front of me. Im very close to committing a Federal Offence.
Anyway, somehow I make it to this town called Montmagny, without strangling anyone.
Beer and Wi Fi will help.
I got a small discount here at "Wigwam Motel" as a cyclist...
I feel like I could do another 100 km, sigh...
Anyway, despite the frustrations, the ride was easy the weather and scenery were great.

Bike path to Ferry Fun Happy Time...

Some nice bike routes here. Once I found my way, this was great.  Lot's of swearing before I found this. All part of the game. 

Le French Girl. Des no where des iz going, nes pas...

Nice

A good place to chill and reflect...OK let's go. Sorry Quebec City, perhaps another time.

Damn ferry must be around here someplace. I'm sure that I can eventually find an English speaking tourist who can help me. Why did I not get a proper map ? Idiot is I.

"Don't Pay the Ferry Man..."

Jean Guy Le Phlamme and his sidekick Sylvain Cloutier Le Poutine

Great to finally find my Ferry, uuuughhh.

Only cyclist on this vessel. Highway cat is hiding(scared of the water)

Quebec from the ferry to Levis

Trail to tranquility 

This property has alot more than seen here.Amazing.

Home base

my site. Tres Bien

Discussion period

View Larger Map    An interesting, yet easy ride

TRES BIEN !!

Day 43, Chateau Joliette - Camp. Panoramique, Portneuf, Que.
Dist., 173km, 25.5km/hr, Saddle Time 6:45

Nicest ride of the 5644 km that I have ridden so far. Beautiful roads that are catered to cyclists, interesting neigbourhoods with old homes brimming with character. It also doesn't hurt that there are no hills on the # 138 and that I had a TAILWIND for most of the day !!! I can't believe it. In a land that has more Religeous Icons, than I have beer empties, I was blessed by a higher power. Amazing. The only other time that I experienced this pro-cycling weather phenomenon was a couple partial days in Saskatchewan, otherwise, everyday saw a Headwind.
I had this campground pencilled in long ago. After hitting way more Motels than I expected, I was determined to camp. Well, this place has a security gate and is regularly patrolled. I was very dissapointed but signed in anyway. It was $36.00. Funny thing is that there is a "Welcome Cyclists" sign on the office wall.... F***ing Aholes !
The site that was shown to me was a pathetic swamp. I said to the idiot., "36 bucks for a swamp ?"
He gave me a site in the middle of RV land. This isn't a campground, it's a retirement home village. RV's and stationary mobile homes tricked out big time, and everyone has a golf cart to ride around. Why walk when you can ride, So Pathetic !
A young guy took the site next to me. He invited me over for Fire Time. Nice lad and his dog, Just as disgusted with this retirement prison as me. He is a Sean also. We had a good time drinking and conversing, I didn't get his pic though. Damn.

I love Highway signs. Makes me feel like I'm getting somewhere. Sometimes I pray for a big green sign.

I choose 158 EST

HWC eyeballs the 158 East

My big sister's name is Julie. She doesn't drink Pepsi.

Slow day. Lunch Special must be a non-Poutine friendly food, like Sushi... or is it ?

The sheen on the crops suggest a tail wind. Yes, it's true !!

Louiseville

No shortage of traffic here...

Very nice home-made lawn art

Photo doesn't quiet capture the feeling. These are private back yards to beautiful homes.

St. Lawrence R. 

A lovely break spot for coffee and Gatorade

Ahhhhhhhhhh. ...Lovely. ... A beer would be even better. Alas, I must forge onward. The Saint Lawrence is truly a mighty beast !

HWC is loving St. Lawrence.

Kite surfing

Friendly. Lovely community.

Purple House

The good 'ol days

Strange old cottages, but amazing property

A beautiful structure wasted on a ridiculous habit. 

Lawn Chair Anyone ?

Beautiful riding. No shoulder needed.

HWC loves bridges, something about the steel...

A tense moment... Tight fit, but.  HWC was playing the "Cool Cat" look.

A very dominating view when crossing the bridge. The church fills your viewscreen.

My destination

My pathetic site inside RV Land

One of many streets devoted to the dead who believe that they are still camping.

This was the site that they were going to give me. A Swamp. And they had the gall to post a "cyclist friendly" camping experience. Ass Holes !!

