2026 JUNE - East Coast

 *Coddiwomple: “to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination."

Selfie on the Parcours des Antes - 

The first leg of our trip (most of June) was planned for visiting family and friends and riding bike trails we enjoy.  We also decided to travel slowly this trip.  To us that means we'll be staying a minimum of three nights in each place to allow us time to be tourists and to do regular stuff like shopping, laundry and relaxing.  It also means that we aren't piling on the kms each day, so many stops for longer times.

After Peterborough, we meandered down the road towards Ottawa.  We stopped to have a quick visit with our daughter Amie who along with her partner, Mitch, just purchased a farm property near Tweed.  We were able to have cofftea, donuts and a brief tour of the new abode.  Exciting.  They already have plans for an RV electric outlet.  Yay.  We hope to stop in on the way back and see what changes have happened!

The previous owner was into folk art and Christmas - big time.

On to Sleepy Cedars in Manotick Station just outside Ottawa.  This is a nice camp we have stayed at several times and there's a rail trail to Osgoode nearby. In past trips we discovered a nice cafe in Osgoode but we ran out of time to go back and enjoy their live entertainment.

Elizabeth's cousin Shirley.  Happy Birthday (92)

We were invited to celebrate my cousin Shirley's 92nd birthday.  We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Laura and Chris's home and a birthday pie - scrumptious rhubarb from their garden - pie, because Shirley doesn't like cake.  I think Shirley is an amazing and beautiful woman.  You would never know she is 92.

Laura is Shirleys youngest and she recently retired.  There was lots of chat and exchanging of news.  They were preparing to host the reception for their son's wedding at the end of June.  We were excited to tour Laura and Chris's new Alto trailer, made in Quebec.  What a super trailer.  Still has that "new" smell.  Happy camping in their futures!

The weather did not cooperate for our stay in Manotick Station and we didn't get to ride the trail to Osgoode.  Rain, humidity, rain, hot and more rain.

We did however visit the Gingerbread Man in Manotick.  It's a little store that specializes in various types of gingerbread and butter tarts.  Ginger loaf, gingerbread cookies and houses etc. They told us we could place our Christmas order for a house in September!

We welcomed Adrian and Erin at our campsite on Thursday.  Another delightful visit with family who live in Ottawa.

On our way to Maplewood Acres Park we stopped briefly at Glengarry Fine Cheeses for some delicious cheese, of course.  This campground is just up the road from our friends Cait and Jean Louis, who live near Les Cedres just south of Montreal.  (Previously, we stayed at a closer KOA which has since been turned into condos).  The last time we were in the area was about eight years ago. We noticed a lot of growth and plenty of changes.  

However, Cait and JL's place on the St.Lawrence was much the same.  They have a lovely place with the river in front and a canal behind them.  We had a great visit and lunch at their home, and two days later, they came for dinner at our site.  There was lots of laughing and commiserating with the challenges of getting older.

I said "Home" not "Gnome"

Ah....Home

Beside the canal behind their place is a paved multi-use trail that we've ridden parts of on previous visits.  This time we rode a portion we haven't been on before.

 

Dr. Who?  You never know what you will see/find along the way.

Along the canal 

Coteau-du-Lac National Historic Park - the site of one of the oldest lock canals in North America.

 Guarding against (Who?) 1812-14

The rapids that needed to be bypassed.

Our next campground was Domaine de Canton near Eastman, Quebec.  This place was interesting - they had a community of modular four season homes, a large section of seasonal residences and regular transient sites.  Lots of amenities including two pools and a hot tub - too bad it rained the entire time we were there.  There was a break on Saturday morning and Jerry discovered a little "farm" (petting zoo?) with pigs, chickens, goats, llamas, and ponies.  They all came out to play with the children from the park.

This guy just had a hair cut.  I think his barber got carried away just like
George who cut Elizabeth's hair just before we left.

This place is not far from Knowlton - Lac Brome where Louise Penny lives.  She is the Canadian author of the Three Pines/Armand Gamache novels which Elizabeth and I read.  I just started them in the last couple of years but Elizabeth is a long time fan.  Beneath the Brome Lake Bookstore is the new Cafe Three Pines, which just celebrated it's one year anniversary.  Of course we had to visit and enjoy a Gamache sandwich and a licorice pipe.  I've read that the cafe is supposed to reflect the bistro from Penny's novels but to me it isn't anything like I imagined the bistro in Three Pines.  The real cafe is lovely but it is bright and modern.

Three Pines Cafe - just like the bistro in the novels, there's a fireplace at each end.

Our lunch and Jerry bought some coffee beans

The new Three Pines sign.

When we first visited, the sign was a hand-painted plywood cut-out of three trees.

This painting of "Rosa" hangs outside the Brome Lake Bookstore
and above a bench dedicated to the memory of Louise Penny's late husband Michael.

It's a pretty town that we have visited before.

This time we found a "Fairy Trail" that displayed some very wonderful and creative birdhouses.

My scooter took me all around town and down this trail - it's great but more work for Jerry.  We also discovered an interesting bike path around the lake.  We may have to come back!

Our next stop was in Levis across the river from Quebec City.  It's another place we've stayed before - the Quebec City KOA.  Although we've been here previously we still fine new things to do.  Fortunately, we took advantage of a gap in the rain and cycled a beautiful trail along the St. Lawrence called the Parcours des  Anses.  It's a 15 km paved path through a linear park. We cycled through lovely gardens - lilacs and peonies galore - past the Levis ferry and took in some of the best views of Quebec City across the river.  What a spectacular ride.

The multi use trail across from Quebec City.  Amazing 15km paved

2-way with separate runner/walker path.

View of the falls outside Quebec City.

Jerry insisted that I didn't need to see the falls because we already saw them.

I dunno, can you see them?

These "benches" were found all along the trail.

Château Frontenac

In Riviere-du-Loup we (Elizabeth's research) found a crushed stone interprovincial rail trail that runs 132 km to New Brunswick!  Of course we only rode a portion of that but they really know how to cater to cyclists here.  We stopped for refreshments at a cafe on route and the trail has strategically placed (clean) washrooms along the way.  They even have volunteers patrolling for your safety.

It seems that rail trails are the best kept secrets.  Finding where they are, how rideable they are, where to access them, where to park etc. can sometimes take hours.  Most tourist centres are not open anymore so there's no-one to ask (that's a mistake).  It takes a bit of research to sort it out. Internet information is lacking clarity as well.  In addition many maps are in French - so it takes some time to decipher (Google Translate app is great).

132km interprovincial rail trail

Across the St. Lawrence from our camp site

Our biggest challenge has been the weather this last couple of weeks where we are experiencing so much rain and cool temperatures.  It changes from sun and sweat to "old man" clothes weather...what we call it when I wear my sweat suit.

The campground called Camping du Quai - camping by the dock - is close to the ferry across the St. Lawrence.  It's not much of a place, the sites are too close together.  Our one neighbour couldn't extend their awning without hitting us.  They advertise a pool - I think it's more of a large bathtub.  The water was quite warm and the deepest part was about 4 feet.  The hot tub was luke warm and cloudy.  They won't get a good review from us.

Across the rode is the Noel au Chateau.  It wasn't open until Saturday the day we left.  Jerry kept asking if I wanted to visit ... right up to the moment we pulled out of the campground.

Well that's all for now.  We sure hope the weather improves for our time in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.  By the way...can you tell that some sections are written by Jerry and others by Elizabeth?  What a team.

So long for now.

Take care all.

Love from,

Jerry, Elizabeth, Mia, the Guys,

Miss Adventure Too and Clifford the Big Red Truck