Language

Day 74. My Sabbath was spent on the shores of St Joseph lake. I also was able to listen to church with my congregation in Pueblo. There was a relaxing day.

Day 75. St Joseph Lake to Montmagny. 64 mi. 4,697 Mi TTD. 1,644 ft elevation. Weather hot and muggy but powerful tailwind.

Continuing the Quebec tradition, I was on trail almost immediately after leaving my hotel. That trail took me all the way into Quebec City at about mile 25. It was basically flat, and either a crushed limestone surface or paved. Surprisingly, there was a fair amount of bicycle traffic even though it was a Monday morning and I don’t think a holiday. With the easy riding, I’ve been able to spend a little time picking up some french.

For example, arret means proceed. At first, because it’s on a red octagon, I thought it meant stop. However, it clearly means proceed as that’s what all the bikers do at these signs.

The other French word I’ve been using is bonjour. It might be a swear word, but I think it just means “move over.” As you’re bicycling along busy paths, people yelled this at each other as they passed, and it seemed like you were supposed to move over when you heard it.

Quebec City did not require me to get on a road except briefly. The pathways were wonderful. I thought this was a wise use of otherwise wasted space. There was a long highway bridge, and they put the path underneath it.

My quick review of the history showed me that the French first controlled the area in the 16th and early 1700s. The British took it over in the mid 1700s . During the Revolutionary War, the British successfully defeated an American attack on Quebec City. I believe the high ground and the St. Lawrence are why Quebec City has been inhabited for so long. BTW, that large building is the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Allegedly the most photographed hotel in the world.

Once again, it was ferry time. I was enjoying the path so much that I pedaled right past the ferry and continued for a half mile before realizing I’d missed the turn. The map just showed me crossing the St. Lawrence, and I thought it was a bridge. Fortunately, I backtracked and was able to get on the ferry just shortly before it departed. I believe there were as many bikes on the ferry as there were cars. The pathways through the city and along the St. Lawrence are so pleasant that it’s not surprising that everyone is biking.

On the opposite shore, South shore, the bike path continued and there was also a splash pad and some food trucks as well as bathrooms. Riding in Quebec is extremely comfortable.

One of my French word concerns was men’s bathroom. I soon realized that this shouldn’t be a worry. If you look closely, you can see that this bathroom is pretty much for everybody. In fact, you walk in, and there’s just a bunch of stall doors on one side and a hallway on the other side with urinals. There are no doors except on the stalls, which are all coed, so to speak. I found it slightly disconcerting at first, but once I realized it’s all just one big happy family in one big happy bathroom, I didn’t have to worry.

Getting off the ferry and continuing along the St. Lawrence was beautiful. After I passed this building, I had to stop and take a picture, realizing it was an art gallery on a bike trail. No, seriously! Where else would you find an art gallery on a bike trail but Quebec.

Two French words I found appealing and annoying were these EST and QUEST. Since I’m heading est, and it isn’t all voweled up, I like it. But it sort of annoys me that if I were going the other direction, my journey would be more purposeful.

As always, in quebec, it wasn’t hard to find a nice place to eat my lunch. It was also nice that the local convenience store had an incredible variety of foods, including a wonderful pasta salad. Unfortunately, the restroom, not one of the stops, again coed, had some sort of sign above the sink. Everywhere in Canada except Quebec signs are in English and french. In Quebec, they’re all frequently only in french. In this case, after I filled my water bottle and took a good guzzle of it, I realized that the French sign above the faucet was indicating that the water was not potable. Whoops. If I come down with some disease, I’m planning on suing the province of Quebec for not having the sign in English :-).

Near the end of my ride today, my new found French skills were a real benefit. A lady in a parking lot came up asking me in English if I would transfer money to her email account to save her dogs that were overheating in her car or some crazy story. She sounded american. I just said no, and then when she kept talking, I pretended I didn’t speak English.

The St Lawrence River is widening out as it approaches the ocean and Hudson Bay. I think there’s even some title flats or at least that’s what they look like along the Rivers Edge at this point. The Farmland around it is Lush.

Tomorrow’s my last day along the St Lawrence, and then I head Southward into New Brunswick. Who knows what strange new language I’ll need to learn.