Day 6: A rolling shower, saving a semi-truck, and an intense return to Quebec!
- arreterlaspcaroule
- Jul 12
- 3 min read
The night was short and uncomfortable. You might tell me that this kind of inconvenience happens when camping, and that’s very true. The problem was that I was staying at a hotel from a well-known, major chain where you legitimately expect a bare minimum of comfort. I was freezing all night, and there wasn’t a single extra blanket in the room—not even in the closet where you usually find them. I actually had to pull out my own camping sleeping bag just to warm up! As for breakfast, thank goodness there was a machine making pancakes on demand, because everything else was bland, tasteless, and utterly flavorless. I definitely expected better from them.
And so, I hit the road under the rain at 8:00 AM sharp. Starting as a drizzle, the downpour intensified with every kilometer. To put it simply, if I hadn't been riding and if I’d had some soap, I could have taken my shower right there on the motorcycle! The conditions were shaping up to be terrible for tackling tight, winding, and slippery coastal back roads. So, I made the wise decision to ditch the shoreline and stick to the Trans-Canada Highway 2. This choice naturally means dealing with monotony and a ribbon of asphalt that looks identical in every way. In short, a pretty boring ride, except for two standout events.
First, I left the highway for a quick moment to check out the longest covered bridge in the world, located in Hartland. I even rode the bike all the way across it! Measuring 1,282 feet long, it is a truly impressive structure.
Later on, I had to step in to pull over a semi-truck whose tire or brakes were catching fire. Judging by the lingering smell, I’d lean toward the brakes—or maybe a mix of both. Every single car was passing him, yet nobody was trying to signal the danger. So, I took the lead: I overtook him and pointed sharply and repeatedly down at my own rear tire. In less than ten seconds, the truck driver wisely turned on his hazard lights to pull over onto the shoulder. I couldn't stop with him because we were on a steep downhill slope, and immobilizing the motorcycle there would have been too risky. I sincerely hope he got out of it easily.
That pretty much sums up the main part of my crossing through New Brunswick today. On the other hand, my arrival in Quebec was a lot more turbulent! I almost got taken out by a driver who was in way too much of a hurry. She was visibly preoccupied with overtaking everyone in a construction zone restricted to 70 km/h, which she apparently found too slow for her and her passengers. When the road narrowed at the end of the passing lane, the hood of her car ended up right next to my footpegs! I could have literally put a dent in her bodywork with my foot. Oh well... welcome back home!
Despite those stressful moments, here I am, safely set up at the municipal campground of La Pointe in Rivière-du-Loup. The beach located right behind my campsite is highly pleasant. Plus, there is a bar right here with a live band playing. It’s truly fantastic to relax on the sand while enjoying the show.
This was my very last full day of riding before the big return home tomorrow!
Why am I riding? 🏍️🧡
Canada has one of the highest rates of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the world. This unpredictable neurological disease often strikes young adults, turning their lives upside down overnight. Every single kilometer ridden on the handlebars of my Africa Twin is dedicated to those fighting it. Together, let’s keep research rolling to beat the disease! To cheer me on and make an official donation to MS Canada, click here: 🔗 https://msspwcms.donordrive.com/participants/arreter-la-sp-ca-roule-2026 👊 #RideToStopMS #MSCanada
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