Day 89: Montreal, QC -> Magog, QC

Date: Saturday, August 12, 2023
Start: Montreal, QC (Staying with a friend)
End: Magog, QC (Staying with family)
Distance: 152km

We woke at Emily's and started packing.  The forecast was calling for rain in the afternoon/evening and we wanted to try to beat it.  It kept getting pushed back and so if we could make it to Magog by 5pm we had a pretty good chance of staying dry.

We packed, ate breakfast, and said our final thank yous and farewells.  A very special thanks to Emily for hosting us and spending time showing us around some of her recent discoveries in Montreal!  She's a true friend and I look forward to seeing her again when I finish the trip and fly back to this part of the world!

We started out of Montreal on it's wonderful system of bike lanes.  We first needed to get off the island and so headed for the Jacques Cartier Bridge to take us to the South Shore.

Once we crossed there we navigated through the suburban sprawl of the South Shore neighbourhoods and eventually found La Route Verte that would take us into Southeastern Quebec and The Eastern Townships, my home.

Again, a real thank you to Quebec for its incredible cycle network.  In the first 120km out of Montreal we might have been on gravel trails for only 15km.  The rest was paved.  It was a paradise for cycling.  The day had also started out cool and cloudy, so it was perfect cycling weather.  As it went on the clouds melted away and the sun shone through and warmed the day.   But the pathways went through forested areas at times that provided lovely shade.  It was another of those incredible days to cycle.

After about 30km we reached Chambly, Quebec.  This is the home of the appropriately named Chambly Canal, which allows shipping traffic to get from the St. Lawrence to the Hudson River.  It was very similar to the Rideau Canal in Ontario.  Run by Parks Canada, we saw many pleasure boats transiting through on their way back and forth.  We rode along the canal longer than we should have - we were enjoying the ride too much - and had to backtrack a bit.

Past Chambly we got off of La Route Verte as it dipped South before going back North and would have added extra distance.  Instead we got on the La Route des Champs - which was partially crushed gravel for a while - and followed a more direct route to Granby, Quebec.  Again, it was wonderful to be off the road and biking through countryside and through small towns.  Quebec really is better than anywhere else for easy cycling.

We kept riding through towns, fields, and enjoyed the sights.  The pathway was almost entirely flat.  These are the St. Lawrence Lowlands, flat plains around the river that are heavily farmed.  It wouldn't last though, as The Eastern Townships is rolling hills and small mountains where the Appalachian Mountain chain trails off into Quebec.  But for now it's was easy riding.

As I rode I listened to an audiobook: Canada by Mike Myers.  Myers - the Canadian comedian behind Austin Powers, Wayne's World, Shrek, and a long run on SNL.  His book is partly autobiographical, but mostly a tribute and explanation of Canada as he grew up in it.  It's supremely entertaining, and wildly informative about some of the formative experiences of both Myers and Canada.  Skipper also listened to it, and I was a few days behind him while listening.  I would occasionally try to explain some piece of history or moment in Canada and he would say, "Yeah, Mike Myers talked about that!"  I recommend it if you get a chance.

At one point a maple had started dropping colourful leaves onto the trail.  "TOO SOOOOOOON!!!!" I shouted as we biked past it.

We stopped for lunch in Saint-Paul-d'Abbotsford at a cafe.  It was a welcome break.  We had sandwiches, salad, and home made iced tea.  We thought about ice cream afterwards but had learned that ice cream after lunch doesn't make for a good afternoon ride, so opted for some date squares!

We got back on the trail and kept on keeping on.  Granby was the next stop and it was here we rejoined La Route Verte.  Again, it was paved.  We passed SO.MANY.CYCLISTS.  It was really encouraging to see how many people were out and about.  I'd forgot it was Saturday, but lots of families out with children riding between towns helped show just how comfortable the riding was.

Further on we reached Waterloo, Quebec and the landscape started getting hilly.  And shortly after this we reached Stukely-Sud, Quebec and the climbs became serious.  The pathway also gave way to gravel trails and gravel roads.  At one point we saw a massive hill in the distance and decided to jump onto the highway until Magog.  It was the right choice, as the shoulder was good and the traffic in this area was light.

La Route Verte has many areas to stop.  Usually with picnic tables and garbages.  Sometimes with toilets and water foundtains.  They make it really easy to ride when you know you can stop occasionally for quick breaks or lunch.

Just after reaching Eastman I looked behind me and noticed that Skipper wasn't there anymore.  Usually he'll tell me if he's stopping.  I checked my phone and sure enough I had a missed call and a text saying he'd got a flat.  I turned around and found him a few kilometers back changing the tube.

He'd had a slow leak and changed the tube.  He was having problems with his bike pump though and it seemed to work differently than any small pump I've ever seen.  Trying to figure it out, he unscrewed the valve stem from the valve.  Thankfully I had pliers to get it back in tight otherwise it would have been another leak.  The sun was getting lower.  It was just after 4pm and the rain was due in an hour.  The winds were blowing and we couldn't seem to get the tire pumped up.  We were tired from all the biking (we were about 140km into the day) and our nerves were frayed.

Wouldn't this be a good time for Toppables Crackers?  That's right, our sponsor (note: not actually our sponsor) Toppables Crackers want to remind you that no matter the situation you can always depend on those buttery, crunchy, salty crackers to fortify you and give you the snack you need to do what needs to be done.  Look for them in the cracker aisle of your local grocers and ask for the green box with the cracker on it.  Toppables Crackers: turns tasty toppings into extraordinary snacks!

We managed to get the tire pumped and got back on the road.  I didn't take any pictures of the ordeal...because who does that?

After only a few kilometers we rounded a corner and saw Mount Orford.  This is a mountain on the edge of Magog, Quebec that I grew up skiing and climbing.  It sits beside the main highway into the area, and whenever we would drive or I would take a bus back to The Eastern Townships I wouldn't feel like I was home until I passed Orford.  Seeing it again, I was finally home.

We took a few back roads I knew and reached my parents house just after 5:30pm.  My odometer showed 7202km total for the trip so far.  The rain had held off and we had made it.  Sure enough, my mother and father were standing at the end of the driveway taking pictures as we rolled up.  There were balloons and signs welcoming us.  My mother was so excited!

We shared hugs and kisses, made introductions, took everything inside, and showered.  Dinner was ready for us and my mother and father are two more in a long line of excellent hosts we've had on this trip!

The rest of the evening was spent trading stories, catching up, eating, and enjoying one another's company.  Sure enough, it started raining about an hour or two after we arrived.

We all went to bed later than usual, but after enjoying a lot of good food and company.  After almost 3 months of biking and 7202km...I was home.