The photo above was taken at a stop for gas 'off Route 9'. Two other similar photos exist from this stop - in black and white. However, this snapshot, taken by my 5 year old sister, may be metaphorical in some way for our summer vacation trips so I'm using it.
I remember this particular section of the trip because Route 9 was the speedway to the US. It had an interesting feature - a 'suicide strip'. As he drove, my father gave a regular commentary when he saw dangerous use of this feature.
Route 9 was essentially a two-lane highway. However, in many places a passing lane was inserted between the two opposing-direction lanes. This passing lane could be used in either direction at any time. As you can imagine, the closing speed of two cars winding up their speed for passing might easily be 100 mph to 130 mph or so. The opposing car ahead would get larger very quickly. At any rate, my father was giving us regular updates of 'crazy!' passing attempts.
My mother was driving later, as I recall, and this was the only time I've ever been in a car-to-car collision. Somehow she made light contact with a car ahead, putting a small dent in the right fender of our VW Beetle. There was some following of the other vehicle, and wondering aloud if they were going to stop so we could discuss the accident. However, our ways parted with no follow-up.
Years ago, I purchased an early Quebec AAA tour book.
The maps and the advertisement shown below come from this book:
The images below show us returning west to Montreal from Gaspe.
The final slides show us crossing the St Lawrence River from Riviere du Loup to St Simeon.
My father noted that the river was 15 miles wide at that point.
My father noted that the river was 15 miles wide at that point.
My father took the photo above to show the typical long, thin lots of surveyed land in Quebec.
This was probably taken somewhere on Route 6 as we approached the St Lawrence.
Continuing along, somewhere south of Mont Joli, this snapshot shows our typical operation during a meal break. As there were 5 in the family, a cot was carried for the person who would not fit into a motel room's double beds. In most cases, we stayed at motels offering separate cabins.
As you can see, the photos above and below are taken at the same location.
Back then, road line markings were done only with white paint.
The map above shows our travel via Route 6 to Mont Joli and Route 10 to the ferry at Riviere du Loup.
There may be a strong westerly crosswind making driving more difficult.
In additional, we have that 'sail' mounted on the roof.
It seems likely that one or both of our windows are closed to improve the aerodynamics.
Notice the 'frost shield' to provide some frost-free winter visibility of cross-traffic at stop signs, etc.
The rear-mounted air-cooled engine provided inadequate interior heat and defrosting in winter.
The summer heat and sun have caused me to conk out.
This shot is included because it shows the sparse but functional interior fittings of the Volkswagen.
The motel at Riviere du Loup was unique and loved above all others in our summer travels
because it had a pool (AND a pool slide!).
The man on the deck is probably amused because we have already stood and posed for the black and white version of this shot.
In Riviere du Loup is this interesting intersection near our motel.
The relatively-unimproved August 2018 version of this intersection is shown below.
To make the photo comparable, I shifted the Google viewpoint clockwise (x1) to the next road.
The route to the ferry is shown on a green sign to the right.
Back on August 10, 1966. Tomorrow will be a fine day for sea-farin' !
From the motel at sunset, that is the north shore of the St Lawrence.
This was not the only time one of our Volkswagens was tucked into a ferry deck's corner.
As we leave Riviere du Loup, you can see two examples of a Quebec goélette.
In the foreground, one is partially loaded with pulpwood.
Behind the wharf is another - a truck has a load of pulpwood for it.
Built locally, here is more information on these boats
... from a museum where one has been preserved.
Goélette Saint-André, Musée maritime de Charlevoix
Île aux Lièvres appears between us and the north shore.
We have distant photos of the ferry in 1966
and it is a much more formidable vessel than its 1944 predecessor.
With a deckhand at the ready, we approach St Simeon.
We'd be visiting some locations known to our Gagnon ancestors as we continued west.
