August 4 - Morning of our Last Day

This morning we cycled 36 miles to complete the loop in Quebec City. I realized that I never photographed our friends that joined us on the Montreal route. So, better late than never.

Sierra, age 18, had never cycled before the trip and was extremely proud of her mileage today. Jim Conway cycled on his new a crank forward recumbent bicycle.  After a hip and two knee replacements, he was able to cycle every mile. Bill Fortune from Lexington cycled daily with his friend Jim. Jim and Bill cycled across country in 2008, a bond that will last them a lifetime.

August 3 - Bridge Crossings to Saint-Raymond

Each bridge crossing the Saint-Ann River was a photo opportunity. After this last bridge, I walked down a path to the river, rested, and reflected upon the wonderful month that I had spent on my bike touring the province of Quebec.

August 3 - Cycling to Saint-Raymond

The group departed the Auberge du Manoir Dauth in Saint-Anne-de-la-Perade for the second time. Luckily, the skies were clear after the tremendous storm during the night and the roads dry. Our route was short, only 36 miles, but full of stops along the way to "smell the roses". The route crossed back and forth over River Saint-Anne
We stopped frequently to photograph the bridges, the river, the raspberry fields, and the alpacas.

August 2 - Art Exposition in Champlain

How lucky to find such talented artists along the route. Today was the opening of the art show and all the artists were working in their booths. I was fascinated by some of the techniques used by the painters and sculpture artists. The paintings I liked most were very similar to Andre Coppens' style that I first admired at Auberge Harris.

August 2 - Detour to Sainte-Casimire

Our scheduled ride today was only 24 miles so Margaret. John and I considered other bike routes around Trois-Rivieres to extend our ride that would bring us back to the town of Champlain and back on our cue sheet.

Our new route started near the Basilica of Notre-Dame-du-Cap. I went in to see the beautiful stained glass windows. What else would a jewish woman do on Shabbat?

The rest of Shabbat on my bike brought me through villages and farms on almost carless roads. Many times I think that when I ride on Shabbat, the day is spiritual for me. I reflect on my surroundings and seem to be in another world, never thinking about my usual routine or what I know I need to accomplish.

August 1 - Other stops Along the way to Trois-Rivieres

The General Store in Yamachichi was the next stop. When we wandered into the store, we did not expect a store full of collectibles. Dennis, the owner, showed us the music hall upstairs and demonstrated his Pianola Aeolian. This mechanism is attached to any piano and plays music on 65 notes by a foot pedal worked by suction. The music rolls that Dennis used date back to 1904 when this unique player piano was created.

As a collector of bicycle photos and paraphernalia, I cherished the flowering bicycles I saw on a lawn along the route. There were six different bicycles with holders for flowers and I guessed that the owner must have welded each one.

August 1 - Cycling back to Trois-Rivieres

Today's route was mainly on untraveled roads, along farms and small villages. Our first stop was at an organic farm. The quote on the barn door in French translates "When people live with love, there will be no more misery."