Looking back
The last time I rode Route 138 all the way to its eastern end was in 2013. The paved road ended at Pointe Parent, a village next to Natashquan. There were 18 kilometers of gravel road to go, and the road stopped at the Natashquan River. Construction of the bridge to cross this river began. That morning in July 2013, when I woke up in Havre St-Pierre, the Lac Mégantic disaster was on every TV set. From where I was, there was intense smoke in the air from the forest fires in the area. When we returned from the Natashquan River, public security closed the road just after we passed Baie-Johan-Beetz. When I passed through again this year, I could see the miles of wood burned by the fire. The dead trees are still standing, planted straight as soldiers, waiting for the next storm to finish them off.
FMQ’s fiftieth anniversary
So Pascal and I left Rivière-du-Loup at 5 a.m. on Saturday morning to catch the Matane/Godbout boat. When we arrived at the Matane dock, there were about 50 motorcycles on their way to the FMQ-2024 meeting in Sept-Îles, to celebrate the FMQ’s 50th anniversary. So we shared the road with all these motorcyclists, those who boarded the FA Gautier and others who came from 138 West via Quebec City, all of whom had come for the FMQ party. There were motorcycles all travelling in the same direction as us that day. We left them in Sept-Îles and headed for Havre St-Pierre for our hotel, away from all the hustle and bustle. We enjoyed the maritime scenery all the way.
In the evening, we had a nice dinner at Chez Julie, a restaurant all tourists know, located just behind our hotel. A quick visit to the wharf to breathe in the sea air, and see all those fishing boats, most of which are their main source of income. A good night’s sleep and I’m fresh and ready for my ultimate goal, the famous “end of the road” sign! On our way, we took our time as the weather was mild, whereas it was supposed to be miserable, with rain, wind and cold. We stopped off at Baie-Joan-Beetz and Aguanish. The scenery is so beautiful, the road inviting. The road is winding and the pavement is pleasant. Nature is grandiose and breathtaking. 20 kilometers before reaching the end of Route 138, a thick fog appears on the horizon. Fine droplets fill the visor and the degrees drop rapidly. With 10 kilometers to go, the wind picks up and the rain begins. At our destination, it’s not sunny, as only the North Coast can give us. The air is cold, it’s windy and it’s raining heavily. It’s vital to remain cautious. The plan was to spend some time enjoying and soaking up the scenery, but Pascal and I are no longer having fun. To think that, less than 20 kilometers away, the sun is shining! The decision to turn back – although we have no choice, it’s the end of the road – was made fairly quickly. A few photos to make it official. There’s no time for nonsense, the weather is not pleasant and, above all, not inviting. We’re heading in the opposite direction. As expected, on the way back, the sun is out, a few kilometers west of Kégaska, and the degrees are rising. It feels good to take off the raincoat and let the heat through, but above all, to feel safe. As the saying goes, if there’s nothing going on, there’s nothing to tell.
La Romaine
Between Baie-Johan-Beetz and Havre St-Pierre, there’s a road that leads to the Romaine 1, 2, 3 and 4 power stations. We took this road to see the first dam, La Romaine 1. It’s only 10 kilometers from Route 138. A visit is in order, but no, this won’t be a guided tour. I just want to see the gigantic work that’s been done. It’s magnificent, grandiose. I recommend this little detour, because the asphalt is new, nature is beautiful and the work accomplished by the workers is titanic. I’d like to return one day to visit the other three dams and see this stretch of road through to the end, as I’m accustomed to doing. So we turn back and head west on 138. Our destination is Port Cartier.
Day 3, Confederation Day
Monday morning, we pass all the little villages along the 138, Godbout, Franklin, Baie-Comeau, Ragueneau, Papinachois, and so on. I know this area a little better. I travel it almost every year. It’s the last day of the Confederation vacation. Like all trips, I come back with my head full of beautiful memories. We take the boat across the Saguenay, arriving in Saint-Siméon for another boat to Rivière-du-Loup. There’s nothing better than ending the trip with a little cruise on the river. Just over 1700 km were covered over the long weekend. For the occasion, I rode the Harley-Davidson CVO Street Glide 2024 The bike is comfortable, powerful and perfect for long-distance riding.
I would like to thank my friend, Pascal, who accompanied me to this destination, although I think it’s rather the other way around, I accompanied him on his trip. Thank you my friend for this beautiful road and this beautiful adventure. Thanks also to Harley-Davidson Canada for the loan of this CVO Street Glide.
Wearing gear:
- LS2 Challenger helmet
- Cardo Edge communication system
- Falco Liberty boots
- Oxford Montréal 4.0 coat
- Rain gear Scott
