Unfortunately, Joe's knee issues are not improving so we decide to give him a day off when we get to Princeville, the next town on the route, and he will jump on the bus to Quebec. More unfortunately still is that no one at the bus stop, which is just a gas station, has a clue whether we can put his bike on the bus or, if so, how to pack it. Even when we call the main bus company phone number they are no help but we found the number for the bus station in Plessiville, which is just down the road and thankfully got someone who knows their job who told us we can ship the bike for a fee.
Had to make a command decision, so we decided to carry on to Plessiville where they knew what they were doing even if it meant a few more kms for the sore knee.
The bike path is nice and flat in this area and the gravel compacted so we arrived without a problem and stopped for a break at the rest stop before heading to the bus station.
After wasting half an hour in Princeville, it took five minutes to get a bus ticket in Plessiville and they even had a bike bag and stored the bike until the bus arrived!
After lunch, I had to say goodbye to my partner for a few hours as I still had to get myself to Quebec.
I made good time but the miles seemed longer without Joe to chat with. At Dosquet, the path is paved for a good portion but it is also follows the 116 without too many trees just as the sun was its strongest so I didn't dawdle.
Got to the entrance to Lévis and continued following the directions to get to the ferry where I would meet up with Joe. I took the trail through the Parc de la Chaudière, which looked on the map like the shortest route to get to the shore bike path. It was except it took longer because of the hills and walking across the suspension bridge but it was worth it for the view.
After the park it is a bit hairy getting down to the shore path along roads full of suburban traffic speeding along as if they were on the highway which was nearby. There must be some chemical phenomenon that occurs in drivers that ramps up their aggressivity and makes them drive faster just by being in proximity to a highway.
Finally got to the shore bike path when I get flagged down by a cyclist coming the other way. He asks me if I have a place to stay for the night. I think this is a bit bizarre but he explains that he is cycling to South America this fall. I thank him and say I've already got a Bnb booked. He wishes me well and I do the same and we shake hands.
This feels like the fraternity of fellow traveling cyclists and I sense the pleasure of riding without a fixed plan and letting come what may. Thoughts of a future trip are already formulating in my mind as I gaze at the Coast Guard ship docked on the far shore.
Waiting at the ferry terminal, two cyclists sit down across from me. They are loaded with panniers on Surly bikes so I ask them where they are coming from. Taylor and Pete are from Ontario but are cycling from Halifax to Vancouver! I wished them well riding against the prevailing winds but it fits with their blog title:
http://crazyamateurbiketrip.wordpress.com
My partner arrives and we head to the Bnb, which is only 500 meters away on the map but the map didn't show that it was 500 meters up a vicious hill!
Anyway, we pushed our bikes up there and were greeted by Felix who showed us around the very nice house and gave us suggestions for a nearby place to eat. He also told us where to go for the best view of the Ville de Québec. He was right.
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