Day 9: Rest Day

While eating a genuinely excellent meal at Cafe Chez Eric yesterday evening I decided to make today a rest day. My accommodation in Montreal is booked for 20 and 21 May, so I have four days to get there and am only three days away. Also, I've ridden for eight successive days and it's probably good policy to give my aged muscles a chance to recover even though I have been taking it relatively easy so far. Speaking of fitness, here's one for the students of cycling training, otherwise known as my fellow nerds. My resting heart rate is 43 today, 5 lower than it was at the start of the trip. Long steady distance training clearly still has its place. Though to be fair, not many people can afford the time to spend 5 hours a day on the bike.

Pause for reflection on the trip so far. In particular, how does cycle touring in Canada compare with the UK?

First, the traffic is different. Roads that Canadians clearly think are hazardous for cyclists seem pretty quiet to me; some that are designated as highways are virtually deserted by British standards. And they tend to be straighter, so sight lines are good, and many have rideable "shoulders" that can keep you out of the main carriageway altogether. It would be silly to overstate this, I've been passed too close by some pretty big trucks, but the contrast is there and I suspect that cyclists accustomed to Canadian conditions would find a British "A" road a pretty scary proposition at first.

Second, there are fewer cyclists here. This may be a function of my starting very early in the season - the snow isn't long off the ground in parts of southern Quebec - but in 8 days and well over 600kms I have seen one other touring cyclist.

Third, DOGS. Some dogs chase cyclists in the UK, of course, but it's a minority interest. Here it is clearly the canine national sport. Virtually every dog I have passed has set off in pursuit, one with such enthusiasm it snapped the chain that was supposed to restrict it to its own front lawn. Only one has looked like catching me, forcing me into a demonstration that I can still accelerate hard even with 25 kilos of luggage. So what is it that Canadian dogs have against cyclists? I don't get it.

A veggie restaurant tonight followed by a couple of pints in the rather good, and very friendly, local pub. Things could be worse.