Boston -Quebec - Montreal

I am considering a 2 week tour this August in Eastern Canada/USA. I am from the UK. The main options
are around Montreal and Quebec City. Then I wondered about an open jaw flight ie into Boston and
back from Montreal. Does this sound a good plan? I have heard bad things about flies (bugs) in the
summer. Will this be a probelm in this area?

Thanks

Richard

 

>>>I am considering a 2 week tour this August in Eastern Canada/USA...The
main options are around Montreal and Quebec City.<<<<

First good choice, particularly if you like bike paths. Montreal has an excellent system of bike
paths that take you from the city, through former fairgrounds, to a casino, and to some beautiful
waterside communities, where you can enjoy an outdoor lunch. (CONTINUED BELOW)

>>> Then I wondered about an open jaw flight ie into Boston<<<<

Would you be going to Boston to ride? My feeling is, if you plan to ride in Boston, stick to the
path along the Charles River and take in some of the attractions along the way. You can see some
cool exhibits at Harvard University, visit the aquarium, and have lunch or dinner on Boylston Street
(be careful riding here...or WALK the bike!)

I've ridden on the road in both Montreal and Boston and wasn't too comfortable. The bike paths were
awesome, though. See my site at www.geocities.com/NYRides for some info. (You'll have to click on
"Out-Of-Town Rides" to find these places. (MORE)

>>>Does this sound a good plan? I have heard bad things about flies (bugs)
in the summer. Will this be a problem in this area?<<<

I THINK, but I can't be sure, you're too far north to really have to deal with a lot of bugs. Check
it out with someone who lives in these places (I'm in New York). Both paths are next to water,
though, so there's a possibility the bugs may getcha.

Hey...any reason you're not adding New York to that trip? We have one of the nicest, most
highly-trafficked bicycle paths in the world here. It runs all along the west side of Manhattan and
takes in some breathtaking sites. You can get info about that one at my site, too. I also think it's
cheaper to fly back to the UK from NY than it is to go from Montreal or Boston.

Have a great trip!

Thanks

Richard

--
Low-Impact Rides in the NY/LI region www.geocities.com/NYRides "richard barcan"
<[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I am considering a 2 week tour this August in Eastern Canada/USA. I am
from
> the UK. The main options are around Montreal and Quebec City. Then I wondered about an open jaw
> flight ie into Boston and back from Montreal. Does this sound a good plan? I have heard bad things
> about flies (bugs) in the summer. Will this be a probelm in this area?
>
> Thanks
>
> Richard

 

"richard barcan" wrote
> I am considering a 2 week tour this August in Eastern Canada/USA. I am
from
> the UK. The main options are around Montreal and Quebec City.
OK

Then I
> wondered about an open jaw flight ie into Boston and back from Montreal.
What's an open jaw flight?

> Does this sound a good plan?

I have heard bad things about flies (bugs) in
> the summer. Will this be a probelm in this area?

Now this something I can speak about.. We lived in nortern New York, basically on the border with
Quebec, for about 3 years, some time ago. There was an old saying ( 9 months snow flies, 3 months
blackflies) . However, August is the best month, bugs are usally not a problem, the weather is as
good as it gets. I think that is why Canadians take it as a national vacation month, alot of them
do. Another consideration is can you speak French? Years ago Quebec was a bilingual Provence, but
now it is franc pretty much with a vengence. That being said we went there last august, and it was
beautiful. May I recomend a trip on the shores of Lake Champlain? I don't any links at hand, but do
a search with Lake Champlain+ bicycles, you should get something. Again august is a good choice and
you will probably enjoy it, Cioa Len
>
> Thanks
>
> Richard

 

"richard barcan" <[email protected]> wrote let it be known in
news:[email protected]:

> I have heard bad things about flies (bugs) in
> the summer. Will this be a probelm in this area?

I live and bike in Southern Vermont, which may be on (or at least close to) your route.

In this area, the 'buggiest' season is late Spring into Early Summer (May-June). First we get the
biting black flies (or 'noseeums'). Then, when they start to fade away, it is time for the
mosquitos. Some are the size of small birds (or so it will seem if you are trying to camp).

The mosqitos will hang around for the rest of the summer, expecially in areas near swamps or large
bodies of water. Just how bad they get depends on how dry the year is. Usually they are not as bad
in August, since the hot dry weather is not their ideal breeding climate.

While riding, you shouldn't have any problems at all. The only time that bugs bother me at all in
the summer is when I am mountain biking up a hill that makes me crawl VERY slowly and I can't outrun
the deerflies.

Just be careful riding through some of the more 'rustic' farm areas. The bugs that congregate there
around the manure piles and cattle pens can be quite a mouthful on a hot humid day
They don't bite, but they taste just aweful! Your best
strategy there is to find the right times to draft behind a bigger rider in the group and KEEP YOUR
MOUTH CLOSED.

Have a great trip, maybe I'll see you on the road when you pass through this area...

--

Curt Bousquet [email protected] < Reverse for email

Road biking in Southern VT and Western Mass.

My 2003 bike log: http://www.scanline.com/bikelog/2003.html

 

"richard barcan" <[email protected]> wrote let it be known in
news:[email protected]:

> I have heard bad things about flies (bugs) in
> the summer. Will this be a probelm in this area?

I live and bike in Southern Vermont, which may be on (or at least close to) your route.

In this area, the 'buggiest' season is late Spring into Early Summer (May-June). First we get the
biting black flies (or 'noseeums'). Then, when they start to fade away, it is time for the
mosquitos. Some are the size of small birds (or so it will seem if you are trying to camp).

The mosqitos will hang around for the rest of the summer, expecially in areas near swamps or large
bodies of water. Just how bad they get depends on how dry the year is. Usually they are not as bad
in August, since the hot dry weather is not their ideal breeding climate.

While riding, you shouldn't have any problems at all. The only time that bugs bother me at all in
the summer is when I am mountain biking up a hill that makes me crawl VERY slowly and I can't outrun
the deerflies.

Just be careful riding through some of the more 'rustic' farm areas. The bugs that congregate there
around the manure piles and cattle pens can be quite a mouthful on a hot humid day
They don't bite, but they taste just aweful! Your best
strategy there is to find the right times to draft behind a bigger rider in the group and KEEP YOUR
MOUTH CLOSED.

Have a great trip, maybe I'll see you on the road when you pass through this area...

--

Curt Bousquet [email protected] < Reverse for email

Road biking in Southern VT and Western Mass.

My 2003 bike log: http://www.scanline.com/bikelog/2003.html

 

Try www.massbike.org, or http://www.geocities.com/b-m-b/.

Massbike is a good overall biking resource for boston. The bmb link is to the Boston Montreal Boston
brevet ride, passing through the area you're talking about "richard barcan"
<[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> I am considering a 2 week tour this August in Eastern Canada/USA. I am
from
> the UK. The main options are around Montreal and Quebec City. Then I wondered about an open jaw
> flight ie into Boston and back from Montreal. Does this sound a good plan? I have heard bad things
> about flies (bugs) in the summer. Will this be a probelm in this area?
>
> Thanks
>
> Richard