Driving to Gaspe, Quebec
When we left Quebec City, we headed East on Highway 132 towards Gaspe taking the scenic route along the St. Lawrence River.
We stopped for two nights at the Bas Saint-Laurent KOA Resort located on Lac Saint-Mathieu in St-Mathieu-de-Rimouski. This four season Resort offers many summertime activists and skiing in the winter at Mont St-Mathieu. It was a fantastic stay on top of a hill nestled among all the fall colours.
During our stay, we headed to the small city of Rimouski. The Main Street is so cute with restaurants and shops. We took the opportunity to work out and shower at a local gym followed by a visit to the maritime Museum. We had such a good time.
If you visit, go through the submarine. The HMCS Onondaga is the first submarine museum in Canada due to the quick thinking staff who saved her from a wrecking ball. The Onondaga patrolled the North Atlantic for 36 years for the Canadian Navy before her retirement. During your tour you really get a sense of what the crew had to live like on these deep dives. The tour is around 45 minutes and you will be provided with an audio guide. Beware of claustrophobia!
Follow up with the Empress of Ireland Museum, a short walk away. Here you will learn how this steamship sank to the bottom of the St Lawrence River after colliding with the Norwegian collier Storstad in 1914 taking with her over 1000 passengers in 14 minutes. We were so impressed with this museum and couldn’t believe we had never heard of this very significant event in Canadian History. I blame the Ontario History Curriculum! It was lacking when I was a kid, and still is today! I can say these things as a retired Principal!
One last thing to see is the Pointe-au-Pere Lighthouse. Although you can’t go in it because of Covid, the lighthouse, the keeper’s house and the foghorn shed are quite the sight.
After two days in the area, we headed West to Gaspe stopping in at the Camping du Rivage in St-Anne-des-Monts. This was an unexpected treat for our one night stay. Literally, the place is a pull in parking lot with full service, laundry, showers and the greatest WiFi! We had front row seats to the beach overlooking the magnificent St.Lawrence. Honestly, we cherish these little gems we’ve come across in our travels. The beach provided a spot for a long, late afternoon walk, even in the rain.
In the morning we drove right to Forillon National Park just outside of Gaspe. I highly recommend this trip to anyone. The drive along the coast was spectacular, especially this time of year. The park must be booked solid in the summer as there are so many summer activities and the scenery is breathtaking.
Brent did a long uphill bike and I hiked up to the Observatory. It was my first long hike by myself; without Brent or a dog. I’m a bit freaked by bears so a dog was always a good companion when out and about. Regardless, I did it and am quite proud of myself. You got to keep challenging yourself , right?
I am so glad we decided to go to Gaspe. Doing a driving trip in the Fall was one of the first things I wanted to do in my retirement and this drive was just perfect.
Shout out to Paquebot Gaspe who made me the most delicious latte and provided us with internet for a few hours. Also, a big thanks to P. Cote & Fils for fixing the broken spring on the trailer axle. What a debacle that was but it could have been much worse!
Okay, back to the Eastern Township we go!
