| Trip Plan: Day 10: May 28 |
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Roger Kenner
Montreal, Qc,
Canada 2008
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| Trip Plan: Day 10: May 28 |
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| Berthierville to Lavaltrie |
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| Road Map |
I was on my way at 07:50. It was a hazy morning and the day promised to be a hot one. I saw the stacks of the factories in across the river in Sorel, silhouetted in the haze. Highway 138 leaving Berthierville ran right alongside the river. I came upon the spot where I had stopped and climbed down to the riverbank in 1990, the time when I had seen the storm front advancing from upriver.
| Berthierville: Morning Mist along River |
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| Berthierville: Sorel Factories in the Haze |
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| Berthierville: Sorel Factories in the Haze |
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| Along Route 132: Approaching the Powerplant at Tracy |
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I reached the Lanoraie town line at 08:23. For long stretches, the highway continued right along the misty and calm waters of the river. I looked out for the spot where I had stopped in 1990, while cycling in the opposite direction, and descended to the rocky beach. I passed by the big thermoelectric plant at Tracy, on the far shore, by which I had cycled in 2003.
The morning mist was finally lifting from the rive. I heard the low thump-thump that I had learned the previous year to associate with the river's freighter. Though I could not yet see the ship, it would be my companion for some time, as it was only ascending the river slightly faster than I. It was only after about 30 minutes that I finally saw the ship.
| Welcome to Lanoraie |
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| Along Route 132: Across from the Powerplant at Tracy |
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| Along Route 132: Road Along the River |
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| Along Route 132: Road Along the River - Near 1990 Stop |
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| Along Route 132: Shoreline Near 1990 Stop |
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Excerpt from Account of 1990 Bike Ride:
...stopping for a break at 2:00, not too far before Berthierville. I had come upon a nice stretch of rocky beach, just below the embankment from the highway. I propped my bike and load up against a sign (For I could not lay it down.) and climbed down to the river's edge, where I had a candy bar and an orange juice from my basket. I stood and watched the boats go by, and got into the quiet and peaceful river mood for about 20 minutes. The view upriver seemed to vanish into a haze (the full signifcance of which had not yet dawned on me - but would quite soon.)
It was 09:00 when I reached the town centre of Lanoraie. I had been riding for about an hour, not counting breaks for photos and had covered 10km. I descended down to the town pier and have a look up and down river. Just downriver, on the far side, I could still make out in the mist the massive hulk of the thermoelectric plant at Tracy. As I took my break, The ship I had been hearing finally passed by, climbing upriver.
| Lanoriae: Shoreline from Town Quai |
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| Lanoriae: Shoreline View Eastward |
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| Lanoriae: Shoreline View Westward |
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| Lanoriae: Passing Ship |
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| Lanoriae from Across the River |
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After Lanoraie, the road reverted to its quiet country status, as it continued to wend alongside the river's edge. I reached the Lavaltrie town line at 09:35.
| Welcome to Lavaltrie |
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Ten minutes later, I reached the centre of town, at 09:45. The church which marked the town centre overlooked a vast plain stretching down below the road and out to the river. The parking lot was full, as many were attending church.
| Lavaltrie: Church |
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| Lavaltrie: Shoreline Park in front of Church |
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| Near Lavaltrie: Factories of Contrecoeur on South Shore |
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| Contrecoeur Smelter (2003) | |
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Upon riding out of town, on the west side of Lavaltrie, I would encountered the first few blocks of suburban development, but then the road reverted to its country status, with the river on one side and the open farmers' fields on the other.
| Lavaltrie to Montreal |
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| Road Map |
I was at the Saint-Sulpice line at 10:12. Soon after the road curved around a bend and I had an unobstructed view upriver. I could see the distant steeple, along the open shoreline, which marked the centre of the town ahead. Far off, I could just make out the big power lines that crossed the river into east end Montreal. Had it been a clear day, I might very well have been able to see all the way to the buildings of downtown and the mountain.
| Welcome to Saint-Sulpice |
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| Near Saint-Sulpice: Pick Your Own along River |
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| Near Saint-Sulpice: The Far Shore |
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| Near Saint-Sulpice: Along Route 138 by the River |
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| Approaching Saint-Sulpice |
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| Saint-Sulpice: Approaching the Church |
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| Saint-Sulpice: View Downriver towards Montreal |
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| (Distant Powerlines visible through binoculars, and if one looks very closely) |
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| From Saint-Sulpice: The South Shore Verchères Viewed across Les Iles de Verchères |
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I reached the church of Saint-Sulpice at 10:35. At this point, I was about even with the town of Verchères on the South Shore. I could clearly see the church steeple across the flat Iles de Verchères. A little later, at 11:00, I could just make out the buildings of distant Montreal through the haze.