Preferred mode of transportation in the camp was not walking, but Golf Carts. Pathetic.

View Larger Map A Ride to a terrible camping experience

""Vive Le Quebec !!"

Day 42, Binks Castle, Ottawa - Joliette Hotel, Joliette Quebec
Dist. 224 km, Avg. 21.9 km/hr, Saddle Time  12 Hours
PROVINCE #6


Tues June 28

My morning started with a nice breakfast prepared by Queen Anna. Despite working the late shift, she was up early to feed me and see me off ( Damn Greek women !) as King David headed out the door to his real life "Dilbert" cartoon strip occupation. HWC and Calpurnia were exchanging E Mail addresses.
The weather was stellar as I headed out along the Rideau River Multi use trail system towards Hull Que. After crossing the "Jacques Cartier Bridge" I stopped to take a pic or 2 and tried to find out how to get off the highway and onto the bike trail. I ended up having to drag Shirley over a concrete barrier. "Do'h !" She's not one to be Dragged let me tell you !
Once on the trail, I met 2 roadies that were very excited to see me and learn of my grand travels thus far. Turns out that they were from Kanata and were out on a ride. Kanata is, maybe 25 km Westish of Parliament Hill. Funny, I used to think it was far away. Distances are much smaller to me now. For example, back home in North Van, my bicycle commute to/from work is 50 km. There was a time when I thought that 50k was a lot to commute. We stopped at a crossroads on the trail to talk a bit. A very upset French bike commuter tried to ride through us on his way to work (I guess). I'm not sure how to spell the French swear words, but he said things like...sacrament:, tabarnac, maudit Marde Co-liss, etc. I wish that I had Jean Guy (made up name) on video.  He struggled with his bike to get around us all the while swearing his head off. It was hilarious as hell to me and served as a fitting "Welcome to Quebec" ceremony. I can't say that I blame him. Ha Ha.  
Anyway the Kanata guys rode with me for a bit and parted ways as I headed into the Quebec tarmac nightmare that was Hwy 148-158. The ride was great once I left the construction and crappy pot holed areas. It was very humid which is probably why I needed to stop often for fluids. Once I rolled into Jolliette, I pretty much dialled into the first thing I saw."Chateau Jolliette".
It was a long day and they had Internet and food. Not necessarily in that order.
There was a campground 10 km back and 6 km off the highway, didn't fit my agenda.

My leisurely route out of Ottawa

HWC eyes the lovely scenery..,

Pac Man Attack !!

Perhaps a resident's form of humour or maybe a running club's incentive.

A peaceful rural bridge on route to the Jacques Cartier Bridge

No pics of the bridge cause I was in traffic...

QUEBEC ! 

Lovely roads ahead...

Jimmy and Stanford (made up names) from Kanata Ont.  Lads I met entering Quebec. Real keeners. I had handlebar tape like Stanford's years ago. Nice, matches his gloves too.  For Christ Sake, get some cool prescription riding shades Jimmy Neutron !!  Anyway, Ride On !! 

Funny to see the French version

Idle hands or insanity ? Funny 

And inside the house, it's strictly 1700's France 

Quebec is ahead of the pack as far as cycling goes.

Goofy logo. It's an arrow wearing a bike helmet. The arrow points out the bike route. Lots of signage for  "La Rue Verte "http://www.bonjourquebec.com/qc-en/attractions-directory/trail/la-route-verte_8504499.html  I thought about rolling through parts of it, but my overall trip is too far to meander.

Another awesome headwind translated into a visual through this flag.

OK, you know that you are in Quebec when the rest stops are decorated in this fashion. The almighty wasn't looking down on me with very much support. Unless a headwind is considered a blessing. I guess I shouldn't complain seeing as I am not on that team.

  

It even has an eavestrough. Nice

A fine Home. Lawn is kept well. 

A HUMOUNGUS traffic backup. Always fun to ride by 

I hit this branch. It hooked the rear pannier and almost caused a nasty crash. My Arkel Panniers are very tough. They stood up to the violent assault.

Yup

Nice

A welcome food break. Good fries, hold the Poutine please

Home base

A long Hot/Humid Francais ride.

Easy and scenic though

I don't need all those French words. The logo and the number says it all.

HWC however, was disappointed to not find an English translation.   

View Larger Map  A long day