Sojourners by Bike-Day 6/Part I

When I woke up Friday morning, I was too busy thinking about the 90% chance of rain predicted and how to dress for it, to focus much on the miles (85, 70, 45), or to be nostalgic about it being our last day and how quickly in one way (but certainly not in all) the week had gone.

Today was the Queen stage of our Vermont to Quebec City Tour – the most difficult day of the tour.

Just as the group was rolling away from the Hotel Gouverneur, Mark and I decided to get our rain jackets out of the backpack in the van so we could carry them on the bike. That done, we hurried through a residential area to catch up to the group.

This time getting out of town was more difficult than getting in. Not easy getting 16 people on bikes across busy roads with morning traffic, but with our usual finesse, we did it.

After getting across the bridges we all stopped and discussed which way we were  to go. Since most of us had taken a wrong turn yesterday we didn’t want to repeat it – no extra miles today, thank you. About that time – like a knight on a white horse, Joshua on his Cannondale stead, raced by, turning on to a side street and waiting for the herd of cats to get in line. Excuse the mixed metaphor.

The first hard part was over. Now we knew why one of the options for the day was to shuttle the first 7 miles out of Trois-Rivires!

When things had settled down I started thinking about whether I would go for the full 85 miles or something shorter. Mark seemed up for the full 85 – although neither of us knew how we would do once we came to the 3 ominous sounding climbs going into Quebec City. We had ridden every mile thus far and being who we are we wanted to ride all the way into Quebec City – even if it meant walking up the toughhills. One positive thing – there was no rain and the temperatures were cool – humid – but cool.

A neat thing happened as we were riding down this long stretch of road just outside of Trois-Rivires.  As we were riding we passed a yard sale, and as we did someone shouted at us and waved. We all recognized her as the woman who had checked us in at the Hotel Gouverneur. Another nice/friendly Quebecer!

At our first stop with Montreal Mark, we refilled bottles with water topped off with Gatorade mix, plus a few granola bars and fruit, then we were off. By this time the group had splintered into smaller groups; Mark, Lisa and I rode together. 

What I have noticed over the years on multi-day rides is you can feel great one day (me yesterday) and feel the exact opposite the next day – me today. 

We rode along the mighty St. Lawrence river often being able to see it from the road. I loved riding alongside water. Today’s route also took us through farmland, villages, quaint houses, large churches or small cathedrals and basically, one bucolic scene after another.

Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade

At first glance it looks like a pilgrim riding a broom.

Betty either taking a break or having a tantrum.

As we rode on the stronger the headwind got along with a slight steady incline. I rode in front and put my head down and pedaled. I was feeling not so good and as we rode along heading to Deschambault for lunch I was coming to the conclusion that I probably wasn’t going to ride the full 85, no biggie I would ride as long as I could. Even though it wasn’t the best of conditions for riding a bike – sailing, maybe – it was still nice to be out cycling in the beautiful countryside. It was our last day, and it was still fun – heck, we were in Quebec riding bikes! Hard yes, but fun, definitely.

We eased the pace some and just pedaled comfortably on toward lunch. The closer we got to Deschambault the hungrier I got.  Lisa was in front of us and when we got to Deschambault she was waiting at the the recommended lunch stop.

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My day turned at L’ Angélus Bistro, I think I was just low on fuel.

And San Pelligrino

A few slices of life + look at that salad!

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After the delicious pizza and salad, 2 Pellegrino’s and cappuccino, I felt like I had had a blood transfusion – seriously, like I had engaged in a little blood doping or something. It was amazing, really, I couldn’t believe the difference in how I felt going into Angelus Bistro and I felt leaving. Nothing short of a miracle.

Refueled, I was ready to go. I also started thinking about those last 3 hills into Quebec City we had heard so much about.

The sun was out and it was warming up – things were definitely looking up.

Read on: Sojourners by Bike ~ Day 6 (Part II)