First stop was Quebec City and the Old Town, of which a visit is never complete without taking a picture of the most photographed hotel in the world - Chateau Frontenac.
The streets in Old Town are narrow, and chock full of old world charm. Many of these houses were present during the siege of 1758-59, the time of the novels.
Just a very small part of the fortifications of the Citadel. Built by the British after the American Revolution, they have no part to play in the novels, but are impressive, nevertheless.
For the history buffs out there, I purchased a miniature of a cannon at the museum of the Royal 22nd Regiment - the famous Van Doos - and mounted it on a piece of slate I picked up at L'Anse au Foulon, where the British landed in the dark of night, on September 13, 1759, just six hours prior to the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. As a footnote I'll add that I walked over the site on September 13th, exactly 257 years after the famous battle.
Prior to that, General Wolfe had tried to pierce the French defences at Monmorency Falls, and got his nose bloodied for him. As you can see, I was able to get quite close (and got soaked for my pains.)
With Quebec in my rearview mirror, I followed scenic Highway 320 out to the city of Gaspe, out on the eastern tip of the Gaspe Peninsula.
While there, I stayed at William Wakeham House. Very old and quaint by our standards out here on the prairies, my room was the one in the middle with the large dormer. Joking, I asked the desk clerk if it was haunted. After some hesitation, he assured me that my room was safe....
Part of my research included viewing the shoreline from the sea. What better way of doing that than in a whale watching tour...?
And with that it was a six hour drive back to the airport, overnighting in beautiful Riviere de Loup, and the sun setting on my most excellent adventure.
