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Roger Kenner
Montreal, Qc,
Canada 2004
Saturday, June 12, 1999: 10:00 -18:00
Foreword
Sheryl's herbology class had scheduled a day-long outing at the Boucherville Islands. As I had not been in that direction for many years, I decided it would be fun to ride out and meet her for lunch. The timimg would prove to be difficult, for with the first ferry leaving the Old Port at 10:00, followed by the obligatory wait for the (by-design) just-missed second ferry, I could barely make it by Noon. Similarly, I could only stay for a few hours, as I had to be ready to begin the succession of ferries back home, so as not to miss the last ferry to the Old Port.
Sheryl left early in the morning. I hung around until around 09:00, when I rode along Notre Dame to meet the Lachine Canal at Atwater, and then followed this to the Old Port, where I caught the first Longueuil ferry at 10:00.
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| Leaving Old Port: End of the Mackay Pier |
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| Port de Plaisance |
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| Port de Plaisance |
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I picked up the familiar route along the Longueuil bike path, to end up at the dock for the second ferry, just shy of the end of the bike path at the Highway 25 bridge.
| Promenade Réné Levesque |
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| Looking Ahead at Longueuil Shoreline & Bike Path |
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| Longeuil Bike Path below Highway 132 | |
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| Approaching the End of Longueuil Bike Path |
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I had to wait nearly 45 minutes for the ferry, which eventually came and brought me to the dock amidst a small picnic area and boat ramp on the western end of Ile Charron, just west of the highway.
| The Ferry Dock | The Iles Boucherville Ferry Approaches |
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| Longueuil V | |
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To cross the highway and reach the park, the bike trail leads out ventilation towers of the Lafontaine Tunnel, to the point where the highway has gone underground, and then back to almost the same point on the far side. It is here that there is a dock for the ferry from Parc Belle-Rive, which I have yet to take. The trail continues along behind the municipal plant and the hotel, to reach the park trails.
[This seems different from the way I remembered it being in 1993. I remember, at that time, riding out along the driveway of the motel. Either there was a level-crossing to get to the other side of the highway or, more likely, the ferry docked on the east side of the road and there was no need to cross. I seem to recall it docked right by the bridge abutment.]
| Parc Iles Boucherville |
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| Parc des Iles Boucherville - 1999 | |
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| [Red] Outbound [Blue] Inbound [Pink] Encounters with Sheryl |
I rode along the back of Ile Charron until I came to the cable-ferry leading over to the next island. Once I was across the ferry and onto Ile Commun, I began to seach out Sheryl's group in earnest. I found them not too far along, huddled under a shade tree and having a break. It was just shy of Noon. Sheryl was very pleased to see me!
| Sheryl's Herb Group Lunch Under the Tree |
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After sitting with Sheryl for a few minutes, I set off to make my ride. I would make the tour of Ile Grisbois, descending the river until I was even with Pointe aux Trembles.
| Boucherville Island Paths | |
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| Pte. aux Trembles from Boucherville Islands |
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| Looing back on Montreal from Boucherville Islands |
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| Boucherville church from the Islands |
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Upon my return, before setting off across the footbridge back to Ile Commun and home, I decided to ride take a quick detour to ride over to the ferry dock across from the Boucherville waterfront. There I ran into Sheryl and her group once again. They were still exploring the plants. It was 14:45 and I stopped and chatted briefly with Sheryl while I had my own lunch. Then I had to hustle to catch the 15:30 ferry, the last that would ensure I made all my connections home on time
| Footbridge across the a Channel |
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I made it back with 5 minutes to spare. Then, once I rode the short length of the Longueuil bike path, I had to wait an hour at Port de Plaisance for the Vieux Port ferry. I caught this ferry at 17:00.
| Returning to the Old Port |
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I was the weekend of the Grand Prix and there were many interesting boats in the harbour. Jacques Cousteau's experimental sailing vessel was still there. Over alongside the Mackay Pier I saw this magnificent yacht. For the first time I noticed the old tug boat on display at the Lachine Canal locks.
| Jacques Cousteau's Experimental Sailing Vessel | |
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| Old Tug on Newly Refurbished Canal |
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| Fancy Yacht Visiting Grand Prix Race |
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![[See Larger Map]](./99_Boucherville_Iles/Keeps/cartelongueuil.jpeg){kind=link}