This is Eco1...
Have set camp in foresty Oka National Park west of Montreal.
Today was short with the intent to use the park as a staging area for tomorrow's semi-circumnavigation of Montreal Island. Many warnings of unpredictable Montreal drivers makes me think it best to approach with caution. I plan to take Hwy 344 along the north shore and will be happy to pass Montreal in one piece.
This morning was a late start - 1000 hours - as I mentally prepared myself for my first day in Quebec. I know just enough high school French to get myself into serious trouble with the wrong crowd. Say...motorcycle gangs.
Fir, I had to get some precious drinking water. And what do you know, about 50 cyclists stood waiting for a day's ride in front of Riviere-Beaudette's grocery store as I pulled in, resisting the temptation to ride on and die of thirst. I jumped inside the store in search of water, hoping they'd be off by the time I came out. Nope. About 20 cyclists had surrounded the EcoRocket and I dove in.
With mangled Franglais, I managed to answer most of the cyclists' questions. Some spoke English to which I tried to reply in French like a sport. Then many goodbyes as they pushed off, a straggler giving me his extra water added to my own.
The rest of the day was spent criss-crossing the topsy-turvy rural roads to the north and west in a frustrating attempt to reach the Como Ferry to Oka. At one stop, an English-speaking woman amused herself by telling me about the area's bumpy roads. I assured her that they couldn't be as bad as in Saskatchewan or Manitoba. She just smiled to herself.
Holy cow! It's as if, in order to preserve ancient heritage, old cow paths have been spray painted asphalt and passed off as roads. Not only did it take me twice as long to get anywhere, but the EcoRocket was actually airborne for half a second when a monstrous bump followed a hollow at the bottom of a steep hill. I remember musing, "So, this is how it ends" as I thought the rolling coffin would smash on landing.
The best part of the day was the downhill ride from Hudson the Como. Hudson is a sort of summertime dream town with elegant little houses, lush vegetation, flower patches everywhere, smiling patios and an ice cream cone in every child's hand.
After a short wait, I was on the ferry Oka on the north shore. The kind ferryman only charged me 3 dollars instead of 8 as he could have as the EcoRocket took up as much room as a car. He was happy because he'd just heard he was a grandfather.
I'm using my early encampment time to do some laundry in the washroom sink and hang dry, Skipper. No point in being unsociable, eh? Also spent 75 cents for my weekly shower. That's all I really need, though others may disagree....
Tomorrow it's Hwy 344, then onto Hwy. 138 at Repentigny along the St Laurent north shore.
Bon Soir!
This is Eco1...Over and Out.
-- Major Dude
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
No comments:
Post a Comment