Ottawa 2 Halifax: Days 7 & 8 - Sun, tailwinds, and downhill slopes

Day 7 - distance: 117 km, 1 flat tire (Quebec City to Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies)

Riders: Danielle, Emma, Leslie, Meghan, and Sheila

We got going around 8:30 am on Day 7 and took the 10 min ferry from Quebec City to the south side of the St. Lawrence.

The biking conditions were so optimal that we decided to bike an extra 20 km to make Day 8 that much shorter. We weaved between the highway and side roads following the Route Verte the whole way. There was only one patch of unpaved road under construction. There were many scenic sites along the way to stop for snacks, lunch, and to change a flat. Sheila's tire, again - for the third time. We pulled into the campsite in Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies around 5 pm. We are starting to learn the "star" rating system for campsites according to our tourism guide. This campsite had a big swimming pool, play structures for kids, a gazebo that lights up at night and is surrounded by a moat, and a giant painted butterfly, clearly making it a 4-star campsite.

Day 8 - distance: 52 km (Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies to Kamouraska)

Riders: Danielle, Emma, Leslie, Meghan, and Sheila

There was a bit more varied terrain and a detour that added a few kilometres to our total distance today, but it was another great day of cycling complete with sunny skies and tailwinds. We are getting a bit spoiled with tailwind, and are all hoping our luck holds through the hills of Gaspé! About one fifth of the ride today was on a stretch of gravel, which started to get a bit bumpy after a while. We were all motivated to get to our final destination: the beautiful water-side home of the Caddell family, where we have been graciously welcomed as guests for the night. Our time spent in Kamouraska included a round of mini-golf in the yard, a seaside walk, some napping and yoga in the cool breeze on the deck, and a delicious dinner on the bbq.