GT500
07-15-2004, 01:02 PM
My wife and I went on a 3-day tour in the Eastern Townships region of Quebec...she followed me through the potholes on her Burgman 400. Both bikes performed very well throughout the trip. I was testing out my full touring configuration for the first time...Cee Bailey windscreen and Givi top and side cases. No worries on that score.
From Ottawa, we went cross-country east to Alexandria, where we met by coincidence a sister and brother-in-law from Toronto with their kids at the local Tim Horton's. Canadians will appreciate the humour in this...I should write this into Timmy's HQ and maybe get a lifetime supply of coffee and doughnuts and a TV commercial!
From Alexandria, we went south to #2 and then east into Quebec. And then, we were faced with the dreaded roads of La Belle Province!
Over three days, we took the:
- 338 east into Valleyfield
- 201 south to Maritana
- 202 and 104 to Knowlton
- same route back to Valleyfield, but stayed on the 201 into Rigaud
- 325 south, and then back west to Ottawa through Alexandria.
We stayed at a B&B named "Sous les ailes de Lyne" in Venice-en-Quebec, (northern tip of Lake Champlain), the Lakeview Inn in Knowlton, and the Auberge des Gallants in Ste-Marthe (Rigaud).
The highlights included the scenery, accommodations, food and hospitality of les Quebecois. You can't beat these folks - they really know how to live (and eat, and drink, and eat...)! :lol:
The lowlights were the asbysmal roads. Thank goodness for a bike like the 'Strom! Most of my time was spent picking a path through the potholes, road snakes, and bumps that festoon these glorified dirt tracks. Unfortunately, that meant that I spent less time admiring the beautiful scenery, and more time trying to stay upright! And all of the roads that I chose are considered major secondary highways! Would you believe...the 325 had grass growing in the cracks on the road! :D
So, if anyone is planning on a trip into southern Quebec, plan on going for the food and drink. It's great value, and it really is a trip to another culture. But if you're looking for well-kept roads, you're better off somewhere else.
From Ottawa, we went cross-country east to Alexandria, where we met by coincidence a sister and brother-in-law from Toronto with their kids at the local Tim Horton's. Canadians will appreciate the humour in this...I should write this into Timmy's HQ and maybe get a lifetime supply of coffee and doughnuts and a TV commercial!
From Alexandria, we went south to #2 and then east into Quebec. And then, we were faced with the dreaded roads of La Belle Province!
Over three days, we took the:
- 338 east into Valleyfield
- 201 south to Maritana
- 202 and 104 to Knowlton
- same route back to Valleyfield, but stayed on the 201 into Rigaud
- 325 south, and then back west to Ottawa through Alexandria.
We stayed at a B&B named "Sous les ailes de Lyne" in Venice-en-Quebec, (northern tip of Lake Champlain), the Lakeview Inn in Knowlton, and the Auberge des Gallants in Ste-Marthe (Rigaud).
The highlights included the scenery, accommodations, food and hospitality of les Quebecois. You can't beat these folks - they really know how to live (and eat, and drink, and eat...)! :lol:
The lowlights were the asbysmal roads. Thank goodness for a bike like the 'Strom! Most of my time was spent picking a path through the potholes, road snakes, and bumps that festoon these glorified dirt tracks. Unfortunately, that meant that I spent less time admiring the beautiful scenery, and more time trying to stay upright! And all of the roads that I chose are considered major secondary highways! Would you believe...the 325 had grass growing in the cracks on the road! :D
So, if anyone is planning on a trip into southern Quebec, plan on going for the food and drink. It's great value, and it really is a trip to another culture. But if you're looking for well-kept roads, you're better off somewhere else.