When the merde hits the venitlateur

Distance traveled: 380.6 km

Cumulative distance: 1,362.2

Temperature range: 13 - 18

Maximum speed: 108 kph

My first order of business this morning (aside from making motel coffee) was to find a tire and a place to install it. I had seen a Honda dealership at Chandler, Quebec so I called them as soon as they opened at 8:00 am. They had to do some searching but they do have a tire in inventory and because we were in Cap Chat, I didn't really know how long it would take to get there so I didn't want to commit to bring Andelska in first thing in the morning, so I said I would be there no later than 2:00 pm and they said if I could come earlier, that would be great.

My next order of business was to check the tire pressure, which turned out to be about 10 pounds light, so there is a leak at the repair and we need to get air before hitting the road. We loaded up, said goodbye to our 50's era motel - and it looks it - and headed out.

The first gas station we see didn't have air but the young man in attendance suggested a repair shop about one km down the road. The two-door garage does have an air compressor but they are busy (and don't speak English (so they fill a portable air tank and give it to me with a pressure gauge and I fill the tire and make sure I have put in enough air to get us through the day. When I am done, I can't even find the guy who helped me; I think he has taken a car out for a test drive. There didn't even appear to be any expectation of recompense.

It's fresh at 13 degrees but generally sunny, so a nice way to start the day, in part because we are bundled up and make sure all the vents on our riding gear are closed. We ride to Grande Vallee, which is about an hour and a half from where we stayed and in fact, had been my intended destination before I realized we would be catching the 5:00 pm ferry and not the 11:00 am ferry the prior day. We had stopped at a somewhat disappointly lame lighthouse thinking there would be something to learn and see but the gift shop was closed and the lighthouse locked. I guess it is late in the season. While we were there, Nan wandered around and before I could get my helmet off and wander around with her, three people - older than us by several years I would guess - came up to inspect the bike. One fellow recognized it and identified the model. This said something because our motorcycle is new to North America this year. In fact, even the service rep that had booked me in for the tire change tomorrow hadn't seen one yet but had been hoping they would get one. In addition, the lighthouse bike inspectors were excited to see a motorcycle from BC. Unfortunately, I had to tell the truth, that the bike had made most of the trip inside a trailer. The fellow most interested is a veteran rider and has Hondas of his own.

We entered one of the first restaurants we see around 11:30 am and we are famished and on the cold side so we immediately order lattes and soup - no matter what it is. Meanwhile...

I had parked the bike beside some other vehicles that subsequently disappeared, leaving our bike awkwardly in the middle of the the parking lot, which somehow made Andelska an object of interest.

Another good visit with a fellow motorcyclist.

We make a decision to go all the way to Chandler so that I can have the bike into the shop as soon as they open. Along the way, we see several beautiful lighthouses, a village in every bay and really lively homes and cottages. I havent wvwn aeen the lictures yet; this is just what Nan tells me. As of this moment, we are only 31 km behind in our itinerary so if we can make Bathurst tomorrow, we will be back on track. That will depend on what time I get the bike back from the shop.

In the meantime, I book a motel 1 km away from the motorcycle shop so that after i drop the bike off, I can walk back.

The motel is self check-in and there is a restaurant sonas soon as we are settled in, we go to the restaurant. Much to our amazement, there is Osoyoos Larose on the menu, the second time we have seen it this trip. Our meal is surprisingly good. More in the morning.