Tag: biking

A Culinary Journey on Two Wheels: Cycling and Cuisine

September 30, 2025

These days, we are looking for flat biking routes and prefer to avoid steep, mountainous areas. The rail-to-trail paths are ideal for us, so we decided to cycle along the Petit Train du Nord linear park in Quebec, just north of Montreal.

The recommended ride is from the northern end of the trail at Mont Laurier to St. Jerome, just outside Montreal, because there is a slight slope in that direction. The distance is approximately 200 kilometers, and it can be covered in a few days.

Typically, the cyclist would drive to St. Jerome, leave the car there, and take a bus that goes once a day to transport them to the northern end. However, by the time I called, there was no room on the bus for the day we had planned to go. Instead, we reserved a room at a hotel along the trail, closer to the northern end, to avoid the busier section near Montreal, and planned to cycle in both directions.

That turn of events was fortuitous, as Kathy had pulled a leg muscle while working out at the gym, limiting her ability to cycle for longer distances. Staying at a hotel provided us the opportunity to take shorter rides with rest in between.

Our trip got off to a great start when we drove into Montebello on our way to the trail and discovered a chocolate factory. We couldn’t resist buying some chocolate bars and truffles, completely forgetting about the prices. For lunch, we chose a bistro—after all, it’s Quebec! The French onion soup we had there was delicious.

With tables arranged closely together and the bistro full, the noise level was high, making conversation difficult unless one spoke loudly. However, the proximity to other diners allowed us to engage with our neighbors, which we did. Surprisingly, we ended up discussing politics without any arguments, likely because we shared similar views.

We attempted to use our French, which was more than rusty. Since we rarely have the opportunity to speak French, we struggled to find the right words when communicating with the service people. But it is always satisfying to express oneself in another language when the locals understand you. My feeling was that the locals appreciated our efforts to communicate in French.

In contrast to the bistro, our dinner at the Club du Golf Nominingue hotel restaurant was a more formal affair. While it was also noisy, the dining room was spacious, with tables dressed in white tablecloths and with elegant wine glasses. The service was prompt and attentive to our questions. Although I didn’t find the menu particularly unique to Quebec cuisine, the presentation of the food we ordered was stunning. I felt compelled to take pictures of our plates, which resembled sculptures, even though the food itself was pretty ordinary.

For example, I ordered saucisse artisanale du Québec, which seemed to me to be regular hot dogs, split in two, served with vegetables, and accompanied by French fries, presented in a wire mesh dish. While I wouldn’t consider any of the ingredients unusual, the presentation was truly remarkable.

The next day, we discovered a local bistro that was a lot of fun. It was extremely noisy, with people yelling from the bar to the other side of the restaurant, conversing in French, of course. It seemed that all the locals gathered at the bistro in the evening. We enjoyed local beer and cider, and I ordered osso buco, which is pork hocks in English, and it was delicious. For dessert, we had mousse fromage érable, which was delightful.

Beef bourgignon with ceasar salad

With all the food we consumed, we needed to burn off some calories, so we rode the Petit Train du Nord with plenty of energy. Like many trails of this nature, there are long, straight sections that can feel relaxing at times, while at other moments, they may become a bit boring. However, the trail was flat, with a grade that never exceeded four percent.

I was surprised by the number of electric bikes we encountered. Although I knew these bikes were popular, I didn’t expect most of the cyclists we saw to be using them, especially since there was no need for supplemental power on such level terrain. It was also interesting to see how many people were dressed in heavy clothing; I wore just a T-shirt and shorts, while others wore winter jackets. I thought riding an electric bike at higher speeds could feel quite chilly.

Although the speed limit on the trail was 22 kilometers per hour, we maintained a leisurely pace of 10 to 15 kilometers per hour, taking breaks to admire the surrounding landscape.

I have to commend the Quebec government for the development and excellent maintenance of this trail. It is entirely paved, and cracks in the pavement are clearly marked with yellow chalk. In areas with a buckling surface, a “danger” sign is placed to alert cyclists. More importantly, there are picnic tables, shelters, water fountains, and even bicycle maintenance pillars equipped with all the necessary tools. This is the most developed trail I have ever experienced. We have cycled on trails in Virginia (the Virginia Creeper), South Carolina (the Spanish Moss Trail), North Carolina (the Tobacco Trail), and many trails in Ontario.

