C2C XXIX – Dedication

Today dedication is to health and resources!
A conversation with a fellow ontarian this morning who expressed how he would love to do an adventure like ours but wouldn’t make it reiterated many of the comments we’ve had over the past month!
There are many people that would love to even be able to ride a bicycle who either are physically bounded or don’t have a bike of their own!
I have to remind myself that the activity I do every day (that does seem very monotonous sometimes) is special, I have good health and for that reason I am lucky and thankful!
So here’s to enjoying our physical capabilities and pushing their boundaries just a little bit!
Sara

C2C XXIX Levis to Cabano QUE

Life is good in La Belle Province. Woke to cool skies and overcast. A welcome change. Unfortunately by noon the heat and sweat was back on
We started a little late to take advantage of the continental breakfast and steal some PB. Talked to a fella from Ontario who was on a 3 day trip with his family. Had no idea where he was going. His young daughter told him he must be in Quebec “because all the people are speaking French” Typical male behaviour The best trips are unplanned
10 k out we came across a young fellow at the roadside with his beat up Schwinn upside down and the rear tire flat. With his limited French it was difficult to get the whole story but he had anther smaller bike beside him, the user of, likely gone for help. His bike had no rear brakes and didn’t look very road worthy. Our tubes didn’t fit his bike. We wished him well and pushed on. He was, in sharp contrast to the 30 plus riders we saw yesterday on a CIBC supported tour complete with several support vehicles. Reminds me of the biking truism that says there are two types of bikers: those that want to ride and those who have to ride. For the record, I fall into the former. I still have a valid drivers liscence!

A quick few pedal strokes and we were at 60 k for a quick calorie load.
Life on the right side of the river is like the left. Large church after large church. They seem awfully close but in their origins over a hundred years ago it would have been days on foot or horse. The silver steeples were like lighting rods to the weary traveler. Visible to the ship bound explorers on the St Lawrence Parishoners must of lived in awe of the huge dominating churches. They spawned large seminaries that became solid indestructable residences in the communities. Their presence is quite palpable as you pedal through them
We also got our first wisp of salt air off the St Lawrence. An onshore breeze proved to be a mild headwind Once again the roads were excellent with bike friendly shoulders The biggest change was the development of hills as we moved up the coast and inland The river flats are gone We skipped underneath Riviere du Loup on back roads before hooking back up with the Trans Canada for the last 50 k into Cabano. It was nice beong without transprt trucks for a while
The coast line had a plethora of artisan buisnesses. Seems like everyone is a wood carver. No room on the bike for any large wood products!
With only some fruit for lunch we arrived in Cabano with dirt sweat fatigue and a big appetite. Cabano is on water and seems like a nice summer spot
Another long ( 230 k ) in the saddle. Tomorrow we enter New Brunswick with a time change and a destination with Plaster Rock. It will be a short 165 k day as we prepare for a 270 day across the NB “short cut” to the mud flats ( Moncton) The tidal bore awaits!

Hope your day is going well. If you see any “Ridehards” around, we could use some of those legs now. We”re not fussy, we would even take Eds!
Greg