Friday, September 21, 2018

TROIS-RIVIERE QUBEC TO RIMOUSKI:: AT THE TIME OF PUBLISHING TONIGHT WE ARE BEING BATTERED BY DRIVING RAIN AND ROCKED BY 60MPH WIND GUSTS

DSC_0057

HAD QUITE A TIME TAKING SOME PHOTOS IN 60 MPH WIND GUSTS LATE THIS AFTERNOON

Quiet night in the Trois-Riviere mall parking lot with only 3 other RV’s for company a fair distance away.  Checking the weather map we saw we were in for a rainy day.  No sooner had we the big wheels rolling at 7:25 when those very rains were fast upon us.  And they were upon us for the rest of the day non stop and heavy at times. 

DSC_0001

OUR OVERNIGHTER SPOT IN TROIS-RIVIERE

DSC_0002

RE-CROSSING THE LAVIOLETTE BRIDGE OVER THE ST LAWRENCE RIVER IN TROIS-RIVIERES

DSC_0003

Starting out this morning from the west side of the St. Lawrence River we re-crossed the big green bridge on highway 55 East to the Trans Canada Highway whereupon we turned left and set our sites on Rimouski Quebec.  Traffic on the Trans Canada was thankfully light most of the way with a bit of a build-up east of Quebec City for a short distance.  The further we traveled  along the St. Lawrence River shores the nicer Quebec’s scenery became…….that is what we could see of it with the low cloud cover and constant rain.  There was no point stopping anywhere so we just plugged our way through it.

DSC_0012

THIS PHOTO PRETTY MUCH SUMS UP OUR DAY

DSC_0007

LOOKS NICE OVER THERE TOWARDS THE ST LAWRENCE RIVER

DSC_0015

HAD TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR MOOSES

DSC_0017DSC_0014

HEY COULD THOSE  BE ARIZONA’S CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS COMING UP??

DSC_0019

<<< STOPPED AT A QUEBEC NATIONAL CAMPING AND RV PARK SOUTH OF RAMOUSKI BUT THEY WOULDN’T ALLOW DOGS SO KELLY SAID, ‘NO WAY JOSE’

Stopped in River de Loup at a PetroCan for gas and twenty minutes later our previously fine running engine began missing occasionally especially when accelerating sometimes.  Not all the time, just sometimes.  Kind of like hiccupping.  Finally got a solid engine light but not flashing.  Accept for the occasional missing the engine seems to be running fine and we’ve not experienced any loss of power like 4 years ago when it was the mass air flow filter.  Thanks again Chris the Jeep Guy for fixing that:))

DSC00816

MY CUSTOM ‘BRUCE BUILT’ COFFEE, SNACK, AND CAMERA BAR IS WORKING OUT PERFECTLY…..AND YES THAT IS A MUFFIN SITTING THERE:))

DSC_0005

NOW THERE’S A COUPLE HAPPY CAMPERS

DSC_0010

TRAVELING SNACKS

DSC_0024

SUPPERTIME AT OUR HOUSE

DSC_0022 DSC_0025

AND YES THERE IS ALWAYS LOTS OF INTEREST IN WHAT DAD IS HAVING TO EAT AT ANY TIME

DSC_0026

Rolled through Rimouski shortly after two and continued on 3 miles to a Historical Site right on the Gulf Of St Lawrence at Pointe-au-Pere.  A tragic event occurred near here about 9 miles offshore in the early hours of May 29th 1914.  Over a thousand lives were lost when the RMS Empress Of Ireland collided with the  Norwegian ship SS Storstad and sank in 14 minutes.  It was Canada’s little known Titanic disaster. 

DSC_0045

THE EMPRESS OF IRELAND SANK OUT THERE ABOUT 9 MILES

DSC_0043DSC_0028

WEATHER PERMITTING WE’LL BE HAVING A LOOK AROUND OVER THERE IN THE MORNING

DSC_2566

LOOKING TOWARDS RIMOUSKI ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY AND I THINK I SEE A WHITE CHURCH

DSC_2564

Also here where we are parked is one of Canada’s only remaining Oberon Class Submarines.   HMCS Onondaga S73 is now a museum and I will be boarding that Sub with camera in hand at 9 a.m. Saturday morning to have myself a look around.  I was stationed aboard a Canadain Destroyer back in the mid 60’s but I’ve never been aboard a Submarine.  In fact I may have seen the Onondaga before and even taken a couple photos of it.  I remember taking a picture in 1966 of I think 2 Subs tied up alongside each other in Nova Scotia’s Halifax harbor near the destroyer (HMCS Saguenay) I was on.  I still have that photo at home in one of my photo albums so I will be having a look at it when we get home. 

