We had expected our ride from Westport to Ottawa to be about 71 miles. For context, we are using a couple of different routing/mapping applications, including Google Maps and RideWith GPS – and they do not always agree on the best route. (We miss the great maps produced by the Adventure Cycling Association that we have used in the past – they have not ventured into Canada yet, but we are willing to help them!)

As Lisa noted, the ride ended up being about 88 miles. We were so happy to see Luc and Nicole and after sitting on their balcony with beers and chips and Luc’s guacamole, we showered and spent the rest of the evening dining and catching up. They are absolutely wonderful hosts and excellent chefs, and there was much laughter and storytelling until late into the night.

After some sleep, we had coffee and crepes for breakfast and then our friends took us across the river (into Quebec) for a drive down along the Ottawa River to Montebello, where there is a classic Canadian Pacific log hotel built in 1930 called The Chateau, and then had a fantastic lunch at a bistro in town.

The afternoon included a drive across the bridge at Hawkesbury where we were going to be biking the next day – so we got a preview of our ride, which was very helpful.

The evening included another great meal from Luc and Nicole and an early birthday party for me!

We rose after a wonderful night’s sleep and after coffee, Luc and Nicole drove us a few miles down the road where we got back on the bikes and headed south along the river, still on the Ontario side, back towards Hawkesbury, where tomorrow we will cross the Ottawa River and head towards Montreal – a 65 mile ride. We are taking another day off there, so we can enjoy that city.

One observation: when you are in Ontario, it is very much bilingual…but on the Quebec side, it is pretty much only French – 100%. From tomorrow on, that will be our world.