Got up stupidly early as we had to be out of the car park by 7am. Clearing the snow and ice from the van was a nightmare and then it wouldn't start!
The car-park attendant didn't arrive until 7:30am and then he called the maintenance guy out who jump started us. Then it was off to Montreal. We parked on the outskirts of the city at St Josephs Oratory - a really beautiful building high on a hill. After seeing this we headed to a bus stop to go downtown. We found a bus then a metro and we were there. We were told in the travel book to head for the Marriott hotel and on the 36th floor there is a women's washroom with an amazing view. And so there was. We walked amongst the snow to all the statues and cathedrals and churches. Ate poutine, Chinatown, Old Harbour, hotel de ville then back on the metro to home (which we didn't have to pay for). Once at the can we were amazed to find it started first time!
We went a mile to so down the street to get gas and then it wouldn't start again. I stood out in the freezing cold trying to beg for someone to jump start us. A woman did help but it didn't work. The guy in the garage told me it would cost $35 for a call out and $20 for jump start - stuff that. Eventually a guy and what looked like his mother helped us and we were on the way again to Quebec city. We stopped at a rest stop near Trois-Riveres for the night.
Friday 28th November
Took us ages to get to Quebec city as the weather was so bad. Finally got there about lunchtime and parked in an all-night car park. Before we got actually in the city we stopped at a Tourist Information to ask about parking. The engine wouldn't start again, this time Claire stood on the roadside with jump leads looking hopeful. Eventually 2 mechanics stopped and solved our problem - a loose connection on the front of the battery. We then drove into the city. The first thing we did was find the office block whose top floor turns into a viewing gallery - Edifice G. Then we went into the old town. It was bitterly cold and even the trees were wrapped up. We had something to eat at the Chateau Frontinac and plucked up enough energy to brace it outside again. We explored the old town and saw the world's largest covered street, went home, made dinner and drank some "Toreador"! We went out again and made a snow-rose and 2 snow angels and went home.
Saturday 29th November
Left early again and stopped at Levis where the Tourist Office is strangely hidden and not open until 9am. We stopped at a rest stop a bit further on and I called Mum and Dad to wish them a Happy Anniversary. We were now on the home stretch to Fredricton. Claire called Bernie to say we were on the way and he said we couldn't go to DC for Christmas! We stopped at Grand Falls on the way, this is where Claire's old room-mate was from. Unfortunately the falls were grand, just ice! We saw the "World's Longest Covered Bridge" and then wen on an unidentified bridge to Nackawic to see the "World's Biggest Axe". The road from there to Fredricton wasn't much fun. The full beam went dodgy again, along with deer and ice made a really relaxing 30 miles. We got there in the end and went to Harrison house. We had showers and went over to Tex's. I ended up kind of falling asleep on the settee due to a long day and a couple of beers! I slept in Steph's room.
<these are extracts from my diaries written whilst travelling and working in Canada and the US in '97-'98>
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