Day 54: 63.1 km

June 29, 2012

Saint barthelemy - Tois Rivière

Other than my birthday celebration in Saskatoon, this was the best day of the trip. Without a doubt. And possibly of my life. I'll start from the beginning.

Today I woke up and saw another bike with gear!!!! I didn't recognize this bike, it wasn't any of the Quebec group, nor was it Annie, Thomas, or the Buddhist monk. I am really starting to recognize people's gear, bikes, tents, etc. this mystery biker was taking forever to get up, so I packed really slowly and completely wasted time, which was extremely creepy, in order to see who it was. Finally he got up. His name is Dave and he is biking from St. John's to Torino! We chatted for a long time. He had quite the experience. When he was just biking around, exploring this giant party in Quebec city a drunk driver (I assume) ran a red light and hit him!! He took 4 days off and had separated his shoulder, broken his nose and jaw, had over 30 stitches, and had a black eye!!! I am so impressed that he continued on! That would have been enough for me, he is such a trooper!! But it did made me want to avoid Quebec city.

After chatting with him for a while I left to have breakfast 30 km down the road in Louiseville. I get there and I am sitting trying to translate, via the Internet, what each meal is. Then I see "des hollandaise" or something like it and I was so excited! Eggs benedict!? My favorite! So I tried to say it to my lovely waitress, and that's what I ordered. When it came, I realized that is was definitely NOT eggs Benedict. It was the most incredible breakfast ever! The hash browns had bacon, sausage, ham, and hollandaise sauce with cheese melted On top. Thank you language barrier!!! It was amazing!!! Which really made me realize, the language barrier is half the fun of this province. It allowed me to try new things without me knowing! And I love the sound of French, I can just sit and listen without having any idea what is going on.

From Louiseville it was a pretty short stretch to Tois Rivière. I stopped for an icecream at DQ, and I have to say, it is so hilarious when I try to speak french when the person listening does speak english. It's kind of awkward! I was on the phone with mom and she complained about all my texting and biking. For the record, I slow right down, or stop for every text. And lots of times I just call the person back. So I promised mom I wouldn't text and bike. 5 minutes later, I am looking up across the street at these huge beautiful houses, and I crash. Well I didn't actually fall, but my bike did. My tire drifted while I was looking up and brushed the big curb. I hopped off my bike, but it crashed onto the sidewalk. All of the sudden I had two old French women all over me asking me questions in french. I thought they were asking if I was ok and I replied "oui oui" and then I heard a guy yell from across the street "they are asking if your hurt." there's my understanding French for you. " oh! No no no all good!" I quickly corrected. How embarrassing! It was too funny! That there is why i avoid cities haha. I right away called mom back and we agreed that texting may be safer than me getting distracted by houses. At least with texting I'm looking down and in my peripherals I can see the curb and the line! Too funny!

A couple other short funny things happened today. I raced a tractor down the highway. I won, cause he had to turn. I also had a fly go up my nostril! I sat there laughing for a long time at the word nostril.

I biked on, and had a delicious gelato break outside of Tois rivière. Then I pulled into town. Tois rivière is a decently big city, but not too much so. I felt like every restaurant had patios and everyone was outside enjoying the sun. 

 

St. Laurent river

It turns out the bridge I wanted to take to avoid Quebec city does not allow bikes! So Quebec city it is. As I am biking through Tois rivière, I pass a lot of construction. I heard my tube blow, but I was on a narrow bridge walking lane with another biker going fast behind me. I saw a gas station up ahead and decided I'd ride it out and park in there because I couldn't stop on the bridge. As I am crossing the street to get to the gas station, this guy, who I assumed was crazy, passes me and points at me out his window. He was driving alone and I was so confused? Maybe it was because of my tire? I pull into the gas station and he was there! He came running up to chat. His name is Sam and he speaks a little bit of English, but we do struggle to communicate with some things. But he is very patient and wants to learn. He just got back from Europe from a bike trip with his friend and next summer wants to bike down to Mexico! He has a b.o.b too! And his friend had the same bike as me! We chatted for a while and then we threw my bike in his truck and I was calling it a day! I figured if a guy shows me pictures of his tour bike all loaded up, and has a kayak in the back of his truck, he's a legit guy. But don't worry, I sent dad his license plate picture as well. Just in case. 

We had so much fun!!!! It turns out that my tire blew, not my tube! So I needed a whole new tire. He took me to his friends store and I got a really good one for a deal. Then we hopped in his all-terrain vehicle and ripped around for hours!!!!! I had so much fun!!!! I couldn't stop smiling! But I couldn't smile because bugs and dirt would get in my mouth! What a dilemma! It was incredible! And bumpy! And muddy! And fast! We took dirt roads through the forests down to the beach and then swam in the river. It felt so nice! 

