Hope Finally Brings Results!

Or...The Four Musketeers meet Les Trois Mousquetaires
Or...simply...The Bridge

It seemed that on this day, two days before Christmas, that all the stars were aligned to make a historic Fixture ride for the Montreal Bicycle Club as well as a historic day for cycling in Montreal as the long awaited bike path on the new Champlain bridge was going to open at 1pm on December 23rd, 2019.

Well, most of the stars were aligned except that G.T. Bishop somehow managed to get a puncture while riding to the Shaika Cafe to meet the other members. Fortunately, there was a local bike shop nearby that was open and the mechanic set things right in no time.

Arriving at the cafe, seven other MBC members were already in attendance and the air was palpably electric with the opportunity to do some late season cycling.

W.G. Ross, Louis Rubenstein, Mile-a-Minute Murphy, Dorthy Cole, Daisy Greville, A.T. Lane, H.S. Tibbs, G.T. Bishop

It turned out that W.G. Ross and Dorthy Cole were there for moral support (and to supply some cookies for the riders), so six members set off just after 11am towards Nun's Island.

Crossing Lachine Canal and making our way towards Atwater Market, Daisy decided the snow that was covering some of the bike path was signaling her to be discreet and turn back. After wishing us well, Daisy headed back and we were now five venturing forward.

Passing the Canadian Tire in Verdun, we encountered fresh tarmac and increased anticipation, quickly making our way to the bridge path that leads onto Nun's Island.

In fact, we were rather too quick and arrived at the access ramp to the new bridge just after noon, with the path still blocked and no one around.

Still, A.T. took the opportunity to mark that he would be the first to go across the bridge when it did open.

With the other MBC members not far behind.

We decided to check out the bike path access routes around the bridge with Mile-a-Minute Murphy getting some detailed explanations from one of the bridge construction workers.

MMM took the opportunity to get more details on the high tech sanitation facilities available to the construction crew.

We could also see that not all the bicycle infrastructure was completed around the bridge as one path that circled the North Point was still blocked off while finishing work was continuing on the new bridge.

The members decided to go to a nearby cafe and await the opening. Sure enough, our decision to get coffee and get warm put us from first in line at the bridge to 100th!

Still, the members were happy to be amongst the first cyclists and pedestrians to make this historic trek across the St. Lawrence.

And there were free candy canes on offer to boot!

Time passed, the media moved through the crowd to get sound bites from the congregation and G.T. decided to doff the coat to show off the MBC colours for the ride across the bridge.

A.T. turned around at one point and spied, as he often seems to on Fixture rides, Pascal.

Finally, the fence was moved out of the way and we were off!

And then very quickly stopped again at the first viewing area for one of many photo ops.

H.S. pondered the cost and impact of so many cars crossing the bridge with only one person inside.

It was marvelous to see so many people taking advantage of the fine weather and this new way to get between Montreal and the South Shore including a jogging Santa and a unicyclist. Finally, at the other side of the bridge, H.S. decided to turn back and cross the bridge right away while the final four accepted MMM's suggestion of heading to a local micro-brewery to raise a glass in honour of the occasion.

Turned out that the place was a good 6K away but the weather held even if the roads and paths were a bit mucky.

Eventually, the four Musketeers reached their destination though it turned out only to be an outlet with no facilities to imbibe on-site. On the plus side, the vendor did offer tastings, which were graciously accepted.

So, Plan B was enacted and the members stocked up with some carbs to take back to the bridge in order to raise a celebratory glass. Plan C quickly came into play, as the members felt a pre-toast was required during the return ride through Brossard.

Eventually, the four Musketeers made their way back to the bridge for the return ride across the span.

One enhancement that we felt should be added to the bridge is a counter showing the number of cyclists and pedestrians using the new bridge since they have installed a nice display board at each end.

The temperature was starting to dip with the sun making its way to the horizon but the ride back across was just as enjoyable if not as excitement-filled as the initial trip. The access from the South Shore path does involve a bit move climbing as compared to the Montreal side.

Most of the Riverside path on the South shore that could be viewed from the bridge looked to be clear, but it will be interesting to see if that will continue to be the case over the winter as the bridge has been advertised as open year round.

Half-way across, the four Musketeers stopped one final time to raise another glass to toast this excellent new addition to the greater Montreal cycling infrastructure, to view the city from this new vantage point and to savour the moment.

Finally, as the clouds covered over the remaining sunrays, the final four grudgingly mounted their charges and starting heading back to Nun's Island and the return ride to their respective homes. Back at the Lachine Canal and Atwater Market, the members went their separate ways still ebullient from the experience of the day.

This was truly a historic day and each member felt privileged to have been a part of Montreal's cycling future.

Here's hoping that we will be able to repeat the experience at an opportune moment in January!

Total distance ridden during the fixture ride varies with the starting point of the participant but will have averaged around 50 kilometers. Not bad for the second day of winter.

G.T. Bishop