I crossed the Repentigny line at 11:05. At that point, the road had left the riverside. The built-up area of town began almost immediately. What followed was a long, long ride through the town of Repentigny. It seemed like the town would never stop. The country road had become an urban boulevard. To my left was the river, just behind the thin line of businesses. To my right was a vibrant suburb, with lots of activity. I passed the old Dunkin' Donuts where I had stopped in 1990. It was closed now, and soon to vanish.
| Welcome to Repentigny |
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| Repentigny Map |
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| Repentigny Street Map |
| Repentigny: The Dunkin' Donuts of 1990 Fame |
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Excerpt from Account of 1990 Bike Ride:
By the time I stopped at a the Dunkin' Donuts in Repentigny, I had already gone further east than I had ever been by bicycle. On my way over the bridge on the narrow sidewalk, I had hit the railing with my bundle, which had then come off centre and was making control of the heavy bike even more difficult. I had ridden through much of the town before the rain and my hunger began to get to me. The hot soup and coffee refreshed my spirits and I dried out a bit. I went back outside to where my bike was strategically leaned, for I had learned that parking such a heavy rig was an art. I re-packed the bike bundle, so it would not be off centre. I tightened the two nuts holding the rear carrier assembly off of the rear brake cables. This mechanism had never been designed for such a load, and this interference with the break cables was to be a constant headache. I went into the nearlby depanneur to buy some food supplies and liquids: Quaker granola bars and bottles of orange juice and Gatorade. It was 11:30 before I finally got on my way out of Repentigny.
When I began to feel near the end of my rope, I saw signs of the bridge ahead. I dropped into my tried and true Repentigny stop at Harvey's at 11:55. I had a burger, fries and a coke. It came with a free candy bar, but I knew my broken tooth would not be able to handle the sweets. Unbelievably, it was hard to give the candy bar away; no one trusted me.
My luncheon stop lasted 25 minutes, and ended with my checking in with Sheryl to give her an update: I estimated my arrival time to be 15:00, but it would turn out to be closer to 16:00.
Harvey's in Repentigny: Hamburger
| Repentigny: The Harvey's at the Bridge |
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| Montreal: Bout de l'Ile | |
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| City of Montreal Borough Map | |
| Pont Le Gardeur |
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| Bout de l'Ile |
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| Panorama Eastward from Pont le Gardeur | |
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| [See Original Photo] | [See Original Photo] |
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| Montreal: Sherbrooke East: Dairy Queen |
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| Montreal: Sherbrooke East |
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At 12:50, I passed by de la Rousselière and then a modern, complex interchange at which Boulevard Henri-Bourassa took off to the north. A short while later I passed by the top of end of a big green field underneath the massive East End power lines. I passed Boulevard du Tri-Centenaire and, 13:05, I passed Boulevard Jean-Baptiste and was near Montreal East.
| Montreal: Montreal East | |
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| City of Montreal Borough Map | |
At the Montreal East line, Sherbrooke reverted to its former two-laned status, if not its former traffic load. The pavement was all old and beaten up as the myriad cars and trucks tried to force their way through the tiny road. There were massive industrial complexes on both sides: Refineries and quarries. I passed the Carrière LaForge and remembered that the train had passed by the same quarry on the north side ten days earlier.
I made a stop at the Carrière LaForge from 13:30 t0 13:40. It made quite an impressive photo subject, especially the old-time stone buildings on the south side. The quarry was set off from Sherbrooke Street by an earthen berm, which had been groomed with trees and green grass to appear almost as park land. Upon leaving the area, I crossed Georges V, which marked the westernmost extent of Montreal East.
| Montreal East: Crossing on Route 132 (Sherbrooke) |
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| Montreal East: Factory Landscape |
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| Montreal East: Refinery |
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| Montreal East: Quarry |
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| Montreal East: Quarry |
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| Montreal East: Quarry |
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| Montreal East: Quarry Building |
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| Montreal East, Western Boundary: Avenue Georges V |
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| Montreal: Maisonneuve | |
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| City of Montreal Borough Map | |
Upon leaving Montreal-East, Sherbrooke returned at once to its wide, six-land, concrete-median divided self. At 13:45, I passed the Honoré Beaugrand Metro, the eastern terminus of the subway. Soon I was riding over Hwy 25 and past the Place Versialles Shopping Centre. I never knew that a huge cemetery stretched for several blocks, just one block north of Sherbrooke and east of Place Versailles. Such was the difference in travelling by bicycle; one noticed these things.