 

Then we went back and showered and he made me dinner. Very French, with wine and cheese. 

I'm camping out in his parents back yard for the night and even though they don't speak English (his mom does a little) they are so nice and hospitable. Then, when I thought the day couldn't get any more fun, it turns out that there was a giant festival in town. 

 So Sam, his friend Kevin (who toured Europe with him and is planning his own trip across Canada), Jessie, and Jessie's boyfriend all went to this concert! And they were all such amazing people! So nice and including! 

And it was insane how much Kevin looked like a guy back in Saskatoon, Rory. Jessie looked like a girl I went to school with, (Lindsay) and Jessie's boyfriend (who is nameless because I forget... But a really nice guy) looks like Luke Monette, all friends back in Saskatoon. It felt like I was in Saskatoon! Except the music and language was in French. It was such a good concert. 

It is incredible how French is their provincial language, so this was a provincial band, and they were so popular. So many people of all ages were there, dancing and singing to everything. Then we all walked around down town and then Jessie and her boyfriend went home and Kevin, Sam and I went and hung out by the river and they showed me pictures of their bike tour through Europe, and the pictures of them skiing in the French alps! It looked like so much fun! Then I showed them all of my pictures.

It was nice to sleep in someone's yard. Even though I didn't know them, it felt very safe. I guess it was late, and I had my drowsy allergy pills, but I fell asleep instantly. I felt very safe. Such an amazing day!! And so incredibly random! One moment I'm pushing 130 km in the hot sun missing mom and dad and back home, and the next I'm cruising around in a buggie, swimming in a river, and at a concert with new friends.

Day 53: 116.53km

June 28, 2012

Montreal- Saint Antoine- Saint Barthèlemy

Today was interesting, but so much fun! I got a later start because the bike shop didn't open until 9:30am (which was AWESOME) but an even later start because there was an accident and so much traffic! There is 1.8 million people in Montreal, and I'm pretty sure the population of Cranbrook (25,000) was on that highway!!! Alain said that when he went to a hockey game there, they announced that there was 21,000 in the arena! It's so hard to picture!!!

We got to the bike shop, and not only did they babysit my bike for the night, but as I asked they had made sure my tires were good and also did extra to my bike! And it didn't cost much at all! I think they gave me a deal! Originally I had called and the person I had spoken to didn't speak English so I thought it was going to be tough to explain what I needed but the guys there that helped me spoke great English and were so supportive! So everything worked great!!!

I biked a bit down the road and had breakfast at Tim Horton's. It was my first meal I had to fully order in French. The lady helping me must have had extraordinary problem solving skills, but I finally spit out some words and got my meal. I'm so proud!! The language barrier is frustrating, but in a way, entertaining and fun.

I continued on highway 158, but knew I needed to eventually end up on highway 138 down south. So I went down highway 339 south. I passed through some of the most beautiful little towns I have ever seen! I loved it! They reminded me of the story the hockey sweater. They were all so colorful and there were so many flowers! I loved it. Small Quebec towns are not like small Ontario towns. It's the same sized dot on a map, but the towns have 1000 people in Quebec, where as in Ontario it's a town of 3 homes.

My future house. Not the best picture of it but it is the cutest little stone house with that twisted wood fence, and so many flowers on their fence!!

 

My favourite town ever. The buildings were so colourful.

 

 

As I biked into my favorite small town, l'assomption, I found out that I was lost. Turns out highway 158 goes through, and turns into highway 138 and highway 339 did not go to highway 138. I had to forage a way to highway 138. 3 highways later, I was on the beautiful highway 138.

It was so sunny, and I was biking right beside mansions backing onto a beautiful river. It was so nice! 

I also got to chat to Michelle, Andi, and Brittany! That took up 3.5 hours! It was fantastic to catch up with them!!! So occupying as well. I have a microphone in my headphone so it's hands free chitchatting. As Brittany and I ended our conversation I could tell I was bonking. I had no energy, the sun was setting, I had been out of water for a while, and I had no idea if there was a campground near by. I charged my phone and found out about a campground a little off the highway, and went there to set up. It was a really pretty campground, I went to bed early. Turned out to be a perfect day.

 

The water mill thing

Day 52: 63.67 km

June 28, 2012

Calumet- Montreal

Today was such an amazing day! It was so good to see people I knew because I was really starting to miss my family!!! Let's start at the beginning.

This morning I woke up and had no motivation to move. I pressed snooze probably 4 times even though I was awake. Then I got up, made breakfast and left by 9am.

