NIMBY

I have often noticed these signs around the Plateau, but did not really think too much about them.

I can understand the request in order to protect vegetation but, if it is just a question of aesthetics, why single out bikes? Why not request that cars not park in front of the yard, as well?

Safety in Numbers

I decided to alter my normal ride out to Parc Maisonneuve and keep riding east on St. Zotique into Anjou. I followed the bike lane all the way, which zigzagged through the suburban east end of the city.

East of Viau you don't see many cyclists and, clearly, drivers don't see you even though the bike lanes on the street are reasonably well marked. In fact, you have to be careful not to be lured into a false sense of security by the bike lane because alertness is the watch word. In a short span, I was cut off by several vehicles at intersections and drive ways, and even had one driver head right for me, oblivious of the marked bike lane I was following.

It was a comfort to return to the Plateau where, for cyclists, there is safety in numbers.

Another vantage point

Three weeks ago my ship was going through St. Lambert lock. Today, I took advantage of the few remaining days that cyclists can ride around Ile Notre Dame before the F1 train comes into town and then took the path that follows the South Shore Canal to the Estacade and Ile des Seours.

The sun was wonderful after several days of rain, but the clouds of shad flies meant one is well advised to keep their mouths closed.

The bugs continued all along the river out to Lachine so I came back via the Lachine Canal and got to see the Dragon Boat crews practicing.

Even the buildings seemed to be enjoying the seemingly rare sunshine.

Parry Sound Cruising

The Georgian Bay Small Craft Route winding through the 30,000 islands along the eastern shore of the bay is famous for its narrow channels through the rock strewn waters. However, the wide and sheltered expanse of Parry Sound just northwest of the town of Parry Sound makes for some idyllic and relaxed cruising.

Our next trip into town brought another vessel on a cruise in the Sound.

Not sure what he was doing that required him to display his 'Restricted' shapes, but we were the only other vessel around and were not planning on bothering him anyways.

Unusual Deck Load

Transiting up to Georgian Bay, we passed a ship at anchor in the Detroit River with an unusual deck load. 

I wonder where they are headed to?

Life after the Guard

Retirement can bring major questions regarding what to do after the stage of your working life has ended but, for Coast Guard ships, retirement from government service is often just the beginning of a new, often unusual, phase to a ship's life.

Our work brought us up to Georgian Bay and a stop in Parry Sound. My morning ride around the harbour brought a sighting of a vessel secured at the town dock.

A quick search on the internet brought forth the history of the Still Watch, former Ville Marie (Still Watch, former Ville Marie). 

Appropriate to have the vessel berthed in Georgian Bay having been built in Owen Sound.

Morning Ride along the Welland Canal

Gales on Lake Erie provided an opportunity to sit out the winds in Port Colborne and the chance for a ride on the wonderful Welland Canal trail.

The trail follows the ship canal along the west side except between Lock 8 and Port Robinson where it passes beside a section of the old canal that goes through the town of Welland.

Normally, I stick with the path that leads north to Port Robinson but this morning I decided to take the multi-use path running through Merritt Island Park. Although it does not strictly connect back onto the Canal Trail proper, I've seen many cyclists walk their bikes across the rail bridge.

Still, it is a very pleasant ride through the park as the morning sun rises above the tree tops.

From the Deep

It is apparently legendary the items that are found at the bottom of the Welland Canal when portions of it are drained for winter maintenance. 

Somehow this was found wrapped around the chain of one of the buoys we lifted for inspection.

Morning Rides in Trois Rivieres Part 2

From the centre of Trois Rivieres there is a linear park that heads north for several kilometers to the National Historic site 'Les Forges du Saint-Maurice' (Parks Canada website).

I decided to ride along Boulevard des Cheneaux, which follows the Saint-Maurice river and then catch the linear park at Boulevard Hamelin. Des Cheneaux has an on-road bike lane, but also a couple of little hills.

At Hamelin, I headed north on the bike path until Boulevard St. Michel. To the north of St. Michel, the path takes a steep drop. This looked like a good place to turn around.

Perhaps a warning of pain of death rather than pain of ticketing would be more apt given the steepness of the grade.

I returned to the ship along the linear park enjoying the well-maintained surface and the nice views of the city and bridge across the St. Lawrence. In one of the city parks the path passed through there was an outdoor gym.

The linear park ends just south of the University and then becomes a normal city bike path. Just north of Highway 40, the path goes by the Hippodrome with an impressive gate.

Then it was back to the ship and another load of buoys to be placed.

Morning Rides in Trois Rivieres Part 1

Most mornings while working in the St. Lawrence River this month we had to leave early from the dock in Trois Rivieres in order to get our work completed for the day.

Still, I was able to get out a couple of times for a morning ride.

The first morning I followed the Route Verte out of Vieux Trois Riviere west past the Pont Laviolette. There is a park at the base of the bridge with some nice views of the river and bridge.

The water level of the river at this time of year is up about 2 metres above normal. Luckily, it isn't higher!

The Coast Guard has a base for its two hovercraft that work in Quebec.

Hovercraft are amazingly sleek and fast craft literally 'on' the water, but they are noisy.

Heading back to the ship, I couldn't help noticing this temporary sign and how it was erected.

Bike path; what bike path?!

Home away from home in Sorel

Our base of operations for the buoywork east of Montreal for the last two weeks was Sorel at the western end of Lac St. Pierre.

With the warmer weather and longer days, there was enough time in the morning to do a bit of biking. There is an excellent 12 kilometer long bike path that starts in Sorel and travels east through town and out into farmland.

I'm not sure how old the path is, but the map shows a proposed extension continuing towards Yamaska that is still in the imaginary phase. It seems most regions throw on these dashed lines on their maps to make it appear that there is more infrastructure than actually exists.

In any case, La Sauvagine is a fine little path with excellent signage including kilometer markings, posts with reflective bands at each intersection and section markings to allow cyclists to identify a specific area if they have to call 911.

There is also a gazebo at the east end of the path with benches that would serve nicely as a picnic stop before heading back to Sorel.

It was nearing the end of April when I first rode the path and the trees were still bare but, by the time I did my last ride at the beginning of May, the vegetation was starting to burst with green.

Opposite the farms are many homes with their backyards facing the path. Because there is a drainage ditch running alongside the path, most of the residents have built miniature bridges to span the ditch and provide access to the path. I thought this one with its sculpture or folk art or whatever was particularly interesting.

It might not warrant a drive from Montreal if you are looking for an all day ride, but for a pleasant afternoon balade combined with a visit to Sorel I would heartily recommend La Sauvagine.

Downriver to Sorel

A request to do some buoywork east of Montreal sent us downriver to Sorel for a couple of weeks work around Lac St. Pierre and Trois Rivieres.

Transiting by Montreal Harbour is always a great chance for shipwatching.

Our berth in Sorel was occupied so we were slowly making our way down the river. A ferry heading to the Magdelan Islands, travelling much faster, passed us on our port side.

There is certainly more shipping on the St. Lawrence River east of Montreal compared to the Seaway between Kingston and Montreal. It will make doing the buoys between ship transits more of a challenge.