Québec Family Trip
Québec Road Trip – Epic Journey 2016-18 Part X
Jo
From Halifax, we dash back to the vicinity of Montréal, where we plan to visit Jo and his family. Seven years have passed since we were last with him and his father Jean-Pierre. In the meantime, I saw him once in Thailand, where I met him with his wife's family in a small village in northern Thailand.
The joy is great when we are at his door. We spend a few enjoyable days with his family; that means his wife Wanida and their daughter, Jo's father, mother, sister, nephews, and friends. Their hearts are huge. They let us share in their lives as if we have always been part of the family. In addition, the beautiful natural landscape between Montréal and Mont Tremblant.
Reunion
Unfortunately, we can't stay long. Seraina's parents are already waiting. We meet them at Wolfgang's, an acquaintance, not far from Montréal in his house at a small lake in the forest; just as you imagine Canada.
It is the end of September. It's been a year since we said goodbye to Esther and Roland in Switzerland. Which makes it all the more wonderful to see their cheerful and excited faces after so long.
What begins now is a three-week odyssey through the state of Québec. We have been making plans for a long time and finally decided that we want to explore the Gaspésie peninsula together.
First Wolfgang shows us his area and leads us among other things to the Oméga Zoo, a kind of drive-in zoo; pretty (North) American. We can feed the big elks directly from the car. They are already standing by and cavorting among the column of visitors, where they stick their heads right up to the inside of the car. However, we observe the enormous buck at a distance.
Wolves, coyotes, and black bears also live in the park. The only moose we get to see in North America does not look very happy in his enclosure.
Well, it's nice to see all these animals up close, but still, especially the captive wolves and bears make me a bit pensive.
The four of us take off. First, the journey goes to Québec. We move into a motel on the outskirts of town for two days, from where we explore Québec's historic old town and the nearby Montmorency Waterfall.
We head northwest of the St. Lawrence River. There Esther has booked a special hotel for us called Le Mange-Grenouille. As we enter it, we are transported back in time. We move into a sort of antique shop/museum. The floors and stairs creak, the doors and cabinets are heavy wood, everything is old and elegant.
We spend many of the following days in the van. The weather is turbulent. Sun, rain, wind, and spray accompany us around the peninsula. Each evening we look at where to go for the next few days, book suitable accommodation, and visit the sights along the way.
We find a great, rustic Airbnb near Bonaventure. Completely without electricity and with a wood stove, we enjoy a few days right by the sea. The Acadian Museum in Bonaventure is recommendable. It gives a vivid account of the Acadians, French settlers who emigrated to the former French colony of Acadia in the 17th century and lived a life of privation.
Finally, we continue along the coast to Percé, where we admire the rock in the sea. In the small town of Gaspé, we spend the night in an eye-catching motel. We eat excellent poutine and go hiking in the Forillon National Park. The views over the sea are breathtaking. We still haven't spotted a whale, but we observe seals again and again. The weather is wonderful today. Sunbeams break through the golden yellow to blood-red leaf canopy. We catch the Indian Summer in its full splendor.
In another great Airbnb chalet in Cap-Chat on the northern coast of the Gaspésie Peninsula, we once again have the opportunity to cook together, play games, and explore the area. Although we don't just follow the tourist hotspots, there is always something to see. Like here the wind power plant with a vertical wind spiral. Never seen before.
Then we are invited to taste beer in the local micro-brasserie. In tune with the Indian Summer, we are offered beers with an autumnal feel. A treat!
From Mantane we take the ferry across the St. Lawrence stream to Baie-Comeau. Before I can pull out the camera, the whales that we spot shortly after departure have already disappeared into the depths of the sea.
The only thing to say about Baie-Comeau is: Keep going and don't spend the night here in the motel. It was the most unclean on our whole road trip. But since we arrive late, we have no other choice. At least, the pizza in a still open bar/restaurant is really large!
In Tadoussac, a small tourist nest, we learn about the Beluga whales for which this region is known. We try our luck again, but don't see much except for a few indistinct movements far out in the ocean. Could that have been a whale? Yes! No. Maybe.
Tadoussac consists of colorful wooden houses, restaurants, and hotels. It is certainly worth a visit. There are great hikes in the nearby area, such as at Islet Point, the Parc-Languedoc Nature Reserve, or the nearby Belvedere dunes.
We make a detour and drive to Lac Saint Jean. Unfortunately in vain. It is only raining. The spa, which is part of the hotel complex, has unfortunately burned down. We make the best of the situation, cook, eat, sleep.... And continue the next morning.
We reach the penultimate stop of our little odyssey. Esther again proves to have a good instinct when it comes to choosing a hotel. We drive into the Canadian forest. The road gets smaller and smaller. "Where are we going? There is nothing more to come", she wonders.
But then we are standing in front of a huge wooden hotel structure somewhere in the forest at the lake: Welcome to the Hotel Lac Taureau!
We explore Lake Taureau by kayak. We are almost the only ones on the lake and glide along the densely forested shores, feeling like early explorers and pioneers. When our arms get tired, we force ourselves to turn back.
Hungry from the paddling, we are treated to a meal in the hotel's fancy restaurant. I feel a little odd in the distinguished company.
And then we are already back in Montréal. Three weeks have passed in the meantime. Three weeks in which we have seen and experienced a lot. The wild coast of Gaspésie, golden-green forests, museums, hostels, and the Canadian highway.
In the end, the sun is shining again. Once again we go exploring the city, have a fine meal, and enjoy our happy company of four.
But then it is time. We say goodbye to Esther and Roland. They fly back to autumnal Switzerland. And us? We may once again claim the hospitality of our friends Jo and his father Jean-Pierre. From their home, we organize our return trip to the US.
Another great highlight will follow. New York, New York! But first, we have to get across the border.
The American border, always a nerve-racking adventure that we would gladly do without.
Epic Journey 2016-18
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Epic Journey 2016-18
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