Boog's Blog

Not a death ride (QB) and a very special island.

Easy ride along well marked paths. Lunch in L'Assomption, full lunch as dinner not expected, more on dinner later. Cafe with oeufs epinard avec frommage and a similar grilled casorole with peppers etc.

Then to Saint Sulpice where we booked a 4 star Gite (bed and breakfast). When we booked I asked about dinner as they mentioned it was on an island accessible only by boat, they have a boat. No food, best to shop before you arrive, so we did.

Family owns an island, Ilse de Ronde, about 3km long and 1 km wide. Their Gite, a vinyard, farm with stuff growing and a lot of greenery and peacefulness. Loaded our bikes and food onto the boat for a 15 minute ride to the island.

Charming place. Typical Gite with no TV or net connection. Outside room for setting up our picnic of bread, hummus, procuitto, yogurt, and fresh strawberries just from the field. The strawbs were without any white inside, no water filling, just great taste. Not quite as sweet as the Whole Foods variety. We ate a whole quart.

Took a walk and saw a wild fox running, maybe away from us.

Went to the vinyard and had a glass of Rose. They had good salades so there was no need to have set up a picnic.

The Rose was…. Well this is not far from New York…. Too sweet.

No sounds on the island except for birds and other wildlife. Basicaly a farm house. Pics later when we have a net connection.

ferry to gite St Sulpice.jpg

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Well, we have decided to go on. Not let the thieves get the best of us. We
can go on due to the outstandingly support from our friends; that and the
well wishes and offers of help. Many thanks.

One comment of especial note came from Mike W pointing out the irony of the
sacking crew getting sacked.

Not much done today except plan for the departure early tomorrow – heading
East; that and work out details which will permit us to continue.

QB uploaded a set of pics from this phase of the trip – camera pics,
labeled.

flaneur_montrealais.JPG

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Delayed sending as dealing with our house being broken into. Herb: thanks
for the help and support.

Montreal even more.
A late but excellent start. First, trip planning for the next leg – which
towns to stay and where there might be accomodations. More on this as we go
along.

Then off to Eats II called Premiere Moisson, a boulangerie and more. Trois
salade, pain au raison (the best in many years), chocolate cake.

A stroll along Lauriens towards Mont Royal. Good bike shop with a very
interesting "breakaway Richey" bike. Good for traveling.

2009-07-03 12.22.27.jpg

picsay-1246638862.jpg

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A new one on me. Had to look it up. Got the photo & rundown on the Wikipedia, in case anyone else was in the dark like me. Looks like imminent cardiac arrest. So thiis is cooking Quebecois style? Tres elegant!
D.

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Where's the poutine??

G

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 3, 2009, at 12:19 AM, Dianne Ellsworth wrote:

> Yum. I guess your and the Q.B.'s motto can be: "We bike for food"!
>
> D.
>
>
>
> —–Original Message—–
> From: Jeff Gray
> Sent: Jul 2, 2009 6:10 PM
> To: sacking@netbox.com, vox <980286c3a15f1c66@moblog.vox.com>
> Subject: BSQ Montreal more
>
> Another delightful tourist day; walking, eating, asking questions, > shopping…usual tourist stuff. Great dinner, see end.
>
> Highlights:
>
> – breakfast of Salmon (me) procuitto and eggs (QB) on Pain Poilane > bread. Bobby very nicely sent us a loaf and this was even better; > the freshness definetly made a differance. Maybe the butter and > creme fraiche too. See pic
>
> Local bike pick up (a la Paris) is called Le Bixie. Pictured.
>
> Walked along Sherebrook. Looks just like Madison Ave. in NYC. > Beaux art and Federal buildings. Small art shops and boutiques. > Even a boulangerie that is similar to Eats (a favorite place of Mike > W).
>
> – used to be one could sit outside and not inhale smoke while at a > restaurant. Now it is the reverse. OK outside in cafe but no > inside smoking.
>
> – health insurance question I have asking. Most are at least > satisfied with their service. Almost none understand how funds are > collected, that is which tax pays for what. Appears that it is paid > (and service level set) at the providence level. Often 7.5% tax > which we would call a very broadly based sales tax. Then the > Federal govt adds some funds. Services covered change if you move. > Employees often get suplimentary insurance to cover non-covered > serevices, dental and Rx.
>
> -dinner. Moules Frites and Belgian beer, two types. Expensive and > well worth it. Outstanding service, Prine Edwards moules, never > ending frites, a blonde and a dark beer. Maybe better than we had > in Antworp. Better quality mussels and better provencal sauce.
>
> – many in town for Jazz festival.

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Yum.  I guess your and the Q.B.'s motto can be: "We bike for food"!

D.

—–Original Message—–
From: Jeff Gray
Sent: Jul 2, 2009 6:10 PM
To: sacking@netbox.com, vox <980286c3a15f1c66@moblog.vox.com>
Subject: BSQ Montreal more

Another delightful tourist day; walking, eating, asking questions, shopping…usual tourist stuff.  Great dinner, see end.

Highlights:

– breakfast of Salmon (me) procuitto and eggs (QB) on Pain Poilane bread.  Bobby very nicely sent us a loaf and this was even better; the freshness definetly made a differance.  Maybe the butter and creme fraiche too.  See pic

Local bike pick up (a la Paris) is called Le Bixie.  Pictured.

