Greg & Camille Go Bike

We filled our morning with a stroll around the area. Old Town certainly lived up to the aesthetics of its name; the buildings' quaint façades reflected much effort into preserving a more European architectural style. Further more, the towering ramparts gave way to the strategic nature of Quebec City's geography; its situation atop a sea-side plateau made it perfect for battle.

We had the fortune of exploring the barracks long after any war. We also had the misfortune of exploring on Tuesday morning when most shops were closed. I can't say we can complain about a gorgeous view of the river and town. It was slightly tainted by some university students who seemed to be having a day-drinking event across the town.

After swapping some bucks for CAD, we packed up the bikes and headed back to parliament (we couldn't quite appreciate all of it last night). We left town down a really steep hill (remember that plateau?) and picked up a bike path by the water.

We were pampered! A whole lane of vehicular traffic was closed to give us the road in a ~20-mile section under construction. All the while, we followed the St. Lawrence River. We flew past our turn for a few more miles to see the end of the trail near some bridges. It was an enjoyable ride, and we were glad to see there were plans to extend it even farther.

Next up was our payment for our easy-going trail time; we climbed up and down the escarpment for the next few hours. Going into the trip, we had the impression that following the river would mean a mostly flat ride... Our route shying from the shore at long intervals said otherwise.

We took a break early afternoon in a shady patch of grass near a mailbox station. We eagerly scarfed down our favourite Sunrype fruit bars. We enjoyed a nice cool breeze on a sunny day and a "bonne journée" from a passing recumbent rider.

As we distanced from the city, the roads were dotted with farmstands. It seemed like everyone in the province had apples and corn. Once our water started to run low, we kept an eye out for libraries in Neufville. We started approaching a building with large mural at the side, and Greg took the obligatory 8 pictures. As we came around to the other side, we realized this once church was converted into a library!

Late afternoon rolled around, and we still hadn't figured out where to stay. There weren't a ton of options, and we didn't always have great phone service on the road. As we approached Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, Greg checked a few websites and I made a few calls. We booked an auberge online that was just 2 miles away.

When we arrived, no one was home. I took a very long time to understand a small amount of French from the person who finally answered their Ring call (remotely). She previously owned the inn and said the new owner's number was listed on the side of the building. No luck getting anyone to pick up, so I left a voicemail.

After a few minutes of feeling stuck, a white sedan came down the driveway and slowed in front of us. She didn't speak English, so I relied on my extremely rudimentary French and hand gesture combo. Ultimately we found out she wasn't affiliated with the inn but lived close by and was able to direct us to a different building close by where the rooms were located.

With perfect timing, someone from the inn finally then called, and we got the passcode to enter. A cute room and nicely groomed yard awaited us. We dined on couscous, canned sardines, and chickpeas before some quality rest.