Date ridden: September 12th, 2013
Today: 110 km
To date: 7,797 km
To go: 3 km….
Despite that today was wet to varying degrees, it was a lovely day. We started out in search of breakfast and found little until Baie de Saint Anne where we first came across a grocery store and we restocked our emergency food supples – depleted after last night’s Mr. Noodles. The cashier pointed us to a restaurant farther up along the road. It was more of a fast food joint but we take what is given.
We started to see trees changing colour – signs of fall, and also unfortunately signs of our trip coming to an end.
Have I mentioned how silly it is having a rain coat with no hood?? At least the helmet keeps the water out of my eyes enough for me to see. I got to Richibuktu and circled through the town looking for Alex – no luck. Usually he waits somewhere obvious and is easy to find. Being the worrywart I am, I started thinking back to all the forks in the road that could have led him miles and miles in the wrong direction. Finishing up my second lap of town I saw Alex approaching. He had taken a turnoff to explore a village in the National Park – and again I tell myself I shouldn’t worry so much! And perhaps I should put more faith in Alex’s own ability to not get lost.
We head back to this bar/restaurant I scouted out doing my laps. It claimed a fresh seafood pot and that was exactly what I felt like after riding along the coast and looking at fishing boats all day. We had the steam pot for two – a lovely bucket of crab, lobster, mussels, clams, prawns, potatoes and corn on the cob. It was perhaps the most delicious dinner I have ever had. And then it got better!
The waitress had been impressed by the distance we had come and to honour us, she bought us a fresh, right off the boat lobster and added that to our feast. Literally the day’s catch was just brought in and then ended up on our plate. To thank her, Alex offered her the Lindt chocolate ball I had given him. She excitably accepted and popped the chocolate into her mouth as she walked away, all smiles.
Not only was the food delicious, but the atmosphere was fun. There was a juke box that Alex and another man kept picking songs from and celebrating each other’s picks. Midway through our meal this somewhat drunken man offered us a place to camp on his lawn. However, we figured he might be at the bar for quite some time and we declined.
Instead we camped by the sea. A mighty storm tried to blow the tent down. I put the fly on sloppily (as usual) and had to run out like a mad woman quickly pulling strings tight and staking doors out – Alex calling out instructions from inside. In the end we had a waterproof shelter and I was thoroughly impressed with myself.
