My bike is meant to be ready today but I haven't heard from the garage. I give them a call and find out that they haven't started on it yet and it won't be ready until Monday at the earliest. I haven't moved for almost a week and while Montreal is a great city, my feat are getting itchy. I cancel the service but get the guys to fit the tires. The bike mechanics are cool and we chat about bikes and travel as they swap the tires. With the old knobby...

Another day in Montreal another church. I spend the morning visiting Saint Joseph Du Mont Royal and its surrounding gardens. Siting high above the city it affords some great views. I walk into the city from Saint Josephs through Mont Royal Park which takes a few hours. Crossing to the east side of town i check out the Village. While walking down the high street a stranger stops to comment that I'm handsome, have a great physique and if I'm free tomorrow, ...

It's nice when traveling gives you unexpected wow moments and Norte-Dame Basilica gave me one this morning. Not as grand as its Parisian namesake, what it lacks in size and external sophistication, it makes up in internal depth and detail. The blue ceiling, gold leaf inlays and ornate alter are stunning. The main bell weighs 10 tones (its rarely used as its vibrations damage the building), the organ has 7000 pipes and Celine Dion was married here. I have no a...

My bikes last owner seems like he took great care of it but as I need to get the tyres changed anyway I drop her off for a decent service (valve clearances, timing chain etc). Kevin and I jump on some bikes and spend the afternoon in old Montreal. The jazz festival is on and we check out a couple of acts.

Drove back to Montreal. Kevin had just arrived back from Turkey. That evening we take Bixi bikes (bike share) and head to the Plateau. We drop in to see one of Kevin's friends at his gourmet butchers shop and he invites us for dinner at his beautiful house next door. He is planning a trip to Cambodia and Laos with his girlfriend and we spend the evening chatting about what to visit and sampling some great meats and beer from his shop.