Last leg of the trip

The campground is a private one this time. It’s well hidden on a side road, parallel to the highway. There are lots of RVs parked here for the season. My host greets and welcomes me then guides me to my spot for the night—a wide spot next to the river—in her little electric buggy. I unload the bike, and set up the tent before dark, lube the bike’s chain, write for a bit, then head to bed.

I woke up at 4:30 a.m. and couldn’t fall back asleep; I guess I was anxious to get started on the last bit of riding before getting home. It wasn’t long before I started to feel it: I felt drowsy again. Let’s take more breaks than usually today.

Soon, I arrive at the border of Québec, a little piece of home, and it warms my heart.

I stop often to get coffee, gas, snacks or meals. I listen to familiar upbeat music while riding. Sometimes, I dance to the beat in my seat. I wonder if I make other drivers smile as I pass them.

I take a small detour to Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse, where my ancestor was buried in the cemetery back in 1780. I find the Church, I make a video call to my mother, and we explore the town’s cemetery together. We find old tombs, but the engravings are mechanically made, and we can’t find anything older than the 1890s.

I find a nearby poster board giving the cemetery’s history: apparently, the original wooden or steel crosses that served as markers were lost in time, and the plots were reassigned. So somewhere in there, my ancestor is buried. It was fun to explore! Thanks for the suggestion Mom!

During this section of the ride, the rain starts, so I pull into a safe spot, pull out my rain gear and put it on, then get back on the road. The bike has a Rain mode that adjusts the engine’s power and traction control. Still, I remain vigilant and keep space around me.

For lunch, I stop at one of the many Irving Big Stop restaurants. I have their featured soup of the day: pea soup. I’m reminded of the soup we had at camp two weeks ago; thanks Dr. Boudreau! The reminder brought a smile to my face during this meal.

After a while, I reach Québec highway 30, another of my favourite highways: it’s a recent one, so the road is still smooth, like new, and, although there are few small hills, the curves are long and sweeping. I get the feeling riding my bike here is like riding those hovering speeders in Star Wars.

They’re working on the toll bridge, and so I had to take the 50km detour to the other bridge in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. Nothing was open at the Montée Lavigne interchange (A.K.A. Kilomètre 17) where I usually take a pit stop on the way to Montreal. I had to fuel up farther down the highway.

I finally arrive home in the middle of the night. Glad to be here at last. I give my cat some well-deserved attention for a little while; it’s obvious she missed me, and I missed her too. Thank you Gisèle for taking good care of her while I was away.

I lube my bike’s chain for the final time on this trip. The Bonnie will definitely need some attention tomorrow: she needs a good wash.

I’ll leave the unpacking for tomorrow too; right now, I need a wash myself. It’s the best shower I’ve had in two weeks. Now, I’m off to bed.

[Next: Reflection and Conclusion]

Riding distance: 937km