Semaine 2/3 de Québec

Je ne peux pas croire il y seulement 2 semaines restants! Je veux profiter mon temps ici et donc je déteste rester dans ma chambre. Pendant les jours de semaine, j'ai participé à beaucoup de ateliers, comme Slackline (très difficile!), cuisiner, yoga, tricot (j'ai deux mains à gauche et je suis nulle). Le jeudi 17 juillet j'ai visité Wendake, un village amérindien proche de Québec. L'endroit était très touristique mais c'est intéressant de apprendre l'histoire de la nation huronne-wendat et leurs mode de vie. Après ça nous avons visté un petit chute qui s'appelle Kabir Kouba. Vendredi j'ai couru à les Plaines d'Abraham et regardé les statues et les affiches d'interprétation. J'ai fait une visite guidée de Residance du Gouverneur Générale dans la Citadelle. Quelle coïncidence, le guide est le copaine de une animatrice! Puis ce soir je suis allé à Cochon Dingue, un restaurant locale, avec mes amies. J'ai mangé le poutine avec confit de canard; la sauce était bizarre mais pas mauvaise. Chose étonnante, les meilleurs poutines que j'ai mangé est dans les Casse-Croutes, mais je vais continuer à chercher. Le week-end dernière, j'ai fait de l'autre randonnée à le Parc Jacque-Cartier avec le programme. Ce n'était pas très difficile mais il y avait une vue superbe de la rivere et les montagnes. Oui, il y a des montagnes à Québec! Puis nous avons nagé dans la rivere, très rafraichissant! Dimanche, je fait du vélo à Mont Sainte Anne, qui est proche de Basilique Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré et une station de ski pendant l'hiver. J'ai fait de la randonnée à pied au sommet. Le sentir est le plus raide que j'anticipe mais le belvédère est spectaculaire! C'était un fin de la semaine dans la nature! 

Le mercredi 23 juillet, je suis allé à Lévis avec les étudiants et un animateur. Lévis est le ville de l'autre côté de le Fleuve Sainte-Laurent. Nous avons pris le bateau, marché à un terrasse où il y avait une vue superbe de Château Frontenac et Vieux Québec. Ensuite nous sommes allés à Chocolat Favori, censé le meilleur chocolaterie à Québec. J'ai mangé de la crème glacée molle trempette dans le chocolat, que sont populaire ici. Après retourner à Vieux Québec, mon amie Heidy et moi, nous sommes allées à un restaurant qui s'appelle Bureau de Postale dans le quartier Sainte-Roch. Toutes les chose dans le menu sont $5 et j'aime l'atmosphère beaucoup.  Jeudi je suis allé à Centre Morrin, un musée avec le première prison du Canada et le premier collège anglophone à Québec que est devenu une bibliothèque maintenant, très fascinant! Je suis fière que dans l'ensemble, je peux comprendre la guide. Quelques personnes et moi sommes visités Éclair, un musée du chocolat après ça. J'ai essayé Aux Anciens Canadiens, un restaurant dans une maison le plus vieux à Québec, avec mon amie Maria. Nous avons goûté beaucoup de nourritures Québécois, comme la tourtière du Lac St.-Jean aux gibiers et ragoût de boulettes. C'est délicieux assurément. Cet samedi, je suis allè à l'Île d'Orléans en vélo. J'ai fait du vélo autour d'île tout entier et visité de très nombreux les gallérie d'art, fromagerie, vionobles, boulangerie, chocolaterie et fermes, toutes les bonnes chose de vie! Aujourd'hui, j'ai commencer mon matin avec une promenade à Jardin botanique Roger-Van den Hende à côté de l'université. C'est très jolie. À midi mon amie Veronica et moi ont explorées en vélo. D'abord nous sommes allées à Marché de Vieux Port où nous avons acheté des fromage, saucisses, baguette et fruits pour un pique-nique en bord de mer. J'ai acheté aussi une collection de confiture d'érable pour une souvenir. Ensuite nous avons fait du vélo à Chutes Montmorency encore et nous avons pataugé. En rentrant, nous avons trouve la plage de Québec à la Baie de Beauport, et aussi le Domaine Maizereta. J'était suprise que il n'avait pas beaucoup de gens par monts er par vaux. Il pleurait à verse quand nous sommes presque chez nous mais c'était la vie. J'adore mon vélo tellement.

