Leaving La Gaspésie

It was overcast and a cool 8º when we left Percé and motored ouest,  not est on Rte 132 because we had rounded the point of the Gaspé peninsula. We started with  a good tail wind which soon mostly  broad-sided us as we followed the winding coastline. Waves were crashing up onto the highway where it hugged the shoreline. There were very few opportunities to stop to take pictures because all of the Halte Municipale  in the small towns were permanently fermée. 

We were able to stop  at L'Anse à Blondel at a quiet hidden beach in the sector of Chandler. We stopped for groceries in the city of New Richmond.

I had to make a stop in the small town of New Carlisle known for its Hydrant Trail, colourfully painted fire hydrants lining the main street. I  can now put my picture of Shadow along side my picture of Bandit taken in 1999. Shadow was more indifferent to the whole experience!

We got our biggest  fill-up of gas in Matapedia: $421.50  (235.6 litres, fortunately the cheapest gas this trip @ $1.78.9).

Matapedia Valley

We avoided the rain and made such good time driving  around the point and along the Baie de Chaleur that we continued west across the peninsula through the Matapedia Valley, formed by the Chic-Choc Mountains.  The valley gets its name from the river that runs through it and is famous for its wooden covered bridges, originally covered with wooden roofs to protect their wooden beams from rain and snow so they'd last longer.

The valley is heavily forested. 

The rain began soon after we entered the valley so picture taking was limited. There was patchy fog too. We stopped at the Routhierville Covered bridge built in 1931. It is the longest in Eastern Quebec, 256 feet and painted oxblood red. It is designated an historic monument.

We stopped in Causapscal and checked in at Camping Chez Moose, $52 for full hookups and free showers. It remained windy and never got warmer than 11º. Kathy made delicious omelettes for dinner. We drove 315 km. Hélas, no moose sightings at the campground.