23 June 2023 Beautiful Cycling to Terrebonne and Back

        Four went cycling on Friday the 23rd from Ste Thérèse to Ste Anne des Plaines and then onto Terrebonne, followed by a crossing of Laval and returning westwards on Gouin.    The four were Louis-Louis, Birdie, A.T., and Tibbs.   They made their customary favorite café stops along the way and a smoked meat place in Terrebonne.  Unfortunately Louis-Louis and Birdie had to bail out just before Ste Anne des Plaines because of time constraints.   A..T. introduced the riders to this great birding area.

The Wetlands

A.T. leading the way through welcomed forest shade

Along the edge of prosperous farmlands

The church of Ste Anne des Plaines with its unusual onion dome steeple

        A.T.'s court room skills came to the fore at the dam of Terrebonne.   Because of the fête St Jean two officious young people were stationed at the island end of the dam and were not allowing cyclists or those with dogs or those with foldable chairs to cross the dam.   A.T. pointed out all the inconsistencies in their restrictions.   Another cyclist phoned the police on his cell, hoping they would come by and adjudicate.   The police were not biting.   Tibbs shouted out a statement of support, "C'est la descrimination contre le vélo."   After a half hour wrangle, a manager walked across the dam and showed the two officious young people how to look the other way.   And so........the tour continued.

The dam with walkway at Terrebonne

        There was an unplanned stop at the beginning of the Gouin section.   Tibbs said to A.T. that the chances of heat stroke were high.  So they stopped at a small park along the river with a lot of shade.  Tibbs laid flat out on a shady stretch of grass for a half hour, rehydrated, salty walnuts.    He felt better afterwards and Gouin had a lot of shade, at least half the time in shade.   But Tibbs bailed out on A.T. at Henri Bourassa métro and took it back to Vendôme.   A.T. to his credit cycled across the island on the St. Denis REV, mostly likely in a Sherbrooke reverie.    A.T. the steadfast.

A long wooden bridge cycling path before Terrebonne

        The cycling path up to Terrebonne was great with long stretches through forest, sometimes on long wooden bridges, along farms, near wetlands.   The crossing of Laval after Terrebonne was a bit difficult with the bright sun.  The Gouin cycling path is quite fine, smooth pavement, plenty of space.