Bike Vermont - Quebec Tour

Not everyone can say they’ve crossed an international border on a bicycle, or taken shelter from the rain under a covered bridge, or pedaled through a vineyard. We created these memories on our bicycle tour of the Eastern Townships of Quebec.

We spent the night at, and departed from, the Phinneas Swann inn in northern Vermont. It had quaint New England charm and comfort, delicious food, and welcoming hosts.  After breakfast we set off with maps provided by our Bike Vermont guides, and after about 12 miles crossed into French Canada. The route followed country roads, provincial highways, and dedicated bike paths along La Route Verte. We stayed at a different family-run inn each night, along with one night at Chateau Bromont. The dinners and breakfasts were sumptuous, and we ate knowing we were burning plenty of calories each day.

Quaint villages, great views of the countryside, historic sites and museums, interesting shops and galleries, and cafés were waiting to be discovered along the ride. The terrain was hilly, with farms and vineyards in the rolling valleys. Along one back road we followed a hand painted sign for Poterie to a sculptor’s studio in a pair of rustic buildings surrounded by quiet woods. The proprietor wasn’t there, but the doors were unlocked. We chose a souvenir, leaving cash and an explanatory note in our best French on the shelf.  We had our share of rain, which was fine except for one stretch where it rained continuously from one afternoon until the following evening. A couple of our rooms saw our clothes hung to dry all over the place. One rainy afternoon we made it to a café before it really started pouring, and warmed up with a cup of onion soup. The rain made us all the more grateful for the sunny days we had for the last day and a half, which included a wine tasting at a vineyard on a hillside with expansive views of the surrounding mountains.

In all, we covered about 180 miles over four and a half days of riding. Our guides, hosts, and dozen or so fellow riders all contributed to the fond memories we have of our bicycle tour of Quebec’s Eastern Townships.