Montréal 110 klm

I slept very well while it rained in the night and I slept somemore when it kept raining. Eventually nature called and once I was up I packed up quickly and headed to the park office/store.  They had coffee so I enjoyed a mug on their covered porch and ate a kit Kat.  Not much food available in the store; worms being the only protein offered.  Rachel gave me a timely call to boost spirits on a drizzly morning and to warn me of heavy rain in Toronto that was heading my way.  At 9 I headed out in a light rain trying to get as close to Montréal as I could before rain and thunderstorms. 

I crossed in to Quebec 12 klm later and immediately started to follow piste 5, part of the Route Verte trail system that goes all the way to Montréal. The start of it looks very impressive. It's not always a 2 lane bike path but does a good job providing a safe, interesting and reasonably direct route downtown. You have to pay close attention at times or you suddenly realize you lost it somewhere.

This section winds through woods near the major highway towards Montreal.

This section followed an old canal.

It rained lightly off and on until noon; then it started rain more seriously.  I was comfortable since it was not a cold day and my shell kept me quite dry. My socks were squishy inside my shoes though. Riding in the rain is a lot easier to take when you know your destination is a hotel rather than a campground.  The ride along the water through Beaconsfield,  Pointe Claire  and Dorval was fun and pretty but I did not take pics in the rain.

As I got in to Montréal proper the rain eased and stopped. I followed the Lachine canal for about 15 klm and it took me right in to the old city.

After the rain.  I found a hotel (Lord Berri), checked in about 3 having ridden 110 klm non stop.  I had a hot shower and flaked out for an hour.  

Rue St. Denis on the way to Schwartz's  for montreal smoked meat. The Montreal grand prix was this past weekend and some of the street festivals continued. 

It was great to be a pedestrian in Montréal today.