Canada 2011
 
 

Day 04

July 28

 
     
     
   
  Today we will visit a few more of the local sights before we head for Saint Georges where QuebecSToc is being held. Since we won't be coming back to Alain's house, I get up a bit early to get SweetTreat packed and do my 'paranoid' room check for things that I might leave behind. It makes me a little crazy when I leave stuff so I'm a bit over the top on doing the last 'look-see' before I vacate the premises.  
   
 

Alain has told me about how the snow can get up to eaves of the house in the winter, which is way more snow than I can imagine or want. I notice his blower and it looks like a pretty big one to me. When Alain comes out I ask him about it -

"No, actually it is more a small to medium blower."

"Well, you sure could have fooled me!"

It makes me glad that I live in Tennessee where snow is a treat and not a burden.

 
   
  We make a quick fuel stop to top our tanks off and then we are on our way.  
   
  Our first stop is across the Pont de l'Île , a suspension bridge that crosses the Saint Lawrence to L'ile D'Orleans - The Island Of Orleans. It is the only access other than boat, plane or ice bridge in the winter. The French colonized this island as one of their first efforts in the area and many French Canadians trace their heritage back to here.  
   
 

Although we are only 3 miles or so from Quebec City, you get the feeling that you are 100 miles from anywhere. Or as we say back home -

"You're way out in country."

 
   
  We end up at a beautiful park area that gives me a wonderful view of the city and is pleasantly deserted right now.  
   
  Although the name 'Quebec' comes from an Indian word that means 'where the river narrows', it sure doesn't look very narrow right here.  
   
  Alain tells of how the ferries can be pushed off course by the winter ice blocks in the river and sometimes end up close to where we are standing.  
   
  There's a nice plaque here that has a language on it that I somewhat understand - English. Again, this is a place that I would have never known about if I was not traveling with someone local. There is just no substitute for local knowledge when you are in an area.  
   
  But we have other places to see so we're back cross the bridge and head for Quebec City proper.  
   
  I see 'my' waterfall again and hope I get a closer look sooner or later.  
   
  Downtown Quebec City reminds me a lot of San Francisco, although the hills are not as tall or as steep.  
   
  Our next stop is at the Tourny Fountain in front of the Parliament House. The fountain, originally built in 1854 at Val-D’Osne, France was brought here by clothier Peter Simons. He donated the fountain in honor of the 400th anniversary of Quebec.  
   
 

A short stroll from the fountain, I can see the walls of the old city that the British originally built. Alain tells me -

"No motorcycles are allowed in the walled area."

It seems a shame to me, but I guess some riders have ruined for the rest of us.

 
   
 

The sturdy, protecting walls remind me of the logo on the Quebec license plate -

'Je me souviens' - 'Yes, we remember'.

I've been told it comes from the poem -

"Je me souviens/ Que né sous le lys/
Je croîs sous la rose.

I remember / That born under the lily/
I grow under the rose."

The lily comes from a coat of arms for the French, the rose from a coat of arms for the British. Judging by the condition of the walls in front of me, it does appear that the Brits did a mighty fine job when it came to building a fort.

 
   
  And standing nearby, is a soldier dressed in uniform that reminds me of those that I saw when I was in London.  
   
 

As it turns out, Alain tells me -

"We're really not supposed to be parking here."

So I get a picture of our 'crime' before we hit the road.

 
   
  It's back down the hill and toward the next attraction.  
   
 

The old Quebec City main train station has been restored and put to other good uses. Looking at this grand structure, I tell Alain -

"We sometimes forget just how wealthy and powerful the old railroads were in their day."

 
   
  As Alain decides to watch over our bikes, I wander inside to see what it looks like. The restoration is superb and it reminds me a lot of our own Union Station that has been restored and turned into a luxury hotel back in Nashville.  
   
  You can only imagine how busy this area must have been during the railroad's heyday.  
   
  The 'back shed' has been turned into a nice dining and lounge area.  
   
  Outside, I have to go over and check out this unusual fountain.  
   
  As we get ready to pull out, this herd of youngsters are very much interested in our motorcycles. I would supposed they are wondering if they could make quick escape from their current 'bondage' on one of our machines.  
   
