45.3 miles, 3815’ climbing
August 30, 2026
Camped by Riviere Matawin
Moose sightings: 0
Mosquito sightings: 1,000,000
Our hotel turned out to be just what we needed. We were right across the street from the large supermarket, so last night we picked up supplies for the next two days as well as breakfast. We had coffee while packing up and heating breakfast in our kitchenette. There was a hose out back so we could clean our bikes using a squirt of the provided dish soap from our kitchenette.
We rode out of town on quiet streets. We turned a corner and crossed a bridge and found ourselves in a more upscale area with beautiful houses with large lawns and boat docks facing Lake Toreau.
After a few miles we transitioned to a gravel road. After ~10 miles we stopped at the small visitor center at the Lac Bouteille entrance to the Reserve Faunique de Mastigauche, right beside the lake. This our 4th or 5th Reserve Faunique, and the desk lady told us that they are preserves with no private land within, intended for hunting or passage (we think this means recreation). We told her we wanted to see a moose, and she said it’s impossible but that a hunt starts next week. There’s a little lost in translation in these conversations as she spoke only French, but at the reserve yesterday we were told that hunting starts in 2 weeks and that moose were everywhere. So there’s still some mystery about how to see a moose. But she was friendly and patient with our French. We had a Pepsi and peeked at the lake. The desk lady wished us a good trip.
The road was wide with a layer of loose sand and a little gravel on top. The soft surface made us climb hills a bit slowly. After several miles we turned off onto a smaller forest road which had a firmer surface (mostly), and we pedaled thru beautiful forests with a fair amount of climbing. We’ve had a lot of wildflowers every day, and today was gorgeous. Some clearings from old wood cutting areas gave us good views. It felt a little mountainous at times though the elevation doesn’t really say “mountain” to us.
Eventually we descended on a soft road to a dam, crossed, and a rain storm hit. It rained hard for a while, and we put on both rain pants and jackets. The dirt has seemed sandy for this entire trip, and thankfully it doesn’t get slippery in the rain. Nor do we accumulate mud. We pedaled on as the rain continued. Finally we found a small, primitive campsite that was marked on our route. A truck and trailer are parked there, but no occupants. We took a space on the opposite side from them, set up camp, battled mosquitos, filtered water, and retreated to our tent soon after dinner for purposes of mosquito avoidance. We are right on the bank of a beautiful, wide, slow moving river.
As long as you don’t see a moose right in front of you on the trail.
ReplyDeleteYou’ve had your share of mist and rain. Love you! Mom xoxo
Look up a moose on the internet. Hopefully, if you see a moose just be careful unless Canadian moose is different from Alaska moose. I have seen a moose or two but was always told to keep a big or car between you and the moose. Moose injure roughly 5 to 10 people in direct attacks each year in Alaska, while vehicle collisions account for hundreds of accidents and occasional human fatalities. 5 to 10 injuries: Moose wound about five to ten people annually through direct charges, kicks, or trampling. Up to 10 attacks: Reports note up to ten defensive or aggressive moose encounters per year in populated areas like Anchorage. Rare fatalities: Direct deaths from a moose attack are extremely rare, though their massive size makes them far more likely to cause non-fatal injuries than bears. Moose cause an average of about 15 deaths and hundreds of severe injuries each year in Canada, mostly through vehicle collisions. Here is a strange stat: Alaska reports approximately 180 dog bite incidents per 100,000 people annually, with specific local reporting showing about 300 to 600 bites per year in Anchorage alone. Enjoy your postings. Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteWe’ve encountered moose before in the US, and yes they are potentially dangerous and to be well respected. That being said it’s a thrill to see such a large wild animal. We rode past an informational sign today that said there were 100,000 moose in the Quebec province. Over 11 days we’ve seen none while actively looking, so they can be elusive. Glad you’re enjoying the blog, nice to hear from you.
Delete