08/31/2026
Day 48 — Five Minutes of Rain 🏍️🌧️⚜️
After another recharging night with family, it was time to follow the recommendations from the crew at Moto Motto.
Montreal. Trois-Rivières. Shawinigan. La Tuque. Lac-Saint-Jean.
Their advice was on point.
What the guys couldn't recommend was what to wear.
Sunshine and spectacular scenery were constants for almost the entire ride.
Almost.
Just before La Tuque, the skies opened.
Five minutes.
That's it.
But it was a downpour heavy enough to force cars and motorcycles alike to slow down, soak the rider completely, and give the luggage a light wash for good measure.
Then, almost as quickly as it arrived, it was gone.
Back to sunshine.
Back to beautiful roads.
Back to an exchange of smiles between the different riders at the gas station in La Tuque:
"I see you got soaked too."
No words needed.
Then back on the road, sharing it with plenty of other motorcycles taking advantage of one of the last summer weekends of the year, while cottage dwellers hauled their boats toward the lakes.
The destination wasn't really about the road today, though.
It was family.
Visiting family I hadn't seen in almost a decade was amazingly refreshing. There is something different about doing the catching up face to face instead of through occasional messages and pictures.
Time is flying.
The kids are growing.
And the rest of us are apparently just gaining more "wisdom" with all that additional chrome showing up on our faces.
The conversation added even more flavour to an already delicious tourtière and blueberry pie.
Eventually, it was time to call it a night.
Le Plaza Hotel and Bar Paradox.
An old local hotel getting a facelift under its owner, Emma, who also owns the local microbrewery, Port-Alfred.
And after a day on the motorcycle, there are few signs more welcoming than one beside the front door reserving parking specifically for motorcycles.
Stationnement réservé aux motos.
Purple Beauty approved.
And it wouldn't be much of an Odyssey if I didn't at least sample the local brew and get a taste of the local atmosphere.
Neither disappointed.
A spectacular road.
Five minutes of getting absolutely soaked.
Family, tourtière, blueberry pie, a local b**r and a parking spot reserved for Purple Beauty.
Not a bad way to spend one of the last weekends of summer. 🏍️⚜️🍺
