12/10/2011 Day 49 Cycling Across Canada

Distance Traveled: Trois Riviers to almost Quebec City N 46 40.619 W071 41.919 90km
Money Spent: $2 for hot chocolate, $1 for 3 apples
Time cycling: 4 hours 44 minutes
Moving Average: 18.9 km/h
Total Distance Traveled: 3159 km

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Absolutely exhausted from one crazy awesome night I made my way toward Quebec city hopefully making it there for the evening, I picked up a little friend to take with me on this trip – a puppet Kangaroo named boing boing – Claudine gave it to me as a gift, now I have a new mascot to take with me on my cycle trips around the world.
It was difficult to keep a steady pace today not only because I was having difficult keeping my eyes open but also the wind was blowing me around.
It was obvious by midday I wasnt going to make it to Quebec City where I had a friend who I met in Panama waiting for me. Because I couldnt find any place that had wifi to contact this friend I used my iPhone to search for unsecured available networks in residential areas... it didnt take me long to find one where I sat on the curb in front of a house to send a message where unsurpisingly people passing by gave me strange looks.
All day I listened to one of my favourite bands new album I downloaded yesterday, the album was leaked to the internet 2 days before it was suppose to be release to world – great album and if your into death metal (melodic) I highly recommend it, the name of the band is Insomnium.
For dinner I went into a chinese restaurant and offered them $5 for anything they could put on a plate, this is something you should never do in china because you always end up with something very questionable on a plate in front of you. Here, it is fine to do this and I got a very tasty meal for a cheap price, the cook was going to give it to me for free but I insisted to pay– god damn it, im not a charity case! :P
I found a nice place to camp on the side of the road 30km from Quebec city where even though it was only 6pm I crashed out hard – I really in was indire need of sleep.

My new Mascot – boing boing, OK Pneus – pronounce that in English??? Shots along the way and the crazy colours of the Fall.

11/10/2011 Day 48 Cycling Across Canada

Money Spent: $30 for groceries

As it was such a nice day today I stuck around Trois Rivieres with Claudine. I was going to continue to Quebec City but Claudine made it difficult for me to make a decision to leave, instead I stuck around, took some photos around town and cooked her and I a fantastic dinner with Salmon, potato gratin, a homegrown salad (that she had growing in a garden down the street), cheese, bread and a onion Jam I made using maple syrup with a bottle or two of red wine – all was delicious.
It was a fun filled evening... and morning too.

     

Delicious Food, around town and macro shots (using my lens in reverse to get close ups)

10/10/2011 Day 47 Cycling Across Canada

Distance Traveled: Montreal to Trois Riviers 148km
Money Spent: $0
Time cycling: 6 hours 27 minutes
Moving Average: 22.9 km/h
Total Distance Traveled: 3069 km

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I know I said I was stopping my cycle trip across Canada in Montreal but I changed my mind as the weather was just perfect for cycling. I was still suffering from a 4 day hangover this morning but I needed to leave relatively early to make my way to Trois Riviers where I was catching up with a friend I met in El Salvadore 7 months ago.
It was a great cycle with lots of tailwind and fantastic shoulders and well maintained bike paths that kept me entertained these can only be found in Quebec. Many people today were cycling along the river on 'Green Route 5' none of which had nearly as much gear and equipment as I despite dropping off a lot of my gear at Alex's place in Montreal.
I ate leftovers from thanksgiving dinner that I celebrated with Leanne (first season planting in the west) and her friends and family last night – explaining the groggy hangover feeling all day and why I had to nap beside the river on a park bench half way through the day.
I arrived in Trois Riviers after sunset where I contacted David to come pick me up and take me back to his place. I used the free WIFI at McDonalds to skype him but I couldnt get through, I tried for a little under an hour but gave up and looked at the warm-showers list. I called up Claudine who was ready and willing to host me for the evening and I cycled around to her place.
Claudine is a very lovable, bubbly person and really good fun to be around.
Also a photographer and cyclist and we had a lot to talk about and show each other but because I had cycled so far today I was exhausted and ready for bed.

Some Pics i took when cycling today.

07/10/2011 – 09/10/2011 4 Days in Montreal.

