Montreal to Moncton

Day 1

What an unbelievably beautiful day.  Temperature - Perfect, Wind - at your back, Sky – Incredible clouds and pink mares tail clouds for a sunset, Sun - Just enough, Grade - Level almost all day.

So what went wrong??  Well nothing really.  We started out just fine with a great breakfast at Le Pomerol in Montreal.  Great location and high rating.  Retrieved our bikes and started out. 

Finding our route to Jacques Cartier Bridge went quite well.

Cycling/Pedestrian walkway on Jacques Cartier Bridge

A construction project necessitated some heavy hauling of bikes and panniers down stairs and up again but soon we were on our way.  Once we crossed the bridge it was difficult to find a marked cycling trail. We spent about an hour and 12 km. going in circles until we returned to the same place we started after the bridge.  With a little help from Google Maps we were soon on our way. The cycling infrastructure was most impressive.  Cathy has dreams of how Saskatoon can be changed!

 

Up and over a railway.

Here is the railway and the overpass.

The next 35 km. was an absolute delight.  The trail was well marked, solid pavement or firm crushed gravel, and nearly level as it meandered through forests, subdivisions, a small town and along a hand dug canal (built in 1830’s).  

We arrived at our Hotel in Saint Jean sur – Richelieu at 4:15, had a lovely swim in a 74 degree pool.  Supper in a Greek restaurant where you bring your own wine finished off a great start to our journey.