The Keatings in Quebec

June 2019

 

Day 1:

Liz and I left home on June 24 and arrived at our prebooked hotel in St Jean sur Richilieu that evening. We set out in the morning for Powerscourt/Percy bridge. The first 3 pictures are by me, next 2 by Liz. While I can't find a link to articles about the controversy concerning this bridge, I remember reading that the Quebec Provincial government had decided to demolish it and replace it with a modern concrete bridge. Fixing it would cost a million dollars. The local mayor Of Huntingdon was incensed and organized a petition and letters to Members of Quebec Parliament, urging restoration of this historic bridge. It was restored in 2009, with help from donations. It was built in 1861, WGCB#61-27-01, and is the only McCallum bridge in Quebec. The mayor mentioned its unique status in his successful campaign to save it. Covered Bridges in Quebec are spread out and on back rods, with unfamiliar signage for us. My college French is rather rusty (50 years ago). Yahoo says that I have reached my file limit and I no longer have a resize picture too.
So this is all for now.
Tom

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Day 2:

Liz took these 2 pictures of Guthrie, #61-45-1, while I waited in the car, because we were parked on the road.

Also, on 6-25, we stopped at a winery, tasted some wines and bought 3 bottles, 2 white and 1 red for a total of $46, including $5.99 taxes(9.5% Quebec and 5% national). The winery was Vignoble du Marathonien. Wineries have grape cluster signs on the road.

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Our second bridge on 6-25 was Des Riveres, or Pike, #61-45-03, in Stanbridge.

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Day 3:

June 26 was a very frustrating day. Of the 4 bridges that we planned to visit, we only found 1. The other 3 were impossible to get to because of construction detours. We did find the de la Fronteire or Province Hill in Potton, #61-11-03. It is closed because it is unsafe, but we were able to take pictures.

First 3 pics are by Liz Keating and the next 3 by me. All of the bridges have been marked by a sign when you get to the turn off road.

We stopped at an information center in Mansonville and a very helpful lady gave us directions for a shorter route than the one shown on the map. She also gave us 2 free books on Potton. See scan of cover of Potton covered bridge book.

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Day 4:

On June 27, we were able to find 4 bridges after checking out of our hotel in St Jean sur Richilieu.

First is Drouin (#61-18-01) and the 1st 3 pics are by Liz, last by me.

Tom

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Our 2nd Quebec bridge on 6-27 was Milby, WGN#61-47-03. First 3 pics are by me, last 2 by Liz. By now, you know that I like to take pictures of signs and Liz doesn't.

Tom

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Our next bridge was the Narrows, #61-69-03.

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Our next bridge was Eustis, #61-18-02. First 3 pictures by Liz.

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Day 5:

On 6-28, we visited 3 bridges, the first was the John Cook, #61-18-04. First 2 pictures are by Liz, the rest by me. It is closed.

Tom

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McDermott, #61-18-06, in Eaton, 1st 2 pictures by Liz, the rest by me.

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Last bridge on 6-28 was McVetty-McKenzie, #61-18-08, in Lingwick. First 3 pictures by Liz, last by me.

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Day 6:

On 6-29, we visited 2 bridges, Val-Alain, #61-40-04 (1st picture) and Perreault, #61-06-01. Perreault is the longest bridge in Quebec and the second longest in Canada. It is closed and unsafe even for pedestrians. It is within a park with a visitor center. We spoke with the visitor center staffer, who told us that they are trying to get funding for the province and donations for a restoration.

Tom

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Final Thoughts:

Final Quebec thoughts. We stayed 6 nights in Quebec, 2 nights each in St Jean sur Richileu, Sherbrooke, and Victoriaville. They are only 2 hrs apart, but most of the cbs were on back roads, so I wanted to be close to our hotel. Only 1 hotel had a restaurant. When we walked to nearby restaurants, we found that there were no sidewalks.

I don't know if other cb enthusiasts do scrapbooks of their pictures like Liz Keating, but I have attached a few of pictures of her work. Liz does this so when she passes on, her collection will be preserved by family, rather than discarded. We visited a total of 13 bridges. We have been visiting cb's for 40 years. Our life total stands at 582 with Pennsylvania having the most visits at 147.

Tom