Quebec Days 17 and 18

Start: Trois Rivieres
End: Joliette
Mileage/cumulative: 59.07 / 721.75
Elevation Ascended/cumulative: 817’ / 25,591’ 
Weather: Start – Cloudy 52 degrees / Finish – Cloudy 61 degrees
Flat tires (entire group) day/cumulative: 0 / 6

Day 17 was a rest day in Trois Rivieres, the second settlement in New France. Its name (Three Rivers) is bit of a misnomer since it sits at the confluence of two rivers, the St. Lawrence and the Saint-Maurice. However, because the Saint-Maurice is divided by two islands in the river, it technically has three mouths at the St. Lawrence River. Thus, the name “Three Rivers”.

Trois Rivieres is a city desperately trying to redevelop their riverfront in the historic part of town. Unfortunately, this was the first city we’ve been in (including Montreal and Quebec) where we didn’t feel completely safe. The area has clearly suffered from COVID, with many restaurants and pubs only open several days a week and struggling to attract employees. It also didn’t help that it rained for most of our rest day, adding to the dreariness of the location. However, our hotel (Hotel Oui Go) was ideal for cyclists with a very friendly staff and a very comfortable room for our two night stay.

The rain disappeared before we rolled out for Day 18 and once we got out of the greater Trois Rivieres area, our route flowed through beautiful farmlands and small villages. Of course, the winds cranked up, coming at us from every angle except from behind. One of these days we’ll get a ride without double-digit winds and we’ll throw a party.

Our destination for Day 18 was Joliette where, strangely, we found a small taqueria run by a family from Tulum, on the Yucatán Peninsula. They cooked up the best tacos we’ve had since leaving California eight years ago. Do you hear that Knoxville? We don’t need anymore fast-food chicken joints. Get a damn taqueria.

Day 19 promises to be special as we begin to veer west, away from the St. Lawrence and toward the Laurentian mountains!