June 21st, 2025: Day Seventeen
Distance Travelled: 365.7 KM
Days in Hotels VS Campgrounds VS Guest: 6/7/3
Camping La Jolie Rochelle, Quebec –
Motel camping Metis, Quebec
Had a good sleep at Camping La Jolie Rochelle but needed to #2 in the morning. Greeted by what I presume to be the camp kitty cat and went to go about my business when the cleaner/maid came in and started banging around.
At one point it seemed like they might have tried to open my stall, and I said “hey”.
Don’t know if they looked over, as I was wearing a hoodie but it was a very uncomfortable experience. It seems since entering Quebec, the camp bathrooms are unisex as well which takes some getting used to. I am all for a unified bathroom experience, but as North Americans are aware, there’s a two inch gap in the door frame, and a two foot gap at the bottom.
They hid in another stall while I washed my hands, but I got a look at them later (identified) by their shoes), an older woman.
Something like this was bound to happen.
Today’s destination is the first for the peninsula: Saint Faurie and their main attraction, Le Grand Rassemblement. A bunch of statues coming from, and out of the water.
“This large scale art project, called Le Grand Rassemblement (The Grand Gathering in English), is the work of Canadian artist Marcel Gagnon who started carving the crooked wood and stone people as figure studies for his paintings. After making over 80 of the figures and placing them along the shore and at varying depths in the river so that they would appear and disappear with the tides, he simply continued to construct the impressionistic statues with ever-more diverse poses and visages until the number of figures numbered well over 100.”
–AtlasObscura.com
I got a series of photos and some postcards before searching for a camp.
Today and ever since I entered Quebec, I have been looking for a sticker to add to my “Provence window” to great failure.
Never have I felt so much like a fish out of water, just for asking a simple question. Quite a few people speak little to no English and I have resorted to Google for communication. Sometimes I suspect they know more than they lead on but it’s speculation from a combo of hearsay and paranoia.
After chasing a poor lead on the iOverlander app, I backtracked 20km to “Motel Camping Metis”
Owned by a couple who speak easy to understand conversational English they were very welcoming.
After I parked, I got my toiletries and headed for the shower, and I must have narrowly beat someone to the punch because I heard them come in and mutter “tabernac”
After I go-go-gadgeted into car camping mode I wrote Sarah, Nanni, Dennis and my Aunt/Uncle postcards which I’ll likely send out Monday when I find a post office to buy more stamps.
There is a beach nearby and to get there you take a couple sets of stairs. I took my camera, wide angle lens and yes, my tripod and trekked down.
I met a couple at the bottom, Sean & Annie. Both spoke fluent English, and we had an extensive pleasant conversation about travel. Where they’ve been, where I’ve been and where I am going. I captured a minimalist, but stunning sunset which I edited on my laptop in the car right after.
June 22nd, 2025: Day Eighteen
Distance Travelled: 0KM
Days in Hotels VS Campgrounds VS Guest: 6/8/3
Motel Camping Metis, Quebec
The day started with rain, and lots of it. I again made the foolish decision to store things outside that were susceptible to the wetness of the elements. In this case, my roadside kit and my gym bag for things I don’t need in the car.
After much self-deliberation I decided to stay another day. I would save some money and take the time to spruce up the car. In no particular order, I checked the oil, wiped down the portion of the bed dirtied by my boots upon entrance and egress, wiped down surfaces with car wipes and after watching a tutorial, removed the cabin air filter to inspect it. Despite giving the spare tire compartment a thorough bleach facial spa bath, I could still smell mouse-something when I turned on the vents.
Well, suspicions unfortunately confirmed as the filter was not only filthy, like it had never been changed (despite the dealership saying otherwise) but resting in the crevasses were pellets.
I spent the next thirty minutes cleaning it as best I could, gloved up with paper towels and some Q-tips donated by the campground owner.
After putting it back in and firing up the car (and heater) there was no change.
I need supplies. Food, cleaning, and now auto. This means tomorrow will likely be a pause of the main adventure to do a couple of side quests.
My time here at Motel Metis Camping has been great and the owner, a marine biologist, turned banker, turned campground owner was among the most pleasant hosts so far and she really went above and beyond. It always makes me nervous I won’t find another place like this one.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.