Touring - Signing off for my tour

I am leaving tomorrow for my tour from Toronto to Fredericton NB. Not sure how long it will take (about 1000 miles), what route I will take, or whether I will make it all the way. I'm coming off some pretty massive injuries to my knee and ankles, and everything feels good, but it remains to be seen whether it will all hold up for the long haul. So it is going to be an adventure, regardless of how pastoral the surroundings.

If anyone sees me/big guy riding along on my green touring bike with green panniers. Say hello, and you can sign my frame. I'm carrying a silver Pilot paint pen, so I have something to remember my trip by.

Good Luck!

Take lots of pictures!

Have a great ride!

Hi Pete.....Good on you - hope you have a great trip. A few summers ago I did from Ottawa to Fredricton, so I'm kinda curious what routes you'll be taking. It is beautiful country...lots of hills in New Brunswick which I didn't expect, and they challenged this ole prairie boy.

I wish I knew. I have a pretty good idea from Quebec on, but I don't have much of an idea from T.O to the far side of Montreal. Montreal looks like a whole day of riding by itself. I have done the route inumerable times by car, but the bike option will be pretty different.

How long did it take you to go from Ottawa to Fredericton?

Have fun and feel free to report back and post pics in the touring forum!

Koffee

I wish I knew. I have a pretty good idea from Quebec on, but I don't have much of an idea from T.O to the far side of Montreal. Montreal looks like a whole day of riding by itself. I have done the route inumerable times by car, but the bike option will be pretty different.

How long did it take you to go from Ottawa to Fredericton?

My little suggestion: take the cycling path along highway 20 to enter Montreal from Vaudreuil Dorion and Ile Perot... once on the Island, you can follow the quiet and beautiful streets along the waterfront up to Lachine. At Lachine, there is an OK cycling path that takes you right downtown. From downtown, there is another cycling path that goes north along Berry and Christophe Colomb, it reaches the nice cycling path and small road that follows Rivière des Prairies up to the bridge that crosses to Repentigny (note: this bridge was under repair last time I've crossed it in August... it was closed to bicycle at that time but since there are no other options nearby, I took it anyway... you can inquire about it locally).

The other 'bike path' on the south of the island that is supposed to reach the same point is terrible... avoid it by all mean possible!

Although I highly suggest that, from Montreal, you follow road 138 to Quebec City and then cross the river to take Road 132 until you reach Rivière du Loup (beautiful rides, less cars, large paved shoulder, easy...), you could also cross the bridge to the South shore and follow the very nice cycling paths and small roads that lead to Sorel and then follow road 132 to Quebec city.

Did you have a look at these web sites?

http://www.hedney.com/waterfront.htm

http://www2.ville.montreal.qc.ca/divers/pdf/voiescyclable2004.pdf (http://)

Thanks! I'm cutting and pasting this, and I will take it with me.

I just did the Hedney tour, and it was really great. Allow yourself a stopoff at the little cafe on the north side of rue Rachel (just west of rue Chambord) which is a combination bike store/breakfast place/bike touring information place. They sell, among other things, the route Verte guide, and some really funky paraphenalia. Very cool. Also, do stop off at bloomfield cycles, which is a really neat bike shop that also has a big shelf full of light reading so you can recharge your book supply. Keep in mind that there is a slight detour (or at least when I did it one month ago) going into Port Hope along Lakeshore. Just have to pop up (I think the best route is to take the first road going north after Wesleyville, and then take the first road going east which should lead straight into Port Hope.

Good luck!