I’m in Percé today…the place with the hole in the rock. I was here many years ago with my uncle, and the rock is exactly the same!!! The town has changed, but the rock remains. I packed up this morning, and chatted with a family that wants to start bike packing. I showed that that it’s not necessary to buy expensive gear…a few bags, straps and Velcro can go a long way to getting the bike all set up.
Interestingly, yesterday I said that I was thinking in French. Well at the campground yesterday I heard English spoken for the first time in almost two weeks…and I found it shocking. I had a hard time listening to it….and now as I’m writing these English words….im pronouncing them as a French person would! 😀😀. All it took was 15 days. I still don’t have the vocabulary….but if I was to stay longer it would come for sure.
So, under cloudy, dark skies I headed off this morning…once again without breakfast. Less than 10 km I noticed a hotel with a restaurant and people sitting in it. So I stopped….only for hotel guests…but I must have looked desperate or something, so she charged me $15 for the continental breakfast…..yipppeee…hot tea this morning. I do have a stove….but it’s too much work to take it out for a simple cup of tea….so I rarely do it. I looked out….and there is the rock of Percé….only a few km away, straight line ….but of course it’s 20 km away by road.
I head off and it starts to rain, so I put on my jacket. Then it rains harder….and harder. I see an abandoned building, so I bring my bike in, and sit for 30 min as the storm moves off a bit, and the rain slows down. I called Ted to ask him to check out for rooms up ahead as it looks like it’s going to be raining all day.
There are two roads….one that goes to Percé and one that detours around it. My GPS was detouring me around….that should have been my first clue. Then there was a large orange sign that said detour with the picture of a bike on it. But wait….I want to go to Percé and the detour doesn’t go there. Maybe it’s a mistake. So I don’t take the detour - mistake!!!!
I got up the first hill…70m, fairly steep….just a bit of 12% grade. Then a 2km break, and the 115m hill over 4 km…with a sign that said road construction in 1 km. Darn….construction on the uphill. Well, the reason bikes were detoured, is that it’s a long uphill, one lane of traffic at a time, with just barely room for the vehicles….no room for a vehicle and a bike…going uphill ….in the rain! I did have to get off my bike twice, and stand in the very small ditch to let vehicles through. Yikes….mistake….but it worked out ok….i made it unscathed….and so did all the vehicles whew!!!! As I was heading down, I got a message that Lorraine had found me a room in Percé, but I had to pay cash….no problem…. I’ll find an ATM in town. Great….ill be in a tourist town for the day….great restaurants….maybe a beer ….I’ll see the Rock and take photos! It will be a great day.
When I get to the Gite, I’m told there are no ATM’s in town, and the nearest bank is 20 km away. I don’t understand. Sounds like ATM’s are only with a bank. But apparently the store will give cash if I use my debit card. Ok. I get there, but I can’t take out enough to cover the room. No problem….I’ll go to the bar, have a beer and food and wait. If I wait long enough there will be a different cashier….and I’ll get the rest of the cash I need for the room 😀
So now the couple that I met- Patrick and Jarka back in White River Ontario, and we spent a few days together….we might be meeting up in two days. They are not doing the Gaspé but taking the short cut, so 165 to Campbellton NB. I’m 250 km away with 2000m. I’m not sure that I can do that distance in two days. But I’m up for the challenge!!!!
1 comment:
Oh my. Never boring. Glad you had a short distance day to go with the climbs. Neat place. AND a sour beer. Pucker!!. Here is hoping this next day is drier for you and =…..I guess take the detour next time….just hope it wasnt set up by Dexter!!!!!. Such a neat rock. Like the big rocks on the south coast of Australia.
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