Slow Rolling with Adele - Veloroute des Bleuets

The Veloroute des Bleuets has been on my radar for several years, but the 6+ hour travel to the region, north of Quebec City, was an adventure reserved for retirement - until my slow rolling buddy decided to do all the legwork, reserving accommodations. Difficulty in finding places to stay indoors for our intended 4-day, 150-mile loop meant some days were longer than others. Anytime after Labor Day is the off-season, so there are fewer tourists and cyclists. Like any bike tour, there were highs and lows, along the often beautiful trails, quirky towns, and some dangerous highways, leaving me with a love-hate relationship with the touted loop.

We eventually found the famed blueberry fields, turned out in their autumn colors.

The first day was hectic, getting lost immediately, but gradually regaining the route. From then on, the signage was fairly clear. It was a blustery day - trees fell across the path - and the ferry wasn't running to shorten miles through the gorgeous National Park, but it was a tailwind!  We changed the first night's reservation to stay at a cabin, which meant grabbing groceries from a small market, but wine solved most of our night's problems. It was a smart move to ride a bit further to shorten the next day's long miles. The fully stocked cabin - in a campground! - was a perfect, fun, and quiet glamping experience.

Lower right, meeting Ann and her Terry Bike.

We rode in and out of showers the second day, warmed in a cafe, experienced beautiful falls, and the route periodically followed a busy highway - Route 169 would become our nemesis going forward - ending the day at a quaint hotel overlooking a river. After 55 miles, I was exhausted, and without dinner service at the hotel, it was a miracle that Adele befriended other cyclists, their tour driver thankfully giving us all a lift to a restaurant. I was ready to make do with my granola bike stash!

The 23 miles to Val Jabert, a historic village, was a quick tailwind in sublime sunshine. It seemed odd to briefly ride for 2-3 hours, but the break was welcome. We checked in early, walked around the village and the pulp mill exhibits, took the tram up beside the falls, and generally relaxed. We had a multicourse dinner in the mill restaurant and breakfast the next morning.

The fourth and final day was an enjoyable mixture of rolling bike path, back roads, and finally getting a good cup of coffee and pastries. Adele and I were previously offered watered-down coffee, when all our other Canadian adventures, bakeries, and espresso drinks were the norm. We all commented on how the tourist region was, oddly, a food desert.

The last two days were reserved for investigating the Saguenay Fjord. This was Nancy's idea, and I'm glad to have had this wonderful experience. An avid hiker and strong cyclist, she also expertly drove us around, even cool and calm in hectic Quebec City traffic. We hiked in the national park, spent time on a tidal beach, and went on an amazing whale watch tour - my first!

The Mittens that Everyone Needs

My hands suffer when it gets cold. While I have bar mitts attached to my commuter Peugeot, that bike is also decked with studded tires until the weather gods decide it's really spring, so alternative mittens are required to keep my digits from freezing, especially if I ride another bike on dry roads. Or, walking, shoveling, etc. 

I'd read how leather mittens with wool liners are some of the warmest outdoor wear you'll find, so I took the opportunity to replace some failing synthetic lined mittens with LLBean's version.

Call them what you will: double layers, choppers, chopper mitts, work mittens, or leather mitts, ultimately, they're the warmest mittens I've ever used!

The leather shell blocks the wind, grips the handle bar, while the wool liner is warm and replaceable, should one eventually need to. Critical is the air pocket between liner and shell that traps warmth. And if both get wet, just air dry separately. 

There are many brands available in this type of arrangement. And not to worry, I can grasp the shifters and brake levers just fine.

I'm reminded of the Dr Seuss book, The Lorax and  Thneed - the thing that everyone needs!

Canadian Rides, Northern Rail Trail, and Salt Water

My annual September vacation took a radical turn, due to a rainy forecast, from exploring Pennsylvania's rails trails to pivoting to Canada, New Hampshire, and a bit of Massachusetts where miraculously, 9 of 10 days were dry.

A friend tagged along for the Canadian adventures, first riding the famed Grandes Fourches loop, a route I did years ago with Adele, and worth repeating, for it's variety of urban/dirt rail trail/dirt road scenery.

I've always admired Catherine's Miyata.

Lake Massawippi in North Hatley was a beautiful spot for a break. Friend Catherine was midway in her  quest to ride 500 miles in September, raising money for childhood cancer.

Beautiful sculptures in a Sherbrooke park.

The route follows three rivers, also part of the route's appeal.

One connection across a river takes advantage of a bridge beneath a busy highway.

Soybean fields.

Another day we pedaled a strenuous loop from Compton, with grand vistas of farmland.

We appreciated the public facilities and parks, amazingly in the smallest of towns.

East Standstead.

An intentionally flatter route from Bedford eased tired legs. The stunning scenery of vineyards, orchards, golden maple lined corridors, and farm vistas (lots of Pelletier family farms).

Loving my Bassi Rachel's climbing ability.

On the right, July's floods wiped out a section of trail. Otherwise this part of Canada escaped
the destruction that occurred in Vermont.

Another day's ride included the Tomofobia Nature Preserve, a rail trail I've ridden many times, yet keep coming back. We looped towards Lake Memphremagog on an ungodly steep climb - I walked part - before heading back to the car.

