Rogue Ride

 Da bro's (G.T. Bishop and Louis Rubenstein) decided to go on a rogue ride to Craig Country on this fine Thursday morning in July; meeting on the EXO train to Vaudreuil and disembarking at Baie d'Urfe station.

G. T. Bishop had planned a route that would take the brothers from another mother past the Anse a L'Orme REM station on the way to Ile Bizard, Laval and Deux Montagnes to pick up La Vagabonde bike path to Oka.

The sun was shining, the REM construction was proceeding with no discernible difference from our last ride through the area and the bros continued toward Ile Bizard on the various bike paths. At Pierrefonds boulevard, G.T. held Louis back from jumping towards a bike lane spied across the street (the light was red) and they carried on towards the bridge. Unfortunately, the whole east section of the bridge to Ile Bizard was under construction and we were directed to take the sidewalk on the west side.

View of bridge looking south towards Montreal

Once clear of the bridge, da bro's headed towards the cable ferry via the nature park. The route chosen by G.T. had perhaps too much nature for Louis' liking but they got through none the less.

After a pleasant sojourn through the park, the cable ferry was just beyond and came to collect the cyclists.

Their stay in Laval would be brief as they headed towards the dam to cross into Deux Montagnes. But not as brief as thought as the road that crosses the rail line had been completely closed for the REM construction. G.T.'s normally faultless planning had failed to detect this obstruction and the members were forced to detour back towards the ferry after grumbling to the security guard at the construction site that this information should have been posted at the ferry crossing rather than at the site.

Interestingly, when we asked another security guard about the completion date for this section of the REM, she said it would be completed next spring! She had obviously not been updated on the new REM schedule.

The members continued on, now starting to pine for some lunch after the extra kilometers put into their legs thanks to the REM. They crossed the dam, observing the state of the construction and G.T. railing still at the REM lack of communication. 

Across the dam, they passed over a new overpass by the under construction Grand Moulin station before stopping for a call of nature at a well serviced Halte Velo.

A few minutes further, da bro's spied the final station of the Deux Montagnes line with Louis questioning why the REM authorities did not extend the line into St Eustache with its larger population.

Continuing on La Vagabonde path, the members started looking for a lunch spot and found a nice terrace just off the path for a well-deserved break and meal. A fellow cleaning the restaurant's windows was suitably impressed when Louis told him our expected distance for the day's ride and da bro's felt bolstered as they carried on towards Oka and the ferry to Louis' homeland of Hudson.

The day was getting on and the members had to make the train for their return home but there was enough time for a side trip past the Willow Inn to greet some of Louis' progeny.

Finally, there was just enough time to stop for a lemonade at the Maison Felix Leclerc before leaving the idyllic Hudson and crossing the 40 to Vaudreuil station.

Total distance on the ride about 65k including two detours (REM!) for construction.

G. T. Bishop

Postscript: We expected an empty train for the journey back to Montreal and were surprised to see it fill up as we stopped at the numerous stations in the West Island. When Louis asked a gentleman who embarked at Baie d'Urfe, he responded that the new fare structure makes the train journey affordable now.