Quebec 3

We went to the Quebec Convention Center to pick up my number for Sunday’s race and spent the rest of the day driving the route and resting.

Saturday, being a rest day before the run, we went back into Quebec and did a couple of non-stressful items on our to do list.  First we visited the Parc des Champs-de-Bataille (Battlefields Park) and searched out the St. Joan of Arc statue.  We parked in a ten minute zone and made a brisk quarter-mile walk to see the statue, then made it back before we got towed or ticketed.  The park surrounding the statue was in full bloom and there was an artist event going on.

 

Next, while driving through Quebec, we spotted a street event going on so we parked, five blocks down the road and made our way back.  There was a French singer performing at an open-air restaurant, singing opera type music.  He was very good and the crowd was appreciative. A waitress was passing out free mini glasses of champagne and the crowd was appreciative.  We were in a pure French neighborhood, and met virtually no one who spoke English.

Cathy spotted a French bakery and I spotted a running shop.  After the performance, she went to the bakery and I went to the running shop. She bought and I just looked.

We walked down this street between the truck and the street event.  It was a couple of blocks of French restaurant after French restaurant, on both sides of the street.  If we had the time, we may have stopped, but Cathy had some purchases from the bakery.

 

We drove east of Quebec to the Parc De La Chute-Montmorency (Montmorency Falls Provincial Park).  We spent some time walking around these falls and watching the gondolas make their way up and down the mountain.  There was an observation point, accessable by gondola to the left of the falls, and a long staircase leading up the cliff to the right of the falls.  You could climb the stairs on the left, walk across the bridge at the top and come down the gondola, making for a good round trip.  We went off-trail and scrambled down to the riverbank and took this shot.  It was much cheaper!

Here are the gondolas passing at the midway point.  You can see the observation platform to the right of the landing area.

We walked down the railroad tracks a bit, met a couple of locals who had too many beers and found this small water cascade.  The locals showed Cathy a nickel they had found on the tracks, crushed by the train and seemed pretty excited to have found it!

On the way out of the park, I spotted this guy coming out of the brush.  In the second photo, he is eating part of an energy bar.  Don’t know where he found it but he was sure happy to have it.

We headed for Ile d’Orleans, situated in the middle of the St. Lawrence river, a few miles east of Quebec.  There is a two-lane road going around the island and it was recommended to us by a local we met in the city.  There were incredible houses dotting the island, a few wineries, a couple of cheese factories, many restaurants, b&b/inns, and parks/viewpoints and historical monuments along the road. Cathy wanted some cheese so we stopped at Le Paillasson de Isle de Orleans, which had won many Canadian Cheese Awards in 2016.  The helpers here were dressed in period attire and the place was very busy.  We did pick up some local fromage (cheese) of the white cheddar variety.

Next stop was the Vignoble du Mitan winery where I picked up a bottle of their “La Barrique”, a dry, white wine.  They had multiple award winners for sale including a nice Cabernet.  The building behind me dates from the 1700s,

You can see the waterfalls we visited earlier in the day, from the vineyards.  I also took a shot of the road leading back down the hill, with a view of part of the St. Lawrence river.

Thia ia thw church St. Famille lle d’Orleans, which was consecrated in 1749 by Monseigneur De Pontbriand.

This was the local museum and the Town Hall in Saint Famille.

On the Ille we visited Sainte Petronille, Saint Laurent, Saint Jean, Saint Francois, Saint Famille and St. Pierre before heading back to our camp.  We have to be up and heading to Quebec at 0500 to catch a bus to the start line for tomorrow’s Quebec Half Marathon. Parking is going to be an issue near the finish line, which is just outside the walled section.