To Saint-Félicien, June 4

We hadn't intended to go so far. I thought we might do 70-80 km, and was set for this. But we got as far as Saint-Félicien, 106 km all told. And therein, as they say, lies the tale.

We started off with all three of us cycling, and Darlene staying to drive and meet us later. The trail at first was along the highway. And even though there was a five-foot-wide paved shoulder alongside the road, there was a frisson each time a large truck went by us. So we were not unhappy when we got off the Route, following the trails laid out, and went on dedicated bike routes. Some of these were on secondary, and very quiet, roads. We stopped in Ste-Jeanne d'Arc,

a small town with a wonderful rapids and an old mill in place. Took some pictures, then on, taking the trial through a Provincial Forest and then back to the highway, where we met up with Darlene. She warned us that the upcoming town of Mistassini was pretty dreadful: sort of like Cornwall. Nancy decided to ride, and Barry and I rode. Fortunately, the ride was along a path which went down by the river, a much more pleasant route than the main road. We got through town with little problem, then met with the women for a fine picnic lunch.

Darlene had wondered about stopping in Normandin, but she had done her research, and thought there would be more pleasant surroundings in Saint-Félicien. So we decided to go that far.

Which would not have been a problem except for the winds. Coming out of the West, they were pretty much in our face. While the road was flat, the wind made our progress slow and difficult. We rode the 20-odd kilometres to Normandin, and decided that we would not go further unless the road turned and put the wind more behind us. Fortunately this happened, so the final 26 km. were much

easier. Barry and I phoned the ladies, discovered they had found a proper Gîte along the main road, and were stuck in traffic on the one bridge across the river. We got to the Gîte before they did, and when they arrived, they regaled us with stories of the man directing traffic on the bridge, doing so in a balletic way which aroused, I dare say, a certain attraction for the women. But they managed to forego this attraction long enough for us to get established in our accommodation, and to get the sweaty men showered and ready for the evening. We managed to go through a bottle of nice red wine, then went to dinner at a local, and not very good, restaurant.

And then to bed, tired, and feeling ready for a resting day.

The total ride today was 106 km.