Aug 25, 2019
We wanted to see more of Quebec City today and Debbie wanted to go to the Laurier Quebec Shopping district to complete her quest in finding clothes. We agreed to part ways for most of the day and meet later in the afternoon.
We both bought tickets for the Hop On Hop On bus, she was taking one bus to her shopping district and I was taking the tour and getting on and off at the various places in the City.
The first stop for me was at the Plains of Abraham and the Citadel. The Plains of Abraham has now become a National Historic Site and encompasses 250 acres. The Citadel is the operational base for the Royal 22ndRegiment and houses the Museum, and conducts tours of the military base. I arrived just as the sentries were being changed. Once inside the base, we were given a one-hour tour of the base. The guide showed us the various buildings and structures that had been built in the late 1700’s and how the fort grew over the years after the battles with the American soldiers in the war of 1812.
The completion of the fort was done by the British to prevent further attempts to take over this important base. Quebec was the first North American fort, built strategically on the eastern coast to protect Canada. All trade and commerce had to go past Quebec on the Saint Lawrence River to enter the Great Lakes and have to access the Mississippi and Hudson Rivers.
The guide showed us the cannon placements and pointed out “Racheal” the largest cannon able to launch an 80-pound explosive cannon ball three kilometers. It had never been fired.
My tour continued through the city and I hopped off at various sites, including the Notre Dame Cathedral. Debbie had finished her shipping spree and was returning to the Old Quarter.
We met in a small bistro near the Frontenac Hotel and enjoyed a late lunch/early supper of crepes, which each of us shared our choices. She proudly told me of her purchases and I related my stories and sights that I had seen. We enjoyed the music of a guitar player who sang both English and French songs.
We toasted Quebec again and then took the shuttle back to the trailer. We decided to cook and barbeque what little food we had left in the fridge as tomorrow we would be driving to Rimouski to put the trailer and truck onto the cargo ship and into containers. We would be eating this food before we board so as not to have it spoil on the journey on the ship. Then it was off to bed.
Quilting in a Kayak 
We loved each time we spent in Old Quebec City, even when they were shovelling the snow off of the roofs and many stores had an ice sculpture near their door. It’s the closest Canadians have to that European feel. The cargo ship trip sounds interesting! You will miss the campgrounds where no one speaks English and your French will have to see you through. Enjoy!!
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