Canadian Maritimes Travel

Day 25-26 (June 11-12, 2009)

Today we will visit Vieux Quebec City. Our RV park is on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River only about 20 minutes from Levis, where a ferry crosses directly to the old city. Rather than take the RV into the city, we left it in a parking lot near the ferry. The day was cool so we were comfortable leaving the dogs in it for 4-5 hours while we visited the city. Boarding the ferry which runs every 30 minutes with both autos and foot passengers, we were across the swiftly flowing river in 15 minutes. There are two ferries that cross from alternate sides simultaneously. The ferries and facilities were clean and in good condition. The view of the city is dominated, of course, by Chateau Frontenac, one of several 'chateau style' hotels built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Vieux Quebec on the lower level is very beautiful and fully restored to the 1600s period with stone buildings and streets. This is a tourist and photographer's mecca with a photo, no... a dozen, around every corner. We strolled around the lower part before taking the funicular up to the city proper.

By the time we arrived at the top the wethaer was clearing from an overcast beginning of the day. We opted for a meal dining outside at one of the many restaurants near the statue of Samuel de Champlain ( the discoverer of the city and also Vermont's famous Lake Champlain celebrating the 400th anniversary of 'our' discovery this year) which dominates the area overlooking the river.

Our meal at Le Pain Beni was much better than we expected in a 'tourist' restaurant and fairly priced for the excellent quality and good service. Carol had veal and I opted for the pork. Both were delicious and the sugar pie for dessert was also excellent The French do know how to cook and their sauces are superb.

Back down the funicular, across the ferry and as always, the 'dales were very pleased to see us. Returning to the quite nice RV Park (Transit) just off Rte. 20, we settled in and watched TV and checked email.

During the night a soaking rain made the dogs walk a bit messy, but they seem to care less...as long as we wipe them down upon entering the RV so they don't shake! After breakfast we headed for the Route de la Nouvelle France, the oldest road in Quebec with several generations of homes dating form the 1600s and at the outer end, away from the city, remain some working farms.

Next we headed south searching for Chemin du Roy, the highway built suitable for vehicles between Montreal and Quebec. It varies from a little more than a one lane section (which we inadvertently found in the RV) and variously follows Rte. 138 along the north shore of the river.

We have a French-Italian friend in Burlington, Denyse, who has a summer home on the river in Batiscan, along the Chemin du Roy. After calling her in Burlington, we found it and have photographs to prove it. She had called ahead and arranged for the flags (Canadian, American, Italian and Quebec's )to be flying when we arrived . As luck would have it, a cargo ship was passing downriver shortly after arriving, so I photographed that, too. Her neighbor came to visit us and we had a nice chat. They are also RVers and had been in the American Southwest last summer.

Since it was only 3:00 pm, we decided to return home and returned uneventfully via Trois Rivieres, Drummondville via Rte 55 and Rte 20 to Rte 133 along the Richlieu River (some very beautiful spots on Rte 133). We arrived home at about 7:15 pm and everything was quite lush. Obviously, Colchester had a plenty of rain.

Three things we did not see in our 4,060 mile journey a moose, a deer, or an auto accident (very unusual not to see an accident with all that time on the road). It was a wonderful trip and neither we or the 'dales are any the worse for wear. I'd recommend all of the trip, although road surfaces on some highways particularly in New Brunswick were in very poor shape with more patches and potholes than pavement!

And we had our fill of lobster and seafood!!