Two Wheels in Transit: Cycling the Gaspe: Saturday, September 9, 2017

This morning while having coffee and making our breakfast it started to sprinkle rain. After a mad scramble to take down the 'reasonably dry' tent and pack up the rest of our gear we were on the road by 8:05. A decision had to be made. Follow Google maps route along the abandoned rail line and across a long rail bridge or ride 3 kilometers back to the highway and up and around to Chandler. The rail bridge is really not a trail and we decided that the prudent thing would be to go back to the highway. This decision meant that it was 12 kilometers to Chandler verses a couple by the rail line. It also meant that we ran into unexpected construction. For 2 kilometers we were forced to ride a 'tightrope' along the curb area dodging storm drain holes while being crowded by the Saturday morning traffic.

Today the sun shone. For the first time the clouds moved out and the sky was blue as we followed the shoreline for our entire ride. It provided us with great views of the coastline and the Ocean. We passed through Grand Riviere, Saint Therese de Gaspe and Cap d'Espoir. These are all crab fishing communities with their harbours and processing plants. While stopped admiring a beautiful old church in Grand Riviere a car stopped and out jumped a man and a woman. The old man was the mayor and he handed us the town pins and went on to tell us the history of their church (it was built to be a cathedral but the Bishop changed his mind and gave that status to the church in the town of Gaspe instead). So Grand Riviere has an 800 seat building that is larger than they need and we suspect extremely difficult to maintain. The lady translated for us as the mayor spoke only French and as most people will know our French skills are pretty limited. It is more than 40 years since either of us took any French and we all know how poor high school French was anyway.

"Wind is just a hill in gaseous form". While the scenery was great and the ride distance was short today, we were hammered by a cross/headwind. It made us work hard for every pedal stroke. Throw in some hill climbing and today could best be described as a 'draining' day on the bikes.

We are staying at the Riotel Perce for 2 nights. A friend of ours recommended it. Our balcony directly faces the famous Perce Rock. It is amazing! Thanks Andy.

Daily Distance = 56.10 (it seemed a lot further). Time on the Bikes = 4 hours 12 minutes. Average Speed = A wind assisted 13.35 km!!! Maximum Speed = 41.23 km. Wildlife Sightings = Black Backed Gulls, Great Blue Herons, Cedar Waxwings, White Winged Scoters, Gannets.