Taking the coastal route (ECT 224)

• I walked today: 34.4 miles

• • Stevie Allagash /Quebec National Trail Alternate (283.3 – 317.7)

• Total walking: 4,357.9 miles
• Total rowing: 191.2 miles

Climate: 60 – 75 ° F, cloudy and cloudy, then rain, then sun and clouds, windy

Trois-Pistoles Municipal Camping to Bic National Park

I am not sure when I started using the phrase, «the coastal route», but I have memories that it is commonly used between my co -worker Steph and I in Alaska. As part of the invasive species strike team from the southwest of southwest Alaska (I still like that name), we were a tight team.

Always united, we walk through all the invasive plants fighting and the thing is that there is a lot of water in Alaska. It doesn’t matter where you go, it seems there. Then, either along the edge of a pond, river or the real oceanic coast, for us, the area near the coast was the coastal route. And a large, long and beautiful coastal route would be today.

However, to be clear, this section of the St. Lawrence river is still very far from the open ocean. In screen capture next, I am approximately where the Purple Silgly circle is …

I am still freely following the SNQ, also known as, Sentier National Au Québec, also known as the National Quebec path. Today I would be traveling in sections 64-68 below, in a blue circle …

It was lifted around 4:00 am. Normally, I would sleep again, but the concept of an early beginning was stuck in my head and would not leave me alone. I fought a little and then I started my package routine. I was out of the camp and I rejoined with my route at 5:00 am, at the time the alarm sounds.

Still in the dark, I entered into some gadget that I supposed was to keep the vehicles and the ATV out and allow only those who cycled and walk.

After a series of turns on the bicycle trails, a short track in the forest and some side roads, I found my way next to one of the most main roads that leave Trois guns to the north. And once on the outskirts, I took a left on a quiet residential road (well, everything was calm) that hugged the coast. There were well -kept houses with a sensation of Cottagey, something decorated or designed to adapt to the reason for the sea. I felt that some had authenticity, while others were newer and imitators and not to my liking.

He had just accepted that this section could be walking by road and then was surprised to see another of the yellow metal barriers, which I now took to love, path. And what a wonderful path was. Squeezed for cyclists, I think there was a sign that said «the verte 1» route), I loved it. The fields next to the water were lovely to witness …

The path did not last so long, just a few miles and with a small section of road in the middle. And then things finally transformed into record of gravel and then again asphalt. Even so, there were very few cars, maybe three passed me. And it was peaceful for water, occasionally approaching enough to listen to some waves stumbling on the shore.

I was surprised that it was not flat. Either by road or road, for the most part it climbed and went down, sometimes steep and however long than I preferred. However, above all, he was gentle and soft. I observed some different temperatures changes, something like when in Mahosuc Notch, but not so extreme.

I had three wildlife sightings during this morning. First it was a black thing, or perhaps dark brown, of comadreja appearance. He started first through the path far ahead of me, and then back. Initially, I thought maybe a giant squirrel, but the second time it was not clearly. However, it was too big to be a ferret. My fast search on Google suggested that it may have been an American mink.

The second was a deer that was beautifully orange brown. He looked at me and then ran out of the way to some reeds. And finally, again from afar, I think a coyote. Or a large fox, but it looked quite large. I guess it could also have been a dog, but I don’t think so.

I stopped for an early breakfast at 8:15 am. The road was very close to the beach here and there was a small path to him. I could not miss this opportunity to explore what seemed to be at least a little low tide. The rocks were protruding at an angle. They had layers that gave me the notion that they had been dramatically inclined in their geological history.

The appearance and smell of the sea reminded me a lot of Alaska, particularly my experiences hanging around Cold Bay and near the home run.

The birds shouted in their fashion, mostly birds on land. But, I saw some darker in the rocks that extended their wings. My conjecture for those was cormorants. A single Eagle Calva also passed and seemed to be persecuted by three seagulls. I also saw 7 huge ships in St. Lawrence, who assumed that they carried load in this way or that. Maybe they do it until the end of the SOO locks and in the great lakes (I think it is a possibility)!

Can you see the ships?

It started to rain, so I packed it and kept moving. Returning to the road, I saw a private property sign. I was right there, simple as the day. I think he had been so excited to reach the beach he had walked. I will have more care. There was also a guy walking down the roads towards me and I wondered if I would tell me. Well, he shouted or anything and began to walk and our paths never crossed, so I will never know.

