Day 14 Exploring Montreal by Bike 9/27/14

Today was a throwback to summer for people in Montreal and they were out to enjoy it. That was our plan too.

We headed out without much planning or breakfast for a very popular bike shop nearby to see if there was any chance of getting into one of the tours they lead or rent bikes on our own if not. We got there just as the shop opened at 10 and a few minutes later we signed up with the last spaces for their most popular tour around Montreal. This was very lucky and more so as we learned later on the tour. We were fitted with sturdy Linus city bikes and I got a nutcase style helmet. Laurie had her red & white helmet and gloves. Our perky young tour guide, Catherine, gathered the dozen of us going on the ride for a quick overview. Erin served as mechanic and sweep rider for the tour. 

We saw and learned much as we wove through parts of the city new to us. We stopped often for information and had lunch at an open air market. The pizza was amazing and there was plenty to go around and I had help with a great beer selection. The way back included some hills but we got an ice cream reward as well as riding through our neighborhood on the way. We were right on schedule getting back at the shop at 3 after a 5 hour tour covering 18 km and resulting in many photos. We had a great time from a spur of the moment effort.

Back at the apartment we cooled off for a while before going back out to find a famous local dining place for our special "poutine" meal. They have 30 different types of these crazy rich fries, cheese curds, gravy, and more. My "3 amigos" variety had 3 types of hot dogs & sausage. Luckily, we only ordered standard size servings, not the larger one some around us had. Laurie couldn't finish hers but enjoyed the experience. Afterwards we walked slowly over to a large and very popular park to watch people and aid our digestion. We wisely passed on stopping at the same ice cream shop we visited on the bike tour. 

Back home we did some planning for our last day, our laundry and relaxed. I did have to make one more trip out for change but it was very convenient to do laundry then and a big help for the next leg of our trip. 

We got to the shop as it opened and lucked out

Laurie had her own gear and a bike colored to match

Our perky tour guide told us about the Sunday Tam Tam drumming

Laurie was a pro rider and looked it too

Laurie didn't always pay attention to our tour focus

This canal was great for cycling and popular too

"Horn of the Devil" a new IPA for me

Time out for ice cream after a big hill

Cyclo Velo HQ where much good cycling advocacy is done

 Back at our apartment for another balmy evening

Our first encounter with Poutine!