Sunset on Lac Mercier, Le Village, QC. A lovely way to end my first day on the road.

I’ve decided that writing a blog is difficult. So I’m going to write these as if I’m writing a letter getting popped in the mail….let’s start again.

Dear Friend,
The first day on the road was quite emotional. My heart broke more than a little to leave my nest, my little buddy Reuben, my community and family. Sheesh. Big ol’ tears for a good half hour. Wish you were here.

I’ve been to Montreal a few times, so I decided to take a different route and crossed at Derby Line VT, where there’s a library that lives half in the US and half in Canada. I didn’t go in but I wanted to set my eyes on it. It’s funny. There’s parking on both sides, with little concrete blocks that urge you not to cross. There was also a border patrol car down the road, within eye sight. I stopped at the Circle K, got gum and headed for the teeny weeny border crossing in town. Down a half-blocked lane that looks abandoned at first glance, to a one lane crossing. Being the only car, I watched the border guard leave the building and cross to the little kiosk on the drivers side. The usual questions about firearms, weapons, ‘where ya going’ and I was on my way. He did say, “ you’re driving to Vancouver Island? You know that will take at least 3 days right?” hahaha. yep, sure do bud.

Derby Line Library that is half in the US and half in Canada. I failed at getting a photo of the border, but I’m nearly standing on it, trust me.

A few things of note:
Gas: Derby Line, VT $3.03/gallon, across the border at Rock Island, QC $1.43/liter, about $5.71/gallon US. I filled up north of Montreal, 7 gallons for $40. When I left, 15 gallons cost $45. We have it pretty dang good in the US ya know. Gas fluctuated from 1.43 to 1.67/liter that I saw.
Bananas: .89 canadian cents per pound at an IGA Extra (.63/lb with exchange to US. They were .39/lb at home.) A goofy thing to track but there it is, welcome to my brain.

The drive on Hwy 55 to Magog was forested, a little higher elevation perhaps, so it was notably less green than at home. Route 10 past Granby was pretty uneventful, two lane highway stuff, flat, huge farmland plots, giant silos in the distance leading up to the outskirts of Montreal. The speed limit is 100km/hr, but cars are easily cruising at 130 most of the time. Honestly, it felt a little like Nebraska. The weather turned here too, 68ºF and sunny. After today I hope to be on much much less divided highways so I can actually see what I’m driving through.

It took me an hour to get all the way through Montreal, surprising for a Saturday? at 5pm? Rush hour? huh. Montreal is big, sprawling and quite lovely as cities go.. The graffiti was neat and orderly, as was the driving. No road rage, just reasonable speeds and polite distances between cars, lots of easy merging. Maybe I’m making this up, but I swear I could feel less anger and angst in the air.

To the left is rainy and chilly Vermont, to the right is sunny and warm Montreal.

15 Nord out of Montreal, through the Laurentides was just lovely. Through rolling ski hills, the ski slopes still had patches of snow in places. I’m staying in a little village, coincidentally named Le Village, it’s in the shadow of Mont Tremblant (3100m) and on Lac Mercier. I chose this spot at random on Expedia, Hotel Mont Tremblant was cheap and just off the beaten path. As it turns out, this area is rife with bike trails, a 250km network exists here. The bartender at the pub in the lobby claims that it’s much busier in the summer than the winter. “Around noon each day, the line extends out the building, all the bikers stop here” he said. “Like, what are you guys DOING, it gets crazy in here”. I can relate to that feeling.

Making Dave proud. , I drank a Guiness while transferring my photos from my camera to my phone (look at me extroverting).

Anyway, that’s all for now, Heading North through Val D’or QC and on to Ontario tomorrow. I’ll plan my route in the morning. 327 miles down. 3700 or so to go before I hug my mum.

Love ya,

Deb

PS. Here’s a few photos from Le Village. It’s cute here.