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| Day 54 - August 20 - Quebec City to Riviere Ouelle 144km |
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| I wake up several times during the night as the rain pours and the wind howls. It's so nice to be inside in this weather. By 6:00, it is still raining. Looks like the beginning of our first authentic rainy day. We have only had a few hours of rain through the whole Tour. We have been extremely lucky to this point. This may be the day our luck changes. |
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| Breakfast leaves something to be desired as the meal hall takes portion control to the extreme. They get annoyed when you take two jam packets instead of one. Or when you ask for some eggs when you have already had cereal. They keep a watchful eye on how much orange juice I take as well. Obviously they don't deal with hungry cyclists on a regular basis or they would know just how much food we need to start the day. Glenn and I stop for breakfast along the way to compensate for the lowly portions at Laval University. |
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| A light drizzle makes it difficult to stay warm and dry for the first section. By 10:00, the wind picks up with unbelievable force. It has enough blow-you-off-the-road power behind it to make you want to stick out your thumb and declare defeat. But I wouldn't do that because I'd regret it for years to come. So far there is nothing about this trip that I regret (except maybe that burger I ate). |
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| On and on we go, drafting off each other to cut the wind resistance slightly and make the whole day that much easier. Every flag I see looks like it's going to rip off the pole at any moment. Cycling in this kind of wind is extremely challenging, and drafting is what gets us through it. There is just no other way. |
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| Frequent stops for hot chocolate help cure the shivering that comes with being cold and wet. It feels like winter out there. It's tough to get going again after each break, so we try to do at least 25km between each one. Today has to be one of the worst weather days so far. Extreme heat takes some getting used to, but I think I prefer that to being cold and wet. |
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| A hot shower is the perfect end to a not-so-perfect day. Fleece jackets and wool hats are popular at dinner. It's going to be a cold night, and it's back to my tent. |
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