Tyres everywhere

Today was a 3 hour blast down the motorway into Quebec to start at 9am changing tyres.  Moto Vannier did us proud and with some help from the guys in our group taking wheels off and putting them back on we managed to get all 11 bikes with new sets of tyres in two hours.

It was a bit more difficult for those of us with chains than the ones with shaft drive.  There was a point where Gary and I noticed that the his wheel with ABS had bee put on the back of my bike.  Glad we noticed before we were out of the garage.

We have had a bit of a wander round Quebec City this afternoon and very nice it is too.  Lots of places to hang out and stuff to see.  Looks a bit like a Victorian seaside town on the prom.  There is a festival here at the moment where they are all walking about in crinolin dresses, they must be absolutely boiling because I am.

We came across this back street that has obviously bee dug up for water pipes and road works.  This is how its been left for people to get into their houses!

We have all remarked at how the minute you cross an imaginary line into French Canada it is very very different.  Even the Health and Safety is like France.

We have this evening and tomorrow morning here too.  A late breakfast, doing our washing and then making our way to Tadoussac where we have a day off on Monday.  I will add an additional post tomorrow morning before we leave and then Sunday night in Tadoussac.

A Little Bit of Culture

 A long run into Montreal today.  325 miles and an early start again.  Got 150 miles under our belt before breakfast which was a bit hit and miss with our collection of attempts in French.  Most of us got what we thought we ordered.  We all got a pot of something that looked and smelled like Pate with our eggs and bacon?  Gary ate his but not me.

We all met up about 100 miles out of Montreal and rode in together.  That was pretty good and not as bad coming in through Montreal as we all thought.  It was very very hot and had to fight our way through road works but it was worth it.  A night out in town with some civilisation and a bit of culture.  Lovely hotel, great bed and air con that actually works without sounding like a truck in your bedroom.

We had to do the traditional thing and climb all the steps to the top of Mount Royal just to see the view. (I was knackered)

The difference in architecture around the city is brilliant an all shoved in together.  Reminds me of London a lot.

Had a wander round tonight and just mingled with the crowd.  It seems there is an arts and design thing going on at the moment.  Came across this fashion show, where a lot of the clothes looked like dental floss

and also this First Nation music and displays.

A great time was had by all. Thanks to Globebusters for managing to make the route change at such short notice with such a great hotel.

Have to be out of here at 6am tomorrow though as we have to be in Quebec City for tyre changes at 9am ready for our trip along the Trans Labrador Highway.

Hard Slog of a Day

Our last 400+ mile day and it chucked everything at us.  The first 50 miles were early this morning and the mist was low over the lakes.  Couldn't see very far in front of you and the threat of moose jumping out the bushes keeps you alert.

The scenery was spectacular, lakes, mist, sun just rising.  Very spooky at times and looked like something out of a horror movie.  Thanks to Leighton for putting on his disco lights and keeping us in view. 

Following the mist we then had miles and miles of blazing sun and heat.  Was hard work keeping the concentration levels up and we stopped for fuel at a great little gas station where it seemed we were the highlight of the day

We do find that a lot of the places we stop haven't seen a stranger for years and years.

We missed the planned breakfast stop but found a little motel called the white moose motel and restaurant that has only been open about a year.  Great pancakes.  Had to take this photo of the van with the white moose

Just after crossing into Quebec Province the skies started to cloud over and get colder.  Leighton eventually pulled over on the side of the road and suggested we should put our waterproofs on.  We questioned his thoughts for a couple of seconds and decided to go with it.  He's welsh you see and knows about rain.  What a shout, buy that man a drink, we don't call him Red Leader for nothing you know.

Less than a mile down the road we hit a drenching, hail, rain, thunder and lightning.  If it hadn't been for Leighton we would be soaked.  The disco lights came in use again (it's a shame Leighton himself doesn't gain from them).

Tomorrow we are riding as a whole group into Montreal and hopefully an evening of culture.  We will have to be up very early on Saturday morning though as we have to be in Quebec city for a change of tyres by 9am.

Sorry about the lack of photos today but stopping regularly wasn't an option.  Better things tomorrow I hope

The Best Breakfast Around

We left Kakabeka Falls early in the morning after a long search for Garys medical alert dog tag which he was sure had been round his neck when we got there and this morning was definitely not in the room.  Bags were packed and then unpacked and packed again.  Beds were completely stripped.  When we had given up and decided that we would have to admit defeat we found it stuck to the magnetic base of the tank bag.  It has enough information on that chip for anybody wanting to comit identiy fraud to have a field day.
Photo of us leaving the motel - a bit of a dive really but the bed was comfortable and the air con worked.  Could do with more than one 40watt light bulb though

About 80 miles in we found a brilliant place for breakfast, a small RV and camp site with a shop and cafe.  Once we pulled in it actually looked like it was shut and the timings on the door wer not encouraging.  The owner stuck his head out and said no problem and we all piled in.  Freshly baking bread smells wafted from the kitchen and we shared some stories with the campers and the owner.

One of the happy campers rode a Gold Wing with a side car and pulled a trailer with his tent in it.  Thought the side car was for his wife or elderly mother or something but no, these were his travelling companions

Two standard poodles, one black, one white and they happily sat in the sidecar while he ate his breakfast.  He did go out and give them some dog biscuits covered in peanut butter.