It was sunny and beautiful in the morning. It was quite a curvy highway, but I had about 20 km winds at my back (for the majority) and it was cool, which was perfect for the ride. I have to say that it's quite stinky in the outskirts area of Montreal. Maybe it's because I was allergic to Ontario, and it's finally starting to clear up and I could finally smell things! First time I had ever taken allergy medication for anything!!! So now that I can smell again the smells hit me hard! And all I smelt for a while was cows! Haha it was pretty stinky!

I only biked until about 12:30pm and then I made it to Saint Antoine, where I was leaving my bike for the night so I could escape to Montreal! I left it at le source de sport for a quick spoke tightening to make my tire turn straight instead of wobble. It was kind of my excuse to leave it there more than anything, so tomorrow I'll see how much it costs to have my bike taken care of for the night. I really wanted to avoid biking in a big city. Cars on the highway are bad enough, but cars in a city of 1.8 million? Um, no.

Then while I waited for Alain, my parents friend, to come and bring me to Montreal for the day, I went to grab lunch. Just to make sure everyone is on the same page, my French is terrible. Like shoot me now terrible. I completely butcher the language and I really want to try and improve. I feel like people would be like "oh she's trying, I'll give her that!" but it's bad. People would like me more if I just pointed instead of wrecking a beautiful language. Anyway, I wanted a sweet onion chicken teriyaki sub for dinner, but just thinking of trying to describe that, the veggies, sauces, combo, and everything terrified me. I walked into subway, and turned around. I walked across the street to McDonald's. I have not been to McDonald's since Brooks Alberta!! But I figured a big Mac is a big Mac in any language. And I even struggled ordering that!!

Then Alain came and we were off to Montreal! It was amazing of him to pick me up from there and let me stay with his daughter! 

Such a nice family, but I feel terrible because I hardly saw them tonight!

After I showered I went and saw my friend Parker from Cranbrook. I had been craving so badly to watch a movie on a couch for over 52 days that he treated me to a movie (about Paris!) on a couch, with a blanket! Too perfect! I think he fell asleep but I had the best time ever! And then we went out for dinner at the restaurant his girlfriend works at. It was so fancy and I was dressed in long underwear, moccasins, and a grey hoody from Walmart. 

 

Me and my "indian rocket" tan, and my moccasins for dinner. 

I had the best plate of risotto! And a free dessert! Too delicious! I had such a good time meeting Erin and her co-workers! They are so nice!

Erin got off work early so Parker, Erin and I went to hike up to the lookout up Mount Royal hill. There were so many stairs! How is it that I can bike 100+ km a day but still be out of breath on a hike like that!?!? But when we got to the top the look out was beautiful!!!! 

 

Then Parker went to play soccer and Erin and I walked around town and chatted all night. I had such a great time!!!! We walked through downtown Montreal all the way to the river to Old Port, and got a beaver tail (which is a pastry with whatever you want pretty much), I had skor bites on mine. It was delicious!!! Then we went and ate it outside in a beautiful square and chatted for so long! 

 

Sightseeing - Old Port and a replica of Notre Dame

 

 

 Where John Lennon and Yoko Ono stayed

Then we went to a bar her friend manages and had a beer there. I had completely let time slip by, it was so exciting and amazing in this town, with such great people! It really reminded me of Paris with all of the churches and buildings and Spain because of the apartments and the streets all mixed into one. Quite urban but beautiful.

It got late quite fast! Erin and Parker showed me which route to take on the metro, and Alain had described it quite well as well, so I said bye to Erin and Parker and I headed back to the place I was staying the night. Perfect day!! I wish I could have had dessert and chatted more with Steph and Alain as well! Looks like I will have to come back!

I hear that the winds are terrible in Saskatoon!! I know how you feel, only kind of. The winds that I fought to fix my flat were 65km winds! I can't imagine 70-90 km with hail!!! I hope all is ok! Everyone stay safe!!!

Day 51: 76.6 km

June 26, 2012

Ottawa- Calumet QC

I miss my mom!! Today mom and I woke up and had a delicious breakfast in jail, and then ran around taking pictures. It was so much fun! Then we got in the car and went around taking more pictures! (Most of these are on yesterday's blog post.)

Then we went into Quebec, because we were literally just across the bridge, and I started there. The shoulders were so much better! It's incredible how that can change, province to province!

 

A little ways down the road mom and I stopped and had lunch. Then she had to go to the airport. It was so sad to see her go! I have really learned that life is much more fun when you can share it with the ones you love! I miss her already and can't wait till she flies back!!!!

I biked until about 5 and found a campground on the river. It's a nice little place with a shower for midgets! Then I crawled into bed and watched Xmen until my iPad died. Then I passed right out. I can't wait for Montreal and New Brunswick! It's all coming so soon!!!