Bien sûr toutes les choses sont en française. Je pense ils ont réussi à laver nos cerveaux parce que je me senti un peu étrange quand je parle beaucoup d'anglais. J'essayais de regarder la plupart de films en français chaque semaine. Les sous-titres m'aident et je peux comprendre l'idée générale. Mon français est amélioré sans aucune doute mais le conversation est encore le plus difficile. 

Semaine 1 de Québec

C'est incroyable que il était plus de un semaine à Quebec déjà! Je vais essayer écrire en français pendent cette cinq semaines, excusez-moi pour plus des erreurs. Il y a beaucoup des activités tous les jours et le temp passe très vite. Lundi dernière est le premier jour de classe. Nous ne pouvons pas parler l'anglais et donc je commence penser de francais quelque temps! Les cours sont bons et je suis surpris que je connais le plupart de chose que l'enseignantes ont dit.  La semaine dernière est le Festival d'Été et donc je suis allé presque tous les jours. C'est le premier temps que je suis allée un festival de musique et c'était très amusant. J'ai vu Journey, The Killers, Deadmou5, Billy Joel et Bryan Adams. Jeudi je suis allée une cabane à sucre, un endroit òu on fait du sirop d'érable. Nous avons dancé à la musique joyeuse et mangé les nourritures traditonnelles Québécois, comme la soupe de pois, le tourtière et bien sûr beaucoup de sirop d'érable. Le sirop d'erable est le meilleur que j'ai goûter et j'aime vraiment ça à le bâton sur glace. Pendant le week-end j'ai continué à explorer à Québec. Samedi matin j'ai fait du rafting pour le premier temps à le Fleuve Jacques-Cartier. C'est un excursion organisée par le programme. J'aime beaucoup descendre à les rapides et je veux fait ça encore! J'ai peur quand nous avons sauté dans l'eau de falaise mais je suis contente que j'ai fait ça. Après midi j'ai rencontré un ami qui je n'ai pas vu depuis l'école secondaire et c'est très intéressante. Dimanche j'ai visité à les Chutes Montmorency (plus haute que les chutes Niagara), Basilique Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré et Cap Tourmente en vélo. Je me manque mon vélo et je suis très heureuse à faire du vélo encore. Je pense que il y a un événement comme Gran Fondo parce que j'ai vu beaucoup des autres cyclistes. J'ai suivi le Route Verte et ce n'est pas difficile de trouver la nature à Québec.

Un autre chose, je suis chanceuse que j'ai un poêle de camping parce que il y n'a pas tout l'équipement pour cuisiner et je ne veux pas acheter pour la courte durée. Je ne pris pas un frigo pour ma chambre et alors le situation de nourriture est un petit peu difficile, mais c'est un expérience et je survivant jusqu'ici. 

Day 43: Trois-Riveres to Quebec City

Distance: 141km

Total distance: 5419km

Average speed: 23.6km/h

Weather: sunny

After staying up watching TV with Sylvie, I didn't wake up until 10, making today win the award for the laziest start! Richard was ever so nice to ride out with me to the highway, even showing me a way to avoid some hills! Thank goodness it's gotten a lot cooler but somehow the wind was all over the place today. I guess the Montreal to Quebec ride must be a super popular one because there were so many cyclists out and about. I even had signs from the Ride to Conquer guiding me pretty much the whole way. After 40km I stopped at the the neat little visitor centre in Sainte Anne de la Perade and learned about the huge fishing here in the winter. I was in no rush to leave and even took a nap on a bench right by the praying for the headwind to end. It must have worked because I had mostly a tailwind in the afternoon. The kilometer signs to Quebec became smaller and smaller and as I entered the outskirts and I almost had tears in my eyes. I decided to go see downtown before checking in at the university. Riding to the Plains of Abraham I came upon the heart of Quebec and immediately fell in love with the city. There were a million things going on with the Festival d'ete and many people lined the lively streets. Old Quebec is absolutely gorgeous with the fortification walls and hundreds of years old buildings, even more so when lit up at night. I walked up and around in complete amazement at everything, until as luck would have it came upon a Chez Ashton. What better way to celebrate the finale than another poutine? It was almost 10 when I biked back to Laval University and I ran into Annie just as I rounded the corner at the residences. After sorting out my room we went for a short walk around campus catching up until almost midnight.

