Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac to Patrieville    |   Campsite: 47.47438° N, 68.46072° W

I wake early, by 3:30. As I want to get started early in order to have a long walking day, I organize the pack, eat breakfast, organize the room, and input yesterday’s expenses. I map the route to the town of Dégelis and then set out by 4:30. Today’s walk will be made entirely on single-lane roads that follow alongside the Trans-Canada. A quick washroom stop in the small town of “Notre-Dame-du-Lac-Station”. From here, some fairly high hills are climbed, producing wonderful views of “Lake Témiscouata”, and the surrounding hills. Just before entering the town of “Dégelis” a car passes, slows, stops twenty metres down the road, and then slowly backs up, the window lowering as it approaches in reverse. Inside is an older man with a gruff voice, but his question is addressed in friendly French. “You are walking to Dégelis?” Yes, I say. “From where?” Toronto, I say. I am walking to St. John’s, NL. “Why?” I am 48, I say. I asked myself, if not now, when? “Okay. Bon”, he says and drives off. I arrive in town at 10:00, and am through to the east side by 10:15, to a coffee shop and dépanneur for coffee, pint, and an excellent covered picnic table. On the grass about a hundred metres within a nearby field, someone has set up a tent. Another hiker? I eat a pot of ramen and clean up by 11:00 after mapping the way ahead and using the excellent washrooms within a tourist information building to which the coffee shop and gas station are attached. I walked through a quick, light shower into town, but for now, all precipitation has stopped. I have covered 27 km from “Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac” to “Dégelis”. This afternoon, I’ll be trying to cover the 33 km distance to the town of “Edmundston”. Very soon I will be in the province of New Brunswick! The gravel cycling trail is amazing, away from traffic, and I am the only person walking it today! By 3:30, I have covered 42.66 km. I find a cool dépanneur just off the trail and buy some beer for the upcoming night. After 15 minutes of walking down the trail, I come across a park with covered picnic tables. I have some lunch and do some mapping. I believe there are about eleven kilometres of this trail left to walk ahead. As the trail leads into the city of Edmundston, I decide to walk another 5–7 km until I find a good place to camp on the trail. This will then provide a stress-free place to sleep, plus set me up well for entering the city tomorrow with time enough to back up files, post content online, write, and find better insoles for the new shoes. I journal, eat, and then return to the trail by 3:45. I walk until 4:30, finding a perfect place to camp, a small sub-trail leading to a space with a picnic table and a view of the river. The tent goes up, the mattress is inflated, and I journal as I listen to a CBC “Ideas” podcast on the life and work of legendary scientist and environmental activist David Suzuki. Map out tomorrow’s walk. An amazing day of walking on deserted single-lane roads and gravel bicycle paths removed from all traffic was enjoyed today! Note: Yesterday and the day before were tough. Today was incredible! When conditions get difficult, I need to remain calm and rational. Tomorrow might always lead to completely different conditions. The town of “St-Léonard” is 57 km down the road. I will be walking to it starting early tomorrow morning. And I am now in New Brunswick!

Today’s distance walked: 45.74 km    |    Total distance walked: 1,292.57 km