DSC_0021

I CAN SEE THE SUBS CONNING TOUR FROM MY RECLINER WHERE WE ARE PARKED

DSC_0036DSC_2565

THAT SUBMARINE SURE HAS A BULBOUS NOSE ON IT

We have us a great spot for the night or maybe two nights depending on the weather.  This historic site is very RV big rig friendly and there’s lots of parking with a unique twist.  Because of our atrocious weather this afternoon I was only able to manage a few photos between driving rain and some of the worst gusting winds we have experienced for awhile including those desert canyon winds of the American Southwest.  Checked the weather site and it says it’s 55F in Rimouski with wind gust warnings of 90klms an hour or about 60mph.  Our coach is just a rocking and it’s a tad cold out there with that wind chill factor figured in.  in my books it still beats the last couple weeks of hot and sticky in Ontario.  Weather people are calling for better conditions in the morning so I’ll grab a few more photos of this area we are in then.

DSC_0041 - CopyDSC_0054DSC_0055DSC_0052DSC_0029 - Copy

THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS ARE ALL 18MM WIDE ANGLE LENS SHOTS MAKING THE PARKING AREA LOOK BIGGER THAN IT ACTUALLY IS

DSC_0033 - CopyDSC_0031 - CopyDSC_0039 - Copy

THIS WHOLE MAN MADE PARKING AREA JUTS OUT INTO THE GULF OF ST LAWRENCE LIKE A PENINSULA

Driving along through the rain today I thought to myself, ‘I won’t have many photos for tonight’s post so I’ll resurrect a few of my Iroquois ship photos’.  Then we got to this historic site northeast of Rimouski.

DSC_0027 - Copy

After taking the above photos in heavy winds……the winds got even worse.  We had to quickly pull our slides in then reposition the rig to face directly into the wind gusts to cut down on the buffeting.  At the time of publishing this we are being battered by both wind and rain.  Maybe not too much sleep for us tonight.  Maybe we end up in the St Lawrence River swimming with the fishes:((

DSC_0058

GROANER’S CORNER:(( The banker saw his old friend Tom, an eighty-year old rancher, in town. Tom had lost his wife a year or so before and rumor had it that he was marrying a 'mail order' bride. Being a good friend, the banker asked Tom if the rumor was true. Tom assured him that it was. The banker then asked Tom the age of his new bride to be.  Tom proudly said, 'She'll be twenty-one in November.'  Now the banker, being the wise man that he was,could see that the sexual appetite of a young woman could not be satisfied by an eighty year old man. Wanting his old friend's remaining years to be happy the banker tactfully suggested that Tom should consider getting a hired hand to help him out on the ranch, knowing nature would take its own course. Tom thought this was a good idea and said he would look for one that afternoon.  About four months later, the banker ran into Tom in town again. 'How's the new wife?', asked the banker. Tom proudly said, 'Good - she's pregnant.' The banker, happy that his sage advice had worked out, continued, 'And how's the hired hand?' Without hesitating, Tom said, 'She's pregnant too.'

Don't ever underestimate old Guys ……………….

=======================

Thursday, September 20, 2018

IROQUOIS ONTARIO TO TROIS-RIVIERES QUBEC:: A SO-SO DAY

DSC_2554

WE FINALLY SEE A SUNRISE OUTSIDE OUR DOOR

Three more large ships came through the Iroquois lock in the night and Kelly woke up and saw all three.  I heard only one.  The advantage of half a sleeping pill I guess.  Another ship came through this morning just after we got up so that made 10 altogether while we were there.  Decided to scrap my ship photos and just concentrate on getting our boat cruise photos out of the way.  After tonight’s post I will only have the exterior views of Boldt Caste left and I’ll post them another time.  Starting today I plan to cut down on taking so many photos.

DSC_2203DSC_2183

THIS THOUSAND ISLAND AREA IS APTLY NAMED

DSC_2173DSC_2171DSC_2181DSC_2191DSC_2202DSC_2197DSC_2188DSC_2193DSC_2192DSC_2198DSC_2200DSC_2201

It was around 3 a.m. when I awoke on the cold side.  I hopelessly tried to start our front furnace but only succeeded in reving up the furnace fan in the rear part of the coach where Kelly was.  That immediately had her stampeding out to see what was going on.  She quickly got the coaches forward furnace going and all was well in la-la land again.  And we actually got to see a nice sunrise finally. 

DSC_2551

A PURPLE DOLPHIN  SLOWLYFLOATS ITSELF OVER THE FAR SHORE OF THE U.S.A.

DSC_2555

Nobody bothered us all night, not even the local young town guys driving by blowing their horns or revving their engines. 

DSC_2207DSC_2211DSC_2204DSC_2212DSC_2209DSC_2224DSC_2217DSC_2210

WE FOLLOWED THIS LARGE FREIGHTER FOR AWHILEL

DSC_2221

DSC_2216DSC_2228DSC_2223DSC_2226
DSC_2214

Under cloudy morning skies we had us a strong East wind a blowin.   Our weather has definitely changed as we continue to plod northwards.  I have broken out my warmer cloths and that is just fine with me.

