Are you sure you want to leave all those moules-frites behind…?

D.

—–Original Message—–
From: Jeff Gray
Sent: Jul 12, 2009 8:41 PM
To: sacking@netbox.com, vox <980286c3a15f1c66@moblog.vox.com>
Subject: BSQ Sackers almost captured at 'fin de sack'

The Sackers were close to defeat but have found a route out;  not without paying a ransom.

First, the stats.
   miles biked (by GPS )  439
   number of moules frites dinners : 5
   help from our friends:  priceless

Started innocently enough, asked the Concierge to find us a car from Quebec to some Bar Harbor.  We knew that this from earlier research.  Several days notice given for the task.  Seemed simple enough.  Not.

After returning yesterday from a fine dinner of Moules Frites ,Pizza, Griffon Rousse, and Listel Rose (sacking is a hard days work) the Concierge advised:  "no cars available to leave town; only Avis permits one way to USA"

Hmm… off to the net connection for the sackers.

– tried on line.   No cars available. 

-called Avis.  Finally got to a person.  No cars to USA.  OK, how about a car to Montreal and then we will find a car there.  No cars available, sold out.  Holidays etc.

-Contacted Via Rail and Amtrak.   Easy to Montreal, easy to then go South but no way to get our bikes off the train until Albany.   Nope, cannot get bikes off at Plattsburgh or other points south.

-Buses.  Nope.   Longer research but same result.

-Planes.  OK, fly to Toronto, then NYC or Washington and then to Boston.  Other silly variations. 

-Camels.   None advertise on Google.  Also, under union rules they will not carry bicycles.

-Looked at biking routes.  Too long for all the sackers to make it to the wedding.

-On a lark decided to try another route to book a car.  Went to Kayak.com and they too indicated all cars sold out or unavailable.   Decided to try a future date ( many sackers got held up by the winter or disease and had to do a layover).   Nope, no cars.  Just wanted a car for 24 hours; only a 300 mile drive.

-Then,  I tried booking for three days. No good reason but thought maybe they would prioritize a longer billing.  Yep!   No problem!  After some fussing around with various alternatives and locations found that I could get what we wanted in multiple locations (one within walking distance of the hotel) from Hertz if we booked the 13th  for two days.  No way to book for one day!   At $350 a day!

-Sackers will have to pay a ransom to leave.

The final night includes a return to the same Moules Frites place, and then a Son  et Lumiere on the grain silos along the river.  Each night at 22:00 there is a show called "Images" put on by the city.  Must be left over from their 400th anniversary last year.  A Quebec history as a collection of 'Images'.  Very artistically done.

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