Stage 25 Lincoln, NB to Steeves Mountain, NB

June 29
150 km, 6 h 38 m

Feel.
Handlebars, saddle, pedals.
Legs churn beneath, chewing up the ground.
Warm sun on my face, wind at my back.

Stage 24 Florenceville, NB to Lincoln, NB

June 28
153 km, 7 h 36 m

It seems people in New Brunswick are fond of their lawns. Great expanses of green cut with ride on mowers into meticulous perfection. Beautiful countryside.


Going up home to live in green pastures.

Stage 23 St-Basile, NB to Florenceville, NB

June 26
139 km, 5 h 13 m

Listen.
The whirr of the wheels, the hum of the chain. Rear derailleur switching gears.
Inhale, exhale.
Vehicle approaching- keep right.
Birds chirp, water runs, iPod in the ear.
Eternity moves, whispers loud inside my chest.

Stage 22 St-Honoré, QC to St-Basile, NB

June 25
77 km, 3 h 49 m

Short day. Felt good to take it easy.

When you’re on your bike so much, one way to pass the time is to invent games. There’s the Coasting Game- at home I could make it from the top of the Drive to my back door if I timed it right. There is the How-Long-Can-I-Stay-on-My-Bike-Without-Touching-the-Ground Game- 57 km from Smooth Rock Falls to Cochrane. And there’s the Granny Gear Game. Can I get to St John’s without using it? I’ve made it from Kamloops to St-Basile.

Stage 21 La Pocatière, QC to St-Honoré, QC

June25
132 km, 6 h 34 m

Riding on the south shore of the St Lawrence River was beautiful. These are old roads and houses line the entire distance. It makes me think of grade 5 Social Studies- those thin plots of land leading down to the water. And the river’s gonna run.

Look.
A white line leading on, ever and ever. A narrow width of pavement my domain.
Trees, grass, rocks, water, birds.
Houses, machines, hints of humanity.
A plate of food, a soft bed.

Forlorn bungee cord
Laying on roadside, sprung loose
Why did you let go?

My steed in the morning, awaiting another day on the road.

Stage 20 Ste-Foy, QC to La Pocatière, QC

June 24
144 km, 6 h 47 m

Quebec is the place to cycle if you like bike routes. They have la Route Verte. Many cycling paths criss cross the province. I took one out of Quebec up the south shore of the St Lawrence. There were lots of families on bikes and rollerblades on Sunday afternoon. A pleasant ride.

The traffic lights and the rules of the road in Quebec have an effect on the drivers. It makes them crazy, erratic and tres impatient. This isn't good for cyclists. Maybe that's why they have so many bike routes. They know that mixing bicycles and maniacal drivers makes for trouble.

Stage 19 Yamachiche, QC to Quebec, QC

June 23
170 km, 8 h 43 m

My dad stayed in Montreal to rest an extra day after the accident and we planned to meet in Quebec. We timed our entrance perfectly. Quebeckers celebrate St Jean Baptiste Day on June 23 in Quebec and June 24 in Montreal.

My dad rented a car a met me along the north shore with a Schwartz's smoked meat sandwich. He had a couple of hitchhikers with him- it seems that Quebec is the place to celebrate. We decided to meet at the Chateau Frontenac- a worthy rendezvous.

Descent into Mayhem. I got to the edge of the city and tried to navigate downtown. Not easy with all the hills. I ended up riding on a trail where no bikes are allowed to avoid a steep hill. As luck would have it, I had to climb the hill in the end anyway.

That led me to Rue St Louis. Darkness was falling as I headed east to Vieux Quebec and the cars and pedestrians got thicker. The buses were packed. I took all the hooting and hollering as a hero's welcome for the roving cyclist. What a way to celebrate Quebec's holiday.

At the centre of the madness it was like downtown Vancouver summer fireworks crowds times 3. Pedestrians taking over the streets, cars crawling along. An urban biker's delight.

We had some gelato, listened to some live music and then took off.

Bon St Jean.