Our friend returned home while my husband and I regrouped before heading off to New Hampshire. We are fans of rail trails and always have ideas in reserve. Riding a portion of the 59 mile Northern Trail in 2022, I knew I wanted to complete the entire route. We learned that while some parts of New Hampshire were affected by earlier flooding, the trail was rideable.

Left photo, we detoured around the bridge initially, as a crew was resurfacing the wood, but was efficiently finished upon our return. The center line has additional plywood to handle snowmachines.

While it would've been preferable to ride one way, camping overnight, we couldn't locate a nearby campground nor find a shuttle. Creative groups might utilize 2 cars and indoor accommodation, but having two cars for this 5 day portion of our vacation didn't make sense. Instead, we found a comfortable campground 10 miles away in Newfound Lake and did out and back segments, riding double the miles!

Mount Cardigan.

What makes this trail special are the lack of frequent road crossings, various terrain, unique vistas and interesting historical markers. It's never dull.

A visit to a nearby facility, seen from the trail. Loons were paddling on the lake.

A couple of rest stops.

Remnants of a tiny roundabout. Initial train engines were small.

Potters Place, a restored rail station.

I swapped the tire and patched the tube while my husband investigated the source of the mishap. Near the gate crossing, I must've scraped a protruding cement knob.

With smooth tires, my bike wasn't an ideal companion on this trip. I had two front tire flats, but managed, making sure I patched the spare tube. There are many bridges, some rougher chunky surfaces, etc. At one point, I thought about trying to locate more suitable tires, but I'm also in the midst of building another bike that will excel on variable terrain.

A trailside dirt playground! This stop made me laugh.

Six miles from finishing (12 roundtrip) I was chilled, after enduring a steady rain for an hour in low 50's F. Since the forecast would improve later, we left the remaining miles and finished a couple days later, on our return home.

The East Coast Greenway appeals to me...a good retirement project.

Meanwhile...we visited our nephew and his fiancé in Newburyport, Massachusetts, pedaled to Plum Island, and then camped a night near the coast.

An all-around spectacular vacation! 

Branching Out - More Local Riding Adventures

Bassi Rachel in her home environment, her curves blending in with a water-themed railing along the Saint Lawrence River.

Much like earlier in 2023, we're making an effort to ride in different areas. With the Canadian border an easy crossing, we headed to Montreal, pedaling a much-loved route: riding the Lachine Canal then looping back through the wonderful parks and trails along the Saint Lawrence River.

Free parking on the street means documenting where you left the car!

Nearby, I spotted another purple fade Specialized specimen - likely a similar year to mine.

I loved this art installation.

We hung out to watch a lock in operation.

LVRT- Cambridge to East Fairfield and back.

In Vermont on a solitary ride, I pedaled out and back on a newly re-opened section of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. 

My husband and I hope to tour the entire 95 miles, once the whole trail is repaired from July's devastating floods.

This trail will be a treasure to locals and tourists.

Another adventure included a friend, biking from our house, and looping Grand Isle.

Purple asters were gorgeous on the roadsides.

I've ridden portions of the island but never a complete circumnavigation. There were stunning vistas on West Shore Road and East Shore Road of Lake Champlain.

Our friend Catherine, who would later join us in Canada.

Close to home, mountain bike forays included lovely mossy meanderings... 

discovering safer features over an irrigation pipe...

and the beginning of fall color.

September and October have made up for a hot, humid, and wet summer. There's so much more to explore!

Riding Cape Cod Trails

Shining Sea Bikeway

In June we went to Cape Cod for a wedding, but why not tack on extra days and call it a vacation? It was a lesson in packing two vehicles with five bikes and five family members, who fortunately were also happy to help drive, as I was still feverish from a shingles vaccine reaction (3 weeks!). We arrived a few days before the wedding, so we explored the area trails and beaches. I was mostly well during the day, distracted by all the Cape's beauty.

Eastern Box Turtle.

I'd never seen an Eastern Box Turtle before. This 6" creature was at least 20 years old, the age when reaching maturity and maximum size, though they can live up to 50 years old. Such a cute, colorful little guy!

At the junction of the Cape Cod rail trail and the Old Colony trail, waiting for my family.

We rode the main Cape Cod Rail Trail in opposite directions from our conveniently located condo in Brewster. Some days we never used the car!

Eldest son visited from Colorado.

His girlfriend and my husband.

Once we drove to Lighthouse Beach in Chatham.

Other days we pedaled to nearby beaches.

One of my favorite trails was located in Provincetown. While dropping off eldest son to hang out with friends in the busy arts district, my husband, youngest son, and I visited nearby Province Lands National Seashore. We didn't plan to hang out on beaches this time, especially because young son had a nasty burn on his torso - what sunscreen? 

Rather, Province Lands holds the distinction of having the oldest cycling trails on Cape Cod. And not just any trail, but a paved trail rolling up and down huge dunes with flowering bushes and through a section of woodland, with one way feeder trails radiating off it to visitor centers, beaches, and historical lifesaving buildings. It was a hoot and only difficult on a couple occasions for me as I was riding my folding bike. A short walk to regain a hilltop was worth it to experience this unique place.

This mini vacation holds a special place in my heart. From experiencing a wedding on the beach, to spending time with our two sons, to renting a comfortable condo, to watching seals play in the surf, and enjoying sand between my toes, to riding shady trails in early season comfortable sunshine, the vacation will resonate with me for a long time.