This is Eco1...
A chance meeting with a kayak builder, Michel, at a hambuger stand turned into a kind invitation for me to camp in his back yard. Much better than last night's hydro shack.
Had a late start to the day - 1100 hours. The thunder storm started again at 600 hours and continued until 1000 hours. With my left knee at 40 percent in the morning, I thought of resting for a day. Reading about the tough Voyageurs (who paddled for 18 hour days - rain or shine) shamed me into travelling today. Must be tough like a Voyageur....
So...I made it to Quebec City. For so many years people have told me, "You HAVE to go there"! Well, I've been the city of constuction detours and it confirms one thing to me: every Quebec major city has lousy pavement designed to destroy cycle tires.
Unlike the logical grid patterns of newer western cities, moving eastward to the older towns (Quebec City) one realizes that the once twisty cart paths become major city streets. And is This city like ancient Troy - built atop older versions of itself? I kept hoping that the climbing of steep hills. Would come to an end. And hoping...and hoping....
Finally made it to the old part of town which resembles nothing so much as a EuroDisney version of a French town. I bet if I had a spear, I could've thrown it in any direction and skewered ten tourists like a shish-ka-bob.
Hate bloody tourists and I'll tell you why...
In order for me to reach the ferry to the south shore, the old Quebec City planners decided to turn all my agonizing uphill climbs into one suicide downhill run along the side of the waterfront cliff. They call this
Death Zone - lined with goof tourists in tossed salad gear - 'Cote de la Montagne'.
Before the descent, I pulled over and crank tightened the two front disk brakes (they love to fail). Gritting teeth, I start the descent. Then it gets real scary as the EcoRocket's accelerating faster than I can slow down. Meanwhile chowderhead tourists criss-crossing the street in front of me. It's a street not an amusement park!!! I try to swerve to avoid them, but then they'll step back into my out-of-control path to take an action photo, or wave another a buddy onto the street with them.
Anyway, I maked it to the ferry without bonking a tourist and the ticket dude only charges me 2.65 (bike price) so I'm happy again. In the ferry line up I catch up with two cyclists, Mitch and Matt, who I'd met on 138 around noon as they passed me on a hill. Good guys from SW Ontario who are also doing the Victoria to St. John's ride. They collect donations for their beverage and dance bar fund. Matt and Mitch were with me when Michel offered his yard for camping. So, the boys have ther tent pitched a few feet from mine. Boy I sure hope that little barky dog next door shuts up pretty soon....
My map is soaking wet with most of the ink warn off, so I'm not sure where I hope to make it to along Hwy 132 tomorrow. Thanks to Michel, I'll be flying a new Quebec flag on the velo which he assures will bring me a better welcome in La Belle Province. It gets better, Michel?
This is Eco1...Out.
-- Major Dude
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
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