Either my new Scicon bike bag did its job, or the baggage handling gods were smiling on me, but all of my bike made it to Montreal in one piece. The brake calipers on the rear got a bit of an ‘adjustment’ en route, but that was easily fixed with hotel’s tool box.

That attractive black thing sticking out of the back of the Bianchi is my new seat bag, which, apart from giving  me the coolest of looks, actually works.

Pierre and Ginette made a trip down from Ontario to ride the first day of the journey with me, combining it with some family time with their Quebec relatives. Gin drove support so this will be the only day you’ll see action pics of me, I think. I know, I’m disappointed too.

Pierre and I leaving my hotel on a quiet, overcast morning.

Getting out of town was slow, but we made up for it on the extremely flat roads that follow the St Lawrence River towards the Atlantic. We averaged 28 kph over 210 km and we certainly weren’t in ‘race mode’.

Still, the ride took all day, slowed down by Pierre’s weak bladder and things like lunch.

We rode past many pretty towns, and I promise to do better with photos tomorrow to prove it, but my personal favorite was the hometown of Gilles and Jaques Villeneuve. I never saw Jaques’ street, but we rode through town on Gille’s.

A few from the moving car of Ginette.

That last one is us riding up the gate road of our chambre d’hôtes. What greeted us in front of the house was this man – possibly the best natured guy I’ve ever met.

He’s pouring us iced cold water. The iced cold micro-brasserie beer wasn’t far behind.