Day 7: Mechanical quirks, Route 132, and the final sprint home!

A peaceful little wake-up call around 6:00 AM this morning, rocked by the singing of birds... and the barking of the neighbors' dog at the campground. To my great surprise, the inside of the tent is perfectly dry. It’s cool out, but we managed to escape the usual dampness of this kind of night. An excellent surprise! On the flip side, technology is still giving me the cold shoulder. After fighting once again to add pictures to yesterday's post—without much success—I head outside to inspect the bike. Good news: the dew spared the canvas, and nothing is soaked. The departure is looking promising.

At least, that’s what I thought. This morning, my gear decided to test my patience. I roll up the sleeping bag and the mattress... only to have to redo everything because it just won't fit. While the coffee brews, I tackle the tent. That one also takes me two tries before cooperating. Unreal! I finally manage, somehow or other, to strap everything onto the bike. Ready to roll.

I take Route 132 heading toward Montmagny. It is quite simply beautiful. Since it’s a route I have ridden dozens of times, I don’t pull over to take photos, but the enjoyment remains completely intact. The landscape overlooking the river is incredibly peaceful and calming. Sure, it’s not the fastest option to cross the area, but here's a tip: skip the highway and take this road, it is truly worth the detour.

I treat myself to a well-deserved break in a municipal park. An apple, a sip of water, eyes locked on the river... pure bliss. Time to head back out. I pull my gear back on, mount the bike, start the engine, plug in the iPhone... and pouf, the engine cuts out completely. Impossible to restart.

The stress level goes up a notch. I turn the ignition off and on several times. Either the dashboard stays completely dead, or the starter lets out a small grunt before giving up. Yet, no warning lights turn on. Everything looks normal on paper. Since the starter tries to engage every now and then, I suspect the side stand sensor. I mess around with it, but nothing changes. I decide to risk it all: I shift into first gear, bring it back to neutral, over and over again. One more try on the starter... BOOM, the engine finally roars back to life!

Needless to say, I didn't stick around to see what would happen next. I geared up in a flash, jumped onto the saddle, and just rode. Nearly 300 kilometers of highway in a single stretch, without getting off the motorcycle even once. Let's just say this final sprint was pretty intense! :P

It is on this highly emotional note that I am finally back home, bringing this year's adventure to an official close.

A massive thank you to everyone for your incredible support and for following along with me throughout this entire journey!

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