July 9, 2008

July 9, 2008

We awake to heavy fog in Matane, Quebec. Undeterred we drive east toward the Gaspesie peninsula with the St Lawrence on our left. Along the way we stop at Eole Cap-Chat, a huge windmill farm with 76 turbines, including the tallest in the world. At least that was what we were told. The fog is so thick we can only make out the base of two on the hill above us. We pass on the expensive tour. I am guessing we would lose a lot of the value with the low visibility.

We continue east and gradually the scenery improves. The coastline starts to rise in height. By the time we hit the Gaspesie peninsula we are driving next to soaring sea cliffs. Beautiful scenery! And free! One of the very few things the Quebeckers don’t or can’t charge tourists to see.

Unfortunately the fog isn’t letting up much and it is mixed with rain. Aimee is cursing the guidebook with its beautiful sunny photos. She thinks they took them on the one sunny day each year. She is in a surly mood. As we were driving downhill from the La Martre lighthouse we hit a big dip in the road and our dishes bounced up and out of an upper cabinet and on to the floor. It was the perfect storm of road bumps. I guess we didn’t realize Corelle dinnerware was glass. The set seemed like a nice step up from the plastic camp plates I had wanted. When the Corelle hit the ground they shattered into a million (no exaggeration!) very sharp pieces.

With the poor weather we are making very slow progress and we stop well short of our goal at a private park in the picturesque town of Grande-Vallee, QC. Our RV (VR as they say in Quebec French) sits with two of the windows facing the sea….. thru the rain.