Day 48 (August 19th)

Lévis to Notre-Dame-du-Portage,QC

Wow. What a ride I had this day. I also drank a lot of chocolate milk.
It was ridiculously difficult to keep riding due to the countless number of stunning places that beckoned me to sit, relax, read, and take in their sights.

The wind was with me all day, which allowed me to observe that seagulls take off into the wind... even if the thing they're trying to get away from (me on a bicycle) is already close to them and windward of them. So... there were some close calls... Near collisions.

I sat on the shore at St-Michel-de-Bellechasse, took in the Maritime Museum at L'Islet, relaxed dockside at gorgeous Kamouraska and camped on the beach at Notre-Dame-du-Portage overlooking the Pellerin Islands.

During the course of the day, I noticed that one of the newly replaced top braces for my rear rack had snapped and that one of the bolts that holds my toe clips on had loosened. I secured the rack with zip-ties and hand tightened the toe clip bolt and carried on. Of course, I had meant to properly tighten the bolt in later in the day... but forgot. More on that later.

Now look at these pictures!

Day 47 (August 18th)

Trois Rivières to Lévis, QC

This was among the most sketchy camping places so far, but nothing exciting to report - thank goodness!

I picked up a vast supply of fresh raspberries, blueberries and ground cherries from a fruit stand.

The day was gorgeous and the ride along the Chemin du Roy was quite spectacular, but a storm was brewing and I pressed on to be in Quebec City before it hit.

As I rode the Plains of Abraham a tremendous storm hit, and I took shelter in a tunnel at the citadel. When the rain let up, I found a place to eat and drink while I waited for a ferry to Lévis, across the river.

I arrived in Levis well after dark, but rode along a smooth bike path until I found a suitable campsite. As is set up my tent, I noticed that I was surrounded by tiny bio-luminescent slugs!