Tuesday, August 18, 2009

 

Tuesday 18 Aug.






Sainte Luce sur Mer PQ
Fog with sun struggling through

It rained off and on all night but was clear when we woke.
We had a leisurely breakfast while waiting for the tent to dry.
Sue managed to find a wireless connection (wandering around, laptop in hand) and got some bad news from George Burgyan, the young rider from Cleveland who was trying to get to Goose Bay with his moto. We parted ways at Red Bay, Labrador…. Good thing we decided to turn around…
George totalled his bike and destroyed his new digital SLR. He salvaged what he could off of it and had to buy a $2000 plane ticket home.
Our hearts go out to you George. We know how you feel after experiencing the same sort of thing last summer on our way back from the Panama Canal.
We were anticipating rain for the day so we suited up for it and covered the gear on the bike and headed for Gaspé and Forillon National Park. No sooner on the road and we were into cold temps with very heavy fog as wet as rain and by noon we were alternating between fog and rain or showers. I had on double rain gear and Sue had on five layers of warm and dry….
We had a short respite from the elements an hour into the ride and stopped into a “Fromagerie” to load up on real cheese curds and great cheddar! You know you’ve got the “real” curds if they squeak while you chew them! As far as I’m concerned, anything else is just “cheese”…..
The northern coastline of the Gaspé is quite scenic and rises to impressive heights! It has it “all over” the Cabot Trail! Many picturesque little villages that you first see from a distance, looking down as you crest a headland. They typically are clustered along the curve of bights and coves like mussels on a rocky shore.
Cresting one high climb we came across a “castle in the mist”…well, in the fog, yeah, and okay, not a real castle but whimsical and amusing none the less!
Another interesting stop was a shore side art gallery and restaurant that is a testament to the old adage that art is ten percent inspiration and ninety percent perspiration. A lot of elbow grease was involved in the construction of the buildings and displays!
Unfortunately the weather was horrible by the time we got to Forillon National Park. We were not in the least inclined to explore it to the extent we should have. Add to the mix the fact that the roads were almost all under construction and we did many, many kilometres in mud and loose gravel in the pouring rain with again more fog than enough!
We set up the tent in pouring rain and went to sleep without supper.

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