Two Wheels in Transit: Cycling the Gaspe: A Do Over...With the Same Result!

After a 'full' inclusive breakfast we hit the road at 7:35. Immediately the climb began. 6.5 km later we had made our way up and through the town of Mont Joli climbing all the way. It had not changed one bit since we had biked through here on our cross Canada ride in 2010. It was a shock to our system back then after riding on basically flat roads all the way from the Montreal area. It was hard then and even harder today! I'm sure it had nothing to do with our legs (and everything else) being 7 years older and our conditioning on this trip no match for back then.

Everything we gained in elevation in the first 6.5 km we promptly lost on the next 6.5 km. I can hear it now...he is complaining about a downhill...that is because we knew this was to repeat over and over again for the first 50 km. It is not that I do not like down hills but they inevitably lead to another climb. At the 50 km mark the road flattened somewhat but the wind shifted and we 'slogged' into it for the rest of the day. It has knocked the tar out of us just like this area did in 2010.

It was not all negative today. It was amazing how different the area looked than it had 2 weeks ago as we drove through here. The Fall colours were out in all their glory as we climbed and descended. According to the forecast it was to be a wet affair. Again they were mistaken. The temperatures rose as the sun made it's appearance. It was fun to re-live some of the highlights of our previous ride through here with our nephew Eric. In particular we came upon the Canteen in the middle of nowhere that Eric treated us (yes he actually paid!) to lunch.

We are staying in Amqui at the Selectotel Motel. We are 'Dog Tired'!

Daily Distance = 72.19 km. Time on the Bikes = 5 hours 3 minutes. Average Speed = 14.28 km. Maximum Speed = 46.93 km. Wildlife Sightings = Canada Geese, Snow Geese (beautiful), dead moose on a trailer probably suffering from bullet wounds.

P.S. I have learned in previous biking adventures never to look to far ahead...but I am going to predict that our ride will finish tomorrow one way or the other...back at the Resto Motel Le Riverain in Mann Settlement...hope this does not come back to bite me in my 'sore butt'.