As it turns out, I didn't die of exhaustion, get eaten by a bear, or ever get caught in any remotely dangerous situations. When you think about it, 43 days is really insignificant in the grand scale of a lifetime, and yet it has given me the most rich and memorable experience of my life. It's unbelievable that I managed to go across the country camping only for 6 days. Thank you to the numerous individuals who opened their hearts to let me stay in their home, feed me wonderful food, give the most helpful advice and help at a time of mishap; to the drivers who waved and gave me lots of room everyday; to the friendly passerbys who took a moment to stop and chat. Canada is such a beautiful and diverse country and I would not have chosen to explore it any other way.

Some stats from the trip:

Grand distance: 4519km

Days biking: 42 (including 3 days around Ottawa)

Average per day: 130km

Longest day: 244km

Shortest day: 16km 

Coldest place: Lake Louise (-5 degrees at night) although I was definitely the coldest the day riding into Thunder Bay

Warmest place: Ottawa (40 degrees with the humidity)

Favourite spots: the Selkirks and Rockies, Lake Superior, Ottawa, Montreal and now Quebec City

Animals encountered: big horn sheep, deer, antelope, gophers, foxes, squirrels, many birds, moose, bear, and all sorts of road kill imaginable (turtles, snacks, frogs, porcupines and even a dead bear)

I will continue to post stories from the very different lifestyles of the next few weeks. Here's to a lifetime of memories and stay tuned for Tour de Poutine round 2 when I will finish the rest of Canada. Ride on!

Day 42: Montreal to Trois-Riveres

Distance: 147km

Total distance: 5278km

Average speed: 21.4km/h

Weather: cloudy turned sunny

Another lazy start on the road at 10 this morning and it was about 25km before I finally left the Island of Montreal. I followed Sherbrooke Street which eventually turned into Highway 138 and got to pass by the botanical gardens and the Olympic Park. The road followed along the St. Lawerence River for a good portion and I took my first break in Lanoaire at a nice spot right by the water. Some time after the northerly headwind got pretty strong and I felt myself getting low on energy so I pulled into the first Frites Maison that I saw for some poutine, which gave me the power to go all the way to Trois-Riveres. The landscape in this part of Quebec is again very different from Ontario in that there were almost always houses on the side where I rode, never far from civilization. On the way to my host Richard and Sylvie's house on the east side of tr city passed through downtown, which to my surprise had quite a bit going on! There was the Festivoie with many free performances as well as a Friday evening market. After a fabulous dinner, Richard and Sylvie took me back to the city for a tour in the car and told me all about the history. Trois-Riveres is the second oldest city in Quebec after Quebec City and I got to see all the iconic apartments with their spiraling outside stairs. There are two little islands which divide the St. Maurice River into three so Jacque Cartier gave it this name when he first saw it, but it's a bit of a misnomer because there aren't actually three rivers! 

I cannot believe that after miles and miles of riding I've come to the other side of the country and tomorrow will reach my final destination. It really has felt so much longer than 40 something days and what I post here only touches the tip of how unbelievably incredible everything has been. 

