Not just cheese

Although I have lived in Montreal for 25 years, yesterday was the first time I took the Hudson/Oka ferry. The timing was right as it was an absolutely calm October day on Lac des deux Montagnes.

The price is right, too, for one of the prettiest views on the approaches to the ferry dock at Oka. 

I will definitely return next summer on my bike to follow 'La Vagabonde'.

Motor City Canada

A recent trip to Windsor gave me a chance to see the Detroit River from the shoreline instead of vice versa.

The Odette Sculpture Park makes for an interesting ride along the river from the Ambassador bridge towards the casino although there were more pedestrians walking on the trail than cyclists on this beautiful late October day.

Not surprisingly, cycling infrastructure in Canada's Motor City tends toward the recreational rather than the functional commuter need. As is often found in cities in Canada, the idea of the infrastructure as displayed on their website is at odds with the reality on the roads.

Traffic patterns and flow is well defined and efficient; if you are a motorist. For pedestrians and cyclists; not so much. Nor is there anything like a public bike sharing program such as the Bixi. Reminded me of Montreal not so long ago.

Some have seen the light

Riding back from the Botanical Garden in the evening, I was surprised at the number of cyclists going about without any lights on their bikes.

There are enough hazards riding around town without adding the factor of being 'The Invisible Man' or Woman.

I am forever amazed at pedestrians, as well, who blithely cross against the light without even looking to see if any traffic, whether bicycles or cars, is coming. Their faith in the proper compartment of others is truly admirable? naive? misplaced? 

I have seen the lights

The Botanical Gardens in Montreal is one of my favourite places in the city. It has been a couple of years since I've seen the Chinese Lanterns so I thought I would check out this year's display.

http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/en/propos/jardins_lumiere.htm

A weekday evening is preferable as the crowds can be quite overbearing on the weekends. I suggest arriving just before sunset as you will see the lanterns come on while still being able to view the lovely fall colours throughout the site.

There are various activities scheduled such Chinese drumming.

This year, the Japanese Garden is also open and the event has been renamed Gardens of Light. I thought perhaps the organizers were going to be throwing up a bunch of Chinese lanterns in the Japanese Garden, but they have used a more subtle, delicate approach that fits in very nicely to the ambiance of the garden and makes for a pleasing counterpoint to the spectacle of the Chinese Garden beside it.

Bixi Bargain in Toronto

Travelling back to Montreal after getting off the ship in Port Weller, I had a few hours to kill waiting for my train in Toronto. Walking by a Bixi stand, I noticed that the Queen City is using a different fee structure than Montreal.



I wonder why it is that the casual user rate is cheaper in Toronto than in the Bixi birthplace?

However, Toronto's annual subscription fee is higher than Montreal's plus they do not provide the annual users a 45 minute free period compared to the casual user's 30 minutes.

It almost seems as if Toronto is discouraging regular use of the Bixi system in its fee structure.

Travelling in Style

Received a request to help another vessel transit through the Seaway on its way to drydock in Port Weller, Ontario.

I joined the ship at the Lock in Saint-Lambert, which was an experience in itself trying to get there from Montreal early in the morning. The taxi driver had no idea what I was talking about and I only knew how to get there by bike via Ile Notre Dame.

On top of this, since I don't commute in the city or have a car, I was unaware that the Victoria bridge has only one way traffic coming from the South Shore to Montreal in the morning. So, we ended up on the Champlain bridge. Once over the bridge, we could see the lock but still had no clue how to get across the 20 to it. Fortunately, I caught sight of the cyclist's bridge that crossed the highway and just told the driver to let me out so I could walk the rest of the way.

It was an interesting trip through the Seaway because the crew was francophone and the vessel is a hundred feet longer than my ship. I got to see how a larger ship handles in the locks and the river currents. Most of the crew had not been above the Beauharnois Locks so it was partly a working transit but also a chance for them to do some sightseeing through the Thousand Islands. These pictures were taken by one of the wheelsmen who had a very nice camera.

Past Clayton, a 'Salty' was close behind us so we let him pass on the starboard side on the way to Cape Vincent and Lake Ontario.

There was a good 25 knots of wind on the lake, but the heavier ship barely moved beyond a gentle rocking to provide a pleasant night's sleep across the lake.

Bill of Non-rights

Back in Montreal and enjoying the final few temperate weeks of weather for cycling before the snow and ice arrive.

As someone who doesn't own a car, I find it difficult to sympathize with the growing complaints about the high cost of gasoline that motorists are forced to pay in this city. While it is true that a goodly portion goes to the government coffers, it is also true that motorists can improve their overall cost of driving by moderating their behaviour.

Yet, it does not seem to matter how high the price of gas rises or what type of street is being used or how many stop signs/traffic lights/speed bumps are installed, the majority of motorists feel the need the accelerate as quickly as possible given the opportunity.

Studies have shown that motorists can improve fuel efficiency by up to 20% just by altering their gas consuming habits.

So, I am proposing a non-right to complain about gas prices for any motorist who continues to drive in this gluttonous manner.

The Ditch

The Welland Canal is affectionately (or not so) called 'The Ditch'. Transits vary depending on the weather and the amount of traffic from 8 hours to 14 hours or more. This day, however, was a rare combination of calm winds and mild traffic so we fairly flew through the system. 

There was only one short wait as we sat raised in Lock 6 West (the uppermost of the three flight locks) while a vessel moved between Lock 7 and 6 East.

The winds were calm, but it was still a crisp October day of only 8C. Even so, many intrepid cyclists could be seen enjoying the bike path that lines the canal. 

Sometimes it seems like the main function for ships is as a backdrop for photos!

Turn the other eye

A few days later, the ship transited the Brockville Narrows heading up to the Welland Canal. Here is another view of Needle's Eye, but from the shipping channel.

Ships can meet in the Narrows, but generally avoid it except in the western section near Hillcrest Point where the channel is wider. We met a laker heading downbound on this beautiful Thanksgiving day.

You can see on her hull the effects of transits through the locks where vessels 'ride' the approach walls as they enter a lock.

In the fall, calm days like this are definitely something to be thankful for as we head towards Lake Ontario and the Welland Canal.

The eye of the needle

Got an opportunity to go out in one of our small craft today and traversed the Brockville Narrows. However, we took a small channel behind Needle's Eye island rather than the main shipping channel to the south. Definitely another perspective.

You can see along the shoreline that the water level is also down in this part of the St. Lawrence upriver from Montreal.