Bombardier

Headed north to Quebec City.  It is simply called "Quebec" by the province and locals, like Montreal or Toronto,  They are not called Montreal City or Toronto City.... Took a while to figure this out..

Stopped for gas and saw signs to the Bombardier Museum. After a little deliberation, a detour was decided. Had no idea that BRP was started in a small town called Valcourt. New museum, opened this year, quite cool and interactive. We have been noticing alot of Can-Am Spyders (trike) being ridden in this area. As we rolled into town, there were thousands of crates at a warehouse facility. Immediately became apparent that they are manufactured in this small town. So cool! But, as a motorcycle purest, I still wouldn't own one.

J. Armand Bombardier's first shop

Entrance to the Museum

B-12 snowmobile

Concept Spyder

Later version of the Spyder

Note these were hanging on a wall so the pics were hard to take

Clay model concept

They built the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Torch

Traveling back to the highway, another cover bridge. (still in use)

Driving into Quebec (city)

Route Des Sommets (The Summit Drive)

Rode the summit route out to Lac Maganitic, where the train rolled down the hill and blew up destroying the town centre, 3 years ago...  The town is rebuilding now.  Many new shops, but the area with the contaminated soil from the oil cars is just beginning to be restored.

The roads out and back had some beautiful views and vistas and found another covered bridge. Stopped at a brew pub, but it was closed so rode to another in the train/bus station on Wellington and had a flight of beer (6 4oz tasters) were good but started to shower. 

In the town of Cookshire-Eaton

Les amis de la route des vins (the wine route)

Just west of where we are camped is one of Quebec's wine regions, so we had to go check them out.  In a round about tour, we toured through higher lands and past a ski hill (Mont Brome) and village. Very affluent area. We arrived to the first winery and the people were friendly and very informative.  The wine was tasty but different from what we expected, was excellent none the less.

Needed lunch before more wine, went down the hill to Lac Brome and stopped at a small marina and ate at their little grille/ restaurant. Lots of people doing the same, Apparently we stumbled on a local hot spot. 

Back up the hill to another winery. Family ran, the owner's young daughter served us and she was so sweet, as was the wine. Wine was named after the children. Her name is Vanessa and her named wine is "Nessa". Wonderful Rose', as she was.

With the threat of rain, decided to head back to the campground. Talked to a nice couple camped beside us. He had no english, but Michelle had high school english. We all laughed alot trying to communicate.

Chemin Des Cantons (The Townships Trail)

Destination ICE-CREAM! We were told that the dairy in Coaticook has the best ice-cream around,  so by 10:30 am ice-cream was in mouth.

Then a drive by their "Gorge" with another covered bridge and back through town. Has a brewery also but, too early to start that.

Check out the lantern light standard

Lac Lyster, Mont Pinacle in the background 

Then down the roads, over some hills and a couple of gravel road. Yes on the bike. These gravel roads were excellent.. Hard packed and smooth, better than the paved roads with cracks across them. Found Georgeville... Liked the name because of our grandson.

For our Grandson

I like old tractors, this one is well used

Cool wheels

Saw a large majestic building across the lake so had to go into Magog and around to the west side of the lake. Found the Abbaye,  Saint-Benoit-du-lac. Founded in 1912, this Abbey has been upgraded and 1994 the church was built. Fabulous architecture merges old tradition with new technology.

Take a moment to expand the pictures and view the structure. Fabulous!

Sappy Day

Skies threatening in the morning with the odd sprinkle so we spent the morning catching up on things. Ventured out into Sherbrooke and no sooner than getting gas and the skies opened up. Saw a church with a covered entrance, bee lined it for cover. Paster waved us in. Chatted with him until the rain shower past and low and behold, he was stationed in Chilliwack with the military in the 70s.

Skies brightened so we went to purchase Maple Syrup from a local farmer in Fitch Bay. Christine's grandparents lived in Fitch Bay. Gorgeous countryside, rolling hills, speckled with small dairy farms of about 100-300 head, beautiful lakes, good pavement, just down right nice riding.

Found the farm Christine had wanted the syrup from and the farmer allowed us to drive through the fields to view the sugar shack area. Then back to the farm house to purchase. Very cool!

Suger Shack and clarifier building

hoses between the trees that you read about

Tree with tap taken out, only tapped in the early spring

Clarifier that renders sap down to make Maple syrup

A case in the trunk

View from near sugar shack

Lac Lovering

More riding, more sights, gorgeous area, we rode down to the border and onto a rode that is half in Vermont and half in Canada, called Rue Canusa. Go figure. USA houses had driveways onto this road. The town looks very casual and quaint.

Famous house with a "witch weather vane

Closer look reveals a crow on chimney. How fitting

I liked the pic

Covered bridge at the narrows of Fitch Bay

 and Lac Memphremagog

To Magog

With every great visit, there is always goodbye. We packed up this morning and Randy gave me his Maritine's trip itinerary as Randy, Vivian, Danny are meeting up with his brothers in 3 weeks and motorcycling Nova Scotia, PEI and the Gaspe'.  We are hoping to meet up with them and ride together for a day or 2.

Lots of fun, great people, we will miss them until we meet again. Many thanks for all of their hospitality.

Headed east to Magog, Quebec. Just below Montreal, the sky opened up on us reducing our visibility so much, 50kph with the flashers on was our top speed. Lucky we were in the truck and not on the bike.  After that, clear sailing. Arrived at our destination about 4pm with threatening skies. We are hunkered down for now with rain falling. 

Another great ride.

After Vivian got home from babysitting, we saddled for another wonderful motorcycle tour by Randy.
Took us through Ottawa and across into Quebec. Up a nice road to Wakefield to see this picturesque little town and a restored covered bridge across the Gatineau River.

Another ferry ride across the Ottawa River

Down some more roads in search of poutine. Place was closed so we headed for home. Arrived back to their place,  had a beer because it was very warm and we were thirsty. Danny and Karen came over, (they were thirsty too) and Jerry and Debra Potter showed up also, because, you guessed it, they were thirsty also. Turns out Jerry worked with Bob, (Vivian's brother) years ago.

Walked to a local pub for dinner.