Three years after riding from Quebec City through Charlevoix to Tadoussac, I did a motor holiday with my family, following almost the same route.

Experiencing Charlevoix for the second time left me incredulous. I had trouble believing that I had climbed such long and steep hills, day after day after day. Our rental car struggled on one particularly brutal 18% grade... How had I done it on my own power in the 32 Celsius/90 Fahrenheit heat? (I actually do remember how: I zigzagged my way up; stopped to rest every minute or two; and guzzled litres of water during the difficult ascent.)




(La Grande Côte - Les Éboulement - in winter)

My return trip made me realize that I had really achieved something special on my bicycle trip through Charlevoix.