Rechecking the weather Saturday morning and things look ominous...
However, we are planning a morning ride, so hopefully we will beat the first snows, which are due to arrive at 3pm!
Earlier in the week we sent an email to a few friends to see if anyone was interesting in joining us on the Saturday ride. Amazingly, despite the weather forecast there are nine of us that turn up. As we set off through the old port I practise getting my camera out my back pocket and taking a picture as I ride. Fortunately this is accomplished without falling off!
Today we are heading to Nun's Island. Destination Mme Clafoutis for coffee and a croissant. At one point on the ride I am asked if we are lost, to which I feel the answer must be yes. If you are on Nun's Island you are by definition lost. It is a complete warren of roads and the only way to figure out how to get round is to hug the shoreline.
Here are the nine hardy cyclists, not lost, on Nun's Island Neil, Jonah, Tristan, Adrienne, Monika, myself, Stuart, Stephane and Cecile
At one point Monika takes us on a detour to the shoreline.....
....to show us a lovely seat for a wee rest where you can dip your toes in the St Laurent river. I think we'll save that pleasure for a summer bike ride.
After completing a circuit of the island we reach our goal!
....and are sated with the most amazing croissants. I chose the chocolatine and pistachio which is awesome. No-one is brave enough to try the Mon Dieu, which is a croissant that contains everything - chocolate, maple syrup, almonds, pistachios. It's not for the faint hearted!
This is definitely what cycling is all about (well, for me anyway!) coffee shops and good friends!
After a quick calculation of distance ridden and distance left to ride I realise that the return journey is not enough to hit the target. Therefore a detour is needed. So we leave Nun's island on the Estacade - the Ice Bridge. A bridge that was built to protect the Champlain Bridge from the ice floes in winter.
The Estacade is a car free bridge - great for cyclists! (More photos whilst cycling - I'm getting good at this!)
Although, I'm not quite ready for the hands free approach that some people take (and quite frankly this is just showing off!)
Our route takes us onto the Gilles Villeneuve track, where the formula one cars race. A couple of cars do drive past us, but I'm not quick enough to capture them on camera.
We also get to ride next to Habitat 67, yep still ugly!
Finally, we arrive back at St Louis square, and thanks to our friends for the good company this morning!
The ride back was calculated to perfection. I hit 2000km as we ride around the square...
...and no snow so far!
It is my great hope that I will again have the pleasure of riding with you both...
ReplyDeleteWell done, fabulous total! Mmm, but those croissants are making me salivate :)
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