Raging at Cape Enrage (Sussex to Hopewell Cape) - Day 39 - 122.14km

Getting a bit behind in my blogging... I suppose it makes sense considering I was camping at the Ponderosa Campgrounds and blogging in my tent late at night would not have been ideal (especially considering the size of my tent).

Leaving Sussex and heading to Hopewell Cape with outstanding weather, made me appreciate how fortunate I have been while traveling across Canada... I can't actually think of an actual day that has been 100% miserable. Actually not even 15% miserable... now I know I'm probably shooting myself in the foot by saying this now - but I do think I have been lucky.

Arriving at the campgrounds I paid for my site, and purchased my pass for the Hopewell Cape (for the following day). Then I sat outside and ate an icecream - this is where I met a man named Frank, he and his partner Debbie were about to go canoeing. We had a brief conversation about my trip and he said we'd chat later. After putting up my tent Frank came over and asked if I would like to join them for dinner. Once again - another caring couple of travelers. Frank and Deb were vacationing in the maritimes and were planning on going to Quebec City on February 16th...they actually live in Waterford, Connecticut. Such an awesome couple - great stories and very giving.

After dinner I got a tour of their RV/campervan... the African Queen was her name - and man was I impressed. Heck I almost didn't want to return to my one man tent but alas... all good things must come to an end.

Helped build a campfire and sat around with Frank and chatted til about 11:30pm. Good Times - they are the couple pictured above.

Almost forgot to explain the tagline of this post - Cape Enrage is where the lighthouse was... I cycled there - up and down many steep... VERY STEEP hills. I almost raged when I got there as it costs $4.00 to walk beside the lighthouse. I opted not to pay but instead just took a few pics, ate a banana and continued cycling. Didn't realize they could charge for that sort of thing in Canada (or that they did charge for this sort of thing).

Great Day - Thanks Frank and Deb :)

Distance traveled today: 122.14km
Distance traveled in Canada: 5223.05km
Distance traveled this year: 8301.84km

Day 37 & 38 - To Fredericton and then Sussex...

My apologies to those of you who have been reading my blog - wireless access in Fredericton wasn't really working that well hence the double post (see Day 36 for some cool pics and my intense day) and this is a combined post for Days 37 and 38 - just cuz well I'm a bit tired tonight.

Fredericton was really... what is the word... ummm Different. Initially I really didn't like the city due to the fact that people at the University of New Brunswick weren't that friendly, in fact the first woman I met at the university - was a word that rhymes "itch"... but that somewhat changed before leaving the city.

I actually didn't end up staying in the residences at UNB - due to numerous issues, including a planned power outage - I still don't quite understand how a conference office can put visitors in a building that has a planned power outage, and more disturbing - not notify the visitors that this was happening.

Highlights:
- going to Cora's for breakfast - I know kind of sad... but so awesome - first Cora's since Montreal.
- having T1 fixed up at Savages bike shop - super cool guys helped me out in getting my gears back in order... I had issues shifting on day 37 leaving the Browns... essentially I had to manually change the gears on the front part of the drive shaft (if that makes sense).
- seeing the Legislative Assembly - completely under construction/renovation - hence no pic
- seeing the Big Potato at the side of the road today
- getting a wee bit confused on side roads heading to Sussex
- hearing Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra and buying their two CDs at Boom! nightclub - apparently they were there for Fredericton's first PRIDE ever
- hitting 8000km for the year on Day 37
- AMAZING weather

Distance on Day 37: 53.12km
Distance on Day 38: 117.51km
Distance travelled in Canada: 5100.91km
Distance traveled this year: 8179.70km

Darkest hour to Defining Moment - Day 36

Before leaving Edmunston I took a few photos with Mr. Giroux, left at about 9:40am - the weather was picture PERFECT - absolutely amazing... I suppose I already got that point across. Anyway, the cycling was pretty easy going, only thing that I don't quite understand is why the highways in this province change numbers as frequently as they do... a bit frustrating, the good thing is there seems to be an abundance of roads that lead in the same direction... once again a good thing, but also a curse. It seems that I ended up on the wrong side of the St. John river time and time again. Meaning that I was taking the LONG way to Fredericton. In the back of my mind I was hoping to make it to Fredericton in one day (which would have been my longest one day ride ever at 265km - perhaps a bit ambitious)... at around 6:30pm - I ran into my first snag - I was almost out of water - only about 600mL left in my emergency backpack (I have always kept one bottle just in case this situation happened). In order to solve my water dilemma - I stopped and asked one of the friendly people sitting on their porch - met a wonderful woman who gave me water and ice and continued on my way...

By about 7:45pm I decided I needed to find a place to camp or a motel to crash in... the difficult part was none were found... so I kept riding, contemplating just stopping and putting my tent up at the side of the road. This wouldn't have been the best move - but I figured I didn't have enough energy left in me to continue all the way to Fredericton (especially when i saw that I was still about 50km out of the city). Definitely my darkest hour, in this entire trip across Canada. Then it all changed.

I saw two people sitting on their front deck and I stopped... I suppose I did the right thing by asking if I could camp on their lawn first and then ask if a campground was nearby. Jerry Brown was his name and his daughter Nicole was there visiting (she works for McCain Canada). Anyway, obviously knowing this information is an indication that I camped on Jerrys' lawn. Got to meet his son John and Kathy (his girlfriend). We enjoyed a beer in there backyard and then I headed off to my tent. Oh... I also forgot to mention that he let me shower and get all cleaned up.

Felt GREAT to be in a "safe" place. I put that in quotes because the area of New Brunswick where I was - is called Bear Island (due to the large number of bears in the area - funny thing is it isn't really an island).

Amazing day! Longest as well.

