Where: Gananoque, Ontario to Montreal, Québec along the St Lawrence Seaway
Who: Jeff (Escapade is his boat), Susan, Sarah, and me
Why: Susan is training for her Pedaling for Parkinsons big bike ride next month in Nova Scotia, PEI, and Ontario, Jeff is getting Escapade through to Montreal, en route to Nova Scotia, and needs crew for locks, and Sarah and I are along for bike rides, lock assisting, playing cards, and enjoying the all round excellent company of Jeff and Susan.
Sarah and I know these bike routes well from the Friends for Life Bike Rally and we wanted to show some of the cycling highlights to Susan.
Besides, biking and boating is a lot of fun. On bikes we go about the same speed as the boat and on this stretch of water there’s lots of options for meeting up for lunch and dropping off and picking up people. I love swimming off the boat after a hot day of bike riding.
There were whole days where we went straight from jammies to bike kit to bathing suits and back to jammies. Add in cards, fiction, and ice cream, and you’ve got a pretty excellent holiday.
How it worked: On Day 1 we left Guelph and picked up Susan and her bike in Toronto. We drove to Gananoque where loaded bikes, bags, and groceries. The next day, Day 2, we rode with Susan on the Thousand Island Parkway. We met Jeff for lunch, and then Sarah and I left Susan on the boat with Jeff. Sarah and I rode back to Gananoque and picked up the car. We put the bikes on the back rack and then drove to meet Jeff and Susan for dinner. They’d motored ahead in the afternoon.
The next day, Day 3, the roads weren’t so friendly so Sarah and I rode alone to catch the car up to the boat, meeting up with friends who live around here en route.
Day 4 was the best day, I think. Sarah, Susan and I rode through the Upper Canada Village and through the Long Sault Parkway. Beautiful mostly car free bike riding. We met Jeff and Escapade in Long Sault for lunch, dropped off Susan, and then Sarah and I did the trip in reverse to fetch the car.
Day 5 was a boat day, with locks. Interestingly, some of the locks are Canadian and others American. No passports are needed to lock through the US locks on the St Lawrence. The St Lawrence is managed as a binational waterway. It makes me think about all the valuable US and Canada cooperation that continues to exist despite Trump.
The locks are quite dramatic, with a drop of about 40 feet, but there are no photos. Dropping phones overboard is a family habit, and it’s one I’m trying to avoid. Lol.
By Day 6, we were approaching Montreal, and it was a mostly boating day, but for some morning riding and an excellent patio lunch in Lachine. Family visited on the boat late in the day and a very keen 11 year old got lessons in driving the inflatable. We spend Day 7 in Montreal, shuffling crew, welcoming Bill aboard, and helping to get Jeff ready for his journey east.
I love this part of the country. I really enjoy the small towns along the St Lawrence, both in Ontario and in Quebec. They’ve got a seaside feel, lots of beaches and bike paths. Great ship watching opportunities as well.
After a long day of driving Montreal to Guelph with stops in Toronto, we’re happy to be home!
Susan blogged about our trip too, over on Jeff’s blog. And Jeff did as well, over at Boating Adventures.
