Drove to Granby where we would stay for three nights. One day to be spent biking, one day for touring the Eastern Townships region, and then leaving on the third day.
Our rental in Granby
Got in around 7 and went to the Japanese restaurant next door for dinner. BYOB!
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Not many pictures today. Spent most of the day on our bikes. Cycled on a beautiful bike path from Granby to Waterloo, then back to Granby via Yamaska Park. 49 km’s in total.
The cafe at the end of the loop.
And a much needed cold beer.
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Today we toured the region by car. \240Started out in a cute little town called Bromont. Tons of little shops and restaurants.
Found an antique store. \240
Our choice for lunch.
And dessert.
There’s a number of covered bridges in the area.
And round barns are unique to the region. \240Round barns were cheaper to build because they required less material. They’re more efficient in that they’re wind resistant and the silo and hay chute are at the centre of the building.
Next we checked out a town called Sutton.
Sampled some cheese here.
We had planned to go to Magog after that and figured we could eat dinner there, but ended up having to head back to Granby because one of our tires was going flat.
Ended up at a Polish restaurant for dinner. Skewered carrots, sweet potato latkes with pork, pirogies, and the most delicious cheesecake I’ve ever tasted.
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Mike got the tire fixed and then we started the 5 hour drive to Rimouski. Most of the drive was the same old same old (trees, traffic, and endless highway stretching out in front of you) until the last hour or so, after Rivière du Loup. Then there was more to look at. It became less commercialized and quite charming.
The beach area in Rimouski
Sun on the St Lawrence
Our choice for dinner.
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We woke up to pouring rain this morning. Not ideal for biking or sightseeing. Had a late breakfast and waited a little longer for the weather to break.
It seemed to be stopping so we took a short drive to the nearby Bic Provincial Park. \240The tide was out.
Had lunch at a boulangier in town. It looked like the weather was going to be okay so we took our bikes for a ride on a nice path along the shoreline.
Got back just barely before the skies opened up. It poured down and thunder and lightning to boot.
We went downtown for dinner afterwards to a restaurant called Unique Pacifique and had a very nice dinner. There’s a section of the street that’s closed to traffic. Mostly restaurants. \240Pretty quiet tonight though because of the rain.
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Today will be another 5 hour drive. From Rimouski to Bouctouche in New Brunswick.
The first part of the drive was really pretty. Mountains and valleys, lakes and rivers, small towns and farms.
And a covered bridge.
Our hotel in Bouctouche.
Dinner in Bouctouche.
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Made our way down the road to Shediac where Jim & Janice live. Had a coffee at their house and then they took us on a tour over to the beach area where we met some friends of theirs.
Parlee Beach in Shediac
After that we made our way across the bridge to PEI. Picked up a few groceries in Cavendish (very busy area) and then made our way over to our rental in Brackley.
Super pleased with our home for the week!
Mike headed to the airport to pick all the girls up at 7. Small airport. 15 minutes away.
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Today we thought we’d head into Charlottetown. Michelle and I were going to a flea market and everyone else was going to a nearby farmers market. It turned out neither of them was on today! \240Don’t know why.
So instead we went downtown and hit a few shops.
Stopped for lunch at an Italian restaurant. Mattalyn had it in her head that she needed to eat seaweed so she could turn into a mermaid.
Pizza with seaweed on it.
Introduced Mattalyn to Cows ice cream
Mike with Miss MooMoo
And finally the beach! \240Brackley Beach is a 5 minute drive from the house.
We went back after dinner to stroll along the beach.
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We went to the Anne of Green Gables house. It was a scorching hot day.
Mattalyn wanted to see the cherry tree that Anne loved
And a walk down Lovers Lane behind the house.
Sam knits everywhere she goes
Later Mike, Mattalyn, Sam, and Lianne went to the beach again.
Michelle and I stayed at the house and went for a stroll along the shoreline. Did a little sketching and shell collecting.
Back into Charlottetown for dinner.
Lobster dinner night!
Mattalyn had tried lobster yesterday and quite liked it but it was on a sandwich. When she saw it like this she was grossed right out. I guess we should have prepared her.
And then dessert.
Moonicorn ice cream
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Just down the road was a place called the Dunes Cafe and Gallery. We decided to check it out. \240Besides being a series of beautiful shops showcasing local art (garments, paintings, pottery, furniture, jewellery, decor) it had stunning gardens in the back.
And then off to see the play, Anne of Green Gables.
Mattalyn’s depiction of the play
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The Bedores we’re going to come over this afternoon so we hung around the cottage for the morning.
The reason Mattalyn wanted to bring her camera to PEI
It was an incredibly windy day but we managed a couple of hours at the beach.
The kids had a blast.
And then back to our place for dinner.
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Went for lunch at the nearby Dunes Cafe. Delicious
Beet salad
Lobster quiche
From there we all went different directions Mike went back to the house, Michelle and I went to an antiques store, and lianne and Mattalyn went to make a teddy bear.
Bayview harbour
Then over to Sandspit, an amusement park.
Views from the ferris wheel
Lianne took Mattalyn on a go cart
Mattalyn’s first attempt with water colours
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Today will be pretty much our last day here. The girls are leaving tonight and we’re leaving first thing in the morning.
The morning view from our window
We decided to drive across to the other side of the island to Victoria-by-the-Sea.
There was a lighthouse we were able to climb up in.
Mattalyn doing The Little Mermaid pose
Cute little shop we dropped some $ in
Went to Casa Mia for a really nice lunch
Mattalyn and Michelle found a beach
Then one last trip to Brackley Beach
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Sunrise
Things got quite complicated after last night. The girls’ flight was cancelled and they got rescheduled to 1:00 pm today. We needed to be out of our rental by 10:00 am so they took a taxi to the airport and waited there for their flight to leave.
And we drove
And drove
And drove
Moose on the highways is a big deal out here. Most people avoid driving after dark.
Stayed at the Comfort Inn in Rivière-du-Loup
Dinner
Stunning sunset! \240I couldn’t find a good viewpoint quickly enough before it set.
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Todays drive should only be about 5 hours so we decided to start out at a more leisurely pace. Instead of heading straight to Highway 20 we drove along the coast for a couple of hours.
The Kamouraska region is very picturesque. There were several small towns that we stopped in to check out.
Had a coffee here and browsed the shop next door.
Didn’t buy anything here but lots to look at
Found a field of sunflowers
Stopped here for lunch
They use strictly local products and decor
Outdoor dining
After that we needed to pick up the pace so we got back on the main highway again. We were invited to Bob and Christine’s (Mike’s cousin) in Sainte Lazare for dinner. Had a really nice evening with them and then made our way to our hotel in Cornwall.
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Got up in the morning and just wanted to get home. Got on our way by 8:00. It was pouring rain for most of the drive but after a couple of breaks for coffee and lunch we were home by early afternoon.
Home sweet home
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