Driving back to Tadoussac, the very efficient crew guided us onto the ferry and in 10 minutes we were on the other side. After stopping for a very slow road construction site, I noticed two dump trucks, a pickup and a car behind me, but there was nowhere for me to pull over to let them pass. After you haven’t driven for a few days, it takes a while to get back into the feel of pulling a trailer, so I was surely being a bit too cautious. One dump truck finally passed me and gave me a sign by waving his arm up and down. I read the sign to be, “You must keep up”, so I tried the best I could. Then the pickup passed me when the road turned to a double lane going up a steep hill. A long blast of the horn was clear enough. Then the last dump truck and car passed without communication, but I didn’t look over to see if he was making any other signs. Maybe he was the nice guy of the crew. Another construction site in the middle of a busy town, and you realize how tough this road is, especially for so many who work. Delivery trucks, construction trucks and tractor trailers often hauling huge pieces of equipment. Delivery trucks have to make schedules and I know slow, cautious RV drivers drive them crazy. I will do better getting out of their way.
We arrived in La Malbaie with the goal of visiting Fred and seeing Haute Gorge National Park. We found a little municipal campground at Base Plein Air, where the young man spoke no English. Martha is getting better with her French, and checked us in. Across from us someone had a very big party the night before. Bottles and cans were strewn all over the place. Fortunately, it was totally quiet. The bathrooms were very clean, and it turned out to be a nice, little campground.
After getting situated and fixing lunch, we went to Haute Gorge National Park. We decided on a bike ride that follows the river north until it turns west through the mountains. You could also do this with on a boat cruise and the ranger will tell you the history of the park and the river. Riding for an hour, we came upon a campground for tents, so if you are a hiker or kayaker, you can stay here for the night. There are bathrooms and there is water. There are also places to hang your food so the bears don’t steal your breakfast during the night. The Malbaie River is a beautiful river that travels north through Grand Jardins National Park, where I had fished it. Then it turns east through the mountains into Haute Gorge National Park, then down to the town of La Malbaie and into the St. Lawrence. It would be fun to hike and fish this great river above the campground. Later, in the town of La Malbaie, we would see people fishing for salmon.
beautiful river