  Alain, who actually eats less on the road than I do, has promised me a 'real' breakfast this morning. So he introduces me to Normandin - sort of a Canadian version of a Cracker Barrel.  
   
  There's a nice outside seating area, so we go for it.  
   
  Service is good and what I have before me looks it might just do the trick - plenty of taters, pig meat and hen fruit - and a veggie or two throwed to even out the healthful balance.  
   
  I figure it must be the outside air, but the food just evaporates off the plates and I don't know where it wandered off to. Just seems like I turned my back and it was gone ... or was it that I turned my fork?  
   
  Now that I have enough nourishment to last for days, we're off to another local viewpoint in the Deschambault-Grondines area. There are many beautiful church buildings in the area like this one.  
   
  But to get where we are going, there's a slight downhill run, which makes me to begin to wonder just where Alain is taking me ...  
   
  It's a lovely riverside view ...  
   
  in both directions. As many times as I have looked across the Saint Lawrence River, I still can't get over just how wide it is in most places.  
   
  And this spot also has a beautiful church building watching from the distance.  
   
  My ever faithful guide is now in a wrestling match with the evil G(ravel) P(ositioning) S(ystem). I can tell by the look on his face that it has directed us to head straight into the river to get back to where we are going.  
   
  Fortunately, Alain carries the day and triumphs over the electronics and we get a nice ride out through the farmlands of the area. This is a great agricultural tract that grows a lot of corn ...  
   
  but also grows most of the potatoes used in this area.  
   
  This reminds me a lot of back home and it makes me just a little lonesome for my Tennessee hills.  
   
  I snap out of my revelry and back to the present real quick like when I see a big piece of farm machinery that we have to negotiate around. Those implements don't look like they would be very comfortable to get up close and personal with.  
   
  Once we get back in toward town, Alain decides to totally destroy my sleek waistline by stopping at a Tim Hortons that has an ice cream shop. This just proves all along that he is actually the one that craves ice cream, not poor Miss Claire!  
   
  Just to be obliging so he won't have to feel guilty about eating in front of me, I force myself to get a little something. I think it is named 'Triple Chocolate Killer', or at least it should be. It is the bomb .. that is if you are a normal person and like chocolate and ice cream as you should.  
   
  With enough sugar in me now to run the backs of the chairs, we head out toward our ultimate destination for the evening.  
   
  It's a pleasant ride out through the lovely green countryside.  
   
  We take a short break at a nice roadside park, since we are making plenty good time. The shade feels nice and makes me want to take a nap as the sugar has begun to wear off.  
   
  But soon we arrive at our destination - Domaine De La Riviere and QuebecStoc. Since the owner speaks primarily French, Alain was kind enough to set up the accommodations for us. I figured the owner would never understand me and I'd never understand him if I tried to book them.  
   
  I cover up the faithful SweetTreat for the evening and head toward where the other folks are gathered.  
   
  It's great to see old friends like Mac, the lovely Miss Patti who is our event host, Ray and Bones. But I also enjoy seeing the friends that I haven't met yet.  
   
  Not only is Mac a cherished friend, he's always cooking up great chow. This time he's fixed killer spaghetti and some cherry cobbler that will make your tongue lick the tops of your shoes out.  
   
 

It's good to see Bob, the ortho doc again. He's very interested in the new BMW 1600GT. As I often tell him -

"It's guys like you that keep guys like me riding and moving about!"

and for that I am thankful. If it weren't for the excellent orthopedic care I have received from my doctor, Dr. Daniel Phillips, I would definitely be off the bike and probably in a wheelchair.

 
   
  Monsieur Bones has appropriated the proper equipment to haul the wood for Caveman TV tonight.  
   
  It's a great time around the campfire - "Caveman TV' as we call it, catching up with folks and telling and listening to tales. To these kind of events, you get a cross section of all walks of life and all sorts of experiences which makes for interesting conversation. We'll be doing group rides for the next two days and I volunteer to be the 'sweep' since I have a bit of experience at it. But my tired bones beckon me to head for the bed, so I bid all a fond adieu and make my way back to the cabin. It doesn't take me long to find the land of slumber once my head hits the pillow.