Visiting the Back River

 What started out as a crisp, cool Sunday morning ultimately turned into a wonderfully sunny autumn afternoon as A. T. Lane, Dorothy Cole, Louis Rubenstein, Laura Snowball and G. T. Bishop met at a safe, social distance near the Shaika Cafe to conduct an abbreviated Fixture ride to Rivière des Prairies, also known as the Back River or, according to Wikipedia, Skowanoti, meaning "River behind the island".

Given that Montreal is now a Red Zone, A. T. thought better of taking the traditional group picture and the five members set off northwards through NDG and past the old Hippodrome site.

Next it was through the scenic Industrial zone and exquisite bicycle infrastructure that allows cyclists to get across the rail lines and under the 40 with Dorothy Cole leading the way.

But ultimately, the traverse through the urban blight was rewarded with the warming temperatures and the pleasant riding along the bike path following the Back River.

As the path turned back towards Boulevard Gouin, we stopped briefly to reflect on the institution across the street and whether it was a prison. Turns out it was Bordeaux penitentiary and, ironically, a flock of Canada Geese chose that moment to fly over; heading south to freedom out of the Red Zone. We regarded them, wistfully, imagining being able to flee this zone ourselves. How many faces were turned towards these elegant, honking flyers from barred windows below thinking the same thing?

 Carrying on, the members stopped briefly at the intersection of the Gouin and Christophe Colombe bike path where A. T. advised that he was turning off to head homewards. The remaining members, with hopes of finding sustenance and relief nearby, decided to carryon to the Parc-nature de l’Île-de-la Visitation.

A. T. Lane's route home took him by some lovely street art, not surprisingly, some of the endless road construction in Montreal and a bevy of expectant Bixis near Mont Royal park.

For the remaining members, you will have to rely on the rapporteur's testimony and the record of G. T. Bishop's route as we were negligent in documenting the remainder of the ride with photographic evidence.

In any event, Dorothy Cole led us to the old mill at the park, which, amazingly, had an open café with washroom facilities! We took advantage of both and carried our lunches to the picnic tables nearby to enjoy some excellent squash soup and the warm sun.

A discussion ensued as to the return route and G. T. Bishop suggested heading south through the Miron Quarry, now called the parc Frédéric-Back. This was new territory for Laura Snowball, so all agreed and we headed off via rue Lille to follow the east side path around the old quarry and the distinctive pods dotting the landscape, which have something to do with reclaiming bio-gas from the site.

After that, it was a bit of meandering through the streets of Montreal with Louis breaking off to follow his own path, as is his wont, at rue Beaubien; and, finally, Dorothy Cole and Laura Snowball bidding adieu to G. T. Bishop along the bike path paralleling the CP rail line between the Plateau and Rosemont.

Total distance for the ride for members depending on their start points was around 40K. And each one seemed like a gift on this early October day when we could just think of riding for a few hours and nothing else.

G. T. Bishop