On the Way to Quebec, May 30

The day finally came: time to strap the bike on the back of the smart car, fill the back with bags, and head off to Union Station. Barry and I, with Nancy, had decided some time ago to reprise our trio this time in Quebec. We had worked ut a possible route around the Saguenay and Lac St-Jean, and Barry and Nancy had left the West to drive across the country and meet me in Montreal. And this time Darlene would come and meet us as well for a few days over our anniversary.

So the luggage went in the car, the bike on the back, and I drove to Toronto, arriving about an hour before the train. Parked illegally in a construction place, and got the bike and gear into the station. After some fooling around with getting the ticket and so on, we got the things checked, and Darlene took the car and went off home.

I was on my way, sitting beside a man about my age, and we started a talk which took us most of the way to Montreal. I learned about his wife who had died, his new girlfriend, how he lives now with a friend (male) who does all the cooking, and how he works for the Recycling Depot in Toronto. All very interesting, and it took most of the time for the trip. So my great plans to read and work with my new iPad didn't materialize.

We got to Dorval, and many of the 400 people on the train got off, so the platform was full. But Barry and I found each other, embraced, and went to find my stuff. It appeared to all be there, and I found Nancy as I was getting it together, so another embrace.

Soon we were packed into the Lexus and on our way across the top of Montreal, on Highway 40, getting caught in the Sunday evening traffic. But then we were through it and on our way to the South shore and St-Antoine de Tilly. We crossed a long bridge over the St Lawrence at Trois-Rivières, then onto the Trans-Canada for the short ride to our night's home.

One of the interesting things we found was the amount of smoke in the air. The sky was as dark at 7:30 as we usually see at 9:30. And our eyes were irritated. The fires were some distance away, but obviously the smoke drifted to a close point.

It was great to get to the Maison Normand, be welcomed and shown to our respective rooms, and settle in for the night. I slept wonderfully.