At 14:00, I was even with the Cadillac Metro station. I soon passed the giant pyramids of the Olympic Village. I passed the original Orange Julep on Sherbrooke East. Along the park across from the Olympic Stadium was a bike path, which provided a welcome respite from the six-lane traffic. Just west of Pie IX, I passed Collège DeMaisonneuve.
| Sherbrooke East at Honoré Beaugrand |
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| Sherbrooke East: Crossing Hwy 25 |
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| Sherbrooke East: Approaching the Olympic Stadium |
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| Sherbrooke East: The Olympic Village |
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| Sherbrooke East: The Olympic Village | |
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| Sherbrooke East: Bike Trail past the Olympic Stadium |  |
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| Sherbrooke East: Collège DeMaisonneuve |
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| Sherbrooke East: Orange Julep |
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| Montreal: Hochelaga/Maisonneuve | |
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| City of Montreal Borough Map | |
| Montreal: Hochelaga/Maisonneuve to Downtown | |
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| City of Montreal Borough Map | |
I came to the overpass of the CP tracks, which offered a brilliant, sun-lit vista of the lower town of the Hochelaga-Maisonneuve district.
| Sherbrooke East: CP Lines Looking North |
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| Sherbrooke East: CP Lines Looking South |
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| Sherbrooke East: Looking South at Amherst towards Clock Tower |
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Sheryl called me at 14:45, just as I was at the western end of Lafontaine Park, and just east of downtown. She asked me now much longer I would be and was surprised when I told her more than an hour.
| Sherbrooke East: Looking South at Berri |
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| Montreal: Across Downtown | |
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| City of Montreal Borough Map | |
At 15:00, I crossed Park Avenue and continued through downtown along Sherbrooke.
| Sherbrooke West at Guy |
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| Montreal: From Downtown to Home | |
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| City of Montreal Borough Map | |
When I came home to the fork between Saint-Antoine and Sherbrooke, I took my usual route home from work. It was a tough climb up the hill with all my gear, and I had to make a stop at the top of the hill to get my breath. After the hefty climb, it was a breeze coming down the far side of the hill into Notre-Dame-de-Grace. On a whim, I decided to ride on up the street before mine, Hingston, so as to correctly follow the traffic flow rather ride the wrong way up my own street. I ran into my former colleague Hoang, who was working out front of his house, and stopped for a few moments to chat with him. I do not think he comprehended the scope of the ride I was returning from.
I came on around the block and was greeted by Sheryl and Paula, who were outside waiting for me. Sheryl had covered our garage door with balloons as a welcome. I love her so much!
| Homecoming |
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| Montreal: Coming Home |
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| Homecoming |
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| Montreal: Coming Home |
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| Homecoming | |
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| Montreal: Coming Home |
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| Homecoming |
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| Montreal: Homecoming Hugs |
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| Montreal: Homecoming Hugs |
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| Montreal: Homecoming Hugs |
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| Montreal: Homecoming Hugs |
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After the hellos and hugs and kisses, which including a re-staged photo-op, as I rode back down the street, I carefullunpacked and stowed my gear in the garage and then went inside for a well-earned bath.
I felt a great sense of accomplishment at having succeeded in my endeavor, and I thanked God for his help, protection and guidance!
Sheryl greeted me afterwards again, on the back terrace, with a scrumptious welcome-home supper.
I got up early the next morning and biked over to my dentist, Dr. Retter, who was kind enough to fit me in without appointment. He fixed the filling in my tooth (which had broken at the MacDonald's at Yamachiche). I biked to Costco, along the Lachine Canal, the same day, to drop off my photos for development.
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![[See Original Photo]](./Pics/Vdt05a_10_31.jpg){kind=link}