A Week in Quebec‘s Eastern Townships - September 7 - 14, 2018
Join Colin Vollick for a week of cycling through the charming Eastern Townships of Quebec. This is Colin’s third year leading daily bike rides through this scenic region of Quebec, the first 2 years for the East York Outdoor Club. You will be staying the full week at a manor house in the Village of North Hatley overlooking Lac Massawippi. North Hatley is a village of about 750 residents, first settled by United Empire Loyalists in 1776 and is now a vacation playground for many. The village is 16 kms from Magog and 19 kms from Sherbrooke.
Accommodations - Cyclists will be sharing a rented 3-storey, 5-bedroom house in the village of North Hatley, with on-site parking for 5 vehicles. The house has a modern eat-in kitchen, a formal dining room, and a living room with two seating areas on the first floor. Three bedrooms are located on the second floor, each with its own three-piece ensuite bathroom. An additional two bedrooms located on the third floor share a four piece bathroom with separate tub and shower. The larger room on the third floor (which runs the length of the house) also has an ensuite toilet and sink. Each bedroom has one double or one queen size bed, allowing for a mix of singles and couples. All bedding and linens are provided. There is a verandah, deck and terrace to enjoy views of the lake and grounds, complete with patio furniture and a BBQ. Bicycles can be stored in the garage. There is one refrigerator only, a washing machine, TV, CD and DVD player and WiFi.
The Rides - There will be 5 rides for the week. The rides will offer a choice of distance and will introduce cyclists to the lakes, mountains, villages and local history of this area. On one of the rides the border between Canada and the USA runs down the middle of the street we will be riding on. Organized rides range from 70 to 90kms with a number of climbs; the majority of the routes are paved, with a couple of rail trails of crushed stone or hard-pack. There will be no van support and riders will be expected to be independent, but travel as a group. This ride is ideal for strong cyclists in the tourist category.
Trip Price – For the trip to go ahead, a minimum of 5 people need to be registered by March 29, 2018, with all five rooms taken. Of the five rooms, one is reserved for the organizer - leaving 4 bedrooms open. The maximum number then is 9 people (including the tour leader) if all of the 4 bedrooms rooms are shared. The price for the full week is $370/person for members for single occupancy or $220/person for double occupancy. For single occupancy, you must pay the single supplement ($150), along with the price of the room ($220). If there is still availability after February 25,the trip may be opened to non-members for an additional $55/per person. As you will be sharing a bed with double occupancy, it is best to sign up your partner or friend as your guest when registering. The trip price includes some shared food (coffee and tea only), maps and cue sheets. Fees will be refunded if the trip is cancelled. If you need to cancel your registration and there is a person on the waiting list to take the room, the fee will be refunded minus 10%. Otherwise, it is up to you to sell your spot.
Food – Evening meals will be a combination of group prepared meals and restaurants. Breakfast and lunch will be independent. Food for the week can be brought at the local grocery store in North Hatley (a very small independent store two blocks from the house, which also sells beer and wine), or at the modern supermarkets located in Magog and Sherbrooke. There is also an excellent bike store in Magog.
For more information, please contact Colin at colin.vollick@rbc.com