The last couple of days in Montreal have been messy, drinking partying and catching up with old work buddies and friends.
It has been fun and all but lack of sleep and excess consumption of alcohol had got me feeling not quite right.
I had to make a decision to whether I went back to BC to do some boarding or return to South America to travel to places I hadnt seen yet.
Whilst on facebook a very good friend I met in Kelowna helped me out with the decision by flipping a coin. I did want to see her back in Kelowna but she may even come down to the south to do a bit of travelling herself so perhaps then we can meet up.
I paid $305 from Burlington, in the States to Bogeta, Columbia – not a bad deal eh?
The weather changed for the better for the beginning of the coming week and I thought I might as well continue the cycle trip to Quebec City, adding another 300km to this journey, this getting me out of Montreal and see the sights along the way visiting some people I had met on previous adventures.

06/10/2011 Day 43 Cycling Across Canada

Distance Traveled:Over the bridge from Hawksbury to Montreal 108km
Money Spent: $5 for food $10 for smokes and $12 for celebratory beers
Time cycling: 5 hours 01 minutes
Moving Average: 21.4 km/h
Total Distance Traveled: 2921 km

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It was cold last night but I had picked a great place to camp in between trees to get away from the wind so I slept quite well.
I set off by 11 after messing with my camera figuring out some new features and settings. Like yesterday I cruised and enjoyed the lovely weather and having a tail wind all the way into Montreal was a bonus.
A lot of the people I met today suggested I should cross back over to the Ontario side to cycle into Montreal but I didnt take their advice and continued on the north side of the river – this turned out to be a better option as there was very little traffic and on occasions I found paved dedicated cycle paths into the city.
I could certainly tell when I got closer to my final destination because the girls got progressively more beautiful... Montreal is known for the stunning woman and as I have been here before I know its true.
It took me longer than I thought it was going to get into the city but the amount of traffic lights to get into downtown really annoyed me, also those absolutely stupid 4 way stop signs – why not have the greater flow of traffic uninterrupted then yield signs for traffic on the adjacent roads... it just makes more sense – fuck them, I really hate them.
Anyways I made it to Alex's place just before dark; Alex is a very good friend of mine who I worked tree planting with for 2 years, he has invited me to stay at his while im sticking around MTL.
He lived with 3 guys – Jo, Simon and Phil ( the latter I planted with on my first season), and started the evening off with some home brewed beer.
It was get catching up with Alex and we later headed out to some of his friends places around the city to drink more and have a good time... it was a fantastic night that led to us hiking up Mont Royal (the big hill in the city) to see the view and mess about with sculptures along the way.
There was a suggestion to make some food at two of the girls place who we were partying with where I volenteered to cook up a feast... ahhh, my speciallity, cooking whilst drunk in an unfamiliar kitchen catering for drunk people... I honestly love it! Meanwhile Alex headed home because of school the next day but I stuck around with Sarah, Danielle and Matt after cooking up a cream/bacon pasta dish.
As easy as it was to impress the girls one of the girls (Sarah) invited me to stay in her bed as I certainly wasnt in the state to cycle the 6km back to Alex's at 5.30 am.
One thing led to another and I had a fantastic evening... im hoping Montreal while im here is going to be much like I experienced tonight – good state of mind, great weather, fun people and exciting experiences.
Thats it, almost 3000km from Kamloops to Montreal on a bicycle across the country in 42 days (although skipping the prairies and part of Ontario).
Thankyou to those who helped me out along the way, I wouldnt have enjoyed this trip nearly as much as I did if it wasnt for you all!
I will be continuing this blog but for the time I spend in Montreal ill be summarizing the events and shenanigans that occur. Thanks for reading.
Jono out

Where I camped last night

Messing with my Camera

Shots of Landscapes in Quebec

I thought this was funny because normally old people look for the viewfinder on all point and shoot cameras (the old style way), this time when i asked an old person to take a picture of me he was looking for the screen, yes, my camera has live view but i don’t like to use it. Times have again changed.

PUMPKINS!

Shoes on powerline’s mean there is a drug dealer nearby – this was a native reserve so its probably true. Pic on right – some people i met possibly drug dealers

Getting into Montreal on a bike path.