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.