A ride best served cold

Like dominos falling one onto the other, G. T. Bishop, Laura Snowball and Louis Rubenstein embarked on the EXO train at Lucien L'alliers, Vendome and Montreal West respectively for an early morning trip to Vaudreuil onboard a surprisingly busy train full of students heading to classes in the West Island.

A late scratch to the fixture was Birdie Munger who unfortunately came down with a non-Covid flu (who knew such a thing even existed anymore!).

The members discussed the upcoming fixture ride and it was quickly ascertained that the members preferred any opportunity to shorten the length of the ride. So, disembarking at Vaudreuil and, after using the very appreciated and well fitted out washroom facilities at the Vaudreuil station, the members started riding towards the Hudson/Oka ferry eschewing the delights of Louis' Hudson hometown.

While the day started out on the cool side, the weather forecast announced a blazing 23C by afternoon and the sun was already warming things up as the ferry approached Oka.

With the shortened option chosen, the coffee stop was a delightful, little boulangerie on the main road heading east out of Oka that offered pasteries, croissants and breads as well as coffee though one star off for the paper cups instead of porcelain.

For Louis, another star was removed when the server contested his request to heat up his croissant in their microwave stating it would destroy the quality of the croissant. In the end, Louis grudgingly munced down on his cold croissant but vowed to find something warm along the way.

Still, the boulangerie has a bit of seating inside and a nice selection of goods as long as you don't want them heated up so it is recommended for future fixture rides.

Heading down towards the shore, the members returned to the Vagabonde trail and headed towards Oka park. G. T. offered the members to turn up towards the Calvaire on the hill but Louis and Laura politely declined. Instead, the members turned down into Oka park with the intention of riding the path from the beach but were turned away by the Sepaq employee who informed them that they would each have to pay the entrance fee to enter the park even if they just wanted to ride through.

With the stock market open and shares heading downwards, the members did not want to shell out the $9.25 to do the side trip through the park and returned to the main path following the road towards Deux Montagnes. The few little climbs along the road warmed the members sufficiently that they stopped to take off some layers and continued on. A fortuitous porta-potty near Pointe-Cascades allowed the members to make a health break and gave G. T. an opportunity to adjust Louis' saddle that was pitching him forward.

Under a lovely fall sun, the members reached the ongoing REM construction at Deux Montagnes.

While overall, the fall colours were not at their maximum there was the odd tree that stood out in its vibrant loveliness.

Before heading across into Laval, the members stopped to see how du Moulin REM station was progressing. It seemed to have much of the glass panels installed since the last fixture through the area.

Unfortunately, the REM won't be running for at least another couple of years as Louis informed the members that he was hoping to get back to Montreal in time for his history class. With the EXO options so limited outside commuting hours, this possibility was slim to non-existant and Laura convinced him to keep along with the route towards Ile Bizard. Following the detour still in place on the Laval side of the dam for the REM construction, the members rode to the cable ferry for Ile Bizard.

Once on Ile Bizard, the members quickly turned into the park and road through exquisite woodland with the unusually warm sun providing a play of light through the trees. Exiting the park at the secteur de l'Eglise, they carried south along a small gravel path and a sports park towards the bridge stopping at an Italian patisserie just before the bridge.

The weather was so nice that the members chose to sit at one of the tables outside. Louis was much happier as the server accepted to heat his ham croissant though it (and Laura's lasagne) could have been a bit warmer. G. T. had no complaints for his greek salad, ham sandwich and excellent canoli.

Louis was finally resigned to the fact that he was not going to make his class but, in the spirit of shortening the ride, he suggested the members alter the remaining route and head down St. Charles to Ye Olde Orchard pub, which Laura and G. T. agreed to.

The members headed south along the bike lane on Jacques Bizard and then Somerset and then cut over to St Charles for the remaining, hairy ride along the sidewalks down to Pointe Claire. Why is it that all the bike infrastructure is set up for moving east or west along the north and south shores in the West Island but nothing to move north or south between the two until you get to Ste Anne de Bellevue?

The members stopped briefly to view a condo development in a re-purposed church.

Once clear of the 40 and the 20, things calmed down again and the members enjoyed some pleasant riding along the lakeshore into Pointe Claire and the pub.

With Louis looking at taking the next EXO train to Montreal West to avoid Deadman's hill, there was time for a second round before the members weaved along the lakeshore towards Dorval. Laura decided to join Louis to catch the train and G. T. soldiered on to the Lachine Canal, the Old Port, the Berri hill and, finally, home.

In the end, not the full bloom of fall colours but an amazingly warm October day for pleasant riding, good company and some cold or partially warm snacks and cold beverages. Couldn't ask for much more.

Distance travelled for the day varied from 78K to 90K.

G. T. Bishop