Bon Soir Quebec, Hello Ontario. GraysGoWest, Toward Home - September 28, 2012

Look Off view from Pointe du Oies
toward the Applanches Mountain Range

Another clear crisp day waited to greet us this morning.  Our arrival yesterday to Montmagny Quebec only provided enough time for us to dart into town, pick up the necessary staples for supper, whip back to camp and start supper while we strolled toward what appeared to be the campground’s waterfront for what was left of the sunset.  For this reason this morning, we pulled ourselves together in fairly quick fashion, and headed into the business district of town to see what the town of Montamgny was all about. 

In describing the streets here in Montamgny, I would say they were very narrow and busy with cars darting in and out with what seemed to us to be a mad rush of getting nowhere fast.  I’m telling you, the rumours we’ve heard about drivers in Quebec, are ALL true!  If you are a cyclist or worse, a pedestrian, good luck to you.  It seems Quebec driver’s concept of yielding to the “walking or cyclist targets” is to honk, then speed up!  Ken and I were actually walking on the sidewalk when a car driving much faster than the streets dictated, almost clipped Ken’s elbow, and further down the street that same car had a pedestrian jump to the safety of the sidewalk she was heading for!  Drivers seem to be a little on the crazy side here!  This is such a contrast to Nova Scotia or New Brunswick.  I don’t think I mention this yet, but if you stand on the side of the road in NS or NB – anywhere on the side of the road and appear as though you are considering crossing sometime that day, when a driver sees you, they stop – regardless of their speed, environment or conditions of the surrounding traffic!  They have to be some of the most observant, courteous drivers in Canada!  As Davis said after we remarked about it, “Pedestrians first at any cost here”.  In both New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, several times Ken and I found ourselves on a sidewalk being tourists looking at a map, only to look up to discover we had stopped the traffic in all directions just because of our proximity to the curb!  To boot, we didn’t need to be at a designated crosswalk or even at a corner! Out of sheer embarrassment, we found ourselves crossing – even if it wasn’t our intension - then we waved a sign of gratitude and appreciation to drivers from all directions!  Not in Quebec though, you’d be taking your life in your own hands.

The business district was organized within a very small proximity of space to each store front.  It looked like the town had attempted to replicate the feel of the Old Quebec District, without the cobblestone, beauty or tourists. Okay, frankly, they kind of missed the boat a bit if this in deed was the look they were after!  Although we had to be observant as to where and how we walked down the street, it was nice to just stroll the streets a bit this morning.  The White Goose apparently is big thing in this town too.  Everywhere you look, likely there’s a goose staring back at you.  I’m not absolutely sure why, although we think it may be the capitol of the White Goose population migrating here.  I would have told you for sure, but ALL the plaques and literature about it was written in French!  Even when I look it up in Google Search, the description still arrives to my phone in French!  I’m telling you, learn French kids!

Like our images of Sussex New Brunswick, many of the buildings had murals painted on them. (Although they were not as elaborate, nor did they appear to tell any sort of story on the town’s history from what we could figure.)  Still, it brightened up some of the streets and buildings.  We popped in to a small bakery to purchase a loaf of fresh bread for a brown bagged lunch later today.  Thankfully, the clerk was able to communicate with us in a sort of strained English, and like yesterday we were very grateful to her for this.  So much so we purchased a chocolate croissant each for her efforts.  What?  We needed to show our appreciation.  We had never had chocolate croissants before, and I will say they were scrumptious.

After leaving the business district, I was hoping to get some closer pictures of the dam and falls situated in the centre of town.  We tried a few spots, but were restricted as they lead to private property.  Ken muddled (literally) his way over some rocks at the foot of the dam, but almost ended up on his tush doing so!  His only remaining pair of shoes/sandals (since he left his Blunderstones at Davis’) were now covered in St. Lawrence River mud.  In almost giving up, we happened to find a pathed walkway park which followed the upper portion of the Rivier du Sud.  As we walked on, we realized it led to the perfect place, up close and personal to the falls.  Proud of ourselves for somewhat deciphering the posted plaque, these falls actually are equip to generate power and act as a ladder for spawning fish up the river.  What a great discovery!

Once back at camp, we hitched up the trailer to truck and were on our way in minutes.  Unlike our the complicated route we experienced into the town, we navigated our way back to highway 20 West with great ease and efficiency.  This makes me wonder:  Why does it always take almost 4 weeks and the end of our holidays to figure these maps and roads out?



