Monthly Archives: August 2016

East to Montreal on mostly bike paths

Uncategorized

174 miles

Total around the world bicycle miles 24,867 (40,019 km)

August 24, 2016

What a great visit with our cycling friends, Kathleen and Derek along with their kids Anna and Jasper in Ottawa and Nick and Virginia in Gatineau, Quebec! On Sunday Nick and Virginia cooked us an excellent barbecue lunch and then dinner. We had a great time talking about our time together in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Monday was a windy and rainy day so we took the day off to relax, catch up with computer work, and watch some adventure films on Netflix. Nick works evenings so with Virginia we went back to Kathleen and Derek’s home Monday evening for a delicious dinner with really good dessert cookies by Anna.

On Tuesday we toured Ottawa and Gatineau by bike. We met Nick at the Mill Street Brewpub for lunch then continued a tour through the streets. We visited many of the key sites, markets, and rode through Little Italy and Chinatown. We also stopped for a few beers at a new brewery called Tooth and Nail and then explored a wonderful huge map shop. On our way back to Gatineau we cycled through the very busy Ottawa and was surprised how many bikers are in the city and how courteous the drivers are. Virginia cooked us a great pasta dish to fuel us today.

This morning they cooked us a big breakfast then Derek, Anna, and Jasper met us on their bikes and guided us out of the city. Their next stop was a radio station to talk about there one-year journey on their bicycles. Today we made it to the very cool historical town of Montebello, Quebec.

August 26, 2016

Thanks to Nick, Virginia, and Derek Jocelyn had our ride to Montreal mapped out on bike paths. Although the path often zig-zagged and was sometimes hilly and dirt we enjoyed getting off the regular road and had a nice three days. Late afternoon yesterday we found a nice campsite about 20 miles short of Montreal. Today Jocelyn once again was great with her navigating as we rode across islands with bridges and ferries, along the Ottawa River, Montreal canals, across major highways and through to the east side of Montreal. Once there we were exhausted and found a cheap motel.

A kiddie parade. All these kids looked so happy and calm.
A kiddie parade. All these kids looked so happy and calm.
Ottawa Parliament building.
Ottawa Parliament building.
Notre Dame Basilica.
Notre Dame Basilica.
Hand controlled lock - a historical site.
Hand controlled lock – a historical site.

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A fine brewery.
A fine brewery.
Another brewery.
Another brewery.
China Town.
China Town.

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Canadian Parliament.
Canadian Parliament.
A great time with Nick and Virginia. We spent several meals eating and discussing the world map.
A great time with Nick and Virginia. We spent several meals eating and discussing the world map.
A few pictures from when we met Nick and Virginia two years ago in Tajikistan.
A few pictures from when we met Nick and Virginia two years ago in Tajikistan.
Murghab, Tajikistan with Michael from Switzerland. Talk about the middle of nowhere. No power either. All the power poles and lines have been down for years. They do however run a generator a few hours a day to charge phones and heat water.
Murghab, Tajikistan with Michael from Switzerland. Talk about the middle of nowhere. No power either. All the power poles and lines have been down for years. They do however run a generator a few hours a day to charge phones and heat water.
Great times in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Great times in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.
Derek, Anna, and Jasper guided us out of the city.
Derek, Anna, and Jasper guided us out of the city.

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Quebec is such a nice cycling change from Ontario. Much better roads and respect.
Quebec is such a nice cycling change from Ontario. Much better roads and respect.

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A typical Canadian fast food - poutine. French fries, gravy, and cheese curds. A little too fat for us.
A typical Canadian fast food – poutine. French fries, gravy, and cheese curds. A little too fat for us.
Ice houses for winter fishing on the ice.
Ice houses for winter fishing on the ice.
Jocelyn's rear tire gave out after 10,000 miles. Our front ones have lasted over 20,000 miles.
Jocelyn’s rear tire gave out after 10,000 miles. Our front ones have lasted over 20,000 miles.
Not much left.
Not much left.
A fine campground in Pointe-Calumet.
A fine campground in Pointe-Calumet.
A cable ferry.
A cable ferry.

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Quebec has a really good bike path system. Plus all shoulders are paved.
Quebec has a really good bike path system. Plus all shoulders are paved.
Finding our way through Montreal.
Finding our way through Montreal.
A canal in Montreal.
A canal in Montreal.
A fine brewery.
A fine brewery.
Eric and his girlfriend rode from Portland, Oregon to Panama City last year. They were three months behind us.
Eric and his girlfriend rode from Portland, Oregon to Panama City last year. They were three months behind us.

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Montreal is a major seaport with the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway to the East.
Montreal is a major seaport with the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway to the East.
Interesting condos.
Interesting condos.
Montreal.
Montreal.
The only way across the river is riding across this bridge. It took a while to find the steep hill up.
The only way across the river is riding across this bridge. It took a while to find the steep hill up.
We found it and another bike path.
We found it and another bike path.