For the Love of Bikes

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Month: September 2010 (Page 2 of 2)

Sojourners by Bike ~ Intro

September 16, 2010 /
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~Traveling by Bike from Burlington, Vermont to Quebec City, CA~
Late last year, the Hubs and I started talking/looking into a bike vacation. We had planned a bike tour to the Cape Ann area in Massachusetts, but Mark’s appendix decided it had to come out a couple of weeks before we were to leave, so that was a no-go.
 
We really wanted a bike tour that offered daily rides on average of about 50 miles and we wanted a trip that was in a beautiful part of the country with good roads (light traffic) – didn’t seem like too much to ask – Ha.  
 
We found two tours that appealed to us. The first was a tour on the Katy Trail in Missouri that would allow us to ride across the state, on trail – no traffic other than bikes – but with someone to transport our “stuff” daily, plus take care of lodging, etc.  We decided to do that tour in May, before school was out and temps got too hot. The Katy Trail trip was everything and more we had hoped for.  For more information about it, read my Katy Trail trip report.
 
The other tour that caught our eye was a bike tour starting in Burlington, VT and ending in Quebec City, Canada. There were mileage options on most days, but if the maximum miles offered were ridden it would be about a 350 mile trip.
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The description described it as mostly flat on lightly traveled roads.  Beautiful scenery, good roads, small groups and a part of the U.S. and Canada neither of us had ever been – sounded perfect. The trip was filling up so we had to make a quick decision – we did, we booked it in January, anticipating/hoping that all would be well for a bike tour in late August/early September. Mark’s appendix was already out so no worries!
Vermont – Quebec City Bike Tour:
We flew into Manchester, NH which was as close to Vermont as we could get on Southwest (free tickets). 

We arrived in Burlington the same day, and time it seemed, as hoards of freshman college kids. Bad timing. Once we made it to our B & B, One of a Kind B & B ,we decided we would walk to dinner, no more traffic jams for us thank you.  Plus, I seemed to be coming down with the same thing Mark had just recovered from – sore throat, headache, upset stomach… so I wanted to rest and continue to chugalug Airbornne.

Burlington is beautiful, it reminded me of Austin (must be the college kids), only it was prettier, greener, hillier and had the humongous Lake Champlain. I’d love to go back during the summer, before freshman orientation.

We decided not to let the beautiful view we had go to waste, so we had dinner in the garden at the B & B and watched the sun go down.

We woke up early Sunday morning and I felt worse.  Today was a ride day so I hoped to shake whatever I was coming down with. More Airbornne, plus a perfect breakfast by Maggie, and we were off to meet our fellow sojourners.

More bike tour success with our Vermont to Quebec City bike tour. Different than the Katy Trail trip, but like it in that the Quebec tour exceeded any and all hopes/expectations we allowed ourselves to have. Read on…
 

Sojourners by Bike – Day One 

Quebec City

September 10, 2010 /
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We just got in from our last evening in Quebec City.  There is so much I love about this city, and Quebec as a whole.

We had dinner at the Cafe du Monde on the St. Lawrence, a wonderful meal and a waiter that went out of his way to take care of us.

After dinner we strolled around the city, dropped by the Hotel Frontenac for one last visit and finally saw the rooftop garden and art display that was right across from our hotel.

We saw the spectacular Image Mill one last time;

The Image Mill

I love the European feel of Quebec City.

I love the friendliness and warmth of the people.  I love their genuineness.

I love the pace of life here.

I love the gardens and unique plants and flowers.

I love (and envy) the respect that drivers show cyclists and the civility and equality between them.

I covet the bikeability of the entire provence of Quebec - the 4000 km Route Verte!

I love the walkability of the city (albeit steep at times) and the abundance of bike paths.

I love the abundance of fresh and locally grown fruits, vegetables and cheeses;

and, the beautiful farms and fields on the Isle of Orleans that produce them.

I love the narrow cobblestone streets and the many cafes and bistros that line them.

and especially the bistro where we were able to have pizza and beer and watch the bike race.

I love the café magnifique of Quebec-

I love Quebec City, I want to go back!

 *Pictures added 9/15/10

Québécoise Locavores

September 8, 2010 /
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Among other things yesterday, we visited the Marche de Vieux Port, the farmers market in Old Quebec.

If I said, “look at the size of those ..” (fill in the blank), or something about the beauty, variety and price of the fruits, vegetables, oils, vinegars, cheese, bread, candy, cakes, etc., I said it a thousand times yesterday.

The quality and quantity of it all is unbelievable!

Much of what is sold at the Market is grown on the Ile d’ Orleans, the agri-center of Quebec City.  We visited the Ile d’ Orleans and saw mile after mile of farms, apple, raspberry and strawberry stands along the mighty St. Lawrence river.

This area is abundant in good soil and moisture and the results are impressive.  Everywhere you go, restaurants use the local fruits and vegetables grown.

Seriously, you can’t imagine.  A bag of beautiful and locally grown apples that had to have been 20lbs, possibly 25, sold for $8.  As did a comparable bag of carrots and cucumbers.

You have no excuse not to eat your fruits and veggies if you live in this area.

Sojourners by Bike ~ Au Revoir

September 6, 2010 /
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Burlington, VT – Quebec City, CA
 
345 miles/6 Days
We celebrated our last night together at a restaurant in Old Quebec, Pain Béni, where we had an excellent dinner and a lot of laughs reminiscing about our great week.  Unfortunately, I have no pictures other than the one Margie took of us – even though I brought my camera. 
Too busy talking.
Looking like a couple of goofy kids.

Then yesterday morning we said au revoir to our bike tour buddies, we were sad to see them go. 

Sojourners aka Studs

 
Mark & Joshua, our fearless leaders
 

We biked, ate, slept, packed – and repeated – for six days – Sunday, August 29, 2010 – Friday, September 3, 2010.

Six glorious days of riding – 345 miles – ending with an epic ride into Quebec City of 85 miles (6.5 hours on the bike) fighting head and cross winds, walking up the final (10% +) two *hills* we (4 of us, plus our leader) rode in along the bike path to our hotel. 

It should be duly noted, that Jeff was the only one of the four to ride up all the hills – a tip of the helmet to Jeff. 

Team Blue
 

With no prior plan to, Mark and I rode every single mile of the bike tour.  Just ask my butt, she’ll tell you.

On Saturday – we (all 16 of our bike tour, plus our 2 leaders) took a *hilly* walking tour around Quebec City – just to make sure we weren’t starting to feel too good on our first day off the bike.

To say our Vermont to Quebec City bike tour was phenomenal is an understatement.  The scenery was beyond belief,  – our fellow tour riders and leaders became fast friends – and the riding was a blast. 

Pictures and report to follow, but for now we start part deux of our vacation in Quebec- jusqu’à la prochaine fois!

 

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