Distance travelled: 227.57km
Total Distance in Canada: 4983.40km
Total Distance for the Year: 8062.19km

New Province... New Brunswick... Day 35

Well... I should've known, one good day of cycling deserves a bad one as well... not that the scenary wasn't spectacular as it was... it was more or less the bike path from Riviere du Loup, everyone is expected (I think) to take this Interprovincial bike path - yes the safe route to take, only problem is that this segment of the Route Verte is all gravel... so I was CRAWLING most of the morning and decided to try my luck on the highway when I made it to a small town outside of St. Louis de Ha ha! It turned out I ended up on the trans-Canada and the shoulder was nice and wide but the traffic was a bit loud and the hills started to climb over and over again - so I once again opted for the path, as it is the old train route and stays close to the waters edge.

Nothing crazy exciting to report from my day - was a bit disappointed with New Brunswick as apparently the "Welcome to New Brunswick" sign is being revamped or something - so unfortunately I don't have my usual pic of T1 and I at the newest province that we've crossed.

Huge storms have been happening tonight... so am really glad that the weather held off, as the bike path would've been a nightmare had it been rainy.

I kept thinking about the office today - all good stuff and was wondering how the summer has been with preparations for the contract staff beginning shortly, the 40th anniversary of Workshop - sorry Paula I ran out of time to look for more pics for you... also was thinking about Admissions and the lovely rescind numbers... I imagine they are happening and so are the phone calls. WOW a work moment.

Have decided I will head south on Wednesday - not sure how far I will get but likely not all the way to the capital of the province (Fredericton) as it is a bit too far for a one day cycle... 265km.

Loving the first stay of my Ma/Pa tour. Suzanne your father is really kind and well I know where you get it from...

Distance today - 138.35km

Quebec to Rivere du Loup 200km of pure bliss

Day 33 - Perfect day for a ride along the St. Lawrence, wind at my back and sun in the sky, then cloud... then sun... good times!

It's funny how seeing mountains again isn't really that disturbing to me... I figure soon enough I will be climbing them and enjoying some cool descents before climbing others. Only trick will be with the wind - so far the prevailing westerly winds have been my friend, but tomorrow as I turn south east things may change slightly. This also will be the start of my "Ma/Pa tour" as I have decided to call it - meeting Suzanne's father in Edmunston, Mike's mother in Nova Scotia and possibly Todd Ross' parents in St. Stephen.

Something that I noticed today was the sound of the grass... okay, now I know that sounds weird but the wind was blowing in such a manner that I noticed that noise, must've been the angle... combined with the sweet smell of sea water from the St. Lawrence (I am that close to the Atlantic that the river is affected by the tides).

Highlights:
- the ferry ride from Quebec to Levis - the beautiful view of Old Quebec and the Chateau Frontenac
- the mountains on the North Side of the St. Lawrence
- cycling with someone else - mind you he didn't ever take the lead and was enjoying a free ride most of the afternoon
- arriving in Riviere du Loup - the hostel had a dinner menu for $9.25 - included an awesome salad, chicken tikka masala curry, bread, coffee, and ice cream with peaches.... good value - and breakfast is free (too boot)

Distance travelled 200.15km
Distance this year: ???

Cycling in La BELLE province! Quebec... City, one of the oldest cities in Canada (400 years young)

Day 32 - Trois-Rivieres to Quebec City

Today I continued to be thankful for this journey... I have come so far and in such a short period of time (at least I think so). Also, everytime I enter a depanneur (or convenience store), restaurant etc... I am so thankful that I can at least understand and speak basic french - Mom and Dad were smart to have put me in french immersion so many years ago.

Anyway, I digress - today was reminiscent of the day I rode from Rosetown Saskatchewan to Saskatoon. The weather was questionable most of the day - with dark clouds everywhere - lucky for me I arrived at my accommodation prior to a MAJOR and I did mean to put that in CAPS storm. I suppose the other reason why it was reminiscent of previous legs was the generosity of the people. I am currently staying in the home of a wonderful woman named Louise (who I met at Lake Louise) - although it was a bit difficult to find her place on the south shore of the St. Lawrence upon arrival I had a warm welcome - a beautiful shower and heaps of food to eat... with Quebec raspberries the size of small apples (okay so I am exaggerating - but you get the picture).

Highlights of the day:
- wind at my back, some climbs that reminded me that this can be challenging
- thinking of so many people that are in my life or have been in my life, a sense of PRIDE in the accomplishment of arriving in Quebec City... almost to New Brunswick and the well the Atlantic Ocean is practically right there...
- cycling across the Pont de Quebec - that is the Quebec Bridge - it was LONG and although they had signs saying cyclists should walk there bikes I was a rebel.
- meeting other cyclists along the way - most had started around the same time as me - beginning of June... most are tired and slowing down (just like me... made me realize that I am apart of a club of touring cyclists.
- leaving Trois-Rivieres and only couting 2 bridges... hmmm where was the third?

Distance travelled:
Distance to this year:

Day 31 - Montreal to Trois-Rivieres, Quebec - Rain, rain go away!

Day started early and I was quite sad to leave Montreal - having made new friends. Although the plan was to leave by 9am a storm hit and I decided to head to Cora's for a big breakfast. The rain stopped a bit after breakfast and I headed to the Tourism Quebec office to book my accommodation in Trois-Rivieres and ensure that the route I was planning on taking would be appropriate.

Throughout the day the weather was miserable - grey clouds and EXTREMELY hot and humid... but the good news is that I made it to Trois-Rivieres before a down-pour of rain. Something that I've realized is that although Victoria BC may be called the cycling capital of Canada - Quebec is the most cycle friendly province that I've encountered - with "La Route Verte" and heaps of road signs that indicate cyclists are using roadways.

Total Distance for Day 31: 151.23km
Total Distance todate: 7218.3km