Day 4, Shawinigan, Out and Back

Today is the longest and most climbing day of the trip so far. The previous 3 days have been warm up rides. We left Shawinigan and headed North and West into the La Mauricie National Park about 20 miles from the start. Climbing really starts once you entered the park. The roads are nicely paved with camping and other activities along the way. In the winter, the park seems to be very popular with cross country skiers as well.

The ride was originally planned as a loop ride but the road was blocked so it was re-planned as an out an back route. The scenery was beautiful and the road traffic was very light. We had lunch with an overview of a lake while munching on sandwiches that we had made at the hotel before leaving that morning.

For the last 20 miles we were looking for an ice cream stop, but didn't find one until we were a block away from the hotel.

I slept very well that evening.

Brian

Day 3, Berthierville to Shawinigan

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Day 2 Montreal to Berthierville

Day 2 Montreal to Berthierville

The Lafayette rides are a group effort. Today may part was to drive the one of the cars to the lunch stop and pick up lunch supplies on the way. The task required required 1 van, one SUV and three people. Myself, Adrienne Harber and Marnix Landman.

Adrienne is the president of the Lafayette Cavaliers this year and is responsible for putting this whole enterprise together this year. It's a great responsibility bringing 35 riders from all the US and Europe to a new destination. She has been able to help in the endeavor, but I'm sure that there were many sleepless nights to get all the arrangements in place. Marnix is from the Netherlands. I got a chance to know him better last year during the Netherlands trip. His father Jan was the Lafayette President and put on a wonderful trip. To read about last year click here.

Oh back to the 2 vehicles and 3 people. We needed to head out the market and buy all the food for the lunch and get to the lunch stop, 30 mile in to the ride and set up before the riders arrived. Being this was he first day that needed a lunch stop, we need to get a bunch of supplies, food for 2 days, plates, knives, hand soap, bread, peanut butter, jelly, cold cuts, yogurt, drinks, ice and many other things as well. All the time the clock is ticking. The lunch was at the 30 mile mark and we had to shop drive to the spot on the map and find a place for picnic. We were under the gun, 'cause there were 35 hungry bikers on the way.

With not a moment to spare we found the a perfect riverside location with picnic tables and benches and just started to unload the supplies when the saw the first rides flash by. After waving them down the rest of the riders started to arrive in waves. Everyone lent a hand in setting up the lunch and then started to dive in.

With Adrienne's  and my job was done, someone else was going to drive the rest of the way to the end. Quickly changing into riding clothes we departed with the last set of riders for the rest of the ride. The map below shows from lunch to the final destination for the day, Berthierville.

Day 1, Montreal Loop

Day 1

Nice warm-up ride with the group to make sure the equipment is working the and riders get an chance to socialize a bit before the longer rides begin.

We got back in time to walk a mile or so to the Atwater Market for a bit to eat an and to do some sightseeing.

Diner was buffet at an Indian restaurant. The part of town we were staying was just loaded with restaurants and bars, the place was hopping.

Brian