Back home again

Yesterday we did a quick 36 mile from St. Raymond into Quebec.  Once again we marveled at the wonderful bike infrastructure, as we rode on well marked trails into and through the city.  We have even ridden on bike detours, as well marked as the main routes, to take us around construction or other obstacles. This investment seems even more impressive when you consider that the biking season is only about 7 months of the year.  Many shared routes are in effect only from mid-April to mid-October, and the metal poles separating the bikers from traffic are removed in winter.  

We drove from Quebec to Lake George, New York yesterday afternoon and made it back to DC today. Guess it is time to start planning my next adventure.  

        

             One more lovely view on yesterday's ride.

                                   

                                      In search of a bathroom, we stopped at a First Nations 

                                      hotel and museum where this wonderful art was displayed. 

                                   

                                       My bike was a frequent roommate on the trip.  I hope it 

                                       won't be lonely in the garage.

       

           In line for 45 minutes at the border.  Things looked different as soon as we crossed back.  In general, everything in Canada seems much neater and better tended.  We definitely appreciated all the immaculate bathrooms and port-a-potties, a subject dear to bikers!

                                   

                                       Yoga on the beach at Lake George this morning

                                    

                                       End of the trail for my bike seat.  It has given me 

                                       thousands of miles of good service.

Next to last day

   We had a lovely, albeit short ride of about 36 miles today, from Ste. Anne de la Perade to St. Raymond.  Last night when we were safely in our auberge, a major thunder and hail storm roared through.  Funny how much more I enjoy the rain under those circumstances.  The morning was misty when we started, but we ended the ride in sunshine.  As usual, there were many interesting sights along the way.

                                      

                                   I stopped to check out the sign.  Susan, obviously, did not!

                                       

                                                            Pretty berries in the mist. 

        

                     I feel like Dr. Doolittle.  Today's conversation was with a family of alpacas.

           

                

                              

                                  I love to stop on bridges to admire the view. 

                                  

                                     Was Susan balancing on her bike to get this picture?

   

              

        Raspberry photo of the day

Backtracking

Our route today took us back up the St. Lawrence on roads we had ridden a week ago.  Because the ride was short and the day was beautiful, John, Susan and I took some side roads to give us more time on our bikes and less time on the highway.  We rode 43 miles back to St. Anne de la Perade, to stay in the same lovely auberge we stayed in the first night out of Montreal.  This time I arrived early enough to go for a very refreshing swim in the river.  Today was the warmest day in the last two weeks, so our timing was good all around.

                                     

    On our way out of Trois Rivieres, we stopped at the Sanctuary of Notre Dame.  This small chapel, built in 1715, is next to a huge and more modern basilica.  Two miracles have been reported here, and many thousands of pilgrims come each year.

       

             We saw this interesting woodwork on our back roads detour.

                           

                           I had to stop for a conversation with a very vocal herd of goats.

                  

    

                                          

       We stopped at an outdoor art exhibition.  It was a good thing I was on a bike so that I couldn't be tempted to buy anything.

              

                                  

                                       Another round of great raspberries.

 

Discoveries along the way

    Today's ride was one of those you wish could go on and on -- beautiful weather, great country roads, no traffic, interesting sights along the way, and a tailwind!  Our mileage from Berthiersville to Trois Rivieres was just 55 miles of easy riding, so we could relax along the way and still reach our destination with time to explore the old part of the city here,

              

            We had to stop to admire a lovely farm and visit a bit with a couple of mares and their colts.

                      

        A ways further down the road, we stopped at a restored general store.  The owner showed us his Aeolian piano player dating from 1904. It is a contraption which can be set to any keyboard and hits the keys, guided by a paper roll and powered by petals.  None of us had ever heard or seen this version of a player piano, so we were delighted to get a demonstration.  

 

       

   When we arrived in Trois Rivieres, we visited the Ursaline Museum.  Five intrepid nuns travelled from Quebec to establish a school for girls and a hospital here in 1695.  The school they started is still educating more than 800 students annually, although in recent years it is no longer run by the order.  This picture is of the dome of the chapel, parts of which date back to the 18th century.  Our visit was interesting, but I would like to know more about the women and girls in the early days of the school.

                               

               One of the towers of the cathedral here, soaring up into a clear late afternoon sky.