June 8,2016

Hi everyone,

On the 25th of May i arrived in Montréal. Louis, a biker who i got to know through the Horizonsunlimited website picked me up at the AirPort. While on the way to the city for a simcard, i noticed that there’re big traffic jams on this side of the world as well.

My first days i got hosted by couchsurfer Tobie and his girlfriend. Nice people, as he showed me some nice spots in Montreal.

 

Temperatures didn’t seem to be normaal as they hit 28-29°C. I had a few restdays, but walked a lot around and visited the old city and surroundings.

 

Different way of house building as in Belgium here, but interesting anyway. Houses are meanly build out of wood and some of them have a stone face in de front. And all staircases are on the outside of the building, where mostly in Europe they’re inside of the building.

Meanwhile i got news that the boat where the bike’s on would arrive on monday. First i moved to an airbnb place for 2 nights as i thaught the Bike would be out on wednesday. Then it turned out to be thursday. I was lucky to be able to stay with a nice motorbike couple. Ness and Francine had me in their apartment, where i could also use their parkingspace in the basement.

The weather had changed from hot to rainy and cloudy for a change. But on thursday Louis picked me up to go to the schipping company, customs and port company to see or we could get the Bike out. Everything went ok, but it turned out that a delivery of the crate by the company on friday would be a cheaper option then renting a van.
So we went back and on fridaymorning the crate was nicely delivered at the apartment.
Time to get on with it and and a big thanks to Louis who helped me to uncrate and put it back on wheels.
On saturday i finished the Bike on the parking of Ness. While doing that a blond woman came to me to say hello. She was Russian and had a daughter teaching in the University of Louvain in Belgium. As she was interested in what my plans were, she sended me later an adress of friends where i can stay in Vancouver.
Great how everything works out sometimes!
Sunday was time to move, so i waved goodbye to Ness and Francine to visit Louis who lives about 100 km’s north of Montreal.

First ride in Canada was in the rain for most of the time. I didn’t put on my new raingear as i wanted to see how waterproof my jacket and pants were. Mmm, not waterproof anymore it seemed!
Now i was more in nature as Louis and his wife Louise, live in their former restaurant and that’s in the woods.
Interesting to meet people and talk about different topics with them. But as she had been a chef-Cook, off course we talked a lot about food and i had great dishes served.
Monday Louis let me use some of his tools to adjust some things on the bike.
After a great stay with them i moved on to Trois Rivières. Through a motorbike website i was invited to stay with John.
It’s just strange how everything seems to fall in pieces. Great guy and fun to be with! He had also motorbike stories to tell. After some shopping in the grocery store and reorganise my luggage i moved on the next day. Have to mention they had strange pastery in the supermarket.

In Quebec i ended up with Pierre and Rain. Also riding motorbike and had been traveling around.
Very interesting people. We talked till late in the evening and had nice conversations.
Although Pierre can speak English i tried to adapt and praktice my French with his wife.
I had to think hard but slowly i improved a bit.
Friday i went to visit the old city of Quebec and some other interesting things.
Walked around the whole day but it was worth it.

In the evening Pierre showed me some things about the wintergames they play in Quebec.
A triatlon but with specific wintersports like cross country skiing, speed skating and snowshoe running.
Saturday i packed up and started to ride North-East towards the Gaspé peninsula.
Riding went well and i enjoyed the surroundings and the small villages along the way.
The route followed the rivier which widens as i continue to ride East. At around 5 o’clock i start looking for a campspot, but not many options around as one side is sea shore and the other private properties with houses. As i noticed that campsites are very expensive here, i rode on for a few kilometers before stopping at a house to ask or i can put my tent somewhere.
Without hesitation i got pointed out to a small shed where i could put the tent inside. Alright, fantastic! When all was set up, i got even treated with a pizza of seafood and a glas of wine. On top i was invited inside to join for a dessert and coffee. It’s great to see how things can work out.
I was introduced to Jean-Robert, his wife and family relatives who ware there to help rebuild a shed. The next day i stayed there as it was very bad weather. Storm winds and rain fell out the sky as they opend the taps in the sky.
First i did some writing and later i spend some time inside and talked with the people. Again interesting to hear different opinions. His wife was very friendly and helped me out with a few things.
I had some great food and got to know some new foods.
As the weather forecast wasn’t that great for monday as well i thought about staying another day at first.

Well, sometimes you’ve got to move on and so i did as it was’t raining hard at all at the start.
After a few km’s the Bike stopt running. Ok, i open the right tap as i use that part as reserve and continue. When i had taken fuel at the gasstation i close that tap again so i got always reserve. A little later Bike stallend again. Strange!
Alright, i got it. I remembered that i had closed the left tap after filling up my cooking bottle. Forgot to open it at the start in the morning! Hahaha! Well done!!
Well, the weather wasn’t so nice as it was raining. But that comes with motorbike riding.
At least that’s what i thought. I had a stop to warm up as my hands were completely wet and i started to get cold. A coffee and a chat to Claude later, i was back on the road. Less rain was a bit welcome, although it went the other way around. Suddenly it was pooring rain down like hell. Plus heavy stormwinds came in to play! Oh yeah, let’s have some fun with that Belgian biker, the Gods must have thought!
They had fun for sure with me, but i didn’t enjoy it at all. Bad visibility, getting cold as slowly here and there some rain came into my gear. And i got blown more or less constantly from left to right on the road. Even a few times i almost came off the Bike. Scary riding like that. When the time came that i couldn’t almost move my hands anymore from the cold i had to stop! In a road bar, i got from the owner a coffee while i was turning his covered veranda into a swimming pool.
Friendly asking or they know a place to stay, they pointed me out to e few motels. But that’s not what i want. Even campsites here are about 20€, and they don’t seem to be covered by trees which means i’d be still in the wind.
After i warmed up, i got wet back on the Bike and continued on the road.
A few km’s further and almost hit by a wave that came over rocks at the sea, i gave up and stopped at a house to ask where i could put up a tent.
The Gods must have been dissappointed the they didn’t have any biker to play with anymore!!
At least some luck at the end of the day as the people let me put up my tent in their back yard a bit away from the gisting winds. When finished i was happy to take all my humid cloths off and get into my tent. Oh no, the storm didn’t stop because i was dry.
Although all the Bike gear including the rain gear says 100% waterproof, it’s not waterproof at all in a storm like that.

The only gear that’s still dry inside, are the bags and tankbag of Enduristan. Really, even in those weather conditions. That’s a big plus! They also put 100% waterproof on their gear, but it’s at least the thruth. Great equipment for adventure riding!!