LOUIS' CREW

 Louis, having been dis-satisfied with only accompanying last Wednesday's fixture ride in spirit decided to give it another shot and gathered today his crew for the hottest day of the year so far. They included his wife, patriotic sister and brother-in-law from Toronto and friend, Jim, along with stalwarts Karl Kron, Daisy Bell and Kirkpatrick Macmillan for the bridges ride; conscripting G. T. Bishop to lead the way.

After meeting up at the Atwater Market pedestrian bridge, the crew headed into the heart of Point St. Charles before crossing over to Nun's Island and onto the Champlain bridge. Along the way, one of our numbers decided to turn back but the remainder soldiered on.

Once over the bridge, the route led along the path downriver with G. T. regaling the participants with Seaway trivia from his past life until they arrived at the Longueil marina and found a shady spot under the trees for a picnic with the bucolic sound of highway traffic as soundtrack.

In the midst of the pause, first aid was called into action as it turned out that Louis had somehow managed to trip himself at the start of the Champlain bridge and banged up a knee. His sister provided expert care with the help of supplies from a couple of first aid kits and Louis was good to go and all smiles.

Break time completed, the ride continued across the highway, back through the centre of Longueil and onto the Jacques Cartier bridge for the return journey. Half way across, we turned down onto Ile Ste. Helene for a short tour of the island passing the Alexander Calder Expo 67 sculpture and the Biosphere.

Then, it was back towards Montreal on the Pont de la Concorde with a final description by G. T. of one of the trickier navigation buoys in the harbour that he used to deploy and recover in the spring and the fall. 

Back at the Lachine Canal, G. T. parted ways with the group as they carried on to their respective destinations.

Nice weather, nice people, nice riding. Who needs more?

Louis appeared to be pleased with the ride even if it cost him a few milliliters of blood!

Total distance for the ride, depending on starting point, between 45K and 54K.

G. T. Bishop