Day 41: Brownsburg-Chatham to Montreal

Distance: 94km

Total distance: 5131km

Average speed: 23.5km/h

Weather: cloudy with some sprinkles

Thanks to the farmer's bedtime of 10 I was up at 6:30 this morning! I still hung around until about 9 talking to the women before they had to go out to the fields. Leaving the farm, I dropped down to Highway 344 which was right by the water. After a really nice stretch of Route Verte through Oka Provincial Park, I crossed a little non-motor vehicle bridge to Laval before going over another bridge to Montreal. I never knew that Montreal is an island! My first impression was that everything looked really old (not necessarily in a bad way) and then I realized that the correct description is heritage. Arriving at Alex and Tessa's apartment in Plateau at 1:30, I took a break before going off to explore Montreal for the afternoon. I decided to go on foot for a change so that I didn't have to worry about getting my bike afterwards. I went down to the Old Port and climbed up the Clock Tower. Then I made my way to Old Montreal and had a taste of what being in Europe must be like! It's pretty cool that this was the birthplace of the city and the tall stone buildings and architecture definitely took you back in time. Eventually I stumbled upon the Jazz Festival at Place des Arts. I lost myself in the really good street performers and bands playing. It's amazing that this was completely free! In the evening I met up with Bonnie and she showed me around the McGill campus before we went up to Mont Royal for another spectacular view overlooking the city. Montreal is one cool place and I can't wait to come back here in the next few weeks!

Day 40: Ottawa to Brownsburg-Chatham

Distance: 120km

Total distance: 5037km

Average speed: 24.5km/h

Weather: sunny

From city to farm! After breakfast I said goodbye to the Warden family and biked away from Ottawa on the Canal for the last time. Crossing into Gatineau I went back onto Highway 148 which became quieter and quieter as the big box stores disappeared. Unlike northern Ontario and the prairies I was never too far from services though. There were always houses on the side of the road and it seemed like the outskirts of one small town met the beginning of another. The Route Verte runs along a large part of this section of the highway so I was able to enjoy segregated paths and wide clean shoulders. I took a short break in Plaisance, which had a very nice welcome sign featuring a bicycle, where for the first time everything was in French. You can learn quite a bit just by reading signs! A short ride down was the pretty town of Montebello and I did a little detour to the Fairmont Chateau Montebello for a look. Every town that I passed had Casse-Croutes and beautiful churches. Around 3 I entered Brownsburg-Chatham and arrived at the organic cooperative farm which also hosts touring cyclists! The farm delivers vegetable baskets as well as operate a bakery and is run by three awesome women. I got to see all the animals with Jenna when she went out to feed them later in the afternoon. After coming in from the day's work, Heather made a great trio of raw salads for dinner before we all indulged in some ice cream dessert.

It's definitely the home stretch now and it makes me nostalgic to think that I'm almost at the final destination. On the one hand I'm really excited to see and live in Quebec for 5 weeks, but I've come love this biking business so much that I don't want it to end. It's crazy to believe that it's been just over a month because it  feels like the only lifestyle that I've ever known.

Day 39: Canada Day

Distance: 16km

Total distance: 4917km

Average speed: 18.3km/h

Weather: sunny 

Happy Canada Day! When I was drafting up a schedule for this trip it couldn't have worked out better that I would be in the best place in the world on Canada Day in order to meet my timeline. Turns out that I got in early which has been a wonderful bonus. I got up nice and early (7:30 so not really but in comparison to the last few days it's early!) and saw the last of the Flag Raising Ceremony at Parliament Hill just as I rode there. At 9:30 it was already completely packed with people donning a sea of red and white (300,000 of them!). I managed to catch glimpses of the Changing of the Guards Ceremony between heads and then spent most of the morning wandering around the booths in Major Hill Park. Clara Hughes, who has been biking across the country since March, had her celebration booth there and was finishing her ride in the city today! I never did meet her out riding as she was just a few days behind. In the afternoon, I took advantage of the free admission to museums today and went to the National Gallery of Canada and then the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau. The gallery was humongous and one of the best that I've been to. My favourite part was looking at paintings of the places that I'd seen on this trip, especially those around the Great Lakes. The Museum of History was even better, entailing a very comprehensive historical account of Canadian history from the perspective of both Europeans and First Nations. They also had a cool snow special exhibit, showing what a true Canadian winter, which admittedly I've never had, is like. Before I knew it it was almost 7 as I walked back across the bridge to Ottawa. I got some of the last grilled chicken sandwiches from the Great Canadian Chicken BBQ and sat down in front of the crowded Parliament lawns enjoying the concert. The only thing left to cap off my incredible stay in Ottawa are the fireworks!