Le Gaspe...Ooo La La 09.7.09

I say my farewells in Shediac and it's time to hit the road to the Gaspe Peninsula...and guess what...it isn't raining either!!! I decide not to hit the main highway just yet and have a wander along the coast through some of the small villages that line this lovely coast.






Over the bridge at Grand Digue I run up the Acadien Coastal Route 134 through Cap De Cassier, Breau Village, Cormierville, Cocagne and up toward the Dune de Bouctouche.




The coastline here is stunningly beautiful. I'm sure it gets hectic in the August period but today as in most of the days I've been here its calm and quiet. It's a struggle not to decamp and just sit on the beach.




Welcome to Nowheresville...and no banjos either.

Through St Edouard-Du -Kent, Cap Lumiere and Richbuctou finally coming to Rexton and their wooden bridge.

It's all very nice sightseeing but I have a long way to go today so I decide to jump on route 11 and make up some miles.

I fly past Saint Charles, Kouchibouguac (I've been here two weeks now and I still can't pronounce it) Laketon, St Margarets and Black River hitting the outskirts of Miramichi and over the bridge. Despite being a main highway the views are still pretty good.

It's a fairly mundane run through Lavillette, Jeanne Mance, and up route 8 to Bathhurst where I fuel up and take time out for my daily Tim Horton's. Once again the plate raises eyebrows and I chat for 15 ninutes with some local bikers before setting off again.

I continue up route 8 past Nigadoo, Point Vetre, Belledune, Gravel Hill and Backland before deciding to turn off at Charlo and return to the coastal route 134 for the last leg upto the border.

From the Eel River Crossing through to Dalhousie the scenery is spectacular as the Gaspe mountains appear across the bay.

I gas up in town head off toward the border. The views along the 134 which hugs the bay are superb and photos really don't do it justice.

I hit Campellton and the Pointe De La Croix. The bridge spans the Baie Des Chaleurs forming a natural border between New Brunswick and Quebec.

It's goodbye to NB for a while as I cross and make my way into French speaking Quebec. If nothing else it will give me the opportunity to brush up my very rusty french.

I run along the 132 with the mountains running on my left for miles. Through Oak Bay, Escuminac, Nouvelle and finally calling it a day at Carleton. This looks a busy seaside town and I manage to get a room with a view of the bay at a god price. The receptionist talks about the weather and tells me the best time for the Gaspe is August through to October. It's a bit late telling me now....

Tomorrow we hit Perce Roche...mileage today 250.