Côte de Beaupré
After a screaming descent - 7 kilometers at an 8 to 10 percent grade - we bottomed out at last on the shores of the St. Lawrence River, and we followed the ancient Chemin du Roy through the small riverside villages northeast of Québec City. The narrow winding road was lined with beautifully restored antique farmhouses (above left, and below) dating from the late 1700's and early 1800's. Each farmhouse had a barn next door, and across the street there was a root cellar built into the side of the hill (above right).
(Below left) Another restored farmhouse. Unlike the others, this one has a front porch.
(Below right) The Moulin du Petit Pré in Château-Richer, a stone grist mill built in 1695, was the oldest building we passed on the entire Grand Tour. It is now the home of a winery.
We passed by the foot of Mont Sainte-Anne ski area (below), then through the charming villages of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Château-Richer, and L'Ange-Gardien. It really brought back memories of my 1992 cycling trip through France.
Then we found ourselves on the all-new piste cyclable (bike path) heading straight for our final destination, Québec City. But wait - what's that roaring sound coming from our right? It's the rush of water over the legendary Chûtes de Montmorency (below) - taller than Niagara, just a bit less massive.

And then we were done. The bike path took us straight to the Domaine des Maizerets, where we found the familiar Grand Tour bistro tent waiting for us on the back lawn - this time decorated with green signs celebrating the official opening of La Route Verte.

Photos & text copyright © 2007 Jamie Hess / Nordic Skater. All rights reserved worldwide.
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