16 November 2023 Vieux La Prairie

 Meeting again at Ma Bicyclette, MBC members planned out the day's route.We decided to take the REM from Gare Centrale to the South Shore to meet Louis Rubenstein.  That day he had set out on a solo EXO trip to Ste Catherine.  We hoped to find him at our favorite cafe in Vieux La  Prairie.  This sounded like too much for W.G. Ross, who had stopped by for coffee and conversation only.

Upon arriving at Gare Centrale, we continued with the on going process of getting all our members fully equipped with the various variants of OPUS cards required  for travel in the Montreal region.

Once on the REM, Frankie Nelson realized that she had left her cycling glasses and gloves at the ticket counter.  Rather than heading back to get them right away we decided to leave them in the REM's safekeeping until the end of the day.  That decision caused Frankie great stress for a short while on the train, thankfully Laura was able to reassure her. The men seemed unconcerned.

Soon we were cycling our way to Vieux La Prairie.

By this time Laura had lent out a spare pair of gloves to Frankie who now seemed relaxed.

Much to our surprise, Louis was there to meet us for lunch.

  Rather than heading directly back via the Champlain Bridge, we decided that we deserved a longer ride so the route took a  bigger loop. We rode to the Ste Catherine Lock, returning via the Ice Bridge to Nun's Island. 

Checking out some birds along the way.....

At the Ste Catherine Locks we were delayed for a short while one of Paul Martin's Yachts made its way upstream.

We stopped for a quick look at the  Lachine Rapids from the South Shore.

Then we traveled along the Seaway to the  Ice Bridge.  

Very little still remains of the Old Champlain Bridge.  From this angle it almost looks like it is part  of the new bridge. Could this be the next Junkco statue location?

At Nun's Island most of us decided to take to REM back to Gare Centrale, Laura however decided to continue cycling back.

Back at Gare Centrale, Frankie had her faith in humanity restored by the REM cashiers.

Farnkie's experience with the REM cashiers apparently also restored A.T.'s faith in humanity.,  That evening he helped with the annual giving out of Bike Lights by the Westmount Pedestrians and Cycling Association.