Out of the City into the Wild

Sep 6: Getting up at 7am to be ready to hit the road by 9am, with the bike checked and packed and the rider fed and watered. First stop is about 10kms later at Montmorency Falls, very accessible but spectacular nonetheless. I pay the parking fee of 8$ and got the above money shot before heading to the local transportation system.

Normally I like my waterfalls in a more natural setting, however since I didn't plan on spending the day, I am all for taking the gondola up, instead of walking the area. It is early enough to be way ahead of the to be expected crowds on Labour Day, and I don't have to wait in line. My prime spot offers spectacular views on the falls. Imho this is 16 bucks well spent (if you don't have the time).

Above you pass the former summerhouse of the Duke of Kent. Picturesque in its garden setting but screaming tourist trap.

The boardwalk along the cliff leads to a suspension bridge above the roaring waters, which drop 83 meters before falling into the basin, 30 meters higher than the Niagara Falls, and the highest falls in Quebec.

In the far you may spot the suspension bridge to Ile d'Orléans. Built in 1934 as part of a job-creation project it spans 4.4km over the river.

With busloads of tourists arriving, and robbing this place of its majesty I make a beeline for the exit, but not before taking a picture of the often neglected Bridal Veil Falls at the entrance of the park. Montmorency Falls? My rating: a must do on the tourist's bucket list.

The Highway becomes quickly rural now, and the traffic relaxes. Construction however goes on, and I get my first taste of gravel. The Honda is very forgiving and doesn't miss a beat.

After a soup and sandwich break in La Malbaie (the bad bay), which is nothing to write home about, I find a spot to rest. I am still a bit under the weather and feel my concentration lacking. After half an hour of napping in the fresh air I am as good as new to continue my journey.

Just in time I arrive for the ferry to Tadoussac, where I had planned on spending the night, and chat with a Harley rider who couldn't believe that I was traveling on my own.

Something is going on in Tadoussac, where do all the people come from? At the tourist information they told me that all accommodation was booked, and no more room available. Oh well, it was still early enough, so I continued further.

At an old fashioned gas station (no credit card slot, how do I work this?) I fill 'er up with the highest available octane and ask the lady attendant for an affordable motel in the area. She recommended La Croisière in Grandes Bergeronnes, and this is where I get to spend the night. The room just got finished, and all was spick and span, and probably never used before.

After raiding the local Inter Marché I decide on a sweet and savoury dinner picknick containing fruit, dips, rice crackers and juice at the waterfront, frugal but with a million dollar view.

Photo bombing

That's what I call a romantic dinner setting

650km into this journey the Shadow has done well so far, with no major handling issues. I like the windshield much, especially for keeping the bugs from hitting me, but depending on my seating position the laminar lip gets in my way and is obstructing the view. The lip will need to be removed, and a bigger windshield for David to be installed next year. Also, the front tire seems to continue losing small amounts of air but so far it is manageable. Oh, and Betty is a very thirsty lady, almost 6l on 100km, and please do the math yourself what mileage that makes on a gallon. It's a metric bike and I speak metric, too.

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HIER gibt's wieder die deutsche Fassung.