Quebec City

 From Baie Comeau to Quebec City, it's a little over 400kms. You can take a ferry over the St Lawrence, but I'd been told the north side of the river was better so I ran down that instead. I did get very confused when the road forced me towards a ferry, but that was just to cross the St Catherine (I think) and then carried on as normal.

The day had started off grey, but the sun came out and the temperature is back to 30 Celsius, which isn't that much fun for me. The ride down was lovely, great scenery and nice roads, and I made it all the way to the city before stopping to check the maps as I was staying in Levis on the other side of the river. To get there I had to swing south round the town and head back north a short distance. It seemed ok on the map when I booked, but on checking the mileage it was 20 odd kms from the fuel station so I hoped there was a bridge back across. It turned out here was a ferry which was even better.

 The old town has lots of touristy things going on, all sorts of folk in period dress wandering around, crammed restaurants, groups of folk blindly stopping in the middle of the street, the usual things.

It was certainly a change from being in the middle of nowhere all on my own.

Some of the odd folk in period dress. There were some other odd folk wandering around with badges that purported to be a tourist thing, but the one who accosted me didn't speak English so I was spared that.

You can take the funicular up to the Chateau, or can walk on the windy streets. I hadn't had much exercise for a while so chose to walk, but in that heat with boots and jeans it was tougher than I'd expected.

 This is looking back down into the old city from the Governers boardwalk.

Lots of people strolling around, both down in the Old town and up on the boardwalk, taking pictures and enjoying the sun.

 Another view of the Chateau from the boardwalk. I'm not sure of the history of the building, but it's enormous and dominates this part of the city.

 A view down to the St Lawrence from the boardwalk. You can see the huge ship coming through, and all the little ones hoping it doesn't hit them.

It did feel a bit Disneyland at times though, as while you have the very pretty tourist section, there seem to be multiple plants and factories just along the river.

 I've no idea what this building is or whether in fact it's one of the hot air balloons that were on the other side of the river. They were too far away for me to get a good picture, so I'm not sure if this was going to head off and join them.

 The same ship, and some of the industrial area I mentioned before. I think all of the ships heading onto the lakes and then on to Chicago and such may come through here, but I'll have to read up on that and do a sneaky edit if I'm wrong.

 Once I'd walked the length of the Governors boardwalk I came to the Plains of Abraham, where the British fought the French for the city. There had been a siege but the British had managed to land on this side of the city under cover of darkness, climb the escarpment, and land enough troops to overwhelm the small garrison and hold it while reinforcements could arrive. Once they did the French came out and the battle was joined. For all of about 15 minutes. Both Generals died, but the British had the city. The timing was fortunate as the Navy had to leave before the river iced up. The French won a battle nearby the following year, but the British retreated into the Citadel and waited until Spring when the Navy could come back with reinforcements. That was end of French rule in Canada, though as you can see the culture is still very much alive.

 Lots of horse carriages trundle around the old city. This horse had wandered over to the side of the road and mounted the pavement before I realised that the green fountain was there for it to drink out of. Once watered up it wandered off again.

 Cheese! This is the restaurant Parmesan. You think it would be empty, but no this being semi France it's full of cheese eaters, or more likely devil worshippers in secret if you ask me.

 A view back into the old town from above. The mural from the earlier picture is on the building on the right.

At this point I'd had enough of the crowds and the heat, so decided to head back to ferry.

A last view of the Chateau from the departing ferry.