Days 22 to 25: Chaudière-Appalaches and Bas-Saint-Laurent

Day 22

Kilometer 1648

Québec, QC

I got on my bike today, so I suppose that means a blog entry is required.

It hasn't been much of "rest and relaxation" the past two days. Yesterday my host took me hiking in the mountains, and today I took my bike (for God-knows-what reason) to Île d'Orléans, for the views of the city. And of course, there was much exploring of the (beautiful, stunning, amazing, fantastic, etc) city itself.

Day 23

Kilometer 1776

Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies, QC

Well, that was an unexpectedly patriotic kilometer to stop at.

The St. Lawrence is definitely much wider now than it was before. And the rugged mountains on the north side have been making me simultaneously crane my neck all day to get a good view, and pat myself on the back for having the cowardice required to take the flat, south shore instead.

My "campground" tonight is a rocky outcropping on the shore with a breathtaking view of the mountains. I'm not complaining.

Day 24

Kilometer 1860

Rivière-du-Loup, QC

This is how most of my interactions in this province have gone so far:

Them, faster than my ears can even register: Rémpligny-rèmplîdou-à-qu'estijoù-fêttes-cherchu-fou-pèr-portaluristent?

Me: Uh... quoi?

Them, now in flawless English: Oh, no French? I just said hello.

Day 25

Kilometer 1955

Bic, QC

Today, June 24, is both my 23rd birthday and the national holiday of Québec, Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day. And (thank you Mom and Dad) I'm staying in a bed-and-breakfast tonight. I'm not completely sure what a "bed-and-breakfast" entails (besides the two rather obvious things), as my only exposure comes from Gilmore Girls, but if my assumptions are correct, I'm about to receive a knock on the door from an elderly Nova Scotian couple inviting me to a rousing game of shuffleboard. (What even is "shuffleboard"? The picture I have in my head is a somewhat odd mixture of curling, backgammon, and euchre.)

This is what I've eaten today: three bagels, three doughnuts, a tube of Pringles, a Starbucks frappuccino, a chocolate chip-peanut butter cookie, and a big plate of poutine with chicken and peas on top. I looked for some ice cream since it's my birthday, but it appears this town doesn't have any.