Day 2: The South Coast

Metis-sur-mer to Bonaventure: 573kms

We left Mel and Frank's place at about 7:30am and had breakfast in Matane at the local McDo. It's not the best place but we know what we're going to get. The adventure was about to begin.

Once we passed St-Anne-Des-Monts, the seaside became unreal. Gradually the mountains came to crash into the sea so much that our world was cliff and water. It was really majestic, beautiful to see. Once in a while in an inlet between two mountains was a village against a beach, then the mountain-road-sea pattern would repeat, sometimes labelled with a sign warning us that a wave could push the car off road.

The first little village we stopped was called La Martre and had a working lighthouse on top of a hill. Simply magnificent.

At Riviere A Claude I came to an old source that was probably the main source of water for the village. I just imagined it would a been quite an adventure getting there when the sea was angry.

It was still quite a long way before we reached the Forillon National Park, going at one point through a series of high cliffs, steep climbs and fun descent that had Mathieu a bit freaked out (he always sat on the side of the cliff, so he could see what Sabrina didn't). We made it intact, with an empty stomach. It took a while to find a proper restaurant but it was found (or so we thought) at l'Anse au Griffon. Now I have a few pictures in here but it's only because I find the girls super beautiful. The food was horrible, the service horrid and after about 45 minutes we were the last served. Oh and it was horribly expensive too. Not happy. Don't go to the Cafe de l'Anse.

We finally reached lower Quebec's Easternmost point at Cap des Rosiers. We're now halfway through our trip.

After Forillon National Park, it's time for Gaspé, then Percé. I get to see the rock from an angle I had never seen before.

On the way to Percé, Mathieu's tooth decides to fall. It will hold on by a thread for a few hours, and our son the clown will take advantage of this by making the funniest sounds...

Finally we reach Percé Rock. It's simply magnificent, especially when arriving from the West as we go down a hill and it appears in front of us. So beautiful. There are so many people in Percé town that will cross it before stopping to take the traditional picture.

Another two hours and we finally arrive at Thelma's. Mathieu run's to show her his missing tooth.

Usually 3.5 hours, we make it in about 11 hours. But it's really worth it.