Quebec


	So, my dear XL, here we are in your native province… I just learned that we have travelled 19 500 km, that’s approximately 30 000 miles… for our first stretch Montreal – Barrow – Montreal, which really went successfully apart from a few mechanical problems… justified for our four-wheeler house but it’s normal… it’s more than ten years old except for… well, yes, except for .. :


	That if the VR repair man at St Mathieu de Beloeil had correctly done his job we wouldn’t have had any extension problem as the new engine was badly set up, we almost lost it. It was holding on only by an electric wire (cost : 600 dollars) and moreover, five days after our departure…


	That if the new spring blades and suspension had been of better quality as the Gallic had asked ! they certainly wouldn’t have broken.. it’s true that everything’s « Made in China » what is not expensive enough becomes, by necessity, the most expensive of things !!


	That if the propane specialist in Vaudreuil who billed us a complete revision of the gas fridge and of the water-heater, had been more serious we wouldn’t have encountered a breakdown eight days after our departure from Montreal (Vaudreuil on the Lake)


	In short, apart from these small problems and the big breakdowns our nevertheless new truck (car) experienced… well, I found this trip marvellous !


	And you, XL, tell me what you preferred or hated during this three-month trip ?


	I don’t know… pretty much the same as you


	But you can’t say that, that’s not an answer.. ! you’re acting shy again… there ! Go ahead… come on !

Since Miss Ulla wants to know, it’s Southern Alaska, with its landscapes then the North ; but it’s a pity because of the large pipeline that was scaring me as it was always present… following us… it terrorises nature and me with it !! And yet the Americans don’t like that word…

Yes, well, you say that, XL, but on the Dalton highway trail… to go to Prudhoe Bay… you weren’t too reassured then !


	Maybe but i twas hyper-interesting. You must live that at least once in your life : and also you know, I really appreciated British Columbia for its nature but it’s true that there were wild animals not reassuring me at all but they were free and that’s happiness at its best.






		*A wild cat (bobcat) on our road*


	The other provinces we crossed at top speed so I can’t make up my mind precisely on them.


	You see, XL, the place I liked least was Saskatchewan, as it’s too flat, but it’s true there are lakes everywhere. You wonder what their use is to them since they didn’t want to give us water… or their smile… ! Anyway, I’m going to please you when I tell you that I’m happy to be in Quebec province as they ( ! ) they speak our language and I understand them !

Oh… ! Ulla, do you remember the campground in British Columbia… I think it’s mountain shadow… you know the day on which we arrived late, around 8 pm, and the generator had broken down ? I could’ve bitten the manager if I’d been allowed to.. remember he was supposed to do the check-out at 11 am and that while our Gallic was putting back the hood, he dared to cut off the electric supply at 11.30 am while his wife was going around and around us endlessly, with her noisy machine so-called cleaning the alleyways.. Just crazy.. Remember that there was no one on the 20 parking lots.. and on top of that, the Gallic was repairing the generator. How was that bothering them that we stay one more hour ? It’s not a hotel. On top of that, they wanted to have us pay for a full day more… That’s madness, there are really some s.. everywhere, even in VR.. (Recreation Vehicle)






		*The natural surroundings are beautiful.. but the VR camp is fractioned and managed by a couple of incompetent people…*


	Please stop being annoying, we were only passing through and we’re in Quebec today, but he’s still in his mountain hunting down his clients and she… piling down her alleys !! That’s our freedom when we’re nomads… we’re not obliged to tolerate the bad nature of others as we can move on and be 3 km away in just ten minutes’ time ; no removal company can say as much !


	In any case, I remember the day we had a flat on the Dempster Highway halfway through the trip






		En cas d’incendie c’est l’hélico qui assume…C’est une pompe originale…et ce jeune homme fût sympathique par rapport à son patron….et à son collègue….courageux !!! …

In case of fire, the helicopter is in charge.. It’s an original pump.. and that young man was nice in comparison to his boss.. and his colleague… courageous !!! …

At Eagle Plain, 1 km from the only service station and the guy repaired the tyre for us but refused to give us back our wheel claiming it was no longer of any use and that we had to « limp » with our emergency tyre, which was much smaller than the three other four wheeler tyres : that was nonsense !!

Ah, yes, yes… I remember, Ulla ! Our companions put back the repaired (so-called useless) tyre themselves with their car jack 20 metres from the boss and from his employee looking at us stupidly… waiting for their next client… frankly a cursed businessman who would do better to do something else… and for your information that wheel brought us all the way to Vaudreuil… It’s incredible how solid these useless Wrangler tyres can be… ! To the point of travelling almost 38 400 km with them.. ! Just like brake shoes after mountains with a steeper than 13% grade… downslope ! which wore down only to three quarters thickness..


