"j": start of construction 1975, finished 1976 … and still running

enjoying the ride

15th

Here I go. I leave Halifax and therefore I am officially on the way. My next goals are Moncton, Fredericton, Riviere-du-Loup, Quebec City and Montreal. Again, it’s burning hot. I start sweating while I pack the motorcycle. I’m glad when I sit on it and the wind is blowing cool through my clothes. On my navigation device I made setting that motorways are avoided and unpaved roads included. I move on federal and state roads. Leaving villages and towns there is not much traffic. I’m cruising relaxed through the countryside.  The kind of settlement is very interesting along the road. Even at long distances between villages and towns, you find a house within every two kilometers, sometimes it is a cluster of several houses. Going to the supermarket because you forgot your milk is not that easy. Towards the end of todays tour the navigation device is leading me on gravel roads. Looks like those are official roads too, because there are signs too in the middle of the forest. For a few kilometers I’m off-road then on-road again. Today’s tour was a lot of fun.

The hostel in Moncton is cozy. It is a larger house been converted. There are not many people. Mike is greeting me. He is also a guest. He is a nice guy. Mike works on an oil field many flight hours from here. Two weeks work, one week off. He has already had a few beers. For the next two weeks there will be no alcohol. The oil field is a “dry zone”. After the long drive I could have a beer too. Mike and I are going to the liquor store. I took two bottles of beer and said to Mike … No, I will not drink that much … and went to the liquor store again later …. As Mike departed, he had still some food left and invited me for dinner. The night ended with a few people from the hostel in a pub. They have got a beer here called “La Fin Du Monde”. In a 0.75l bottle, 9% alc, very tasty. Two bottles and there you have “la fin du monde”.

16th

Today it is fortunately just a short tour. The night was a bit too long. I can’t tell very much about Fredericton. I stay again in a university. Everything is quiet. Perhaps it is because the university is a bit further away from the center. Good for me. So I’m not tempted to land in any pub. I also have to do a few things anyway. After arriving I slept for about two hours, because of yesterday. I bet there are not more than three guests here. A long dark corridor inside the building. Left and right are the doors to the rooms. I feel somehow like I’m in “The Shining”. Don’t forget to lock the door, Jürgen. But how does that help against an axe.

17th

Today I planned to drive around 460km. After around 150km weather is getting bad. Soon after, it starts to rain. First, quite easily. That’s ok. The clothes will stay dry. I put on the  rain cover for the shoes to stay dry. But I am too lazy to stop and unpack the rain gear. Soon, it starts raining very strong. I’m soaked pretty quickly. It does not help to protect your shoes, when the water is running down your legs inside. Still about 250km from the destination? I’m freezing. This is hell, but I move on. I take the highway. This shortens the route by about 60km. Luckily the weather gets better again and the sun is coming out. When I arrive in Riviere-du-Loup, I’m mostly dry again.

In Riviere-du-Loup I can have a short walk before it starts to pour again. Time to write on my blog. Hopefully it will be better tomorrow. By the way, I’m already in Quebec. Primary french is spoken here. Communication got a bit more difficult.

Thank you for reading, Jürgen


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