Walked along Sherebrook.  Looks just like Madison Ave. in NYC.  Beaux art and Federal buildings. Small art shops and boutiques.  Even a boulangerie that is similar to Eats (a favorite place of Mike W).

– used to be one could sit outside and not inhale smoke while at a restaurant.  Now it is the reverse.  OK outside in cafe but no inside smoking.

– health insurance question I have asking.  Most are at least satisfied with their service.  Almost none understand how funds are collected, that is which tax pays for what.  Appears that it is paid (and service level set) at the providence level.  Often 7.5% tax which we would call a very broadly based sales tax.  Then the Federal govt adds some funds.  Services covered change if you move.  Employees often get suplimentary insurance to cover non-covered serevices, dental and Rx.

-dinner.  Moules Frites and Belgian beer, two types.  Expensive and well worth it.  Outstanding service, Prine Edwards moules, never ending frites, a blonde and a dark beer.  Maybe better than we had in Antworp.  Better quality mussels and better provencal sauce.

– many in town for Jazz festival.

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Another delightful tourist day; walking, eating, asking questions,
shopping…usual tourist stuff. Great dinner, see end.

Highlights:

– breakfast of Salmon (me) procuitto and eggs (QB) on Pain Poilane bread.
Bobby very nicely sent us a loaf and this was even better; the freshness
definetly made a differance. Maybe the butter and creme fraiche too. See
pic

Local bike pick up (a la Paris) is called Le Bixie. Pictured.

Walked along Sherebrook. Looks just like Madison Ave. in NYC. Beaux art
and Federal buildings. Small art shops and boutiques. Even a boulangerie
that is similar to Eats (a favorite place of Mike W).

– used to be one could sit outside and not inhale smoke while at a
restaurant. Now it is the reverse. OK outside in cafe but no inside
smoking.

– health insurance question I have asking. Most are at least satisfied with
their service. Almost none understand how funds are collected, that is
which tax pays for what. Appears that it is paid (and service level set) at
the providence level. Often 7.5% tax which we would call a very broadly
based sales tax. Then the Federal govt adds some funds. Services covered
change if you move. Employees often get suplimentary insurance to cover
non-covered serevices, dental and Rx.

-dinner. Moules Frites and Belgian beer, two types. Expensive and well
worth it. Outstanding service, Prine Edwards moules, never ending frites, a
blonde and a dark beer. Maybe better than we had in Antworp. Better
quality mussels and better provencal sauce.

– many in town for Jazz festival.

picsay-1246553735.jpg

picsay-1246549205.jpg

2009-07-02 11.38.32.jpg

2009-07-02 19.39.51.jpg

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Superb lemurs!!

_____

From: Jeff Gray [mailto:jwg@boogs.net]
Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 6:01 PM
To: sacking@netbox.com; vox
Subject: BSQ Montreal Tourist Day

Some highlites. Pictures of some and others will be on Flickr site later.

Free sheet cake. One hour line to stand on for a tiny piece of sheet cake.
They do this each year.

Went to Biodiversity dome – a major tourist attraction. Very much what Cal
Academy of Sciences would like to be. Rain forests, many rare and protected
species of birds and animals. See their website or Wikipedia. Nice Lemurs,
especially if pics good.

Excellent penguins, three types; got to watch the feeding. Worth the
admission just for the large penguin exhibit.

Then off to the large botanical gardens. About 2km long and half as wide.
Outstanding rose, spice gardens, food gardens, etc.

Then off to have smoked meat dinner at Reubens. Neither corned beed nor
pastrami. Pictured. Who knew that Montreal is a place for Jewish style
eating.

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Some highlites. Pictures of some and others will be on Flickr site later.

Free sheet cake. One hour line to stand on for a tiny piece of sheet cake.
They do this each year.

Went to Biodiversity dome – a major tourist attraction. Very much what Cal
Academy of Sciences would like to be. Rain forests, many rare and protected
species of birds and animals. See their website or Wikipedia. Nice Lemurs,
especially if pics good.

Excellent penguins, three types; got to watch the feeding. Worth the
admission just for the large penguin exhibit.

Then off to the large botanical gardens. About 2km long and half as wide.
Outstanding rose, spice gardens, food gardens, etc.

Then off to have smoked meat dinner at Reubens. Neither corned beed nor
pastrami. Pictured. Who knew that Montreal is a place for Jewish style
eating.

2009-07-01 19.54.48.jpg

2009-07-01 15.06.20.jpg

2009-07-01 15.05.35.jpg

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Back at a net connection for a few days of being a tourist. Today is Canada
Day, preceeds USA holiday intentionally as Dennis pointed out.

Have had very little in the way updates and comments from those following
this thread. Did I confuse or mis communicate when I suggested judicious
use of the sacking address?

Catching up on photos from the Le Petit Train du Nord ride.

Dinner at Communsal vegatarian buffet.

Park, similar to Hyde Park, in University section of Montreal.

Breakfast at a lovely B and B cooked by Jacque. Painter and fine dining
companion.

Nominingue 'hotel' strange place, no checkin or out.

2009-06-30 19.29.45.jpg

2009-06-30 17.25.38.jpg

2009-06-29 08.08.36.jpg

2009-06-28 10.01.48.jpg

2009-06-28 08.46.31.jpg

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