Quebec in a Day

Is the bloom off the rose already?

I noticed this morning that we didn't take one, count 'em, photo of each other yesterday. Lots of pictures of scenery taken out the windows of the Jeep. Lots of blurry photos of scenery.

Then I realized why – we didn't stop yesterday. Just for pee breaks, mainly. Oh, and a whole 15 minutes at a Subway halfway through Quebec. We spent 12 long hours on the road yesterday, from Cornwall, Ontario, all the way to Fredericton, New Brunswick. 

Talk about road ass, we had it.

We rented a room at the Best Western because it had an indoor pool and a saltwater hot tub but we were so darned tired by that time that we just went to bed. And immediately fell asleep. (Couple of romantic honeymooners we are, eh?)

Yesterday did have its moments, though.

First off, the entire province of Quebec stunk. I mean, stunk as in nostril offensiveness. All along the St. Lawrence valley all we could smell was manure. Yes, we knew Quebec is famous for its cheese but are that many cows really necessary? And do they all have to shit so much? Isn't there a plug, people? Maybe some bovine-strength Imodium?

Speaking of stink, the best thing about traveling through Quebec are the roadside rest areas. These things are amazing – clean washrooms, coffee kiosks, picnic tables in shady nooks – all this every few kilometres. Ontario has nothing like this. In Ontario, if you have to pee, you have to pull over to a bush and hope the cops aren't looking.

Montreal was insane, just as insane as we thought it would be. But we made it through unscathed. There was one Bonnie & Clyde moment where I was screaming, "GO NOW! NOW!" And Dave was wheeling the Jeep across three lanes of roiling Montreal traffic, everyone screeching, "Sacre bleu! Go back to Ontario, you crazy English!"

But it was in Fredericton that we had our first fight as a married couple. We were looking for The Diplomat, a Chinese buffet restaurant that apparently is an institution in this city. It was late. It was dark. We were hungry and exhausted and we got lost. One thing led to another and I was telling my beloved new husband to shut up. I'm cringing just thinking about it. We kissed and made up and everything but I do feel bad. Poor, lovely, perfect Dave. Bad me. 

Oh! The funniest thing happened yesterday. We pulled into a Tim Horton's somewhere near Grand Falls and we went in for a cuppa joe and we looked at the time and it was 5 o'clock. 

"Five already?" I said to Dave. "I didn't think it was that late."

"Either did I," said Dave.

Turns out we had crossed over a time zone and didn't even realize it. There was no sign saying, "Turn your clocks ahead, dummy!" 

Suggestion: we need signs that say, "Turn your clocks ahead, dummy!"

Tonight we hope to get to North Sydney on Cape Breton Island. Tomorrow is the ferry to Newfoundland. 

So excited!

This was a wicked bridge going over the St. Lawrence in Montreal.

Same bridge, different angle.

The fall colours are better in Eastern Quebec, especially
with the Laurentian mountains in the background.

The washrooms in Quebec. Visited quite a few.

This was a big hill in New Brunswick.
Look how little the traffic looks in comparison.

You know what's weird? A city bus coming towards you
on YOUR side of the road during rush hour traffic
in Montreal. They actually close down certain lanes for
buses only during the busiest times of the day. Smart!