Bike ride to St Helen's Island

A couple days ago, we hit summer temperature for the first time in 2017. Having nagged my wife to come along on one of my bike rides, she finally took me up on my offer. As she isn't quite in the same biking shape that I am, I opted for a ride without much uphill. Figured that a linear ride should be easy enough if we kept it at her pace.

Decided on a ride to St Helen's Island, via the Lachine Canal trail. Roughly a 30 KM ride to the Biosphere Museum from our home, passing some scenic areas and landmarks on the way.

Cycled South on Decarie, down to St Jacques, and St Remi, hitting the Canal near the old refinery. Pedestrian bridge is closed for construction, so cross over the Cote St Paul Lock. Water level is very low, probably 10 to 12 feet lower than normal. Rapids on side of lock are completely dry.

Headed East along the South side of the canal, but was forced to cross over due to construction and blocked trail about halfway. Griffintown seems to be undergoing a fair bit of construction, many new condos being built along the canal, replacing many of the old worn down properties. Eventually hit the Peel basin, which is just about where the main section of the Lachine canal ends. A bit further down, we ride the Bikerdyke path along the Western section of the port of Montreal.

A few anchored ships unloading cargo.

As well as the Five Roses plant.

As we near Pont de la Concorde which leads to St Helen's Island, we pass by the heart of downtown Montreal and the old port to the North.

Passing over Parc de la cite du Havre, We get onto Pont de la Concorde, and stop for some pictures. Montreal skyline to the North.

Molson brewery, Olympic stadium, and Jacques Cartier bridge to the East.

We exit the bridge direction Parc Jean Drapeau, just past the thawing Lac des Cygnes. From there. it's a short ride to the Biosphere museum.

Instead of heading home, we decide to hit the Gilles Villeneuve racetrack. Still in use for the Montreal Grand Prix formula one race every summer, it serves as both a car lane, as well as a bike / rollerblade  / skateboard track. The circuit runs along the Southwest portion of the area, which is basically it's own island connected to St Helen's Island by a series of small bridges.

A couple kilometers South, lies the Montreal Casino.

By the time we  loop around the Casino, my wife starts feeling the effects of the ride. Of course, we are now at the furthest point from home, so I get the feeling it's going to be a long ride home. By the time we hit the Lachine canal trail, we stop to rest near the St Gabriel lock. From there, we make it back across the St Paul lock.

This is where the "fun" part of the ride starts, much to my wife's chagrin. All uphill past the superhospital, and then a few more long blocks up Decarie until the Villa Maria metro station, where it's back to downhill all the way home.

Not too sure my wife is going to attempt this sort of ride with me any time soon, though I am proud that she had the fortitude to power on through this ride instead of calling it quits. I'm guessing she'll opt for shorter, more intense rides up Mount Royal now that the trails have thawed.