After our day of “rest” (well, no cycling anyway), we remounted our bicycles for the 38 km ride from Mont Tremblant to Val-David. This leg features a long but gentle uphill at the start, eventually rising to the high point of the trail before beginning a long slow descent for the remainder. The summit is even marked with a sign, which delighted Rowan. On the downhill portion it is literally possible to coast much of the way, so long as you don’t mind going slowly. To prove this, Ben at one point didn’t pedal at all for over two kilometers. Susannah even got a selfie with Nick while coasting along.

The vegetation has changed somewhat as we move southwards. There seem to be more deciduous forests and fewer pine. Another feature was given away when we noticed a woman by the side of the trail who seemed to be gathering something. What was it? Blueberries! Sure enough they were growing wild by the side of the trail at a number of locations. A little way down the trail we stopped to pick some of our own. Mmm!

The trail also switched from asphalt to gravel on this leg. Before traversing the gravel, we took advantage of the free pump station along the trail and filled our tires full.

We stopped for lunch at Sainte Agathe des Monts, but rather than eating at the station cafe, we rode the additional 1km on a side route into the town proper. There’s a lovely lake with a fountain adjacent to a town park, which seems to be the chosen Sunday afternoon spot for many locals. The kids happily sampled the ice cream on offer as we relaxed in the park.

Our destination was Val-David, a charming, upscale town with an artistic bent. Susannah popped off to see the sights while everyone else was recuperating from the day’s ride. As a result she was the only one able to see the local pottery exhibition before the gates closed for the day. Nick joined her for a walk about the neighborhood, amidst lakes and parks. Susannah felt so at home here she started looking at real estate ads! 🙂 On the way back, she borrowed a book from the free library in town and started reading it on a hammock chair outside our hotel – now that’s relaxation.

Our stay for the night is at the Baril Roulant, a classic tavern with food, drinks, and lodging (both private rooms and dormitory-style). The building is a grand old wooden structure with huge beams, generous porches, and pressed tin ceilings in the dining room. Their food and drink are both incredible, exploding with flavor and served in artistic fashion on wooden boards. The clincher dessert was “beeramisu”, which the kids quickly dismissed as tasting like weird-textured beer, which is perhaps just why Susannah enjoyed it!

The day ended with several rounds of Pitch played over dinner, and afterward. Shout out to the O’Connors for teaching us their family game. 🙂