SEPT 17-21

100th anniversary of the park. This year is 125 but I'm not sure if they have anything commemorative for that.

We had a great ride here in the park.

All crushed stone from Lac Chat around Lac Monroe with a stop at the Service Center to pick up some milk and cream and have lunch. About 21 km. in all. A very scenic pathway through forest, over rivers and by creeks, streams, rapids and falls. I saw the tail end of a deer. Some hikers mentioned bear cubs and we did see bear scat twice; though I’ve been told that usually the bear is either long gone or sees you and is staying out of your way. Always a good idea to be noisy. It’s a great sunny but cool day (10 c) and I (J) was cold about half the trip…need to dress warmer for the ride tomorrow.

Friendly

Love this sign for the washroom…look at the legs! LOL

Friday we traveled to kilometer “0” of LE P’TIT TRAIN DU NORD rail trail. (the trail actually runs another 34 km south from km “0”.) This ~200 km trail travels north/south and the locals cater to hikers and cyclists by offering B&B’s/Inn’s, dining, breweries, shuttle service for luggage and bicycles. It is a great way to tour with your bike. A section near Mont Tremblant and the southern 34 km section at Saint-Jerome is paved. We decided to try the southern paved route at km “0”.

KM "0" of the trail

Paved riding

We had booked this trail complete with B&B’s/Inn’s and shuttles in 2014 but had to cancel due to Jerry’s heart event. We’d like to come back and ride the trail with the B&B’s/Inns sometime.

We noticed the increased levels of electric assist cycles on the trail. These are the future for our demographic and allow folks to enjoy cycling, and what it has to offer, who otherwise would not try this great outdoor activity. We are finding our medications and physical limitations are starting to limit our “younger lifestyle” activities and this year we added electric assist to Jerry’s bike and plan to sell the tandem bicycle after riding tandem about 15 years. We are adding electric assist to Elizabeth’s bike. (Due to Covid and parts from Germany, Elizabeth’s bike will be retrofitted sometime in November…) Electric “assists” are not electric bikes or mopeds. You still pedal but you can select various degrees/levels of “assistance” from the motor.

We have moved back to Sleepy Cedars south-east of Ottawa. We felt it best to be closer to home and in Ontario. Since we are not concerting, museuming or going to events and our best pass-time at the moment is cycling, Ottawa is a great place to be for riding.

Camps are very busy for this time of year. We are finding that everything is booked and we are reserving in advance. The camp we left was full as well as two others we called along the way. We were going to spend Saturday night at a Harvest Host or Walmart as the Sleepy Cedars was full when we initially booked. We called along the way and just by chance Sleepy Cedars did have a cancellation and a spot for Saturday night and we have the next four reserved anyway.

I was looking forward to the Harvest Host call as they were a vegetable/fruit farm offering a spot for the night. Harvest Hosts are businesses that offer parking overnight. You do not have to patronize them but usually people do. Many are wineries, breweries, farms, craft, museums or other stops of interest and can offer overnights with no facilities (so dry camping/boondocking.) Some offer electrical and or water at no charge or for a donation. They can be a fun way to see the country.

Today is Sunday and we will move to our reserved full hookup site, then go grocery shopping, the last shopping before home.

Rode the Little Italy loop again Monday. It was very pleasant, sunny, 18C and minimal traffic. All the bakeries are closed for Monday but we found a nice stop for Caffe, Tea and something that tasted great while we had our box lunch.