	Oh, XL, remember also, in Saskatchewan where we left the main road to take a little country road as we were tired, and there we stopped to spend the night in the middle of the countryside, without any houses around and as not to disturb any one ; there was just this «Dead End » road stopping us…

That was a pleasant place and everyone was going for a good supper and sleep.. so we’re starting to get the jacks out to stabilize our house…and then, a car comes up in which there were two guys (two runts, really) with a woman and a child who yelled at us saying « leave our camping ground ! » .. Seeing that, our companions explain that it’s just for a small night’s sleep and that we were on a public road in a dead end and that, at first light, we’d be leaving, that night was falling and that we had travelled for a long while… and their only answer was « get out no camping here ».. thank you for your warm welcome, we left the premises then we stopped over on a service station parking lot with our leashes on of course… they’re really, really… phenomenal.. in Saskatchewan.. la la la ! … they would deserve to be in the newspaper…


	You see, XL, I’m repeating myself but never mind… we have travelled 19 567 km across Northern America and what is really pleasant, coming from France is that we were never stopped by the police

(that in France we call the « Honk honks ») who, for any reason, stop you : « Your papers, tyre control, wearing your seat belt, handling a cell phone whilst driving, blow into the alcohol test balloon… etc… Here if you respect the speed limit and you don’t commit an offence the police respects drivers whilst in France in which, we declare we’re the country of Human Rights, we’d do well to follow this example of freedom.

	Thus the citizens would certainly be more respectful of their justice departments and especially of their policemen…
	Ulla… stop… you’re speaking just like the Gallic !

No, no, no… I’m the one daring to write out loud what others think and hide.. Ho, ho.

You know, XL, if someone dares to say those are lies, I promise to eat dry food « Made in China » and « pas fai chié moé » (« it won’t hurt me ») as it is said in the French West Indies


	You know, Ulla, we’ve only done one third of the trip and other adventures are awaiting us… We’ll probably have to refrain from telling our anecdotes or foolish moments such as that one.. even though…


	In short, next week, we’ll be visiting Montreal… the city that’s more French speaking than France itself ! In the meantime, we’re sending 19 567 friendly pawings to our readers and those who appreciate us… The others can go to sleep..


	Good morning, Quebec, welcome


	Yes, I’d like to say good morning as, for once, I’m the one, XL, writing… I’m finally given the opportunity to write. Come on, follow me ! We’re going to explore this Northern American city of the Province of Quebec, in which the inhabitants have expressions belonging to Metropolitan Frenchmen’s grandparents


	The city is as well equipped outdoors as underground…


	To do your shopping, as soon as the « biting cold » comes on, you must « shop » underground ! and there are plenty of « shopping malls » in Quebec.


	You see, XL, I must admit that your place is really comfortable but… I’m cold !!


	It’s funny to see all these signs making us hungry…


	French fries and raw seasoned ground meat … wonderful !!


	… one must admit that it’s funny to park your car there… where you’re told how to make your bike parking safe.. by « barring » it..


	« Couche Tard » (« Late to Sleep ») and « Lève Tôt » (« Up Late ») are open almost all night and one finds everything there…




	.. No, Ulla, it’s not a depot, it’s a restaurant.. !




	_{.. je veux un livreur à pied !}




		_{. . interdit en France..}


	.. yes, the glasses are sterilized here !


	In Quebec the medical profession has the right to advertise !

The « handyman stores » are often set up at each street corner or « block » so they’re quite numerous and you find everything you need there, all week long. Some close early, that means 9 pm, but many close at 11 pm and later… It’s true that businesses are free to earn their living more here in order to pay their taxes ! But the prices are « less alluring » (« less attractive ») than in large department stores ; they’re higher and on top of that, everything’s open on Sundays !!

A pack of cigarettes costs around 10 dollars, that’s 6 euros… it’s very « extravagant » (expensive)


	This « tank » is a workshop truck… no, it’s not that of a watchmaker but this expression tells you there is an exhibition showing you the products on sale there.


	In all Quebec… we speak French… and good old-time French


	You are « real lucky » to preserve our French language… what a delight !


	No, stop XL, don’t you see she’s much bigger than you are.. ?


	…This time, I’m going to catch you… !




		… Go on… show yourself please…




		…I suggest a chase…..


	OK, tell your girlfriend the doberman that she’s bothering


	Yes, me too, as she doesn’t want to play with us, she wants to eat us




		Tell her to go back into her Victorian neighbourhoods…




		..night falls on Quebec.. at Vaudreuil


	big meal in the freshly-cut corn field and


	departure of the Canada geese for the deep South, just like us


	OK, for the moment, we’re going to leave you and in the meanwhile…

A few friendly pawings to our readers.

Well, after these holidays, they worked hard and we watched over their works for the Second Lap after the North Pole, that to the South Pole, be a success.

Here we are back at Vaudreuil Dorion on Yvan’s land… we still have a lot of preparation to do before the big day of departure Southwards…

First, a complete revision of our truck, change of the front and rear windshields as a stone struck it on the Dalton Highway and the crack is getting worse…

It’s raining in our house due to our having added barriers above that created cracks… and moreover it’s raining at present… we’re tarpauling the roof and putting weights using our jerry cans while we wait for the sun to come back… !

The previous fans… here are the new ones..

A total weatherproofing of the roof… then painting it to isolate it from the Southern American sun !

… adding a solar panel to recharge our six batteries…

…yes, the trailer is gone… but.. the Gallic’s mad to stay underneath !! …

…No, but Ulla, they’re stark raving mad.. why add a trailer ?

…To put the chest on top of it, that way the whole won’t swing sideways any more… !

…And on top of it, to hang up the bikes more easily… we won’t stop running behind them… !

…Hey ! XL, I heard they want to buy a motorbike, what a wild idea… !

… Yes, Ulla take a good look, the space is set aside between the old chest and the new one in which the water storage, the diesel oil and fuel storages are located…

…Oh, Ulla, look at your friend Steeve (the Gypsy’s son) linking up the cameras… I’ll have to behave well… do you think they’ll see me doing mischief… ?