Eight Days A Week: Leaving Quebec and riding in New Brunswick

Seems like ages since we left Tadoussac early in the morning to face the BIG hills. All the team were keyed up for a long day in the saddle. Not a favourite thing for anyone, riding along a highway, but this stage has been all about highways and very little about byways. Surprisingly we all made it as well as the next day which was slightly longer but NO head wind which is always a blessing. Highlight of the highway was a coke stop. It's often these funny little moments that make a day. I hear you ask if talking to locals in broken French for 10 minutes is a highlight, what the hell are you doing? Umm...good question. I guess we really like each other's company when we get to the end and during stops along the riding route. 

Coke stop friends

We needed to catch a ferry from the north side of the St Lawrence River to Matane, still in Quebec. This involved two shuttles to the ferry terminal and a two-hour ride across this mighty river, followed by a ride to Amqui.

Waiting to board the ferry

Des Moose? 

Karen had a great idea about a bike path which sounded attractive after our highways. Trouble was it involved ascents and descents in the 15% range. Maureen and I pulled the pin early and called for rescue, which duly came. Of course there was no phone reception so the woman at the Depanneur where Maureen and I were stranded phoned on our behalf. Following the bike path instructions we drove and drove but could not locate Des and Kendy, nor Michael, Al, Karen, Bill or Dave. Arriving at the hotel around 7pm, we called the police, as we only had a message from Michael and Al who were also waiting for rescue. At 7.45 Karen, Dave and Bill arrived, and told us where Kendy and Des were hiding out. Finally arriving at the hotel VERY late we were all pleased to be reunited. When Karen suggested a bike path route the next day. Needless to say, we took to the road!


And so we rode on, enjoying a ripping talent concert. Dave did a wonderful loon meditation, Maggie a beautiful song, we danced round and round in a human Venn diagram of where we all met, listed to Maureen's poignant song, Katherine's poem in French and Kendy and Janice's poems about various bike rides and were gripped by Bill's farewell song. He cried. We all cried.

Janice Packhorse?

Our lunch spot tucked away two rubbish bins after the funeral parlour.

And then the rain came down. And down. And down.

Good day for the washing.

Maureen, Des and Kendy riding our last day before blissful rest.

Relaxing at our lovely Airbnb, Al, Des and Maureen.

And now we have three nights to stretch out and forget about bikes and riding places.

More stats for the interested reader

Sunday 22 July: Tadoussac to Forestville along a busy highway, but first we had to climb these humongous hills. We rode 98kms and after the first 20 kms or so things flattened out a bit, but, you guessed it, the head wind picked up.

Monday 23 July: Forestville to Baie-Comeau along the same highway, this time for 101kms. Flatter ride so better time, however the traffic finally wore me down.

Tuesday 24 July: Baie-Comeau to Godbout to catch a ferry to Matane on the other side, followed by a ride to Amqui. Managed 18kms only - see above.

Wednesday 25 July: Amqui to Campbellton: I didn't ride due to posterior matters. Other people who did put in 100kms into a headwind on a hot day.

Thursday 26 July: Campbellton to Bathurst. A good ride along a quiet coastal road for about 65kms before the rain drove us into rescue.

Friday 27 July: Bathurst to Caraquet. Lovely ride along the coastline for 64km.

Saturday 28 July: Caraquet to Mirimichi. Slated distnce of 117km but only rode 76 as Maureen needed rescue. All day on Highway 11 - boring and dull. Happy to bail at the 76km mark.

Sunday 29 July: Mirimichi to Kouchibouguac. A short quick ride along Highway 11 for 52kms.