It doesn't take long before I head into the mountains towards Cap Seize. The weather is tremendous, the roads completely deserted and I don't see a living soul for the next 40 miles or so. Even the moose stay away.
The Route du Parc is without a doubt one of the highlights of the trip. Through acres of unspoilt forest past Mont Albert, Mont Olivine and Mont 'Hog's Back'. The river follows the road to my right for the entire ride and is absolutely crystal clear. The problem with roads like this is you simply can't help but stop and take in the view. You could spend a week just touring this road checking out the gravel roads that lead off into nowhere, les chutes and the countless walking trails.
There is no excuse for anyone who lives in the eastern provinces to not come visit the Gaspe and ride this road, even if they're riding a HARLEY. Dump the trailer in Carleton or New Richmond a come ride. You won't be disappointed. Wussies...
For those back home this might look like a sign for a coffee grinder but in fact it's telling you the tarmac is about to end abruptly and turn into gravel.
....and trust me this is the good stuff in comparison to what I've ridden over so far this trip.
Sadly all good things come to an end and we drop out of the hills into Grande Cascapedia and back onto route 132 taking the rute we took a few days ago back toward New Brunswick but in reverse.
It doesn't take long to get to the province border and its au revoir Quebec and bonjour New Brunswick
Back over the Pointe A La Croix and into Campellton.
From Campellton I hit Route 11 at Sugarloaf as it's time to make up some miles. I spot the troopers who are covering both sides of the median and slowly disappear out of sight.
For those of you at home these signs are to scale. A moose is a 1000lbs+ of pure stupidity and you really don't want to tangle with one. If yousee a dear in the road head for it, by the time you get there it will have seen you and jumped out of the way. Moose don't jump. Hit one and it will rip a car in two.
Can you imagine a council in England allowing you to paint your house lime green...I think not. After filing up with gas I put the camera away as I don't intend to take more photos for a while as it tends to slow me down to much. It's a decision I will later regret.
The main highways can be a tad tiresome and apart from the trees, death wish truck drivers and the miles and miles of moose fence there is little else to do only daydream. The strong wind that has picked up makes life a little more interesting though.
I'm heading toward an overhead intersection when about 200 yds in front of me from the nearside comes a black bear (it looked black to me ) followed by two cubs. They run across the highway and into the brush. Like a complete loon I drop anchor and come to a sudden stop on the shoulder right were she disappeared. Camera out. Only a complete berk would sit there hoping she'll pop out for a family photo. Tourists huh?
I know that there is a slipway the other side of the brush. I'm tempted to ride the wrong way up the shoulder but even I'm not that stoopid so I wait for the traffic and spin the bike around and ride back up the road about 50 yds. I pull over again and look up the slipway and there she is standing in the middle no more than 30 yds away.
Her right leg is off the floor and she is looking directly at me. Even though she's still thin after hibernation she has a head the size of me shed and looks bloody enormous to me. Out comes the camera and as I size her up a truck thunders by and scares her and she's away into the thick trees.
I go across and sit, in gear ready to go, like fish bait but she stays hidden for good. If the camera had been, as it has most of the trip, on the ram mount I would have snapped her no problem. Probably the one and only time I shall see bears in the wild and I missed it. Bugger...
11 morphs into 8 and the traffic gets much busier ( I forgot it was a Saturday) and with the real strong gusty wind that has now appeared its a grind over the Miramichi Bridge and onward to Shediac.
I arrive about 1830 and take a few quick snaps of the bay before I make my way to Rick and Karen's place.
It's been a long day but well worthwhile to be back with good people...and cold Corona!
Mileage today 341...and it felt a damn sight farther!
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