James Bay Trip

Ottawa - Grand Remous  

Thursday, July 26, 2001, 7:30 AM, I'm up and doing a final re-check on the bike. My sleeping bag, food, and other items that need weather protection, are in the Givi top case and side bags. Items I might need quickly, like rain gloves, hat, sunscreen, camera, are in the big magnetic tank bag in front of me. And tied to the passenger seat is:

• An old tail pack containing a gallon of spare gas and a litre of naptha.
• Tent
• Thermarest mattress

Ok, we're all set. It's about 7:40 AM, warm and sunny, and a good forecast. I'm thrilled and excited to be doing this trip after thinking about it for so long, and a little nervous about riding into the unknown. Although I went to bed early last night, I must admit I didn't sleep very well with the excitement.

The first challenge will be to get clear of Ottawa/Hull, and northbound on the Quebec highways to the north. I'm not looking forward to crossing the city, especially the bridge, during rush hour, but I can't think of any way around it other than leaving too early (deer problem) or too late (distance problem).

It ends up taking about an hour to go down the Ottawa river parkway, cross into Hull, and work my way up to Northbound highway 105. Slow frustrating traffic. By the time I clear Hull I'm tired just from the tension of being alert and the frustration of creeping along.

At about Km 83 I come across a roadside rest area with washrooms so I stop for a stretch and to check how the bag tie-downs are holding up. Strangely, despite being late July, the washrooms are locked up, too bad. Once I cleared the traffic, 105 became a nice road, twisty, with a good surface, following the river. It's 14 degrees, and I've closed the zipper vents on my suit as it's a bit chilly. Expecting it to get much chillier, I don't start my electric vest. Off again at 9:00.

I try to make a habit of stopping about every hour when travelling distance. 10:00, Km 159, stop for gas in Maniwaki. It's cold out, and I'm tempted to put on the electric vest, but resolve to put it off for one more stop. That turns out to be quite soon, as I come to the town of Grand-Remous sooner than expected, and pull into a no-name truck stop / restaurant for breakfast at Rand Point.

So far the roads have been good. Some construction but never a traffic problem. I'm travelling a comfortable 110 on open road under bright blue sky. Clouds are just starting to gather on the horizon to the North and West.

Breakfast is an adventure. I'm surprised how little I remember of my French, and make a small translation error when looking at the menu. I order the trucker's special, and am surprised when the waitress doesn't ask me my choice of (according to the menu) ham or bacon or sausage or creton or pancake. Oops. It turns out I get all those things, not a choice of those things, with the special. When I finally waddle out of the restaurant I am pretty sure I won't need to eat again for the rest of the trip. Remembering how cold it was getting, and that I don't have another planned stop for a while, I put my electric vest on under the suit before pulling away at 11:00.

Turn the page to accompany me to Val-D'Or.