It was around 9:00 am when the rain began and it did not light up to 11:00 am sometimes they were leveling levels, but above all stable and on the lighter side. Finally, he left around 11:30 am

He had melodies and was crushing him. He helped that at some point I left the road and returned to another great path for bicycles. It was quite impressive. There were views of St. Lawrence and the road itself was a beautiful scene, bordered by bright green moss. Another favorite. Part was a rocky top with some beautiful views. It was once the rain could not tear me down. I was digging everything …

Even the Potty Port was well decorated 😅

All overlook deck! And the views were not bad either

Looking south.

Looking north.

Looking down … there is not much notice through the appearance vessel today.

I will not deny it, a part of me wanted to see if I could push this rock along the way and see it roll to Indiana Jones Raiders of the lost ark style (it was not really as spherical as it is seen from this angle sadly).

As the rain decreased, I got out of the bicycle road and turned on a path that was heading from the «coast» to the 132 highway. This is the northern-south route of the entire peninsula (is Quebec a peninsula? It seems that it is). I crossed the super busy road and then headed to a much quieter road.

At that intersection I stopped and delayed, even changing my socks to a dry pair. Looking at the forecast, it seemed that the rain stopped at the moment. The following hours were all on the road and I even had to go next to the 132 highway for a few miles. However, it was fast.

I was doing a good speed and I think having my great goal of miles helped. What also helped was to find a Petro Canada service station and drink a sugary capuchino drink. Let me tell them friends, the Canadians are ahead of us in this specialty … absolutely delicious.

Looking at those mounds ahead, I suspected that they could be the exact place I was going.

Shortly after my convenience store stop, I turned off the 132 highway to the left and headed west. Perhaps half a mile was more or less an entrance to the BIC National Park and the beginning of the path he had been pressing to arrive all day. He had been thinking that he went to (and climbed) the green mountain mounds.

After throwing some garbage, I exposed. There was a small observation cover right next to the parking lot that offered a fairly notable view from the beginning.

This was the Murailles path and it was pleasant! He had the feeling of being well traveled by walkers and was a hiking route from beginning to end. There were no bicycles raising this bad boy. He had some of the qualities at certain points, mainly a bit of shields. Other times, however, he was gentle and super nice.

While the rock previously on the beach was very flat and in layers, here I observed a lot of this conglomerate with all the small machacs and cemented stones together.

I was following a ridge line that was more or less linear in the north-south direction. To the east, when I got views, it was from all the farmland that I had been walking before. To the west was the St. Lawrence River.

That was quite good. However, the next point of view, the pic-champlain overlook, was even better …

Subsequently, continuing on the path, I saw a woman stop for what seemed no reason. When we made visual contact, he said something in French and pointed out. All I recognized was: «Salamandre …»

He was becoming later in the afternoon at this point and was quite tired. Even so, instead of continuing on this beautiful path that would lead to my camp to spend the night, I diverted to go to the water. It would be longer, but I felt forced to see a little more about the experience of the Bic National Park. It is sad to visit a park like this, which intrigues me a lot, for a few hours, but I was happy to be there and I was enjoying myself immensely.

Of course, I got back into water. When I got that capuchino, I also intended to fill with water, but no, I forgot it. So, I was happy when I found a small current at the end of the day. The path became a more premium bicycle path, which I didn’t complain …

Essentially, I chose some observation areas on the park map that fit into a loop towards my camp. First it was Epinettes Pointettes. Going out to Rocky Point resistant filled me and made me feel good with my last minute diversion decision …

Sitting there and soaked in the beautiful scene, I really saw a seal head appearing on the coast. With the hope of obtaining some images, I uploaded and quickly, but safely, I ran to that rocky point in the photo above. And then … nothing. I didn’t find it again. Anyway, it was a beautiful place.

I still expected other miles to some more visualization places. However, fatigue caught me. Throwing another in the change of fly, I decided to shorten my route and see only one more that was more on the way.

You can go to the island through the narrow gravel bar when the tide is low. If I had time, only Dandy would have worked. Instead, I took a short walk to that great rock and turned around. Then he finally went to the camp after a great day. I celebrated with a camp of the camp store 🙂

A wooden platform! Luckily I kept my little white screw.

Day album:

«Into The Great Wide Open» (1991) – Tom Petty and The Heartbreaker