The ambiance at the Le Club et Hotel de Golf Nominingeu, where we stayed, and on the trail, the Quebecois people, the food, and, not least, the cycling trail all contributed to a pleasurable trip. We absolutely have to return for another adventure. We thoroughly enjoyed interacting with the Quebecois people, who, without a doubt, tend to be more expressive, animated, and louder than their English counterparts. One of the highlights of our trip was the opportunity to improve our French language skills. The locals appreciated our efforts, even when our conversations switched to English.

The New Car

June 7, 2024

My good friend, who happens to be the sales manager at a Honda dealership, recommended that we trade in our leased car for a new one before we drove 100,000 kilometers (60,000 miles) on it. We were approaching this mileage threshold when interest rates were high, so switching to a newer model was expensive. We decided to wait and see if interest rates would come down and if there would be any sales specials from the manufacturer that would make it attractive to trade up.

Used cars sold for almost as much money as new cars last December because of the shortage of new vehicles – one consequence of Covid when car workers were laid off and production slowed. However, the economy began to pick up last year, and new car production followed. So, a trade-in became urgent; used car prices trended down as new vehicles arrived on car lots.

To increase car sales, Honda introduced different lease rates for two-year, three-year, and four-year leases, with the shortest leases having the lowest interest rate. Also, Honda added four months to the leases as a bonus, so the total cost of a two-year lease was divided by 28 instead of 24 months (2 years) to get a lower monthly payment. For instance, my friend calculated that my monthly payment for a new car would increase by only $25 for a two-year lease, a small price for a brand-new vehicle.

We discovered that the new EV hybrid model we test-drove was not just a practical choice but also an exciting one. It offered the same comfort and reliability as our previous car but with the added potential fuel savings. That, coupled with the anticipation of rising gas prices, made the decision to trade up a positive adventure.

But beyond the financial and practical reasons for moving on to a newer car, there was another inspiring logic – the environmental logic. Who wouldn’t want to be part of the future, driving an EV car? We’ve all heard the dire predictions of what could happen if we don’t reduce our carbon footprint. I may not be a climate expert, but it’s empowering to think we’re joining the progressive crowd and doing our part for the environment with our new EV. The decision came with the bragging rights of being an environmentalist.

So, we confidently signed the papers for a new lease. Kathy picked the color, and my friend ordered a blue Honda CRV that rolled out of the Alliston, ON, Honda plant in mid-January 2024.

But picking up our new hybrid Honda came with a few wrinkles. First, our CRV model is the most stolen car in Ottawa, if not in Canada. Many insurance companies require the installation of a tracking device. Even with that gadget, the insurance costs are higher than those for comparable cars. My insurance broker quoted a price for the new year fifty percent higher than what I paid in the current year. So I went insurance shopping and found that the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), of which I am a member, offers a twenty percent discount for its insurance provided I use a “club,” the locking device that fits across the steering wheel. I already have a club, so we switched our insurance to the CAA.

Second, I assumed that the bicycle hitch on my 2020 CRV would fit the new 2024 CRV. That was not the case; in their wisdom, Honda engineers changed the dimensions under the chassis, and I bought a new hitch. It was an unexpected cost, but it was essential if we wanted to go on biking tours.

So, we thought we were ready to rock and roll with the new car until I attached the Thule bicycle rack to the hitch and backed up from the garage. Some warning system alerted us that we were backing into some barrier. It turned out that the bicycle rack triggered the warning sound. The Honda engineers had not figured out that the warning system should not come on when an object is attached to the back of the car! No problem: I called my friend at the dealership, and the service people there advised me to turn off the “parking assist” system to avoid the racket that the warning system made when backing up the car with the bicycle rack on the vehicle.

I used to leave the bicycle rack on the car all summer, but now, I cannot do it unless I suffer the loud racket when backing up. The alternative is to attach and remove the bicycle rack during a bike tour. We decided to go with the alternative solution since Kathy uses the car ninety percent of the time, and the “parking assist” system” is helpful.

Dealing with the bicycle rack issue was an experience highlighting the new car’s adaptability and versatility. It introduced me to the various computerized systems in the new car, offering more conveniences than I had expected. For instance, I discovered the wireless iPhone charger on the middle console, a feature I now appreciate in the 2024 CRV (in the previous model, I had to plug in a cable to charge the phones). It also made me read the instruction book with fine print on hundreds of pages. I have never liked to read instruction manuals, but they are helpful.

Understanding this new hybrid model’s features is still a learning curve. The car’s advanced computerized systems, such as the various warning systems, require some time to get used to. However, once you’ve mastered them, they can significantly enhance your driving experience and make your life on the road more convenient.