Vermont to Quebec City tour

[SLash]

Last month DH and I did a supported bike tour (Sojourn Bike Tours) from Burlington, VT to Quebec City. We rode 345 miles in 6 days.

I did a series of blog posts about the trip if you're interested.

Go to: http://susanlash.blogspot.com/

scroll down until you see "Vermont to Quebec City Bike Tour 2010" on the righthand side of the page. I did posts for each day, the final day of 85 miles I did in two posts - too much to cover/pictures, plus I might be longwinded. They're all there, plus a post on the Grand Prix Quebec Pro Tour race that we were able to stay and see.

It was a great trip, Quebec is an awesome place to ride. Incredibly bike friendly and scenic.

Susan

[LilBolt]

Thanks for posting the link to your blog, it was very timely! We just finished a Sojourn trip with Joshua in Sonoma. It was a fantastic trip, and we are hoping to do the Vermont to QC next year. Just trying to figure out if we should go in June or the end of August.

[tulip]

What a wonderful trip! One of my favorite places in the world.

[Crankin]

The best bike tour I have done was based out of Quebec City. I absolutely loved it, because we drove to the start, had our own bikes, and felt like I was in France, not 8 hours from home. The day we were supposed to ride from the ferry to the Frontenac, where we stayed for 2 nights was pouring out, so i skipped riding the cobbles up the 15% grade. It was pretty hard just to walk it, in my bike shoes.
It sounds like those hills were tough. And that race looked awesome.

[SLash]

Tulip, It is one of mine too now! Just beautiful, the scenery, people, culture, etc. Loved it all.

Crankin, Those two climbs outside of QC we walked up were 15% grade too and honest to god I think it was harder to walk than it would have been to ride (triple). They came at mile 70 and beyond, and after 300 miles my legs were undecided

The race was a blast and the days leading up to it were too seeing the guys out riding. I was glad it was a crit because we got lots of looks at the racers.

I agree, it's like going to Europe without the long flight. Even from here it's only 6 hours give or take. I can't wait to go back. Everytime I go anywhere in Canada, I return home humming "Oh Canada" and day dreaming about moving. Then I see my young grandson and granddaughter and realize I can't leave them.

So... we vacation. Going back to Vancouver Island in 2012 to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary (we married there).

Thanks for the comments guys.

Susan

[LilBolt]

Thanks Susan. I think I need to learn a bit of French! At least enough so I don't have the 'nature break' issue that you had. Your blog was a fun read.

Oh...and did you know that in Vancouver you can stay at the Oh Canada House B&B (http://www.ocanadahouse.com/)? Ewing Buchan wrote the English version of Oh Canada there in 1908. It is located in the west end of the city...great location for walking or riding around. We stayed there this August following the Seattle to Vancouver (RSVP) ride. We had the top floor, which was a bit warm since there is no air conditioning in the house, and it was the hottest weekend we had this summer, but we survived the nights to enjoy the good breakfast they serve.

[Thorn]

Hey SLash, we "just missed" you....we were on the Vermont to Quebec earlier in June ( http://www.cassandrathorn.com/Public...-to-Quebec.nws ). I think we would have traded some of your sun for our rain, but when you go on vacation you can't bribe Mother Nature -- she'll give you the weather she gives you.

Glad you got to see the race. The Cote de Montagne (my GPS sustained 21% on that one) is one tough hill -- would have been fun to watch the pros saunter up it. Of course, when I heard about the race and read the course, I pictured spending the day along the wall, sitting on top a cannon watching them go by.

Glad you enjoyed your trip..

[SLash]

Thanks Susan. I think I need to learn a bit of French! At least enough so I don't have the 'nature break' issue that you had. Your blog was a fun read.

Oh...and did you know that in Vancouver you can stay at the Oh Canada House B&B (http://www.ocanadahouse.com/)? Ewing Buchan wrote the English version of Oh Canada there in 1908. It is located in the west end of the city...great location for walking or riding around. We stayed there this August following the Seattle to Vancouver (RSVP) ride. We had the top floor, which was a bit warm since there is no air conditioning in the house, and it was the hottest weekend we had this summer, but we survived the nights to enjoy the good breakfast they serve.

Lilbolt, Good thinking on the French, always good to know how to say or understand in my case those key phrases - in the smaller towns/villages people that understood/spoke English were a rarity.

Thanks for the tip and info about the O' Canada House B & B!

[SLash]

LilBolt, that's cool, small world and all that! Joshua was great wasn't he!

Good pick on the VT to QC tour, you won't regret it. We went in August and had unseasonably hot temperatures. I actually had sun poisoning rash the first part of the tour and I'm used to the sun living in OK.

The temps are normally in the 60's that time and we had mid - upper 80's for 4 of the 6 days. Chances are that wouldn't happen again, at least not next year.

The other thing about August, we actually saw a little fall color, which I really liked. Either month will be good I'm sure.

If you have any questions about anything on any of my posts or about the trip in general, feel free to ask.

Susan