Ready to take on Montreal after stopping
for some bakery fresh bread and
review of the Montreal Autoroute plan!



                                                                     

We both agreed if this was going to be a travel day, we were going to achieve this by stopping at different spots along the way.  Our first goal was to have lunch in or near Drummondville.  Google navigated us into Drummondville for a quick bank and gas pit stop, and then we reconnected with highway 20 West, just like tourists who seemed to know what they were doing.  We stopped at one of the many rest stops along the highway, just before Montreal.

Now this is a show of how much confidence we have gained during this trip…  Last night before bed, Ken researched our route THROUGH Montreal – a destination we avoided like the plague while getting to the Maritimes!  Ken was hoping to at least be able to say we “saw” Montreal, even though he had no intension of slowing down going through it, let alone stopping anywhere in it!



Ken & Tricia tour the Olympic Statium!



So rewind for a minute and think about what I said about Quebec Drivers.  What we witnessed this morning paled in comparison to the drivers on the Montreal Autoroute!  You look up the words “crazy drivers” on Wikipedia; I guarantee you’ll find a video of drivers on the Montreal Autoroute!  No worries though, the drive was not for not.  We saw the Olympic Stadium (well, not the whole thing, just the highest peek we could see from the freeway), and we went through the tunnel, which is about a 3-5 minute drive under the St. Lawrence River, depending on traffic.  I taped the whole thing, while hanging out the window with Ken’s hand camera.  The work van beside us thought this was kind of hilarious, so I greeted them and had a bit of a conversation with them before we saw the break of day again on the other side.  After this, there were all the clover leafs, on ramps, off ramps and construction we had to navigate through.  Long the way there was large electronic signs that read “Route 20 Oust – Congestion”.  Really?  Like the stand still traffic wasn’t enough of an indication for us!?!  It seemed like it was never going to end, but Ken did and awesome job getting us through the nightmare, in ALL aspects; his planning, his written directions for me to read to him as we went, and in his driving.  He seemed “white knuckled only occasionally, but when asked if he was okay, like the brave soldier he is, smiled and said he was good.  I only gasped once – which when the controls are not in front of me, is pretty darn good!

Why does it seem vacations like this exposes a person to 3 and a half weeks of unwinding and de-stressing, and the journey back home throws you face first into the stress lane again?  I personally can’t wait for the next generation to develop a successful means of time travel so trips like this can be taken, but with a push of a button the travelers find themselves sitting in their driveway at home with trailer and truck in tact, and maybe even the vehicles unpacked.  Wouldn’t that be nice?  After today’s Autoroute experience, I think I need another 3 or 4 weeks vacation!

The "bitter, sweet" arrival of home.

After crossing the Quebec/Ontario Boarder, Ken seemed more relaxed, commenting on the comfort he was feeling just by seeing Ontario vehicle plates again.  He’s such a “fuddy-duddy”.  Honestly!  The plate ratio was still probably only about 2 to every 15 plates were from Ontario (one of them being ours!), but whatever floats his boat!  I’m still licking my wounds regarding the fact that arriving in Ontario is a reality which now stares me in the face: We are almost home. 

We arrived at a little campground overlooking the St. Lawrence River near Lancaster called Charoletteburgh Park.  It resembles a park much like our conservation areas would.  The facilities are clean, but crying for some much needed maintenance.  At this point in the journey, we will take the “clean requiring attention” over continuing to drive on. 

The "bitter sweet" sign of home.

Now only about 7 hours away from home, our options remain open…tomorrow we drive through and Sunday we rest at home, OR we can stop somewhere between here and there for a last night on the road.  Originally I was hoping to stop at Bon Echo Provincial Park for a nostalgic visit of our honeymoon 25 years ago.  But now that we have managed over 6,000 kilometers of driving, I am not sure I want to face any unnecessary miles added on to our journey.  Quinty Mall in Belleville may be as nostalgic as I am willing to get on this trip.  A friendly bed and hot shower in the comforts of our own home doesn’t sound too bad right now.  We’ll see what tomorrow brings.  After all, we still have 1 night and 2 days left.  *SIGH*

Until Tomorrow,

We'll chat soon.

Ken & Tricia