The next morning we awoke early and packed the car. The place we spent the night did not have breakfast so we walked the dogs, fueled the car, found a place to fuel ourselves with coffee, and hit the road. The morning was beautiful, clear with blue skies. We followed the backroads until we were back on I-87. It was Monday morning but there was very little traffic. As we rode, we discussed what we might find at the border. Our dogs are small but very loud. They act very aggressively until they get close enough to lick you. We had medication from the vet to calm them and we were deciding when to give it to them. The border was approaching fast so at about the thirty-minute mark we gave them each half of a dose. 

As we approached the guard house we notice there were no other cars. I thought this was good in case the dogs were difficult. To our delight, when we stopped the car, the dogs behaved very well. We showed our passports and then the guard asked where we were going. We explained we were headed to Montreal where we planned to stay a couple of days, and then we were headed to Banff National Park. After Banff, we were going west to cross back to the US above Seattle. He asked if we were driving the entire distance and seemed surprised when we said yes. He wanted to see the papers from the vet showing the dogs health and shot records. Afterward, he asked if we had any weapons or anything to declare. After saying no, he told us to enjoy the trip and sent us on our way.

Saskia had found a hotel in Montreal so we had it plugged into the map as our destination. In a short while, we saw the city in the distance. The traffic started to pick up and I needed to pay close attention to my driving. All the signs were in French, but easy to understand mostly due to their repetitive nature. The one thing that stood out was the amount of construction on the major highways. It seemed like they were working on about seventy percent of the highways at the same time. We missed a turn or two but finally arrived. We were a little early to check in so we parked in the garage and walked in the direction of Old Montreal.

My first impression was that it was like other big cities I have visited. There was a lot of sidewalk and street traffic. We had not realized we would be staying in the downtown area of the city. We walked for a while in what we thought was the direction of Old Montreal. The little map we had been given by the hotel was not very helpful. We saw a storefront police station and went in to ask for directions. What we got was vague and didn’t seem very helpful either.

Feeling a little lost, we were standing looking at our little map, with people flowing around us, when a young woman stopped and ask if she could help. We talked for a few minutes and she explained that Old Montreal was probably too far for us to walk, especially with the dogs. She said that we could take the subway and that they may let us on if we held the dogs. She pointed us in the direction of the entrance. We went that way but were not able to find it, so we headed back to the hotel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After settling in, we got in the car and again set out to find Old Montreal. We first ended up by the harbor which is called, Old Port. There seemed to be a very active water life as there were a lot of boats along the docks and in the water. One of the things that stood out was Clock Tower. It was built in the early 1900’s and marks the entrance to the port. It is a replica of Big Ben in London and is a memorial to sailors lost at sea. We saw what I believed to be a large Ferris Wheel but later learned is the La Grande roue de Montréal. Now, while it is a Ferris Wheel, it is really an observation wheel, about twenty-stories high, which allows for a view of about twenty-eight kilometers on a clear day.

Looking back into Old Montreal from Old Port we saw the Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours Chapel. The chapel is also known as the Sailors Church. We stayed at Old Port for a little and then headed to the shop area of Old Montreal.

The area was very crowded and it was difficult to find a spot to park. We later learned it was Canada Day which is a national holiday, so maybe people were out celebrating. After parking we started walking and noticed two things immediately; first, it was unbearably hot and second, it was not a place for dogs. We walked for a while but the dogs were miserable and we were constantly watching so people did not step on them. We walked around the streets and there were many shops with nice artwork, at least from the work on display in the window, but we were not able to check out many. Usually, when we find a shop we want to see, one of us would go in while the other stays with the dogs outside and then we would switch. This did not work well that day; it was hot!

We tried to eat at a couple of places with outdoor seating but were told our dogs were not allowed by order of the health department. We finally found a spot on a side street where we could grab a bite. I guess they were under a different health department jurisdiction. Being in Quebec we had to order the famous dish, poutine. It is french fries with cheese curds covered with gravy. It was delicious.

 After eating we headed back to the car. The heat that day was too much. We were told it was not typical weather for them, and for their sake we are glad. When we got to the car the thermometer was 105. Back at the hotel, we decided to cancel our next day and to head west.

I don’t know if it was the heat or the feel of not being dog friendly that drove our decision to leave but I do know they contributed to it. Also was the fact (I own it as my fault) we expected Montreal to be more in the style of an old European City. I should have done better research. Perhaps just Saskia and I at a different season would enjoy the city more.

We had a good nights rest, and after breakfast in the morning, we started our two-day ride to Thunder Bay.