Stopped for gas further along the road where they had the sign below and some of the guys took some photos of the train on the tracks opposite.  The driver obviously liked being the centre of attention as when we left he sounded his horn quite loudly a few times and drove alongside us for a short distance.

Todays ride has been brilliant, doesn't come close to Highway 99 and the Icefield Parkway but still great roads, great views and nice smooth bends.  Great fun.  The route doesn't get close to the lake all the way but when it did it was spectacular.

Leighton,, Gary and Paul above and my bike with Lake Superior below

and a shot of the lake at Pebble Beach below

It was a long day in the saddle but we arrived in WaWa at about 4pm.  There are a number of huge goose statues around the place including on the roof of our hotel.  Apparently WaWa means egg and it is here that the geese used to come to lay their eggs.

The local trading post is a bit weird, sells all sorts of everything including a big stuffed moose that I took a fancy to.

and of course the major show piece, another goose

We lost another hour of our day yesterday.  Tomorrow we move into Quebec province and have to start speaking French if we want to get anywhere.  Tomorrow is Val D'Or and then our plans for the day after have changed a bit.  We are no longer going to Roberval but are going into Montreal which will give us a shorter ride into Quebec City on Saturday morning to have our tyres changed.

Riding in a Sauna

We decided to leave Crystal Harbour really early to avoid the heat.  We never met that real sun blinding heat of the day stuff but even at 6.30 in the morning the heat was not good.  It was also combined with the damp morning air which made it like riding in a sauna.  Visor up to stop it steaming and hoping that traffic lights wouldn't stay red for more than a couple of seconds.

We had about 80 miles under our belt before we came across a lovely little diner for breakfast

We all saw this lovely little church just before we got to the diner and Paul went back and got a shot for the blog.  Even smaller congregation than Beeston Methodist I should think

We got our first glimpse of the good ol US of A today the other side of the lake

Tonight we are at a small town in Ontario called Kakabeka Falls.  The falls are the only thing that this place is remarkable for and they are worth the walk to go and have a look.  Even Wenlock and Mandeville went to see

The view of the falls from the other side is just as good and also down the valley

We managed to get back to the town just in time to hide from the downpour

This lasted about 15 mins and then dried up and the sun shone again.  Back to being in the sauna.

We are off on a 308 mile trip round the North shore of Lake Superior tomorrow.  Really looking forward to the ride and I think there are some mountainous bits.  It should be a bit cooler up there.  Leaving early and plan to stop a fair bit before we reach WaWa.  (what sort of a name for town is that?)  Something to do with Geese I am told.  I will report tomorrow.

Monday is Wash Day

Today was a day off and a day off means you have to wash your smalls.  All of a sudden the row of bikes, not to mention the van, were covered in items of clothing and washing lines.  Luckily we had a brilliant hot  sunny day and the quick dry stuff took no time at all.

Hard work over, we all started looking for some entertainment.  Jackie and Dave decided to hire a boat and go out fishing.  Dave being a bit older needed a little help to get in the boat but Jackie gladly helped him to board.

They came back empty handed (having promised us fish for the BBQ) but happy and full of stories about the one that got away.

Some went into "town" which is 3 gift shops and a cafe but it was so hot it was difficult to bother putting on all the bike gear to go the 2 miles up the road.  Gary and I, along with others, went for a swim in the lake.  Glad that Gary encouraged me in as it was lovely.

We all got together this evening for another BBQ with the lovely Dave and Paul manning the tools

The boys all sat together and Dave finished it off with a joke about shooting your wife.

290 miles tomorrow, but the heat is taking its toll.  We are planning to leave early in the morning and hopefully get some miles in before it gets too hot.  Our destination is Kakebeka Falls which looks lovely so by leaving early we should have plenty of time to go and have a look.

Welcome to Ontario

Today we've done another 400 odd miles through Manitoba and I've come to the conclusion that actually there really is nobody living here.  Leighton was Red Leader today and a good job too, he rides a bit faster than some of us which pushed us along and ate up some of the miles early this morning.  Those miles, yet again, were done on the roads with nobody else in sight.

It's been a hot, hot day which means bugs and more bugs, some as big as elephants.  All the fuel stations provide full service to car drivers but not to motorbikes so John took it upon himself to do the business

We had a long stop for lunch in a recommended diner in a place called Anola.  You couldn't miss it coz there was sod all else in Anola.  After a bit of a delay we all got our lunch and we were on our way.  Temperatures were rising all the time

We have had some good views again today though and came across this lake

Such a long hot day meant we had to stop in the afternoon for ice cream

As we crossed the Ontario border, we felt most welcome.  A sign every 20 yards stated what you are not allowed to do in Ontario.  It is against the law to use your phone, it is against the law not to wear your seat belt, it is against the law to drink and drive and something else and something else and something else.  Then to top it all off about 200 yds further along the road there is a nice police man in the layby with a camera.  Luckily we had been warned off by our guide the night before and also many on coming cars and trucks flashing their lights.  We were, therefore, being very good well behaved British Bikers.

Eventually arrived at our accommodation and were relieved to get off the bikes and in the showers.  We have a day off here tomorrow, not a lot to do but thats probably a good thing

The wall decorations are very odd though.  Why would you put this bit of your prize catch on the wall in the bar.  I think it was what someone else left behind.