Tuesday, 22 August 2006

Louiseville to Saint-Sulpice (Quebec)

I was awake early but couldn't motivate myself to make an early start. From the campsite I could hear the traffic on the big route 40 nearby. Maybe that had disturbed my sleep - any excuse. When the sun hit the tent, I decided to get moving. I emerged from the tent to see a big bank of black cloud, but luckily I was just on the edge of it and so only got a few spots of rain as I packed up the tent and cycled back into Louiseville, both to re-find the cycle route and in the hope of finding some breakfast.

The Marco Pizzeria had an excellent breakfast special for only $2.99 (excl. tax) - 2 eggs, sausage, beans, toast & jam, waffle & syrup, fruit and tea. Just what was needed. I noticed on my cycling map that I could have taken a tour of the old prison in Trois-Rivieres while I was there. Guided tours given by former inmates. Admission fee. (Or we break your legs)

My theory for how 'Loonies' and 'Twonies' got their names seems flawed too. I find that the $1 coin has a water-bird on the reverse - The Loon. So, not from "L'un" at all.

The road from Louiseville to Maskinongé wasn't memorable - to the extent that I can't even remember enough to try to describe it. From Maskinongé the route was on quiet country back-roads, through Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Cuthbert to the next big town Berthierville. Cycling into town I espied a barber shop and stopped to treat myself to a haircut (#2) and beard trim (#1) The sun had started to break through the clouds mid-morning and by noon it was warm and sunny, so a haircut would help me keep cool.

I found that there was an Avenue Gilles Villeneuve, a Parc Gilles Villeneuve and a Musée Gilles Villeneuve, so I'm guessing that Berthierville might just be the home town of said Gilles Villeneuve. I spent 3 hours in Berthierville - did some internet and food shopping and chilled out by the river having a cup of tea. It seemed like a good place to relax. It was just like being on holiday. In the end I had to move on though - I still had to cycle another 30 km. It was all pretty much alongside the St. Lawrence, on the 138 with a good shoulder most of the time. Across the river I could see some heavy industry appearing - I'm not far now from Montreal.

By 4 pm I had reached Saint-Sulpice, which had the last campsite before Montreal that I knew of. ($18.35, showers 25c) As it was early yet, I had some time to sit in the sun and do some minor repairs that I had been saving up for just such an opportunity; cycling helmet and sleeping bag stuff-sac repairs and servicing of the rear derailleur yet again. It's still only 95% working. I also wanted to do some laundry before getting to Montreal. The tenting area of the campsite was in prime location - a nice grassy area right next to the 'Fleuve Saint-Laurent'.


Distance: 81.3 km
Cycling time: 4:14
Total distance: 6616.1 km