DSC_2232DSC_2233DSC_2236DSC_2237DSC_2284DSC_2288DSC_2229DSC_2179DSC_2287

I THINK IF I WAS ON THAT CROWDED BOAT I WOULD BE THROWING MYSELF OVERBOARD

DSC_2290DSC_2294DSC_2292DSC_2298DSC_2299

We rolled out about 9:15 resuming our journey on highway 2 East through Morrisburg, Ingleside and on to Cornwall where we filled up with gas for the first time since leaving Clinton.  We made it all that way on half a tank of gas.  Keep in mind we have a big gas tank.  We do feel our gas mileage has definitely improved by not towing a vehicle.  So far no qualms at all about not bringing the Jeep.

DSC_2303DSC_2304DSC_2312DSC_2314

IT’S A THIN LINE BETWEEN CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES  IN THIS REGION SO PATROL VESSELS ARE PRESENT

DSC_2305DSC_2317DSC_2320

THERE’S KELLY INSTAGRAMING OUT SOME OF HER BLACKBERRY BOAT CRUISE PHOTOS

DSC_2310DSC_2313DSC_2316

DSC_2307

I THINK THIS FELLOW HAS THE RIGHT IDEA….. 1 BOAT 1 PERSON

North of Cornwall we re-joined the 401 and set our sights on Montreal.  We decided earlier in the morning our objective for the day would be to put Montreal in our rear view mirror.  And we did that.  Morning’s traffic on the 401 was not a problem and not heavy.  No trouble in picking up the #30 by-pass around the East side of Montreal.  What a gem that by-pass is and traffic was very light for most of it and moderate for the rest.  For anyone who has been through Montreal before the by-pass they will truly appreciate the value of this #30 route.  I first tangled with Montreal back in 1966 when driving from Halifax Nova Scotia to my home town of Tavistock Ontario.  Worst part of the whole trip was Montreal.  My next nasty encounter with Montreal was in 1986 when heading East to the Maritimes then coming through Montreal on my way back again.  Both times were bad encounters and I vowed to never drive through that Montreal madness again.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, to the people who put that by-pass in. …………We had totally forgot about all the road signs, etc. being in French as soon as we crossed the Quebec border.  Trying to read anything was like being in a foreign country where English is not used.  Sign after road sign were real tongue twisters for us and trying to pronounce any of the words was a serious business which could easily leave the tip of one’s tongue jammed irretrievably up behind one’s left eyeball.  We quickly figured out Est meant East and Quest meant West.  Frustrating!!  Below are a few pics I took today……….

DSC_0002

SCENIC DRIVE IROQUIOS TO CORNWALL

DSC_0003

A QUIET 401

DSC_0006

TONGUE TWISTING SIGNS IN QUEBEC

DSC_0010DSC_0014

STOPPED IN PIERREVILLE TO CHECK OUT A POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT SIGHT

DSC_0018

Climbed off #30 at Sorel Quebec and picked up highway 132 heading through Yamaski, Pierreville, Nicolet, and on to Trois-Rivieres. (Three Rivers)  This very flat route travels through Quebec’s rural countryside and it was nice to see the quaint little towns and old rustic buildings along the way.  We kept an eye out for an overnight spot but ended up going all the way to Trois-Rivieres where we found a spot in a parking lot near a Best Buy.  Not a great spot but sometimes by the end of the day any old Port in a storm will do.

DSC_2322DSC_2318DSC_2321DSC_2326DSC_2336DSC_2338DSC_2323DSC_2324DSC_2329DSC_2330DSC_2337DSC_2339DSC_2331DSC_2332DSC_2328

GANANOQUE DEAD AHEAD

DSC_2334DSC_2333DSC_2341DSC_2342

WE NOSE INTO DOCKSIDE

DSC_2343

KELLY AND I WERE THE FIRST TWO OFF THE BOAT

DSC_2344

 THANKS FOR THE NICE CRUISE GUYS

I am finding myself using my Atlas road maps less and less and Google Maps on my computer more and more.  Unlike Google Maps my paper 2012 Atlas has no way of updating itself plus the computer map can easily be enlarged making it much easier to see.  And then there’s the satellite views.  We still use our antique Garmin GPS system to audibly navigate through large cities.  Sooooo much easier than trying to scan overhead road signs, etc.  One of the many welcome logical perks of modern technology.

DSC_2398

GROANER’S CORNER:(( The 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon resulted in many dogfights between Syrian and Israeli jet fighters.In the end, the Syrians lost over 80 planes and had a number of SAM batteries knocked out, while the Israelis lost no planes.Sometime later, the Syrian Defense Minister was shopping for weapons in Moscow.  His host, the Soviet Defense Minister, was embarrassed about the scorecard from Lebanon.  He told his Syrian guest, "Take anything you want - our best tanks, rifles, or surface-to-air missiles."  "No, no - you don't understand!" the Syrian replied. "Last time you gave us surface-to-air missiles. This time we need surface-to-*jet* missiles!"

--------------------

“So many people buy their groceries at the market on the corner that it seems to have a corner on the market.”

---------------------

Little Emily was complaining to her mother that her stomach hurt. Her mother replied, “That’s because it's empty. Maybe you should try putting something in it." The next day, the pastor was over at Emily's family's house for lunch. He mentioned having his head hurt, to which Emily immediately replied, "That's because it's empty. Maybe you should try putting something in it."

===================