"On the Trail"
Friday to Sunday, August 17 - 19, 2001: Hooked on Reading - Hull, Quebec - 163 km by bike
Frank here...
I took my first ride in five days - only 10 km but that was better than nothing. There are very convenient bike paths very close to Chris's home.
After hearing Louise and Chris and her Aunt's rave about the Harry Potter books (and remember hearing about them before I left on my PeaceBike trip), I had to give it a try. I found myself carrying the book everywhere with me in Chris's home - was I hooked?
Friday night, the three of us went to the restaurant at the Hull Casino. My dear friend Nick was playing his accordion. We became very close friends in the mid 1990's when he rented a room from me as we worked at the Ministry of Education. He instilled in me a great appreciation for the accordion during that time, and we shared music styles and jammed together often. It was so good to see and hear him again. Having dinner at the restaurant were his wife Margaret and brother Domenic with his wife Carla. Needless to say the evening went well with great food, conversation and laughter.
On Saturday I went for a longer ride of 78 km in the Hull area. Part of the ride took me beside the infamous Meech Lake which is known as the site of the Meech Lake Accord. I was surprised to find myself in such a historic area which is very beautiful and wooded and spotted with cottages.
Louise's brother Chris cooked another great meal for the three of us, Louise's boys Justin and Caen, and their friend Chris. Because they are university students, they always take advantage of the opportunity to wash their clothes at their uncle's, so after dinner and three loads of laundry, they headed back to their apartment at Ottawa University.
Sunday's bike ride began with the three of us. Chris guided Louise and me through the nicely wooded area around his home, then I split off and continued for a total of 75 km. I decided that I would attempt to complete 200 km in Quebec during my stay at Chris's. I only had a few kilometres to go.
On Sunday's some of the parkways are closed to motor vehicles and only opened to cyclists. It is a very good idea that I would love to see in more cities. I became more familiar with the Lake Champlain lookout and the Meech Lake area as I continued to add kilometres to my Quebec total.
That evening, we enjoyed a great pasta dinner by Chris. I think that he was nervous because I had just come from Italy and I have grown up with a lot of Italian influence. He might have thought that I would not have liked his pasta. Well, I had full confidence in him and demonstrated my appreciation of his cooking by, again, having a full tummy. Thanks Chris. I think that he should change his career and become a chef.
-Forgiving can take a huge weight off your shoulders.
-Frank Pollari
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