Cross Canada and Back, Part 38

Quebec at it's best

Sunday 7th of August 2011, day 84 of our Cross Canada Trip.

We woke up to heavy rain.  But Sundays are good travelling days. 


View La Malbaie to Alma and Lac Sain-Jean in a larger map

We packed up and were happy that the Malbaie River bridge was still in tact after the heavy rain over night (our only way out of the campground). 

Its raining cats and dogs

Our destination today was the Dam-en-Terre campground in Alma, close to Lac Saint-Jean.

Water fall at Chutes Fraser campground in Rivière Malbaie

From La Malbaie north we reached Saint Siméon a funky pretty city. There we left the St.Lawrence River and headed north-east on Hwy.170 toward Saguenay City, Ha Ha Baie, La Baie, Jonquière, Laroche and Alma. It would be a pretty drive, very windy and lots of up and down, but with the rain, it was ok.

A small town along the way

Wonderful landscape

Our campsite at Dam-en-Terre is nicely shaded. We are among tons of family vacationers. There are about 90 sites with lots of facilities, and it is very well run, young and old is enjoying themselves. 

Very nice campground with lots of space

Our campsite at Dam-en-Terre

Here we are in the heart of French Canada, we are the only Anglos, with a licence plate not from Québec.

Monday 8th of August 2011, day 85.

Brilliant sunshine wakes us up. We indulge in bagels and cream cheese with a great fruit salad for breakfast. 

Liz

We plan our day trip to visit Sainte-Rose-du-Nord. It is south, about half way between Alma and Tadussac on Hwy 172, on the Route du Fjord. The areas around Alma, Jonguièrea and Chicoutimi are very industrialized, Alcan and wood factories  ( operational and not) dominate the skylines. 

Forest industry is busy

Masses of wood waiting to be processed

Through  farmland, hills, and forests we arrive at the tiny village of Sainte-Rose-du-Nord on a pretty bay on the Saguenay Fjord. Tour-boats stop here. 

Here you can take a boat tour

Anders at Sainte-Rose-du-Nord

We hike to the top of the bluff above the village, and enjoy a wonderful view over the valley and the river. 

A hike is in order...

View over Sainte-Rose-du-Nord

Wonderful views from up here.

The forest and all the vegetation smells so fresh.

Later we order Poutine and Soupe Maison at the restaurant at the boat launch, we are not impressed. On the way home we visit " La Petite Heidi" on 504 Boul. Tadoussac and buy some great goat cheese from a local farm for our supper.

Tuesday 9th of August 2011, day 86.

Our plan today is to drive around Lac Saint-Jean. This is the Province of Québec's largest inhabited lake.  This lake covers about 1,000 square km, in a basin left after the last ice age.. Many small rivers feed this lake, which then becomes the source of the Saguenay River. 

Our quest for the day; drive around Lac Saint-Jean

Liz and Lac Saint-Jean in the back ground.

The route 169 ( Blueberry Route) is about 230 km around the lake through farmland, rocky, spruce-covered wilderness and quiet, charming villages.

Beautiful country side.

Already in St.Gédéon, the farms, gardens, and  the villages look better kept. Pride of ownership is very apparent everywhere. The Fromagerie and Chacuterie in St.Gédéon is a dangerous place to stop and shop. They have wonderful specialty foods, including Anders' favorite cheese curds. All along the lake one can see tons of cottages and homes on the warm sandy beaches. 

Blueberry fields

On the north side of the lake between Félicien and Péribonka we first have the impression that the land is left wild and unattended. But no, these are wild blueberry fields. The blueberries here are not on large bushes, but rather ground-covering growths. 

Harvesting Blueberries

Farmers are harvesting them with small machines looking like snow-blowers with a baleen shovels up front. Very interesting. 

Blueberry Harvest

Chocolate covered blue berries

Yum!

Very friendly people

We stop for some chocolate covered blueberries. Around the whole lake cyclists can enjoy the area on their designated " Véloroute des Bleuets".  This was a very good day.

For more pictures from this part of the trip click the bottom image or go directly to the slide show.

Riviere Malbaie,Lac Saint-Jean to La Mauricie

Cheers,

Anders and Liz

Here are some shortcuts to all the blogs from our Cross Canada Trip. Just hover over the number to see where it will take you

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