July 15th, 2013 Quebec City

Quebec City is a must see for all Canadians - it is like stepping into another world.  In vieux Quebec the architecture is so much more European than most of the other parts of Canada.  The attention to detail & aesthetics is very visually appealing.  There is so much history to learn about and the French language all around you is beautiful to the ear.  The heat and humidity were our only challenges that day. I encourage any and all to see this exquisite part of Canada.  We were all so sad as our day drew to a close - it was truly hard to leave that city, and the next day to leave the province.

Walled entrance to vieux (old) Quebec

Vieux Quebec (old Quebec)

Casse Crepe for lunch - Trip Adviser recommendation

Boulangerie or bakery for my chocolate croissant!

Candy store

Plains of Abraham bus tour ...

Exhibition for the Plains of Abraham

View from the Plains

Guards at the Citadel, an active military base still

Hotel Frontenac

St. Lawrence background

Residences behind the Frontenac

Wolf monument

Drinks for the heat & high humidity

Frontenac boardwalk

Restaurant and tourist shop area

Paintings & other artwork for sale

The planter has plants growing on it too

Ashton's for poutine!

Street magician

Buskers

Quebec Legislative Assembly roundabout fountain

Quebec Legislative Assembly

July 12, 13, 14 Belleville, Mont Sainte Anne, Canyoning

While Walmart parking lots have proven utilitarian rather than adventurous, Mont Sainte Anne, Quebec and in particular canyoning have been a high light of our trip.

London to Toronto

Toronto to Belleville

Belleville, Ont. Walmart parking lot as another camp night

East, East, East

J'mappelle Shannon!

Mon amie est Mary!

Kingston bound

See the Great Lakes; we missed dipping our feet in Eerie

Belleville to Kingston 

Were now by the famous & important St. Lawrence River

"Onroute" - awesome Ontario gas and rest centres in the middle of "no where!"

Ontario countryside

towards Montreal ...

But we leave the Trans Canada to take Hwy 30 "Est" (east) to avoid Montreal rush hr traffic

Toll Hwy - $9 for truck and trailer

The massive St Lawrence

Quebec countryside

Exported hydro power a large part of Quebec's gross domestic product (GDP)

1.5 hrs to go before Mont Sainte Anne

Gas stop - everyone is speaking French - go figure!

Parapenting

Bridge before Quebec City

Apartments, Quebec City

Japanese Lilacs still in bloom, Quebec City - heavy traffic too!

Sunset before we exit Quebec City, over the bridge towards Beaupre

Our Mont Sainte Anne campsite - kids overlooking the river

Forecast of 33 C and high humidity

Human-made swimming hole beside our #24 campsite

Fed from the Jean Larousse River - il fait frois!

Gondola ride to the top of Mont Sainte Anne Ski Hill

Ski runs & summer hiking trails

Flora and fauna very similar to Shuswap & high country BC

Prep for a wedding

Wedding party guests

Area history - the  cathedral was one of the earliest ones built in North America

92% of Quebec consists of the Canadian Shield

  

The other 2 geological regions are the Appalachians and the St. Lawrence Lowlands

The St. Lawrence follows a 600-million-year-old crack in the earth's crust called Logan's Fault

Back in the gondola to head down

Exiting at the base - wedding guests to the right, mtn bike riders boarding the gondola on the left

The bride & groom!

Mont Sainte Anne resort village

Kiddy ski lift - covered up for the summer

Athlete quick wash station

A cool water hole for the high temps and humidity

Bug net needed!  A particular mouche (fly) took a lot of my skin & blood!

No chlorine - conitnuous feed from the river plus an out take spot and natural filtration

"Canyoning" in Sainte Anne - view from the suspension bridge

Kids 1st on the zipline.  Guide = Mark

Our group for the tour package

Our companions were from Toronto - some former Mont Sainte Anne residents

Bouldering/rock climbing with cable protection

Sainte Anne River

The 2nd area was even more challenging - the kids were amazing, amazing troopers!

A proud completion moment!

Beaupre food stock up at IGA

Restocking at IGA, Beaupre

Cheeses galore

Wine & beer allowed in Quebec supermarkets & gas stations

S'more time